Health promotion in Thailand: From the Declaration of Alma-Ata to the Healthy Thailand Policy

Abstract

     Most Thai people assume incorrectly that substantial health promotion in Thailand started with the Ottawa Charter inaugurated in 1986. In fact, Thailand has a long history of health promotion. This article presented a history of health promotion in Thailand from before and after declaration of Alma-Ata to the advent of Healthy Thailand policy. It was found that a history of Thailand health promotion stemmed substantially with the foundation of the Ministry of Public health in 1942. Health promotion projects were implemented through national health development plans. The declaration of Alma-Ata, the Ottawa Charter, and the Bangkok Charter obviously influenced a serious development of the health system in Thailand. Presently, Thailand has adopted and implemented millennium development goals through the Healthy Thailand Policy and plans to achieve these goals by 2015.

Key words : health promotion, history, Thailand, declaration of Alma-Ata, Healthy Thailand policy