AIHD collaborated with experts to develop Lifestyle Medicine Program

22 June 2021

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phudit Tejativaddhana, M.D.; Director of ASEAN Institute for Health Development #AIHD, Mahidol University, Executive Director of ASEAN University Network for Health Promotion Network (AUN-HPN), and Head of The Development of Lifestyle Medicine project joined the meeting with experts to exchange knowledge and ideas for developing Lifestyle Medicine program via Zoom Meeting on 22 June 2021.
On this occasion, Dr. Pornthep Siriwanarangsan, M.D.; President of Preventive Medicine Association of Thailand presided over the meeting together with experts from Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Thailand Healthy Strategic Management Office, National Health Security Office (NHSO), AUN-HPN Network, Department of Health, Department of Disease Control, Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Health, BDMS Wellness Clinic, Faculties/ Institutes of Mahidol University, and other academic organizations.
Head of the project presented performance report, program development, training, evaluation report and survey of course development needs from experts for developing the program and submitting to experts. This program included 6 subjects that are self-care, food and nutrition, physical activity, benefits of sleep for good health, mental health management, and reducing risk factors from addictive substances.
Experts joined the Public Forum: Applied Lifestyle Medicine in Thailand's Health Service System to discuss and share ideas and information on Lifestyle medicine. Participants included Mr. Pairoj Saonuam, M.D.; Director of Office of Health Promotion in Health Service System, Mr. Prasitchai Mungchit, M.D.; Director of The Office of SMEs Promotion, Mr.Weerechai Kornmanee; representative of NHSO, Dr. Wiwat Rojanapittayakorn, M.D.; Ex-executive director of ASEAN University Network - Health Promotion (AUN-HPN), and Dr. Pornthep Siriwanarangsan, M.D.; President of Preventive Medicine Association of Thailand. The forum was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phudit Tejativaddhana, M.D.
During the forum, participants gave their opinions and suggestions that are beneficial to the development of the Lifestyle Medicine curriculum, such as policy communication; Public relations, and communication to create social trends to understand and realize the necessity of lifestyle medicine, creating Health Literacy for each group of service recipients, integrating collaboration between physicians and multidisciplinary practitioners, integration of courses with Thai traditional and alternative medicine, various support systems’ tools and technology for communication between service providers and service recipients, and guidelines for the payment system.
In addition, the participants of the meeting also discussed the involvement of the private sector in both in-service and out-of-service systems, such as Wellness Center hotels, and bringing this concept to the community. The research team will use the information to create a guideline for developing policy proposals in Lifestyle Medicine and enhance new service models that aim to change lifestyles for sustainable healthy behaviors.