In 2024, the province of Sisaket (Northeast Thailand) hosted a thematic health fair focused on sustainable community-based healthcare. Organized with support from the Ministry of Public Health (MOH) and the Department of Health Service Support (DHS), the event was part of the national "Healthy Communities – Strong Nation" strategy.
Opening Ceremony & Key Participants
Dr. Bunreung Trireungwarawat, Director-General of the Department of Health Service Support (DHS), attended the opening. He emphasized: "The fair aims to strengthen the link between healthcare providers and rural communities, ensuring access to knowledge and affordable preventive solutions."
Objectives of the Fair
Main goals:
- Promote knowledge exchange on disease prevention
- Raise awareness of healthy lifestyles
- Showcase pharmaceutical innovations and medical technologies
- Support traditional and herbal medicine using local resources
- Reduce reliance on expensive medical services
What Was Showcased?
Participants from 23 subdistricts (tambon) presented:
- Medicinal plants of the region: turmeric, neem, betel, morinda
- Ready-made herbal products — tinctures, tablets, creams
- Training on harvesting, drying, and using herbs
- Free consultations by doctors and nurses
- Health screenings for blood pressure and glucose
- Information booths on diabetes, hypertension, TB
Many products are made by local cooperatives under the "One Tambon One Health Innovation" (OTOP Health) program.
Focused on Rural Communities
The fair was tailored for rural residents who often face:
- Limited access to clinics
- High drug costs
- Lack of preventive knowledge
They received interactive workshops, health-themed theater, and informational brochures in Thai and local dialects.
Participants & Organizers
Participants included:
- Ministry of Public Health (MOH)
- Department of Health Service Support (DHS)
- Subdistrict Health Stations (SAAM)
- Rural pharmaceutical cooperatives
- Private natural health product companies
- Medical and nursing students
Context: Community-Based Healthcare
Thailand is advancing its primary healthcare model, where village health volunteers and local clinics play a key role. Fairs like this support the national strategy of decentralizing healthcare and building resilience at the provincial level.
Conclusion
The Sisaket fair was a significant step in promoting accessible and sustainable healthcare in rural areas. It brought together government, private sector, and communities around the goal of health without barriers. Similar fairs are planned in 2025 across provinces like Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, and Nakhon Phanom, as part of the "Healthy Thailand 2030" initiative.
Sources:
— Ministry of Public Health, Thailand: «Community Health Fair Report 2024»
— Department of Health Service Support (DHS): «Sustainable Healthcare Strategy»
— Bangkok Post: «Sisaket Hosts Health Innovation Fair», November 2024
— The Nation: «Bringing Medicine to the Villages»
— OTOP Health Program: Official Website & Product Catalog
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