Project News

LTOP project already organized the group called "Policy Discussion Group" confirmed at 2nd JCC, which consist of Thai and Japanese stakeholders to discuss on the elderly care policy throughout the project period. The group members plan to gather twice a year to discuss on the elderly care policy and finally make policy recommendations on the long-term care to the Thai government. On the 29th and 30th August 2013, the first policy discussion seminar was held in Thailand.

From Thai side, representatives from relevant ministries including Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), Ministry of Interior (MOI) and Ministry of Labor (MOL) have attended. Other organizations such as Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), National Health Security Office (NHSO), Health Insurance System Research office (HISRO), universities in Thailand (Chulalongkorn university, Mahidol university) and local government officers from our 6 project sites have also participated in. From Japanese side, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), Wakayama Prefecture, JICA Head quarter and the University of Tsukuba collaborating on the evidence based survey with the LTOP project have visited Thailand to have active discussion with Thai side.

The main theme of the seminar was "to clarify the elderly care policy in Thailand." On the 1st day, Japanese members visited Nonthaburi site to observe the elderly who need long-term care and to visit rehabilitation center currently developed to be a future day service center (for the elderly to have activities based on each care plan). It was heard from Japanese members that "There are great informal community resource working well in Thailand such as volunteers supporting the elderly. We would like to learn from Thailand."

On the 2nd day, all member gathered at meeting room at MOPH for policy discussion. After power point presentation of care insurance system and elderly care policy in Japan and policy in Thailand, the professor at University of Tsukuba presented about international comparison of elderly policy to highlight characteristics of each country's system.

In the afternoon, trainees who joined LTOP counterpart training in Japan have presented their action plans (database on the elderly, collaboration with private sector, improvement of access to the services etc). Then, all members separated into 4 groups to debate on (1) elderly policy (2) stakeholders' roles (3) elderly who need Long-term care (4) care services.

After the presentation of all groups, Dr. Chanvit from MOPH concluded that "All groups presented proposals but seems like just a list of wishing activities and not fully verified to make them realistic. We need to make proposals feasible for Thai country to take action and more strategic discussion is necessary." Based on the lessons learnt from the seminar, the project members continue to prepare for the 2nd seminar planed in March 2014.

2nd day seminar scene

group discussion