Project News

There were 33 participants from Indonesia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Lao People's Democratic Republic who attended the IPE Training Course 2018, which was organized by WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Interprofessional Education (Gunma University, JPN-89) in collaboration with the Partnership Project for Global Health and Universal Health Coverage (GLO+UHC, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Thailand office). Two Thai resource persons were invited as guest speakers to share IPE experience entitled "Introduction and Implementation of IPE experience in Asia".

Prof. Wanicha Chuenkongkaew who is a coordinator of Asia--Pacific Network for Health Professional Education Reform (ANHER), Professor of Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, Siriraj Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand, provided detailed information on "Introducing IPE from national policy to practice in Thailand". She addressed the evolution on health system from controlling the spread of specific communicable diseases to having an integrated health service in an equitable manner and focusing on health protection and disease prevention. Currently, both UHC and Health System Strengthening are needed to respond to all at the same time. Health workforce is identified as one of the core building blocks of a health system. A team--based education is an innovative strategy to optimize globally critical shortage of skilled HWF. interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional practice (IPP) has been recognized as a necessary step in preparing a collaborative practice--ready HWF. It has been gradually integrated in teaching and learning process to better equip HWF in response to population health needs.

After the launch of global commission in 2010 prompted a solid movement in different parts of the world including Thailand. The Thai National Health Assembly approved the National strategic plan for the Development of HWF education in the 21st century (2014--2018). A national commission moves the strategic plan on a participatory and voluntary basis among 9 health professional organizations and associations. The National Health Professional Education Foundation works as secretariat for the Commission. Thailand's Sub--committee on Interprofessional Education was constituted by the National Commission to implement IPE strategy in Thailand. The National IPE framework has been figured based the 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice. The National Strategy includes the development of IPE guideline; promotion of institutional reform and policy advocacy; capacity leadership building; evaluation of IPE program and collaboration on IPE research. The Interprofessional Education (IPE) will bring about an effective collaboration and improve health outcomes in the country.

Dr. Chanuttha Ploylearmsang presented Thai IPE program at Maha Sarakham University, Thailand. Maha Sarakham University homecare--based program is a holistic service that needs multidisciplinary team with interprofessional skills and practice to provide the wider perspective or multi--aspect health services. In home care visit, interprofessional collaborative team will assess patient's capacity, ability, need and his or her house and environment to set the goals for improving his quality of life.

We would like to extend our graceful thanks to Dr. Tomohiko Makino, Dr. Kaori Nakatani, Ms. Kae Russell and team, Partnership Project for Global Health and Universal Health Coverage, JICA, Prof. Hideomi Watanabe, Prof. Akinori Kama Associate Prof. Takatoshi Makino and team, Gunma University for providing us extremely useful opportunity in this participation and collaboration.

Thailand's Sub-committee on Interprofessional Education attended IPE Training Course 2017

Prof. Wanicha Chuenkongkaew and Dr. Chanuttha Ploylearmsang, speakers at IPE Training Course 2018

Prof. Wanicha Chuenkongkaew, speaker on "Introducing IPE from national policy to practice in Thailand"

Research Collaboration on IPE Project