Project News

The 3rd Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) was held in a hybrid format. The onsite meeting had been held on the 28th of January 2023 at The Centara Grand Central World, Bangkok, Thailand. From the Thai side, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), National Health Security Office (NHSO), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and related stakeholders have joined. From the Japan side, the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, JICA HQ, and JICA Thailand office attended.

This 3rd JCC meeting was chaired by Dr. Narong Aphikulvanich, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health (MOPH). During our first session, Dr. Narong gave us the opening remarks expressing his appreciation for us having an opportunity to meet and discuss the progress of the project. Dr. Suwit Wibulpolprasert, Advisor to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, appreciated what GLO+UHC2 has done so far, such as inputs regarding fee schedule, invitation program to Japan, support for dissemination of experience and knowledge on UHC to global platform. Mr. Kazuya Suzuki, Chief Representative, JICA Thailand Office has also expressed his impression of the strength and commitment work from the Thai side and Japan sides to achieve this project.

Dr. Masato Izutsu, Chief Advisor of JICA Expert team, introduced the new expert Ms. Keiko Mehra. Entering the final year of the project, Dr. Izutsu gave us a presentation about the overall progress of the GLO+UHC throughout 2022 and also the plan for 2023. Dr. Narong and the committees have expressed their interests and also suggestions for the project activities that will be implemented throughout 2023.

Remarkably, Dr. Viroj Tangcharoensathien, Senior Advisor, International Health Policy Program, gave us very interesting suggestions on strengthening the project activity on Health Workforce. Dr. Osuke Komazawa, Senior Director, Human Development Department, JICA HQ, also gave his appreciation on the progress of GLO+UHC project. He suggested both Japan and Thailand to remind ourselves, as an UHC-experienced country, to keep hearing the voice from other countries, so as to support other country according to the wide variety of context of UHC in each country. Dr. Suwit Wibulpolprasert, Advisor to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, also agreed on this issue and expressed his wishes to improve and tackle the Health workforce challenges with collaborative actions from both Thailand and Japan.

At the end of the meeting, Dr. Narong expressed his wishes to contribute and support GLO+UHC 2 project. He closed the meeting by emphasizing the importance and his appreciation for this project developing and raising Thailand and Japan expertise on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to the International level. He wished that both countries will strengthen our partnership to make this world a safe and better place for all. Ms. Rie Sato, Director, Health Team 4, Health Group 2, Human Development Department, JICA HQ, has also expressed her acknowledgement of the success of GLO+UHC project and impressions of invitation program in November 2022.

The GLO+UHC project will determine to use Thailand and Japan experiences to develop and move the UHC movement at the International Level abidingly.