As the world progresses into the early 21st century, the public healthcare landscape has already experienced significant impacts from emerging challenges, particularly demographic changes where longevity is increasing, along with the emergence of new ailments alongside existing non-communicable disease issues related to unhealthy lifestyles and environmental pollution. In addition to ongoing medical advancements, the advent of digital transformation is driving diverse innovative solutions and fostering collaborative efforts among countries worldwide to promote enhanced healthcare while leaving no one behind.
Since 2005, Thailand has been driven by awareness of the changing healthcare landscape. Health strategies and promotion are endorsed through public health campaigns, including among marginal groups and lower-income populations. By 2031, Thailand, like other developing countries, is approaching the stage of becoming an elderly society, with over 28% of Thais being over 65 years old.
The 20th Annual Meeting of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations in 2023, themed “The Next Step of INHPF: Accelerating Health Promotion Innovations towards Equitable Well-Being,” is being hosted for the second time in Bangkok, Thailand, from November 7 to 10, 2023. Its purposes are to exchange successful health promotion strategies among members and to declare a collective commitment to advancing health promotion within global agenda frameworks.
“In 2023, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation is honoured to host the 20th INHPF Annual Meeting. The Thai Health Promotion Foundation has been a longstanding partner of INHPF since its inception. We are committed to fulfilling dynamic network missions aimed at establishing sustainable innovative financial mechanism that encourage health promotion on a global scale,” announced Dr. Supreeda Adulyanon, CEO of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.
Established in 2000, INHPF has remained steadfast in its dedication to promoting health through the utilisation of health promotion funds and providing support to countries seeking to establish health promotion foundations. The initiative also involves collaborative efforts with esteemed international partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), and the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE).
The International Network of Health Promotion Foundations (INHPF), led by Dr. Sandro Demaio, Chair of INHPF, in collaboration with The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), has unveiled a bold mission to foster global health promotion efficiency across nations worldwide.
The INHPF network currently comprises seven organisations, including The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Australia (Chair); Thai Health Promotion Foundation (Secretary); The Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation; Korea Health Promotion Institute; Taiwan Health Promotion Administration; Tonga Health Promotion Foundation (Treasurer); and Singapore Health Promotion Board. The new INHPF member joining this year is Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Australia.
“Thailand is among the many countries that have successfully earnmarked tobacco and alcohol tax revenues for health purposes by allocating funds to health promotion programs. INHPF anticipates that the meeting will strengthen partnerships among members and draw inspiration from each country’s successful campaigns while planning ahead to address global health challenges, including NCDs, Health Equality, and Social Marketing, for which Thailand is accredited for its strong networking among the targets that support potential partnerships in the years to come.”
Dr. Sandro Demaio, Chair of INHPF, in collaboration with The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth)
The 20th Annual Meeting of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations 2023 is also joined by Dr. Rüdiger Krech, Director of the Department of Health Promotion at the World Health Organisation. Discussion highlights include a global view of Health Promotion in the 21st Century, social marketing, the power of the young generation in health promotion, and synergistic partnerships and multisectoral collaboration in health promotion.
Dr. Supreeda Adulyanon, CEO of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.
