|
 |
Mahidol
University in Collaboration with
National Health Commission Office
Organized Forum on "Global
Situation: H1N1 Flu 2009" Staging
and Addressing Public Policy |
| |
|
|
May 12th, 2009
Mahidol
University, Salaya Campus
- Clin. Prof. Piyasakol
Sakolsatayadorn, M.D., President
of Mahidol University and
Dr. Amphon Jindawatthana,
Acting Secretary-General,
National Health Commission
signed the Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) on "Development
of Public Policy Toward
Wisdom of the Land,” as
well as organized the first
Salaya Public Policy Forum
“Global Situation: H1N1
Flu 2009." Both public
and private sectors attended
the forum.
Prof.
Piyasakol stated that Mahidol
University is an academic
institution with many disciplines
that aim to excel in health,
sciences, arts, and innovation
with integrity for the betterment
of Thai society and the
benefit of mankind. Mahidol’s
determination is to become
wisdom of the land. Our
vision is to create the
channel and encourage public
policy development process,
using the available knowledge
in the University to drive
the communication and information
out to the public. With
this important responsibility,
collaboration between Mahidol
University and the National
Health Commission to develop
public policy that would
benefit the society occurred.
This collaboration gave
rise to the public forum
entitled, “Salaya Public
Policy Forum” with the hope
to identify critical issue
and present recommendations
that would affect the public
and every sectors. Mahidol
University would play a
central for those who are
interested in learning and
taking part in important
issue that affect the society,
the university, the community,
and our nation.
Public Policy has a broad
impact, and while many aspects
positively affect the society,
others may have undesired
impact. The process in developing
public policy thus must
base on knowledge, social
participation, having righteous
goal as well as benefit
the whole without resort
to person gain. Prof. Dr.
Pravet Vasee once stated
that three components are
critical in creating suitable
public policy: academia,
civil society, and the state
and political components.
If these parts could integrate
to formulate wisdom along
with gaining support from
the civil society through
public channel and disclosed
political opportunity, good
public policy process could
bring endless possibilities
for development to the society.
|
| |
|
Prof. Piyasakol added
that since the past, the
university as an academic
institution has not play
a role in public policy
much. Most of the time,
initiation and responsibility
relied on individual faculty
member. Thus, Mahidol University
as an independent academic
institute should play a
role in public policy as
a "middle person with
knowledge." We should
identify the problem and
proceed to establish public
policy accordingly; in which
it is based on study of
different approaches at
the community and national
level. By addressing various
issues, rationales must
outweigh opinion, and knowledge
presented is free from conflict
of interest. Public policy
is driven on economic and
social basis, employing
science and technology on
top of innovation. Mahidol
University should be the
thrust in pushing every
sector to cooperatively
solve the matter. We must
push the capacity of our
country as well as build
the quality of life. We
must develop database, collect
data, analyze data and synthesize
data. A valid and just evaluation
system is also necessary,
and it must be practical.
Policy proposal submission
process along with application
of policy must follow through.
For the first Salaya Public
Policy Forum, this event
selected “Global Situation:
H1N1 Flu 2009” as the topic
of discussion due to the
fact that global spread
of Influenza A(H1N1) is
rapid and serious. The World
Health Organization (WHO)
has raised the level of
influenza pandemic alert
to phase 5, which is human-to-human
spread of the virus. The
current situation impacts
the global public health
and economy. Participants
of the forum include Dr.
Pasakorn Akarasewi, M.D.,
Director of Bureau of Epidemiology,
Prof. Yong Poovorawan, M.D.,
The Faculty of Medicine,
Chulalongkorn University,
Prof. Prasert Auewarakul,
M.D., Director of Institute
of Science and Technology
for Research and Development,
Mahidol University, Prof.
Sasithon Pukrittayakamee,
Faculty of Tropical Medicine,
Mahidol University, Mr.
Kridsada Chaichoune, D.V.M.,
Faculty of Veterinary Science,
Mahidol University, Assoc.Prof.
Dr. Chai Podhisita, Institute
for Population and Social
Research, Mahidol University,
Mr. Praphan Tangjaruwatanachai,
President of The Swine Raisers
Association of Nakhon Pathom
Province, and Dr. Chatree
Charoensiri, Modulator.
Post
Date : May 19, 2009
|
|
|
