Abstract
The Academic Centers of the Ministry of Public Health has the main role and duty in driving the mission of academic development for the Department of Academic Affairs, Ministry of Public Health, by studying, researching, developing, transferring knowledge and technology, carrying out promotion, prevention, surveillance, and rehabilitation, coordinating and supporting the operation with relevant agencies in the area of responsibility, as well as promoting and supporting the development of the health service system of the relevant health service units at all levels in order to keep people healthy, and have access to quality, standard, fair health services and support the solution of the country's public health problems. However, under the changing context of the country in terms of the primary health system and the transfer of sub-district health promoting hospital and Queen Sirikit Health Center, there must be an adaptation and role changes in working with sub-district health promoting hospital and Queen Sirikit Health Center, both transferred and not transferred entities to the provincial administrative office.
This research is a qualitative research with 4 objectives: 1) comparing the role of academic centers in supporting the operation of the sub-district health promoting hospital and Queen Sirikit Health Center; 2) studying and analyzing the health system governance for the proper operation of the Academic Center of the Ministry of Public Health to support the operation of the sub-district health promoting hospital and Queen Sirikit Health Center affiliated to the provincial administrative organizations towards the goal of a quality hospital; 3) proposing an operation model of the Academic Center to support the provision of services of the sub-district health promoting hospital and Queen Sirikit Health Center affiliated to provincial administrative organizations to achieve the goal of a quality hospital; and 4) developing policy proposals to develop the role of Academic Centers in supporting the operation of the sub-district health promoting hospital and Queen Sirikit Health Center affiliated to the Provincial Administrative Organization. Data was collected from related documents and interview with individual as well as focus groups with provincial public health officer directors of various academic centers and team members including directors of the regional health promotion centers and team members, directors of the mental health centers and team members, directors of the office of disease control and prevention and team members and directors of the center for medical sciences and team members; and 2) interview information was also gathered from the Ministry of Interior personnels including the presidents of the provincial administrative organizations, directors of the public health division and team members, and directors of the sub-district health promoting hospitals and team members.
The results of the study show that 1) the structure and role of academic centers in supporting the operation of sub-district health promoting hospitals in the pre- and post-transfer period remained unchanged. The major roles of the Academic Centers regarding academic supporting include four main areas: (1) coordination of indicators; (2) development of potential and capacity of personnel and of health service units; (3) promotion and development of service quality, quality assessment and certification of standards and (4) supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the performance of health service units in areas of responsibility to promote good health for the people. However, after the transfer of the sub-district health promoting hospitals, it was found that the academic centers could not thoroughly provide services to the sub-district health promoting hospitals and Queen Sirikit Health Centers since the two entities are under different ministries. 2) The Academic Centers in working with health organizations of all levels (health regions, provinces, districts and sub-districts) in order to provide thorough quality health services to the people. 3) The provincial health public health offices, the provincial administrative organizations, the sub-district health promoting hospitals, and the Queen Sirikit Health Centers expressed that the academic centers provide them with academic services so that the aforementioned organizations become strengthened.
Therefore, the researchers would recommend that the academic centers would implement collaboration and partnership model in working with provincial health public health offices, the provincial administrative organizations, the sub-district health promoting hospitals, and the Queen Sirikit Health Centers in both transferred and not transferred entities. The academic centers work in pro-active approach, emphasizing collaboration, promotion, production and dissemination for practical purposes in accordance with the fast-changing social context. To do that the academic centers would undertake two steps, transitional stage and then strengthening and sustainable stage so that sub-district health promoting hospitals and the Queen Sirikit Health Centers will reach quality health provider institutions.
There are 3 major policy recommendations: 1) the academic centers would provide academic services to sub-district health promoting hospitals, and the Queen Sirikit Health Centers so that they would reach the desired KPI’s and even fulfill the people’s expectations, 2) the academic centers need to integrate in the work with all the agencies mentioned simultaneously to reach optimal results and 3) The academic centers would adjust and strengthen the role in collaboration with the provincial administrative organizations to monitor and promote closely with the sub-district health promoting hospitals and the Queen Sirikit Health Centers affiliated to provincial administrative organizations to reach the desired goals.
