The health of Thais working in large organizations raises some special issues. Over three percent of Thais working in the industrial, service, and government sectors suffer occupational health problems. The death rate from occupational causes is 17.7 per 100,000, compared with 4.0 in Finland and 1.3 in England.

Approximately 40 percent of Thais working in the industrial and service sectors are members of the social security scheme or compensation fund. All civil servants are members of the Civil Servants Medical Benefits Scheme. Expenditure on the Civil Servants Medical Benefits Scheme increased by almost five times over the 1990s. The civil servants‟ scheme and the social security scheme are both concerned exclusively with reimbursement of expenditures: neither scheme pays any attention to health promotion.

Many military personnel suffer from avoidable conditions because of high-fat diets, smoking, alcohol, high stress, and lack of exercise, particularly among older officers.

Large organizations present an excellent opportunity for health promotion, as they are able to mobilize substantial resources. For instance, the military have access to excellent sports facilities, which could benefit not only military personnel, but also surrounding communities.

Activities

1. Health Promotion for Formal Workers
   ThaiHealth is cooperating with the Industrial Council of Thailand to develop health promotion standards for workplaces, and establish a set of health promotion indicators. The standards and indicators will be tested in 20 factories in 2005, and will applied more widely in future. In collaboration with the Department of Preventive and Social Medical Science, Chulalongkorn University, ThaiHealth is establishing pilot schemes in Saraburi, Samuthprakarn, Rayong, Pitsanuloke and Lampoon provinces. These schemes will assist workplaces to establish their own health promotion activities. The aim is to involve around 50 factories. ThaiHealth will collaborate with the workers who have suffered occupation-related illnesses to carry out activities among workers in the industrial zones. The projects will include the dissemination of information on health promotion, and the establishment of networks among workers and labor unions.
2. Health Promotion in the Thai Military
   The project will ensure that the management system within the military appreciates the importance of health promotion and makes it a priority. Training in health promotion will be given to key personnel, knowledge management systems will be introduced, and networks will be formed. Health promotion will be integrated into normal army planning processes. Health promotion activities will sustainable, because they will be carried out using existing resources within the military.
3. Health Promotion in Schools
   ThaiHealth will support the development of model „healthy schools‟ that can be emulated more widely. Healthy schools will take a holistic view of child development. Healthy schools will be expected to instill the following characteristics in their students: economical; disciplined; honest and compassionate; good members of their families, communities and society; able to control their emotions; positive social identities; able to think analytically; creative; and curious. The Association of Educational Standards will monitor achievement of these goals.