PMAC 2025 SIDE MEETING Unboxing Innovations for NCDs Prevention (SMB206)

PMAC 2025 Advocates for Healthy Active Meetings, Advancing Toward a Healthy OrganizationThe Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2025 (PMAC 2025) was held under the theme “Harnessing Technologies in an Age of AI to Build a Healthier World” from January 28 to February 2, 2025, at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Bangkok. The event was organized with the support and collaboration from key national and international organizations, including the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation under the Royal Patronage, the Thai government, and international partners, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, USAID, JICA, the Rockefeller Foundation, and various UN agencies.At this event, the Partnership and International Relations Section of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) played a key role in co-organizing a side meeting and promoting “healthy active meetings” throughout the conference. Since 2019, the Partnership and International Relations Section and the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Section have been co-organizing healthy meetings at PMAC, reinforcing ThaiHealth’s commitment to fostering healthier conference environments.Driven by the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Section in collaboration with the Network of Fatless Belly Thais (NFBT) and multi-sectoral partners, the “healthy active meeting” concept encourages meetings that support participants’ physical and mental well-being while minimizing the risks of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).Beyond PMAC, ThaiHealth has actively endorsed healthy meetings in WHO SEARO under Thailand’s name, leading to...

PMAC 2025: ThaiHealth and its Partner Joined Forces to Address PM2.5 Pollution and Advocate for the Clean Air Act B.E. … for Pollution-free Air The side meeting titled “Accountability and Technological Innovations for Air Quality and Health” was co-hosted by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and the Prince of Songkla University. This took place as part of the Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2025 (PMAC2025), under the overarching theme “Harnessing Technologies in an Age of AI to Build a Healthier World.” In his keynote address, Dr. Pairoj Saonuam, M.D., Deputy CEO of ThaiHealth, highlighted the PM2.5 crisis in Thailand. Specifically, in 2021, the country’s PM2.5 levels exceeded the standard limits in 65 provinces, with 44 provinces experiencing harmful levels. As a result, over 38 million people were exposed to the adverse effects of pollution. Moreover, in 2024, the number of air pollution-related illnesses reached over 12 million cases, resulting in economic losses of over 2.2 trillion baht. In addition to health and economic consequences, air pollution has threatened ecosystems, reduced biodiversity, and affected agriculture. Efforts to address PM2.5 pollution in Thailand have been driven by multi-sectoral collaboration. In particular, ThaiHealth and its multi-sectoral partners have worked together to expand knowledge on PM2.5 pollution and implemented measures, such as the establishment of a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Bangkok. They have...

PMAC 2025: ThaiHealth and its Partners Showcase Innovations for NCDs Prevention, Integrating AI into Health Promotion The side meeting on “Unboxing Innovations for NCDs Prevention”—part of the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2025, under the theme “Harnessing Technologies in an Age of AI to Build a Healthier World”—was led by Dr. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, M.D., CEO of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth); Mr. Tay Choon Hong, Chief Executive Officer of the Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singapore, and Chair of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations (INHPF); Dr. Carolyn Wallace of Victoria Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth); Dr. Karthik Adapa, Regional Adviser for Digital Health at the WHO-South East Asia Regional Office; and Assoc.Prof. Wee Hwee Lin, Director of the Center for Health Intervention and Policy Evaluation Research (HIPER) at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore (NUS). Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain as a pressing global health issue. Inequitable access to prevention and treatment has exacerbated the issue. Nevertheless, technology is emerging as the key to bridging these gaps by enabling easier access to health information and empowering individuals to take an active role in managing their own health. The side meeting “Unboxing Innovations for NCDs Prevention” aimed to delve into how technology can be leveraged to promote health in disadvantaged communities by showcasing real-world examples...

PMAC2025: ThaiHealth Unite with Partners to Promote “Spiritual Health” for a Holistically Healthy Society The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) was established with the vision that everyone in Thailand shall have lifestyles, society, and environment which foster well-being across four dimensions: physical, mental, social, and spiritual. According to the National Health Act B.E.2550 (2007), “health” is clearly defined as a state of complete physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being, which are interconnected holistically and in balance. This underscores that cultivating strong minds and recognizing the value of life are crucial to achieving a “good life.” Recently, in collaboration with the Knowledge Center and Coordination on Spiritual Health, Mahidol University, and seven other organizations—including the International Health Policy Foundation (IHPF), JitArsa Bank, IDG Oneness Thailand, the School of Public Policy at Chiang Mai University, the Contemplative Education Center of Mahidol University, the Faculty of Learning Sciences and Education at Thammasat University, and the Sathirakoses-Nagapradipa Foundation—ThaiHealth, through its Media System and Spiritual Well-health Promotion Section, hosted a side meeting titled “Complete Well-being in the Age of AI: The Crucial Role of Spiritual Health and Practical Strategies.” This event was part of the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2025 at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Bangkok. Dr. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, M.D., CEO of Thai Health Promotion, noted that with AI’s growing...

“Well-being spans multiple dimensions, with health at its core. At ThaiHealth, we work hand-in-hand with our partners to promote health for all. Our commitment is to ensure that no one is forgotten or left behind as we strive to reduce health disparities and inequities.” Dr Prakasit Kayasith, Senior Assistant CEO and Acting Director of Partnership and International Relations Section, Thai Health Promotion Foundation Source: Show, Share, Connect Platform: Episode “Phuket – Island of Well-being for the Future… Together, We Can,” January 15-16, 2025.