location: nan, 'Thailand 
year: 2008 source: HSRI 
title: Policy recommendation for execution of national strategic plan for development of folklore, Thai traditional, and alternative medicine specified for human resources for health development strategy 
abstract:The cabinet has approved the National Strategic Plan for Development of Folklore, Thai Traditional, and Alternative Medicine B.E. 2550-2554 since June 12th, B.E. 2550. The National Strategic Plan could be utilized as a strategy execution tool to boost up the development of folklore, Thai traditional and alternative medicine in Thailand. However the systematic reviews by means of document reviews and in-dept interview of executives of agencies concerned shows failure of the national plan as there are inadequate implementations of the plan as strategic direction of program, plan, project development and resource allocation. The unclear direction and disintegration of Thai folklore, traditional and alternative medicine development policy are the explicit evidences of the situation.
Human resources for health as a crucial resource of Thai traditional health system need to have clear, relevant, integrative development direction and strategies. Lack of posts in health care system for the Thai traditional medicine workforce is the main concern among the universities and health care institutions concerned. The poor-management of the human resources could lead to the failure of human resource planning, production and health facility development. The National Strategic Plan could be utilized to develop concrete and integrated program, plan and projects to boost up strategic direction, coordination and strategic synergy among the organizations concerned.       
The integrated project proposals for additional budget request for health workforce development to promote folklore, traditional and alternative medicine in Thailand could be developed according to the 4 major strategic issues as human resources database development, building up national mechanism for human resources development, determine HR standard and quality improvement, and development of HR management system.  
There are 10 proposed integrated projects, implement within 3 years period (2552-2554 B.E.), and the total budget requested is 523 million baht. Furthermore the existing program plan projects for health workforce development are also need more budget support.
The main products and expected results of the proposed integrated projects are summarized as follow:
1	Establish national Thai traditional and alternative medicine health workforce development committee and national master plan.
2	Research and development of service model and hiring of Thai traditional health workforces in 150 Thai traditional medicine health centers or clinics with local authorities.
3	Research and development of service model and hiring of Thai traditional health workforces in 30 PPP type health centers with private sectors.
4	Determine standardized curricula of Thai traditional medicine, applied Thai traditional medicine and alternative medicine in collaboration with network of academia and network of health facilities.
5	Support human resource development, capacity building and trainings for folklore healers nationwide in collaboration with network of healers in 4 regions and promote the role of the networks to develop policy recommendations submit to the national health assembly.
6	Support human resource development, capacity building and trainings for alternative medicine healers nationwide in collaboration with network of alternative medicine healers and promote the role of the networks to develop long term financial sustainable HRD program and training courses.
7	Promote and support the role of Thai traditional and alternative medicine professional bodies in legislation, law enforcement, overseeing professional standard and ethics. 
8	Develop essential strategic execution databases and decision support system for development of folklore, traditional, and alternative medicine workforces.
To get fully commitment and support through active participation, the proposed integrated project package need to be scrutinized by the National Strategic Plan steering committee and the agencies concerned. The National Strategic Plan could become an effective and efficient management tool for development of folklore, traditional and alternative medicine in Thailand and benefit to the health and quality of life of Thai population as an ultimate goal.