Bangkok: Somsak Thepsuthin, the Minister of Public Health, chaired a meeting with senior executives of the Ministry of Public Health to discuss strategies for disease surveillance during the rainy season and the integration of public health data into a single server. Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, the Permanent Secretary, along with other key officials, attended the meeting at the Ministry’s headquarters.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Somsak emphasized the need for monitoring and preparing plans to address the spread of diseases like COVID-19 and influenza during the rainy season. He urged the ministry to focus on health communication to alleviate public anxiety. He also highlighted the inconsistency in data from various agencies and called for a unified approach to data management, suggesting the development of an IT system for future use and cybersecurity considerations.

Mr. Somsak also announced that Ms. Opal Suchata Chuangsri, Miss World 2025, was invited to the Ministry to support a campaign for cancer screening and prevention in women. This follows her previous visit, where she discussed breast and cervical cancer awareness. The campaign aims to leverage her influence to promote health initiatives.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the promotion of Thai herbs and traditional medicine, with a proposed budget of 3 billion baht for the next fiscal year. This initiative is part of a strategy to boost farmers’ income through the health economy approach. Mr. Somsak shared that half of the current year’s budget has already been utilized effectively.

When questioned about his future in the Ministry amidst potential cabinet reshuffles, Mr. Somsak expressed uncertainty but emphasized the need to keep progressing. He refrained from commenting on his desire to remain in his current role.