16 September 2024: A transformative study tour and training program focused on developing a resilient and forward-thinking health model for Meghalaya, India, took place from September 7 to 14, 2024, at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). The program was led by Dr. Malay Pramanik from Urban Innovation and Sustainability (UIS) and co-led by Prof. Mokbul Morshed Ahmad, Head of the Department of Development and Sustainability, and Prof. Vilas Nitivattananon from UIS at AIT’s School of Environment, Resources, and Development. It was organized in collaboration with the Meghalaya Administrative Training Institute.
The program brought together 35 distinguished delegates from Meghalaya, including Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, Honourable Health Minister of Meghalaya, along with 28 senior government officials and experts, to explore strategies for building resilient public health systems and re-envisioning inclusive health policies through cross-disciplinary approaches.
The program featured lectures and interactive sessions led by experts from diverse fields, including practitioners, academicians, health officers, medical professionals, ministerial advisors, global health and policy advisors, and community health champions. Key topics covered healthcare systems at various levels, community health management, digital health systems, and logistics related to the supply of drugs, equipment, and vaccines. Sessions also addressed disease surveillance systems for communicable and non-communicable diseases, universal health coverage, health policy, health finance, and human resource management policies.
Participants visited healthcare centres at all levels—primary, secondary, and tertiary—as well as community health centres, where they engaged with health officials, workers, service providers, and medical doctors to gain a deeper understanding of local practices and services. Additionally, a visit to the Thai Health Promotion Foundation provided valuable insights into health promotion initiatives aimed at enhancing public health and well-being. On the concluding day, participants visited the National Health Commission Office (NHCO) in Thailand, where they explored participatory public policy strategies and Thailand’s ‘new image of the health system.’
This collaboration between Meghalaya and Thailand has fostered strong partnerships, paving the way for resilient public health infrastructures and the development of an innovative and inclusive health model for policy outcomes.
