In a significant move to enhance public health systems, Thailand and the Republic of Maldives have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening primary healthcare and regulatory capacities within the Maldives.
The agreement was signed during the World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 21, 2025, by Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Public Health, Dej-is Khaothong, and Maldives’ Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim.
Key Objectives of the MOU
The MOU outlines a comprehensive framework for collaboration, focusing on:
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Enhancing Primary Healthcare Delivery: Improving the accessibility and quality of primary healthcare services in the Maldives.
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Strengthening Regulatory Capacity: Bolstering the Maldives Food and Drug Authority’s ability to regulate and ensure the safety of food and pharmaceuticals.
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Technical Cooperation and Human Resource Development: Facilitating partnerships with health professional training institutions to develop a skilled healthcare workforce.
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Advancing Health Policy and Research: Promoting joint research initiatives and the development of effective health policies.
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Data Exchange and Information Technology: Encouraging the sharing of health data and the adoption of advanced information technologies.
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Sustainable Funding Mechanisms: Securing long-term funding solutions for health promotion initiatives.
Implementation and Future Collaboration
To ensure the effective implementation of the MOU, a dedicated working committee will be established. This committee will oversee ongoing discussions and the execution of planned activities. The initial cooperation period is set for three years, with automatic renewal for successive three-year terms unless either party decides otherwise with a three-month notice.
Broader Engagements and Commitments
Beyond the MOU signing, Deputy Minister Dej-is participated in a Ministerial Breakfast Meeting titled “Progressing towards more open and inclusive decision-making for health: Is social participation under threat?” This platform allowed for discussions on the importance of social participation in health decision-making processes.
Additionally, Dej-is engaged with high-level international representatives, including Saima Wazed, Regional Director for the WHO South-East Asia Region, to discuss international public health cooperation. Topics included non-communicable disease prevention and control, and collaborative disease surveillance along the Thailand-Myanmar border.
Furthermore, discussions with Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Republic of India, explored potential health collaborations between Thailand and India, focusing on traditional and alternative medicine, and universal health coverage.
Conclusion
The health pact between Thailand and the Maldives marks a significant step towards enhancing public health systems through international collaboration. By focusing on primary healthcare, regulatory capacities, and human resource development, this partnership aims to bring about tangible improvements in healthcare delivery and policy. The establishment of a dedicated working committee and the commitment to ongoing dialogue underscore the seriousness of both nations in achieving these goals.