Areas of Work

International Trade and Health Programme

As noted in the Country Cooperation Strategy 2012-2016 for Thailand, WHO has been actively engaged with national stakeholders through the International Trade and Health (ITH) Programme.  The 5-year programme spans from 2011 to 2015 and seeks to strengthen the capacity of national institutions to better generate and manage knowledge on international trade and health for positive health outcomes.  Specifically, the ITH Programme seeks to strengthen evidence-based, transparent, and participatory trade negotiation processes and mechanisms related to health.  These processes fall in line with mechanisms outlined in Article 190 of the 2007 Constitution of the Royal Thai Government.

As health becomes an integral part of international trade negotiations, WHO recognizes the need to build capacity of all partners to understand the implications trade negotiations.  The ITH Programme seeks to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration and encourage their active participation/ownership in negotiation mechanism processes.  The programme’s synergistic approach is centered on three key priorities:

1.      Knowledge generation and management,

2.      Advocacy, communication, and social mobilization,

3.      Inform policy decisions and foster linkages between various stakeholder networks relevant to international trade and health.

With support from Health Systems Research Institute, National Health Security Office, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, National Health Commission Office and WHO Thailand, the ITH Programme is managed by International Health Policy Program which is part of the Bureau of Policy and Strategy of the Ministry of Public Health.

For more information:

     2011 Annual Progress Report of International Trade and Health Programme

     2011 SEARO Regional Consultation Report for the Development of a Framework on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property

     Table of World Health Assembly Resolutions (2001 to 2007)