Health Minister Launches Full-Time Community Health Volunteers for Vulnerable Groups
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Public Health Minister Pattana Prompanya addressed the community health volunteer (OSPh) policy at the Ministry of Public Health's fiscal year 2027 policy briefing on October 29, 2026. He stated that community health volunteers serve as support staff for hospitals, doctors, nurses, and public health personnel, aiming to proactively care for people in their communities, especially those with limited access to health services. He stressed they are not replacing nurses but will work alongside health teams to achieve targeted care outcomes.
Pattana clarified that community health volunteers differ from village health volunteers (OSM) by working full-time to boost area support and fill gaps in the health service system. They will closely monitor groups needing continuous follow-up: the elderly, dependent patients, chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) patients, pregnant women, children, mental health patients, and those with substance abuse issues.
The minister noted that while the public health system already cares for these groups, solving their problems requires behavioral change. Volunteers working in communities will enhance monitoring and support for better health outcomes alongside hospitals, not merely identify problems. For maternal and child care, volunteers will track pregnancies to ensure proper nutrition, vitamins, and postpartum care, including maternal mental health and family adjustment, especially for families caring for both newborns and older children.
Regarding mental health services, Pattana acknowledged staffing shortages preventing full area coverage. Volunteers will fill gaps for mental health and substance abuse patients, some of whom may experience acute episodes requiring urgent help, necessitating coordination with local administrative organizations and area agencies. On budget concerns, the Ministry and the Health Service Support Department will closely monitor spending and welcome feedback from all sectors, as this is the first year deploying volunteers in the field. The Ministry has mapped needs to assess which areas require the most support.
The future goal is nationwide volunteer coverage, but the rollout will start with target groups and selected areas first. Successful outcomes will be expanded, while problematic areas will see reduced or limited operations and corrections to ensure budget efficiency and continuous access to care for dependent populations, preventing them from becoming burdens on families and society.
