Thailand s National Strategic Plan for Emerging Infectious Disease Preparedness, Prevention and Response 2013-2016 (NSP-EID) is a cross-sectoral policy document. The NSP-EID has been developed in order for Thailand to have preparedness and capacity to efficiently prevent, control, and manage the situation of Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) with highest effectiveness. The Objectives are: 1. To establish the processes of translating the strategic plan into practice by governmental authorities and concerned organizations, with an ultimate goal that Thailand can effectively prevent and control EIDs. 2. To integrate all efforts and operation of governmental authorities and other concerned units so that objectives and targets of the NSP-EID are achieved holistically. 3. To enhance roles and encourage participation of all sectors in driving the policies and strategies into fruitful practice, through the formulation of the country s operational plans at various levels which are systematically interlinked and integrated, under the NSP-EID. 4. To systematically and effectively monitor and evaluate implementation of the NSP-EID.
In order to achieve these Objectives, five Strategies are developed: 1 Development of disease for surveillance, prevention, treatment and control under the One Health concept; 2 Management of systems to enhance disease-free animal husbandry, animal health, and health of wild animals; 3 Knowledge management systems and promotion of research and development; 4 Development of integrated management systems with preparedness for emergency response; 5 Risk communication and public relations on EIDs. Under Strategy 1, the following Tactics are proposed: 1. Strengthening of integrated EID prevention. 2. Integration of EID surveillance systems among sectors responsible for human health, animal health, wildlife and the environment. 3. Capacity building of laboratory networks. 4. Development of EID diagnosis, treatment, and control. 5. Strengthening of integrated outbreak investigation and control. Strategy 2 seeks, 1) to manage EID-free animal husbandry systems in livestock, domestic animals, and wildlife; 2) to reduce the economic impact on in-house livestock trade and exportation of animals and animal products; 3) to prevent and reduce negative impact on food security and livelihood of agriculturists. Targets of Strategy 3 are: 1. To establish integrated EID knowledge management (KM) in the country with systematic and sustainable knowledge utilization. 2. To promote appropriate research and development (R&D) on EIDs.
Regarding to increasing the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, Strategy 4 aims at: 1). establishing management and coordination systems for the prevention and problem-solving of EID outbreaks, which are connected to the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan 2010-2014; 2). establishing preparedness on EID emergency response among units of all sectors and the people; 3). To secure adequate resources and logistics for correction of the outbreak situation; 4). To establish efficient operational support systems for emergency response; 5). To reduce illnesses, deaths, and socio-economic impact arising from EID outbreaks. Tactics under Strategy 5 include: 1).Development of infrastructure and networks on risk communication and public relations in all sectors at all levels; 2). Formulation of strategies on EID risk communication and public relations; 3). Capacity building of personnel in charge of risk communication and public relations; 4). Efficiency improvement on risk communication and public relations; etc.