72 rehabilitation centers launched in Saraburi
 
Saraburi Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) launched the "Happiness Sharing Center" in 72 locations, providing rehabilitation therapy to local communities in 13 districts of Saraburi.  
 
The centers are funded under the Provincial Rehabilitation Fund, the National Health Security Office (NHSO)'s initiative targeting people with disabilities, elders, and patients requiring rehabilitation therapy.
 
Introduced in 2009, the Provincial Rehabilitation Fund offers funding opportunities to PAOs across Thailand to improve the target population's livelihood by providing them with rehabilitation services within their communities' outreach.
 
Having the rehabilitation centers close to their home will ensure the consistency of physical therapy and the desired outcomes. Patients don't need to commute to hospitals, which can be costly and time-consuming and discourage them from getting regular treatment.  
 
Thanakrit Atthasampunna, deputy chief executive of Saraburi PAO, said that the centers' launch was successful thanks to the collaboration of Saraburi PAO, the NHSO, and Saraburi Provincial Health Office. 
 
Saraburi PAO and the NHSO have shared costs incurred from providing rehabilitation services, of which Saraburi PAO and the NHSO contributed four and 2.1 million baht, respectively.
 
The health facilities has provided health staff, including physiotherapists stationed at each Happiness Sharing Center, at least once a week.
 
Saraburi PAO has purchased the rehabilitation aids and physiotherapy equipment and distributed them to the patients who need them. It has also set up the equipment repairing center and supported local people to make equipment from used materials such as plastic bottles, coconut shells, and robes.
 
Dr Prasithichai Mungjit, deputy director of Saraburi Provincial Health Office, said that around six to seven patients needing rehabilitation emerge each day. Each of them requires to spend about half a year in rehabilitation therapy.
 
"Currently, between five to six Happiness Sharing Centers are launched in each district, improving the chance for patients to get consistent rehabilitation therapy," he said.
 
"Around 50 physiotherapists have worked in hospitals in our province. They can take turns to visit the centers and provide regular rehabilitation therapy to local communities."
 
In early Jan, Dr Jadej Thammatacharee, the NHSO's Secretary-General, and his deputy Dr Aphichart Rodsom visited the Happiness Sharing Center at Huay Bong sub-district in Saraburi's Chalermphrakiat District.
 

Dr Jadej found the local community warmly welcomed the center. But he also saw room for improvement, including finding more effective ways to engage multi-stakeholders in the center's operation.   
 
At the provincial level, multi-stakeholders are represented in the committee for managing the Provincial Rehabilitation Fund to ensure the effectiveness and transparency of the fund spending.
 
The stakeholders include the government officials, PAO, Tambol Administrative Organization, the NHSO, Provincial  Public Health Office, health professionals and providers, civil society, local communities, and people with disabilities and elders.
 
"I believe that each rehabilitation center supported by the Provincial Rehabilitation Fund can grow and become an independent health unit in the future.
 
The center staff may raise more funding from different sources beyond PAOs and the NHSO," said Dr Jadej.
 

In 2022, the NHSO allocated 150 million baht to the Provincial Rehabilitation Fund and supported 58 PAOs in strengthening their capacity to manage the rehabilitation centers. 
 
/////////////////