Mahidol University: A key contributor to Thailand’s COVID-19 success story  
 
When the first COVID-19 case was discovered in Thailand in mid-January 2020, health experts, including those from Mahidol University, were summoned by the Thai government to plan for the strategy to curb the outbreak.
 
COVID-19 was an unknown disease at the time. Many questions emerged. How did the disease spread between people? What were the warning symptoms? What were the right measures to protect people from the virus? When would it end?  
 
Though rolling to the uncertainty, Mahidol University’s faculties jumped in. Mahidol University is the leading academic university in Thailand and Asia that involves in the national fight against COVID-19. Its staff has collaborated across faculties and worked with Ministry of Public Health and related stakeholders to take immediate public health response to the pandemic.
 
“We have our strength in life science and medicine. Many staff has expertise in several subspecialties. They can provide the knowledge and carry on the research, and develop many medical innovations to support us in a crisis,” said Professor Dr Banchong Mahaisavariya, President of Mahidol University.
 
The university staff launched several innovations during the pandemic, including Cas13-based diagnostic kits LAMP PCR, food delivery robots, and a drive-through blood test to solve the challenge from social distancing. Some took part in COVID-19 monitoring and prevention program for vulnerable populations and local communities.
 
Their contribution was discussed during Prince Mahidol Award Conference’s virtual field trips on 25 January, which showed how the university staffs has deeply involved in the battle against COVID-19 and played prominent roles behind Thailand’s success story.
 
INVOLVE IN POLICY MAKING
After the discovery of the first local transmission case, Thai government took an immediate response to set up the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) — a platform in which the government works with health experts, researchers, and multi-stakeholders to curve the outbreak.
 
Several experts from Mahidol University joined the CCSA, including the former Public Health Minister Clinical Professor Emeritus Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, who is also the chairman of Mahidol University Council.
 
“What happened was that we had a meeting nearly every day in an emergency operating system at the Public Health Permanent Secretary Office,” said Professor Dr Piyamitr Sritara, Dean of Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.
 
“We tried our best to meet with the private sector to make a policy dialogue, and make the synergy between public health and the university’s research. We tried to find relevant research to answer what it needs, such as methods of testing, isolation, and treatment.”
 
Professor Dr Prasit Watanapa, Dean of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, said during the virtual field trip that reducing the number of new cases was the key measure to controlling the spread of the virus.   
 
“If you can reduce the number of new cases, there will be a reduction in the number of patients needing admission. The resources that seem lacking will be enough to be used. Because the number of cases admitted to hospitals seems to be decreasing,” he said.  
 
Provide public information is necessary, he said. CCSA holds a press conference every day to update the situation, with the helping hands of Mahidol University’s experts who analyze the trend and impact of the outbreak.  
 
During a press conference, the government spokesperson also urges people to comply with health measures and change their behaviors to reduce local transmission cases. To encourage them to collaborate, it is necessary to explain to them the reasons behind the government’s strict measures, including a curfew, travel restriction, and city lockdown.
 
EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES
 
“As the Faculty of Public Health, the university expects us to support any programs that can help in minimizing the burden of COVID-19. What we are keen on doing is working with the communities [to achieve that,] said Dr Chanuantong Tanasugarn, Dean of Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University.
 
“We act as a middle man to translate the policy in relevant to the people and the culture in their communities or in their areas.”
 
The faculty staff has worked closely with village health volunteers to convey the right message to local communities, that can encourage them to change behaviors by wearing face masks, washing hands regularly, and complying with social distancing measures.  
 
As COVID-19 is different from other diseases, the faculty staff offered training to village health volunteers to make them comprehend the new information concerning the novel coronavirus.
 
Once they have information, said Dr Chanuantong, they started following doctors’ guideline and sharing information to their peers — enabling them to analyze the outbreak situation, prevent themselves from the risk of exposure to the virus, and see the positive outcomes at the end.
 
“This is the way to empower them,” she said.
 
Mahidol University has run a district research center in a local community to promote health literary and good governance in healthcare policy, and bring in collaboration among researchers and local communities.
 
It also collaborated with National Health Security Office, the government agency overseeing Universal Coverage Scheme, to run COVID-19 monitoring and surveillance program for vulnerable people, including homeless people and inmates in Bangkok and neighboring provinces.
 
“The government policy is very effective to control the spread of infection, in which there is no significant evidence of disease dissemination among the homeless group,” said Professor Dr Chartchalerm Isarankura-na-Ayudhya, Dean, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University.
 
“Good policy, collaboration and good behaviors of Thai people made Thailand went through the COVID-19 crisis smoothly."
 
SYNERGY
 
Apart from health expertise, engineering excellence of Mahidol University has also contributed to the management of coronavirus outbreak.  
 
“At the time that we encountered COVID-19, we gathered our faculty staff and found out what we could make some contribution. We had already developed robot technology, so we came up with several approaches and solutions to use robots for food and drug delivery," Associate Professor Jackrit Suthakorn, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University said. 
 
His staff integrated robotics into health services that reduce the physical contact between patients and healthcare workers. The robot is used to carry waste bins, deliver food and drug to patients under quarantine and treatment in patients area.
 
The faculty staff has also worked on developing Artificial Intelligence and data analysis technology for the healthcare sector.   
 
“The synergy is the best thing that happens in our country. Not only leaders in the government, also Public Health Minister, researchers from universities, even private sector, join hand and make a contribution during the crisis,” said Dr Piyamitr.
 
As Thailand is experiencing the new-emerging phase of COVID-19, which started in mid-December last year from a seafood wholesale market in Samut Sakhon, the experience from the first outbreak helped the government and health experts dealing with the pandemic more effectively — without lock down the whole country, instead, implementing travel restriction at the coronavirus hotspot areas.
 
Dr Prasit said that the reason behind the policy changing was policymakers knowing better about COVID-19. Health facilities have better resources, including N95 masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
 
Several innovations are currently available as a result of engineers’ contribution during the first wave. Finally, Thailand has the experience and learn about the disease from critically ill patients in the first wave. Now it can reduce the mortality rate in the new-emerging phase.
 
Moreover, Thai government set up emergency funds in respond to the outbreak, allowing every Thai in all healthcare schemes to access testing and treatment regardless of their financial circumstances.
 
 “Funding work like an immune system,” said Dr Prasit.