Turning crisis into opportunity a communication approach to enhance Thailand as the international center of medical hub thereafter the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract:
The success of managing the public health system under many restrictions during the
COVID-19 epidemic pushed Thailand's international medical hub policy closer to reality. This
research, therefore, aims to 1) study factors of Thailand's success in coping with the spread of COVID-19 and 2) study public relations communication guidelines in terms of content to
emphasize confidence in Thailand's medical potential after the end of the situation. The data were collected by quantitative and qualitative research from medical professionals and Thai people directly affected by the crisis. From quantitative research, the opinions toward the ability to control the infectious disease COVID-19 in Thailand are at a moderate level. The top 3 key success factors were 1) the national laboratory system for infection confirmation, 2) surveillance, disease investigation, and contact tracing, and 3) public communications for gaining community involvement. The qualitative research results also showed that Thailand's disease control strengths consisted of the competence of Thai medical personnel, the cooperation of the Thai people, and communication to educate about the disease from both the government and private sectors. From quantitative research, the opinions toward Thailand's medical potential as an international medical hub based on its ability to control COVID-19 are at a moderate level. The top 3 key success factors are 1) Medical services, 2) Health support services/ Thai traditional and alternative medicine services/ Academic services and medical research, and 3) Competitiveness in health service provision/ development of medicines and health products. The qualitative research also found that Thailand's medical strengths consist of the ability of medical personnel, excellent service mind, international standard hospitals, and reasonable prices. From quantitative research, considering the ability to control the infectious disease COVID19, the opinions toward medical public relations communication are moderate. The top 3
contents that should be presented are 1) the extension of experience in dealing with past
infectious disease outbreaks, 2) the availability of good scientific data and evidence, and 3) the integrated approach to all sector, both academic and private participation. Moreover, considering the medical potential of Thailand, the opinions toward medical public relations communication are high. The top 3 contents that should be presented are 1) the potential development of medical schools, 2) the potential development and increase of medical personnel production, and 3) the Development of academic services and medical research. From the qualitative research results, as an international medical hub, contents that should be published are the potential of medical personnel, experiences in managing the epidemic situation of COVID-19 under limited resources, excellence of medical services, and medical tourism. In summary, both medical personnel and Thai people agreed that ability to control
infectious disease COVID-19 and the potential to develop into an international medical hub of Thailand is moderate. To build confidence in the medical potential of Thailand as a medical hub, emphasis should be placed on the potential of medical personnel, especially Thai physicians who are the most outstanding strength.