The Rural Doctors Movement (RDM) joined the 66^th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies and related events held during the 66^th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Festival Season during 13-16 November 2024 in Manila, Republic of the Philippines. The series of engagements provided platforms for the RDM to share the success story of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Thailand.

The RDM was invited to give a lecture titled “The Path to Inclusive Healthcare: Following the Footsteps of Thailand’s RDM” on 13 November 2024 as part of the Ramon Magsaysay Transformative Leadership Institute Series, where all the 2024 awardees were invited to share their impactful works. Dr. Vichai Chokevivat, former president of the RDM, shared insights into the Movement’s collaborative efforts since the 1960s to address inaccessibility to healthcare, particularly in rural areas of Thailand. The talk also outlined the Movement’s collaborative and sustainable approach, which has been essential in institutionalising long-term improvements. Despite various challenges, the RDM successfully partnered with Thai governments and like-minded stakeholders to drive transformative changes in public health policy. One of the most significant achievements has been the Thailand’s UHC program, which was implemented in 2002 and has provided free medical care to the Thai citizen anywhere in the country.

Additionally, the RDM gave a lecture at the College of Public Health, University of the Philippines, Manila Campus on 12 November, as well as to participate in a discussion with the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians on 14 November. These events were well-received and attended by a large number of participants.

 Amongst the highlights was a Roundtable Discussion co-organised by the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila, the Department of Health of the Philippines and the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation (RMAF) on 13 November. This discussion focused on healthcare cooperation between Thailand and the Philippines as part of the celebration of the 75^th anniversary of Thailand-Philippines diplomatic relations this year. The participants included Ambassador Tull Traisorat, Dr. Vichai Chokevivat, Rural Doctors Foundation President
Dr. Choochai Supawongse, Rural Doctors Society President Dr. Supat Hasuwannakit, Department of Health Assistant Secretary for Universal Health Care Policy and Strategy Dr. Albert Domingo, Director of Health Promotion Bureau Ms. Tina Marasigan, 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Dr. Steven Muncy, RMAF President Ms. Susan Afan, and RMAF Trustee and Former Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform Professor Ernesto Garilao.

The Roundtable Discussion provided an excellent opportunity for executives and healthcare experts from both countries to exchange best practices and experiences, as well as to discuss future public health cooperation between Thailand and the Philippines in various aspects. This includes the conclusion of the MOUs under ongoing negotiations by the health authorities of both countries, particularly those related to UHC. Furthermore, the meeting recognised the importance of strengthening partnership and cooperation between health authorities, hospitals and medical schools of both countries, as well as the potentials to broaden cooperative initiatives in ASEAN by utilising the expertise and networks of Ramon Magsaysay Awardees to effectively tackle critical health challenges in Southeast Asia. To further strengthen Thailand-Philippines cooperation beyond the event, the RDM also invited the Philippine Department of Health to have a study visit to Thailand on the “30-Baht Treats All Diseases” which is being upgraded to “30-Baht Treatment Anywhere,” and the management of diseases and healthcare in Thailand. Most recently, on 27 November 2024, the National Health Security Office of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Health Insurance Corporation of the Republic of the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the development of the DRG system, which is crucial for the sustainable and successful development of the Universal Health Coverage system, in the Philippines.