On 31 August 2022, Adj. Prof. Dr. Vanchai Sirichana, Chairman of University Council and the Founding President of Mae Fah Luang University and Assoc. Prof. Dr.Chayaporn Wattanasiri, President of Mae Fah Luang University attended the Northern Wellness Economic Corridor meeting at MFU Medical Center Hospital. This meeting was jointly organised by the Department of Health Service Support, Thai Association for Town Planning, Health Entrepreneurs Network, public sector, private sector and educational institutions in order to promote a role of wellness sector in the country’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr. Thares Krassanairawiwong, Director-General of the Department of Health Service Support, the Ministry of Public Health who leads the ministry’s working group on the wellness sector, stated that the government has established policies to evolve Thailand into an international tourism hub by promoting wellness tourism business as well as herbal and health product business. Now, Thailand has been recognised as one of the world’s health tourism destinations. After the COVID-19 situation, in 2023, the government will focus more on promoting the high-end market, where medical tourism and health and wellness tourism businesses are becoming more popular. Hence, promoting and expanding these two groups will help generate more stable incomes and drive Thailand to become one of the world’s most renowned international health hubs.
Adj. Prof. Dr. Vanchai Sirichana delivered the special talk on the potential of Northern Thailand to become a wellness hub in the region. He expressed that Northern Thailand should be ready in three aspects including 1. spiritual readiness 2. healthcare system readiness and 3. policy readiness, which will improve the health of all groups and reduce health care costs.
Moreover, Assoc. Prof. Dr.Chayaporn Wattanasiri presented MFU’s technological and innovative competence and potential to support the Northern Wellness Economic Corridor. She stated as the educational institution, MFU has produced health science-related graduates in six Schools including School of Nursing, School of Health Science, School of Integrative Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Medicine and School of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. In addition, as MFU has a mission to support and promote health of people in the Greater Mekong Subregion, the university established MFU Medical Center which consists of MFU Medical Center Hospital, MFU Wellness Center, Institute of Thai – Chinese Traditional Medicine Hospital.
