The initiative, launched under the theme "Know (Disease), Prevent, Not Sick," was announced at the Robinson Lifestyle mall in Chalong, with key figures present including Pracha Asawateera, Director of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) Southern Region, and Chernphon Kanchanasaya, President of Phuket branch of the Federation of Thai Industries.
The Phuket Health Sandbox project is designed with the principle of "Build, Lead, Repair", aiming to raise awareness about healthcare and alleviate the strain on hospitals by offering accessible basic health examinations, Mr Rewat explained.
“The PPAO has harnessed digital technology to enhance health services, ensuring the use of modern tools and equipment to improve service quality. The focus is on empowering individuals to monitor their physical health, particularly to prevent prevalent issues such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure,” he said.
Recognising the silent threat these diseases pose to the residents of Phuket, Mr Rewat emphasised the significance of proactive health examinations in identifying basic health conditions. This includes measuring blood pressure, checking blood sugar levels, conducting preliminary electrocardiogram examinations, assessing bone and muscle mass, measuring BMI (Body Mass Index), and evaluating the risk of depression.
“The goal is to detect risks early on, thereby reducing sickness rates and preventing premature deaths in Phuket,” Mr Rewat said.
The project includes the launch of the Phuket Smart Healthcare website and the ‘Phuket Smart Healthcare’ application, available for free on both Android and iOS systems.
Mr Rewat said the ‘Phuket Smart Healthcare’ application plays a crucial role in the initiative.
“The public can access their health examination results through the app, and the data collected will be used for disease analysis in collaboration with network partners. This collaboration aims to create an effective plan for healthcare and raise awareness about public health,” he explained.
For those interested in availing the services, three health-promoting hospitals have been designated as service points:
- Ban Laem Chan Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital (in Wichit)
- Cherng Talay Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital
- Kamala Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital
Proactive inspections are also being conducted at various locations, and updates can be followed on the PPAO Facebook page or the Phuket Smart Healthcare page.
“The Phuket Health Sandbox project represents a significant step towards establishing a modern and comprehensive health service system, marking the initiation of Phuket Province as a world-class health tourism centre,” Mr Rewat concluded.