Bangkok: The NHSO board has expressed its support for the National Health Security Office (NHSO) mechanism in its mission to advance the "Transforming Sports into a Lifestyle for Better Health" initiative. This strategy aims to incorporate sports into the daily lives of Thai citizens to enhance public health and reduce non-communicable diseases.
According to Thai News Agency, the NHSO Board has acknowledged the importance of promoting physical activity among Thais of all ages through the local health insurance fund mechanism. The initiative's target is to extend its reach to 1,315 areas across the nation by 2026, effectively covering one village per sub-district. This effort is a part of a broader objective to transform sports into a lifestyle, thereby enhancing the quality of life for the Thai population in a sustainable manner.
Mr. Pattana Promphat, Minister of Public Health and Chairman of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) Board, highlighted after the 6th/2026 NHSO Board meeting on June 4, 2026, that the Board recognized the situation and formulated guidelines to promote increased physical activity through the Local Health Security Fund (LHSF). This fund is a pivotal mechanism for fostering health promotion and disease prevention at the community level.
Mr. Phatthana emphasized that this approach is in harmony with the Royal Patronage's Sports Promotion Project, which seeks to instill a passion for exercise and sports across all age groups. It aligns with the government's policy to prioritize citizens' quality of life by integrating cooperation across various sectors and leveraging local mechanisms to implement health initiatives effectively.
The initiative is designed to encompass all age groups, from early childhood and school-age children to working adults and the elderly, including individuals at risk for non-communicable diseases, those with controlled chronic diseases, and people with disabilities or vulnerable groups. Each area is encouraged to tailor activities to fit the context, lifestyle, and needs of the community.
Dr. Jadet Thammathacharee, Secretary-General of the NHSO, stated that the initiative is centered on the concept "Exercise is Medicine," recognized globally as a vital tool in preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and obesity.
Dr. Jadet explained that the NHSO fund mechanism will offer budgetary and management support in collaboration with local administrative organizations, sub-district health promotion hospitals, village health volunteers, schools, sports clubs, and various partner networks. This collaboration aims to promote physical activities that are suitable for each community and ensure their continuous implementation.
Historical data indicates that the National Physical Activity Promotion Fund has consistently backed projects encouraging physical activity nationwide. In 2024, it supported 8,151 projects with a budget of 184.47 million baht, followed by 7,881 projects in 2025 with 172.86 million baht, and has already supported 3,519 projects in 2026 with a budget of 94.08 million baht.
'The long-term vision is to integrate exercise into the daily lifestyle of Thais of all ages, using communities as a foundation for health promotion and the National Health Security Fund (NHSF) as a mechanism to unite all sectors towards achieving tangible and sustainable health results,' concluded Dr. Jadet.