An Analysis of the School Catering Management System of Thailand Through HiAP's Four Pillars.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Despite the 1992 Primary School Lunch Program Fund Act, Thai children were nutritionally deficient and had low fiber consumption. Although having three ministries-public health, education and interior-involved with the school catering management system, the coordination was inadequate. In 2014, Thailand National Health Assembly (NHA) discussed this issue for better multi-sectoral solutions, and it was considered successful. This study explored the application of WHO Health in All Policies (HiAP)'s four pillars in the implementation of the NHA resolutions on 'School Catering Management System'. Enabling factors and challenges were also studied.

METHODS

Literature review, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews of stakeholders at national and provincial levels.

RESULTS

Analysis of the application of the HiAP approach on the NHA resolution on the school catering management system showed that it was complying with the four pillars: (1) governance and accountability; (2) leadership at all levels; (3) ways of working; and (4) resources, financing and capabilities. The NHA, Cabinet resolutions, and related official and unofficial mechanisms, as well as leadership were considered enabling factors leading to strong collaboration on school catering management.

CONCLUSIONS

To apply a health lens in non-health agencies using HiAP, it necessitates working through all of HiAP's four pillars. The legitimacy of governance bodies, ways of working and leadership along the process are enabling factors to improve coordination of this case with multi-sectoral collaboration. However, there are still challenges. SO WHAT?: HiAP's four pillars are useful for the policy process. It needs to analyse what pillar is weak and needs to improve for its sustainability.