Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560 and the Opportunity to Develop the Emergency Medical System

Abstract

Since the Emergency Medical Act B.E. 2551 has been in effect for 13 years. The mortality and disability rates of Thai people from emergency including accidents are still high. One important cause is that the powers and duties stated in the act are insufficiently competent. While there are many government, private sectors and people involved in helping emergency patients, each sector has the law of the agency to specify the authority to apply which is not addressed the emergency medicine content. Or if they exist, there are few, look separated; and there is no clear authority to link each other. It is an obstacle to Thailand emergency medicine development. However, references and links that is done by Constitution, the highest hierarchy of laws, is the opportunity. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560 stipulates that a long term strategy is established, as well as the country reform plan, topromote the development of government services and the collaboration between public, private, non-government, local government and people; and becomes the principle of integration of relevant laws. Although the Emergency Medical Act B.E. 2551 is specific and in the level of provisions of the law. By virtue of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560 to integrate many of laws to resolve barriers to cross-organizational collaboration. Many times, emergency operations may require collaboration between emergency medical service, rescue service and police. The rescue work is under the responsibility of local government and non-government organization. There are still many other agencies involved in the case of mass casualty, specific hazard or disaster. Objections or arguments related to authority and mission of the person or organization that is authorized by law, will be able to operate and be able to use the state budget. The medical emergency development in Thailand is in line with the Constitution. It is a basic necessity that the state must provide the quality and standardization of public emergency medicine to protect the rights of the people when an emergency occurs, accessible to emergency patients thoroughly, equally and in time, enhance people’s basic knowledge to access protection and prevention, and achieve a reduction in mortality and disability of Thai people with the participation of network partners. Local government organizations should be promoted to be managers of emergency medicine by the decentralization concept; and develop a emergency medicine plan within the national strategy and country reform. Thus, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560 is an opportunity for the emergency medicine development.