The initiative was discussed at a provincial meeting held at the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office on Tuesday (July 14), chaired by Vice Governor Suwit Phansengiam.
The meeting was attended by Dr Direk Khamphaen, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, along with representatives from the public health sector, livestock authorities, natural resources agencies, local administrative organisations and other partner organisations.
Officials said the integrated approach is intended to strengthen Phuket’s ability to detect, prevent and respond to communicable diseases and other health threats while supporting the island’s status as a safe international tourism destination.
Phuket’s position as one of Thailand’s leading tourist destinations makes public health security an essential part of sustaining both tourism and economic development, officials said.
They noted that many modern health threats, including emerging infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases transmitted between animals and humans, and environmental hazards, require coordinated action across multiple sectors.
Dr Direk said the One Health concept enables agencies to share information and coordinate disease surveillance and response, rather than working independently.
He explained that linking data and operations between public health, livestock and environmental agencies would allow authorities to identify risks more quickly and respond more effectively to public health emergencies.
The Department of Disease Control also reported progress in implementing the One Health policy during the 2026 fiscal year. Officials said 91.67% of One Health status assessments and collaborative disease-priority planning had been completed, while 83.33% of provincial working groups had been established.
The meeting also discussed developing shared databases, strengthening staff capacity and preparing integrated surveillance and disease-control plans aimed at improving local responses through earlier detection, faster intervention and more effective prevention.