บทสำรวจวาทกรรมและการเมืองเรื่องสมัชชาสุขภาพ

Abstract

This article analyzes the discourse that has taken place on the role of the Health Assembly in Thailand, with special focus on the politicizing public policies implemented at the provincial level. The study found that there are four significant roles of the Provincial Health Assembly (PHA), as follows: (1) it creates a public space, both for sharing and discussing local problems, and also to suggest or recommend solutions to such problems, solutions that are appropriate in the local context, (2) it acts as a collective learning experience for its stakeholders (3) it has created a network of various stakeholders, for collective mobilization of local issues, and (4) it acts as a strategic mechanism for mobilizing public policies. This kind of deliberation process has mobilized various public policies; not only those related to personal wellbeing and health, but also those related to societal well-being. However, the selected issues mobilized by the PHA have tended to be ‘cool public issues’, or issues that do not conflict with government policies, rather than ‘hot issues’, that is, those public policies affecting the well-being of local communities. The ‘hot issues’ tend to be those bias public policies which neglect local benefits and interests and often result in conflict between the people and communities involved.