Pattana Accelerates 'Community Volunteer Nurse' Program with 15,000 Baht Monthly Salary to Serve One Subdistrict
Thailand's Public Health Ministry is launching an accelerated Community Volunteer Nurse Program, deploying trained nurses earning 15,000 baht monthly to provide home care in underserved communities, starting with one nurse per subdistrict.
On May 14, 2569, Public Health Minister Pattana Prom-Pattana announced the acceleration of the Community Volunteer Nurse Program (อสพ.) following a high-level executive meeting. The program will deploy trained volunteer nurses earning a minimum of 15,000 baht monthly to care for homebound patients, elderly patients, those with chronic diseases, mental health patients, and others in their communities, beginning with one volunteer nurse per subdistrict and expanding to one per village within three years.
The volunteer nurses will undergo both theoretical and practical training in June before deploying to communities in July-August. Unlike healthcare volunteers (อสม.), these will be full-time caregivers holding bachelor's degrees and working on a supplementary basis to reduce the burden on families whose members must leave employment for caregiving. The initial budget will come from central government allocations in the 2570 fiscal year, placing no burden on hospitals or local health facilities.
Regarding Thailand's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) scheduled for May 17-27, Minister Pattana confirmed that 22 countries have already expressed interest in bilateral discussions following Thailand's cabinet approval to propose a candidate for WHO Director-General to succeed Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whose term ends mid-2570. The Foreign Ministry and Public Health Ministry are currently consulting on the candidate selection, with nominations already received and discussions ongoing with qualified individuals.