The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, is advancing the development of communities with knowledge about health products. This initiative aims to enhance the public's ability to correctly and safely choose health products, reducing the risk of preventable health issues. The concept follows the theme "Stronger Communities through Literacy."
 
Mr. Lertchai Lertvut, Deputy Secretary-General of the Thai FDA, chaired a meeting to discuss ways to develop a health product literacy community through the BawornR Network , a community -based network comprising home, temple, school, and hospital, alongside 50 districts of Bangkok for the fiscal year 2026. The goal is to communicate policies and foster cooperation for the development of urban communities' awareness of health products through the BawornR network.
 
Since 2020, the Thai FDA has been working on developing a community with health product literacy in regional areas through the BawornR network, which now includes 360 communities in 66 provinces across Thailand. These initiatives encourage local participation in designing activities that reduce the risks of health product hazards, aligning with local lifestyles and indigenous knowledge. This approach helps strengthen communities and reduces long-term health risks sustainably.


For the fiscal year 2026, the Thai FDA aims to expand its " Health Product Literacy Community " program to urban districts, especially in Bangkok, to address the diverse and complex social conditions of city residents. This follows successful pilot projects in 2025, where the FDA worked with five districts: Khlong Toei, Samphanthawong, Thawi Watthana, Suan Luang, and Laksi. These projects provided proactive outreach and education on selecting health products and fostering environments conducive to healthy behaviors.

In the first year of the pilot, a health product literacy assessment showed an improvement of 78.34%, demonstrating the effectiveness of Thai FDA activities in increasing public awareness of health products. This progress reflects the community's improved ability to evaluate, choose, and use health products appropriately, laying a foundation for long-term health risk reduction.
 
The Thai FDA will continue to strengthen partnerships to drive every community in Bangkok to become a " Health Product Literacy Community," aiming to improve the quality of life and elevate the Thai FDA's role under the "FDA on Health Up" initiative for all Thai people.



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                                                                                             Publication Date 18 December 2025