Assoc. Prof. Dr.Visit Vamvanij, Deputy Dean for Medical Services Mission, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, remarked, "Thailand has now transitioned into an Aged society, with over 20% of the population aged 60 and above. Projections indicate a move towards a Super-aged society within the next decade, with over 28% of the population being elderly. Recognising this, the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, recognises the significance of preparing for demographic changes in the country's population, particularly addressing the increasing trend of elderly patients seeking treatment at Siriraj Hospital, which currently comprises around 60% of the hospital's total patient count. Hence, the commencement of the construction of the Siriraj Academic Centre of Geriatric Medicine on Khlong Si Wa Pha Sawat Road, Tambon Nadee Subdistrict, Mueang District of Samut Sakhon Province, covering an area of over 24 rai, seeks to complement the continuum of effective rejuvenation and care for the elderly."
Prof. Dr. Visit elaborated further, stating that the Siriraj Academic Centre of Geriatric Medicine would serve as a pioneering facility for comprehensive elderly care in Thailand, employing the intermediate care system. This model, gaining prominence in global public health sectors, is already operational in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and Italy. This approach focuses on rehabilitating and caring for elderly patients after stabilising acute illnesses, facilitated by specialised medical personnel and a Multidisciplinary Team, preparing them for a return to their homes and communities in good health. Additionally, the Siriraj Academic Centre of Geriatric Medicine offers screening and check-up services for the elderly population to detect any health anomalies, including those in the pre-ageing group, aged between 50-59 years, ensuring physical and mental readiness before entering an elderly society in the future.
Clinical Prof. Emeritus Udom Kachintorn, MD, Committee Member and Deputy Manager of the Siriraj Foundation, commented, "Presently, Siriraj Hospital, along with hospitals and public health facilities nationwide, is witnessing a continuous surge in the number of elderly patients requiring rehabilitation and care post-acute treatments. This surge is due to the distinct recovery period among the elderly, unlike other age groups, significantly affecting their capabilities or self-care efficiency, necessitating a considerable period for recuperation to return to normalcy. Moreover, both patients and their primary caregivers often lack adequate knowledge and understanding of proper care, leading to hospital readmissions. Therefore, Siriraj Hospital must play a pivotal role in accelerating efforts to foster a high-quality elderly society and augment comprehensive care standards. This calls for robust support from all sectors to actively contribute to the realisation of this project across various aspects. Collaborating with partners such as The Minor Food Group will be another significant driving force in the second phase's construction of the Siriraj Academic Centre of Geriatric Medicine, harnessing Minor Food's formidable potential."
Mr.Thunyachate Ekvetchavit, Chief Operating Officer at Minor Food Group Public Company Limited, emphasised, "As a food business operator in Thailand, Minor Food acknowledges the importance of fully engaging in the elderly community, emphasising the significance of promoting and sustaining health. We aim to establish a happiness index within society under the concept of 'Live Healthy, Live Long, and Live Well.' This aims to propagate quality meals for a healthier society and our customers. We plan to consistently develop sustainable menus from various brands under our umbrella, offering new health-beneficial menus or made with sustainable ingredients by the year 2024. This aligns with the ongoing megatrend of health-consciousness globally, making the health food market worth over 1 trillion US dollars."
Mr.Thunyachate also underscored that in order to promote a sustainable senior society, they have collaborated with the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, and Siriraj Foundation for the #MinorCares campaign. This initiative invites significant customers to genuinely participate by fundraising for the construction of the Siriraj Academic Centre of Geriatric Medicine. This can be achieved by ordering special menu items under 10 brands within the conglomerate, including The Pizza Company, Sizzler, Swensen's, Burger King, BonChon, The Coffee Club, Dairy Queen, Coffee Journey, Auntie Anne's, Poulet, and Riverside Grill & Fish Market, available in over 1,900 branches in Thailand. Donations can also be made voluntarily through the campaign's QR Payment available at participating branches and the brand's social media platforms.
Additionally, Mrs.Chompan Kulnides, Chief Sustainability Officer, Minor International Public Company Limited, highlighted, "Sustainability in every aspect of society is another crucial element that Minor values and upholds consistently. Collaboration in this initiative aligns with the organisation's core mission to conduct business under a sustainable development strategy. We are ready to support as an organisation that is socially responsible by outlining a Sustainability strategy comprising three strategies: 1) People, 2) Value Chain, and 3) Environment. This involves enhancing support as a responsible corporate entity and fostering societal responsibility, leading towards value creation within the organisation. This in turn leads to cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, and Siriraj Foundation, in the campaign #MinorCares to promote and raise funds for the construction of the Siriraj Academic Centre of Geriatric Medicine."
The establishment of the Siriraj Academic Centre of Geriatric Medicine is considered Thailand's first step in laying the foundation for public healthcare systems and preparedness. This aims to propel Thai society towards a sustainable and high-quality ageing society, engaging the general public and those with goodwill to actively participate in creating a sustainable and high-quality elderly community through the 'Minor Care' campaign. By simply ordering special menu items under the 10 brands within the group - The Pizza Company, Swensen's, Sizzler, Burger King, Bonchon, The Coffee Club, Dairy Queen, Coffee Journey, Poulet, and Riverside Grilled Fish & Mala - individuals can also contribute financially via QR payment within the store's promotional media at participating branches. Donations made through the project can receive donation receipts and details via Line: @sirirajfoundation, Email: [email protected], and are eligible for a 2X tax deduction
Source: JC&CO Communications
