Phitsanulok Expands Mobile Health Service Program to Tackle Heat and Disaster Risks

The Phitsanulok Provincial Public Health Office announced an expansion of its Mobile Health Unit program to address the impacts of extreme heat and the disaster risks that may arise during the rainy season. The mobile units will provide basic health screenings, check-ups for chronic diseases, free medication distribution, and education on emergency first aid. They will also offer guidance on preventing waterborne and flood-related illnesses to residents in rural areas who have limited access to public health services.

The idea for the program came from an assessment of local population health, which found that the elderly and people with chronic conditions are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat and medication shortages during emergencies. The public health agency said it will increase the number of mobile service vehicles from six to ten, deploying them to subdistricts with dense populations along the Nan River and to routes that frequently experience flooding. Services will include routine vaccinations, first-aid drills, and distribution of flood-related protective kits—such as mosquito repellents, antiseptics for wounds, and self-care manuals.

The project is also integrated with local agencies, including subdistrict administrative organizations, municipalities, and village health volunteers, to build a database of vulnerable people in the community. This will make service delivery more targeted and faster. Residents of Dong Prakhum and Ban Krang subdistricts—areas that have experienced flooding—praised the improved accessibility of care, especially elderly people who no longer have to travel to large city hospitals.

Beyond medical services, the program emphasizes disaster preparedness education, such as stocking up on regular medications, preparing personal survival kits, and designating safe areas in the home. It also seeks to build a network of community health volunteers to monitor blood pressure and blood sugar and to observe for abnormal symptoms that could result from extreme heat or flooding.

Expected benefits of the program include reducing unnecessary emergency hospital admissions and easing the burden on the health system during crises. It will also increase community readiness to face changing weather patterns and natural disasters. The provincial governor said performance will be monitored and evaluated after six months of operation to improve services to better meet public needs.

In the long term, health officials aim to develop the mobile health service model as an example for other northern provinces, focusing on cross-agency collaboration and using information technology to record patient data so that treatment and risk management are effective and sustainable. Phitsanulok residents who have used the service say the program has given families greater confidence, especially during periods of volatile weather and frequent natural emergencies.