Paradigm Shift from “Disease Treatment” to “Sustainable Well-being Creation”: A Mission That Requires Collaborative Efforts
When it comes to health, many people tend to associate it with disease or illness. The prevailing perception often focuses on treating illnesses or restoring compromised health, reflecting a reactive, problem-focused approach.
In recent times, there has been a groundswell of interest in the concept of wellness. The World Health Organization (WHO) has yet to define the meaning of wellness. But it is generally perceived as a proactive and positive approach to health that focuses on promoting and preserving well-being before illness occurs. It focuses on enhancing quality of life and fostering balance across physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions, empowering individuals to maintain a sustainable, holistic sense of health.
Today, Dr. Chamaree Chuapetcharasopon, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MedPark Hospital, honored us with an in-depth discussion on wellness, highlighting it as a new and crucial opportunity for Thailand alongside the continued focus on conventional health development. She also shared MedPark Hospital’s vision, which has taken the lead in establishing a foundation for wellness, aiming to support individuals in achieving well-being even before conception. How to accomplish the vision—let us explore together.
Wellness: A State Preceding Health
“Wellness encompasses eight dimensions: physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, financial, and spiritual. Nowadays in Thailand, the focus remains largely on the physical dimension. However, several other dimensions remain underdeveloped, particularly emotional, spiritual, environmental, and financial aspects. These areas represent key opportunities to build a more comprehensive and sustainable wellness system.”
Despite having highly skilled healthcare professionals and a globally recognized health system, Thailand's healthcare services mainly prioritize treatment over health promotion and disease prevention.
Dr. Chamaree believes that Thailand can develop a holistic healthcare system, establishing a foundation for wellness that supports individuals from the first day of life to the last. Such an approach could dramatically reduce healthcare costs over the long term, particularly those associated with treatment. Importantly, Thailand’s strengths in culture, service, and natural resources offer significant potential for developing wellness-related products and services.
“Today, the concept of wellness is generally interpreted along the lines of something that occurs long before health. While many view health as something that springs to action only once disease has arisen, wellness exists well upstream of health. Nurturing wellness from the start naturally leads to good health.”
Everyone Must Collaborate to Foster an Understanding that Population Wellness is a Strategic Long-Term Goal.
“Managing resources to develop national wellness is no simple task. Nearly every country has prioritized investment in the treatment of health conditions.”
To establish a robust and effective wellness system, it is essential to adopt a fresh perspective on resource allocation. All stakeholders must understand that this is a critical issue and a strategic long-term objective of the nation.
This issue is particularly urgent for Thailand, which is swiftly becoming an aging society. Such a demographic shift presents various challenges, including rising healthcare costs, a shortage of trained eldercare professionals, and a dearth of quality-of-life care for seniors.
Dr. Chamaree believes that promoting population wellness can empower future seniors to better care for themselves, engage in more meaningful lives, and significantly reduce the burden on the healthcare system over time. An illustrative example is Singapore’s Healthier Choice Symbol program, which uses a label on food products to indicate healthier options. The government enacts measures to spur the initiative, e.g., tax incentives, benefits for manufacturers, and reward points for consumers. The program has resulted in tangible changes in consumer behavior and has also encouraged the private sector to develop more health-promoting products.
“Wellness is a critical national issue and a long-term perspective. It is a relatively new concept for Thailand, which is more accustomed to initiatives that deliver tangible, short-term results. In contrast, some programs in other countries require 10 to 20 years to yield measurable outcomes. Yet they can achieve them in the end.”
Fostering Wellness Before Conception: A Strategic Initiative That MedPark Has Already Begun Implementing
“MedPark is a physician-designed hospital, established to deliver the highest standard of care. Naturally, the majority of our focus — around 80–90% — is on providing the most effective disease treatment. However, this does not imply that we ignore wellness. In fact, we have already begun initiatives in select areas, laying the groundwork to foster wellness for the future.”
One of the initiatives MedPark Hospital has already undertaken to lay the foundation for wellness is the launch of the Genomics Medicine Center. It aligns with a key future health trend, reflecting the belief that genomic sequencing technology can reveal far more about a person's health than previously imagined. Dr. Chamaree regards this as a significant technological investment. In addition to enabling individuals to screen for genetic risk factors or abnormalities, it also allows families to plan for their children's wellness even before the very first day of life.
“There is nothing more powerful than ‘If only I had known…’. If we could understand the risks to life even before we are born, we could begin planning a child’s lifestyle and habits right from the time they start breastfeeding. With proper planning from the early stages, many diseases and health issues would be preventable. It reflects our aspiration: to foster a healthy population even before they are born. In the future, we will no longer have to say ‘If only I had known’ about health matters — because we will truly ‘already know’.”
MedPark: A Hospital That Cares About the Wellness of All
“Beyond advanced technology, the environment is a key factor in promoting wellness. At MedPark, we are committed to creating a healthy and restorative environment — from the greenery that welcomes visitors upon entering the hospital to maintaining immaculate indoor air with minimal particulate matter, ensuring the well-being of patients and staff.”
Another key initiative MedPark Hospital has undertaken since its inception is creating a supportive environment for physicians, who are an essential resource and among the most highly stressed professionals. We believe that fostering physical and mental wellness not only enhances their well-being and job satisfaction but also enables them to deliver care more effectively. Measures include:
- Designated spaces for physicians to relax and unwind
- Areas for light physical activity
- Services to support healthy nutrition
For hospital staff, MedPark Hospital provides preventive health screenings, individual mental health counseling, and clubs to promote physical activity and relaxation. Looking ahead, Dr. Chamaree noted that the hospital plans to further enhance staff wellness by addressing emotional and social well-being, including activities designed to strengthen internal relationships and engagement with the broader community.
For patients and visitors, the hospital has expanded its wellness services with the launch of Well-Healing by MedPark at “One Bangkok.”
“MedPark is laying the groundwork for wellness with the ambition to be a lifetime partner, a trusted companion through every stage of life. We are committed not only to caring for you when illness arises but also to supporting you in achieving sustainable, lifelong wellness.”
