Bangkok: The government has initiated a public consultation process for the draft Community Nursing Volunteer Act, inviting feedback through the central online system from today until early October 2026. The initiative seeks to gather public opinion on the principles of three draft laws related to community nursing volunteers, a move aimed at enhancing proactive primary healthcare services.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ploytalay Laksmisangchan, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, disclosed that the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is leading the effort to solicit public input on the regulations. The draft laws are designed to establish Community Nursing Volunteers to complement the existing healthcare system without creating a new profession. The regulations propose that these volunteers should be managed with a focus on achieving mission results rather than adhering to regular working hours.
Another key aspect open for public comment is the draft regulation that outlines the assignment of medical practices to community nursing volunteers under the supervision of medical professionals. The public is invited to provide feedback on whether community nursing volunteers should perform certain medical practices essential for proactive primary care, continuous community care, and emergency first aid.
The final draft open for public comment details the rights, rates, criteria, methods, and conditions for remunerating community nurse volunteers. The proposal suggests a remuneration rate of 15,000 baht per month, with the possibility of additional reimbursement for travel expenses, equipment costs, and accident insurance. The draft also recommends using mission objectives, performance results, quality, and safety as criteria for payment, instead of basing it on timekeeping or the number of working hours.
The government encourages participation from the public, government officials, village health volunteers (VHVs), Bangkok health volunteers (BHVs), and other stakeholders. Comments are invited through the central legal system website, with deadlines set for October 7, 2026, for the first two draft laws and October 8, 2026, for the final draft.