Hua Hin Model positions city as health hub
The Hua Hin Model is being positioned as a blueprint to transform the city into a health innovation hub, following the signing of a multi-agency agreement aimed at integrating lifestyle medicine into schools.
On 27 March, the Governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sitthichai Sawat-saen, presided over a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony at the Prachuap Grand Hotel in Hua Hin. The agreement brings together four key organisations: Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Hua Hin City Municipality, Regional Health Promotion Centre 5 in Ratchaburi, and the Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Public Health Office.
The initiative sets out to develop the Hua Hin Model as a pilot programme for promoting health through lifestyle medicine in educational institutions. Officials said the collaboration reflects growing coordination between local government and public health bodies to address long-term wellbeing at the community level.
The programme forms part of the “Lifestyle Medicine in School” initiative, aligned with the “10-classroom development policy”, specifically under “Classroom 5: Health Promotion”. It focuses on equipping teachers and student leaders with the skills to act as Lifestyle Medicine Coaches, supporting behavioural change across six core areas: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, avoidance of substance abuse, and mental wellbeing.
Rather than adding to existing lesson hours, the programme aims to integrate practical health education into current school activities. Plans also include the establishment of lifestyle medicine clinics within schools, alongside the development of a network linking schools, families and communities.
Multi-agency roles support rollout of Hua Hin Model
Each participating organisation has been assigned a defined role. The provincial administration will provide policy direction under the concept of developing a “Wellness City”, while the Provincial Public Health Office will contribute technical expertise, research and coordination of health networks.
Regional Health Promotion Centre 5 will support standards in lifestyle medicine and oversee evaluation at a regional level. Hua Hin City Municipality will act as the pilot base, providing funding, personnel and access to schools and students.
Following the signing ceremony, certificates were presented to 82 participants who completed training under the Lifestyle Medicine in School programme. The group included teachers and student leaders from schools under Hua Hin City Municipality.
Participants underwent training across all six areas of lifestyle medicine and are expected to play a central role in expanding the initiative within schools and into the wider community. Officials said the group would help translate knowledge into practical actions that can be adopted by families and local networks.
In his remarks, the governor described the participants as a driving force capable of delivering meaningful change at the grassroots level. He said the agreement marked an important step in advancing Prachuap Khiri Khan’s ambition to become a sustainable “Wellness City”, beginning with young people and the education system.
He added that improving public health extends beyond healthcare services, encompassing overall quality of life and wellbeing. Participants were encouraged to act as frontline contributors in promoting healthier lifestyles within their communities.
The agreement came into effect on 27 March. Under its terms, all signatory organisations are permitted to share and use jointly developed materials and knowledge as part of a common resource for public benefit.
Officials said the long-term aim is to expand the Hua Hin Model into a national framework for health-focused education, supporting wider efforts to build healthier communities through schools and youth-led initiatives.
