(left to right) Mr Phathai Sittisut, Assistant Secretary-General of the National Security Council Office, Mr Narin Kalyanamitr, Adviser to the Minister of Public Health, and Dr Ailan Li, WHO Representative to Thailand
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Dr. Sariddet Charoenchai, Director, Division of Public Health Emergency Management
© Credits
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Thailand strengthens readiness for all-hazards emergencies through M-MEX 2026

11 June 2026
Highlights
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Bangkok, Thailand, 10 June 2026 – The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), in collaboration with the National Security Council Office, WHO Thailand and 54 partner agencies, launched the Medical Emergency Management Exercise 2026 (M-MEX 2026) to strengthen Thailand’s preparedness and response capacity for public health emergencies and disasters.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr Narin Kalyanamitr, Adviser to the Minister of Public Health, and attended by Mr Phathai Sittisut, Assistant Secretary-General of the National Security Council Office, Dr Ailan Li, WHO Representative to Thailand, and representatives from government agencies, health authorities, other relevant sectors and partner organizations. WHO Thailand supports the exercise as part of its ongoing collaboration with national partners to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response capacities.

Strengthening preparedness for increasingly complex emergencies

M-MEX 2026 forms part of the National Crisis Management Exercise 2026 (C-MEX 26) and supports Thailand’s efforts to strengthen health security under the National Security Policy and Plan (2023–2027). As countries face increasingly complex emergencies, including emerging infectious diseases, natural disasters, biological and chemical hazards, and cyberattacks, strengthening preparedness and response capacities remains essential to protect lives, maintain essential health services and safeguard national health security.
Guided by the Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery (2P2R) framework, the exercise aims to strengthen incident management systems, coordination, communication and operational readiness across all levels of the health system, from national authorities to provincial health offices and local partners.

Testing readiness before emergencies occur

Conducted from 10–12 June 2026, M-MEX 2026 combines table-top and functional exercise components designed to test plans, procedures and decision-making processes in a realistic but controlled environment.

Through a combination of table-top discussions and functional simulations, participants will test emergency plans and response procedures across a range of complex scenarios, including shelter management and patient evacuation, outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, biological and chemical incidents, and cybersecurity events affecting health systems. By simulating emergencies before they occur, the exercise helps agencies assess readiness, validate emergency plans, identify operational gaps and strengthen coordination mechanisms across sectors.

Advancing a whole-of-government approach to health security

A total of 270 participants from 54 agencies are taking part in the exercise, including provincial public health offices, health regions, departments within the Ministry of Public Health, and national partners from the disaster management and other relevant sectors.

Through M-MEX 2026, Thailand continues to advance a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to emergency preparedness, bringing together health, emergency management and relevant sectors to strengthen readiness for future public health emergencies and disasters. Through its partnership with the Ministry of Public Health and other national stakeholders, WHO Thailand remains committed to supporting efforts to build resilient health systems and strengthen health emergency preparedness and response capacities across the country.