28
Jan

The Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) is a globally recognized platform established in 2007 to address emerging global health challenges through high-level, evidence-based discussion. While PMAC has historically operated as an annual event, there is a growing demand to expand its influence into a year-round platform. To meet this need, the PMAC Strategic Institute has been conceptualized to provide continuous policy engagement, knowledge generation, and capacity building aligned with global health priorities – in partnership between the International Health Policy Program (IHPP) Foundation, the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, and the Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University.  

A key partner of PMAC, the IHPP Foundation is a cornerstone of health policy and systems research (HPSR) and advocacy, both in Thailand and globally. Since its founding in 2001, the IHPP Foundation has been instrumental in generating evidence that shape health policies and health systems in Thailand in alignment with global standards, including universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

As the IHPP Foundation approaches its 25th anniversary this January 2026, the Foundation sees a unique opportunity and platform to reflect, acknowledge, and chart a course for the future by bringing together stakeholders and partners from the HPSR network in this side meeting. The side meeting will also serve as a formal introduction to the new PMAC Strategic Institute. Such a gathering is invaluable for knowledge-sharing, strengthening and catalyzing collaboration, capacity building, and raising awareness for upcoming health researchers to continue to make long-lasting health and societal impacts.