August 19, 2021 at 14:00 p.m. – Khon Kaen University signed an MOU with the Department of Medical Services, for the development of digital medical certificate issuance. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University represented Khon Kaen University, while Dr. Somsak Akksilp, M.D., Director General of the Department of Medical Services represented the Department of Medical Services in the online MOU signing via ZOOM. Witnesses at this MOU signing ceremony comprised Asst. Prof. Denpong Soodphakdee, Ph.D., Vice President for Digital of KKU; Dr. Patarawin Attasara, M.D., Director of the Digital Medical Institute; Mr. Chaichana Weerasuchat, Director of the Ethical Protection Law and Discipline Group of the Department of Medical Services; and Dr. Thanapop Na Nakhonpanom, M.D., from the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.
Dr. Somsak Akksilp, M.D., Director General of the Department of Medical Services explained about the collaboration that the Department trusts Khon Kaen University for the expertise in medicine and digital. The Department sees that the issuance of digital medical certificates should be developed first at medical schools. The Faculty of Medicine of Khon Kaen University is the first place to help develop this system that is expected to upgrade Thai people’s quality of life during this critical period. It is hoped that the Department and KKU will go on cooperating in other matters in the future.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University added that the Department of Medical Services and Khon Kaen University see the importance in developing electronics medical certificates, which will replace hard-copy issuance. One purpose is to prevent fraud and another is for the document to be valid at an international level. This MOU is aimed at developing the prototype of issuance of electronics medical certificates according to the HL7 FHIR standard that is based on Blockchain technology. The MOU signing today is only the start of both parties to disseminate knowledge related to digital medical certificates over a broader circle.
Dr. Thanapop Na Nakhonpanom, M.D., from the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University related about the background of this certificate issuance. Khon Kaen University is under the process of developing electronics medical certificate issuance based on Blockchain and Decentralized Identifiers. The standard used is the international HL7 FHIR. The development has been planned to consist of 3 parts: issuing a certificate of vaccination, issuing a certificate of Covid-19 recovery, and issuing a certificate of laboratory examination. Now, the designs and prototypes are close to completion, and are expected to be experimented on soon. Next, the details will be transferred to the Department of Medical Services for further use in the country.
MC at the ceremony: Wallaya Phungam from the Communications Division
News: Jiraporn Prathomchai
Source: Dr. Thanapop Na Nakhonpanom, M.D., from the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University
Photos /online signing system: Center for Teaching and Learning Center, KKU
