Between 16 and 18 February 2026, the Office of Academic Service at Khon Kaen University hosted the 10th iteration of its training programme titled “Medical Dispute Mediation” at the S.D. Avenue Hotel. The primary objective of the course was to develop knowledge, understanding, and skills for managing medical disputes through creative and peaceful mediation processes. The initiative aims to enhance the capacity of healthcare professionals to communicate effectively, manage conflict situations, and sustainably reduce reliance on legal proceedings.
The training was honoured by a panel of distinguished experts from various professional fields. The speakers included Mr. Nopporn Pothirungsiyakorn, former Vice President of the Supreme Court and Senior Judge in the Supreme Court; Associate Professor Pattarawut Wattanusapt, M.D., Ph.D., from the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University; Ms. Suchinan Horasit, an expert in dispute mediation; Ms. Orasa Narayanakhamin, an independent scholar and Secretary of the Public Health Peace Association; and Ms. Saranya Khumsawat, Senior Professional Human Resource Officer. Each lecturer contributed extensive professional experience and subject-matter expertise, ensuring that the knowledge delivered was both in-depth and directly applicable to real-world challenges within Thailand’s public health system.
This 10th cohort comprised 37 participants, including executives, medical personnel, registered nurses, legal officers, and personnel responsible for legal affairs from both public and private hospitals nationwide. This diverse attendance reflects a growing interest and awareness regarding the importance of alternative justice processes within the public health sector.
Throughout the three-day intensive programme, participants developed their skills through both theoretical frameworks and practical exercises. Core activities included interactive workshops and structured role-playing simulations replicating real medical dispute scenarios. Case studies addressed complex situations such as patient fatalities resulting in threats of litigation by relatives, as well as the management of complaints disseminated via social media—an issue that can significantly affect the reputation of healthcare institutions. Participants also collaborated in designing mediation frameworks tailored to their respective hospital contexts, ensuring that the knowledge gained could be effectively implemented within their organisations.
The Office of Academic Service, Khon Kaen University, earnestly hopes that this curriculum will contribute to building a culture of peace within Thailand’s public health service system. The Office is confident that all graduates of the programme will be able to apply their knowledge to bridge understanding between service providers and recipients, thereby enabling the Thai public health system to progress while reducing conflict and fostering mutual trust.
