Impact of the Policy on Pracharath Drinking Water in Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the rules governing the production of drinking water, the Implementation of the policy on Pracharath drinking water, and to prepare policy suggestion based on the impact of the policy. Method: This study was a qualitative study collecting the data by reviewing the laws governing the production of drinking water in sealed containers and automatic water dispensers, and related public and private documents published over the internet. The study then analyzed the stakeholders and interview those people affected by the Pracharath drinking water policy, including government officials outside the Ministry of Public Health, and public drinking water producers. Sunsequently, the researcher prepared policy suggestion for improving the quality of Pracharath drinking water. Results: Policy on Pracharath drinking water was the implementation of the program to strengthen the economic foundation according to private-public partnership approach. In Kanchanaburi, there were 245 Pracharath drinking water projects. Stakeholder analysis revealed Food and Drug Administration, Provincial Health Office and local administrative organization were responsible for overseeing the production of drinking water in sealed containers under the Food Act BE 2522. However, they were not in the working group on strengthening the economic foundation according to private-public partnership approach of the province. Therefore, it was not possible for them to provide information on relevant legal issues to the manufacturer. Interviews with those affected by the Pracharath drinking water policy revealed that governmental agencies not affliated with the Ministry of Public Health allocated budget in a hurry and not knowleagable on the rugulations relating to the production of drinking water in sealed containers. The producers did not know the law, so they did not ask for permission to produce and lacked budget preparation for maintenance. Conclusion: The effective implementation of the Pracharath drinking water policy needs cooperation from all parties with the following measures. The urgent measure is to propose the provincial governor to order the authority on the Pracharath drinking water to inform the manufacturer to file application for the production under the law in the same way as other manufacturers. Intermediate measure is the governor should issue the order to all relevant agencies to integrate the effort to resolve the problem. Long-term measure is the approval process of the project should involve authorities on the production of drinking water in providing information to the public on the rules and procedures for obtaining licenses before starting the production in the project.