<div> <div>This year, Prachatai recognises the People’s Health System Movement as its Person of the Year, for its relentless efforts to protect Thailand’s universal healthcare scheme from the junta’s threats.</div> </div> <h2>Who is the People’s Health System Movement (PHSM)?</h2> <div> <div>The PHSM emerged almost two decades ago under the leadership of Dr. Sanguan Nitayarumphong. </div></div>

<div> <div>Amid calls for more political freedom ahead of next year’s election, a group of human rights defenders has urged the authorities to terminate the ban on public assembly.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 19 December, representatives from various civil society organisations submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court, calling for the termination of the Head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Order 3/2015.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>According to Article 6 of the order, military officers have the power to summon any individual and detain them for up to seven days withou </div></div>

<p>The police have summoned for questioning the leaders of a protest against revisions of the healthcare law. Meanwhile, the authorities have announced that the amendment process will go ahead despite opposition from numerous groups. &nbsp;</p> <p>On 18 June 2017, about 300 members of the People's Health Systems Movement (PHSM) and other associated organisations gathered at a public forum on the amendment of the 2002 National Health Security Act at the Centara Government Complex Hotel on Chaengwattana Rd., Bangkok.</p>