Guidelines for Developing and Enhancing Urban Health Governance in Thonburi District under the Health Charter Framework: A Foresight Approach to Sustainable Smart City Development

Abstract

The development of urban health governance requires policy mechanisms, systems-based management, and participatory processes among multiple stakeholders. The Health Charter serves as an important policy instrument for defining strategic directions for health and well-being development in accordance with local contexts. This article presents a systematic document synthesis with three objectives: 1) to synthesize knowledge on urban health governance under the Thonburi District Health Charter framework; 2) to analyze key components and mechanisms for enhancing urban health governance through a foresight approach; and 3) to propose a systems-based framework for supporting sustainable smart city development in Thonburi District.

The study employed systematic document synthesis and content analysis. Relevant documents and studies on health charters, urban health, smart city governance, foresight, and systems-based management were reviewed and synthesized. The findings revealed that the development and enhancement of urban health governance in Thonburi District consisted of six key components: 1) stakeholder participation and collaboration, 2) community economy and learning, 3) environmental and health-supportive spaces, 4) safe communities and district safety, 5) information technology for governance support, and 6) systems-based management. These components function as mechanisms for linking policy, empirical evidence, stakeholder participation, and strategic decision-making at the district level. The study indicates that integrating the Health Charter with foresight and systems-based information can enhance the efficiency, flexibility, and adaptive capacity of urban health governance. This approach can support Thonburi District in becoming a sustainable health-oriented urban area aligned with smart city development principles.