WHO praises Thailand for world's best governance for medicine

BANGKOK, May 22 (TNA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has praised Thailand for the world's best governance for medicine. Public Health Minister Dr. Pradit Sintawanarong, who is attending the 66th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 20-28, told journalists on Wednesday that the WHO has asked Thailand to co-organize a meeting on good governance for medicine, as the Thai Kingdom is considered the world's most advance in governance for medicine and should be a good example for other countries. Dr. Pradit, who was invited by the WHO to open a meeting on Thailand's governance for medicine and health systems, held as part of the 66th World Health Assembly, acknowledged that the WHO has also asked Thailand to share experiences in another side meeting on “Good Governance in the Pharmaceutical Sector:The Case of Thailand and Malawi”. According to the public health minister, the Thai government and his ministry have adhered great importance to good governance for medicine (GGM) and health systems and Thailand has also joined the WHO’s campaigns on the GGM from the first stage, concerning the assessment of the situation and the installation of relevant systems. The Thai health minister noted that the WHO's campaigns have now reached the third stage, concerning surveillance, and that the next step of the campaigns is to realize good governance and transparency for medicine and health systems. Meanwhile, a WHO representative reported that worldwide health expenses have amounted to about 4.4 trillion US dollars yearly and 10-25 per cent of global procurements of medicines have been plagued with corruption; so, GGM and health systems are necessary and 36 countries worldwide have already implemented solutions for the GGM. (TNA)