Health officials in Yala Province in Southern Thailand are working night and day in their battle against Covid-19 during Ramadan. Above all in the hope Muslims will be free to celebrate at the end of their holy month of fasting. During daylight hours health officials were touring villages, informing residents about testing scheduled for after sunset. Yala in Thailand’s deep south has been a hotbed of covid-19 virus infections, with 126 confirmed cases. Its case numbers are behind only Bangkok, Phuket and Nonthaburi. The province is conducting comprehensive tests, what is termed active case finding, in all districts. Furthermore targeting risk groups such as those who have been in contact with people returning from neighbouring countries. Ramadan, which started on April 24, has posed a challenge for health officials. Who decided not to do swab tests during the day, when Muslims are fasting. Ramadan to end with the Hari Raya festival Muslims are not supposed to eat until ... » Learn More about Health Officials in Southern Thailand Fighting Virus During Ramadan
Health ministry of the southern tier
Ministry of Health Says Cancer the Number One Killer in Thailand
Thailand’s Ministry of Health has identified that cancer is the number one killer of Thai citizens since 1998. Adding that out of 122,757 new cases diagnosed in 2019, 73,000 cancer patients have died. The article did not list the specific cancer although other research indicates that lung cancer is a leading disease among Thais. In comparison, the number of road deaths has decreased from 36.2 per 100,000 people in 2015 to 32.7 out of every 100,000 in the World Health Organizations latest report – around 21,000-24,000 annually over recent years. The Bangkok Post reports that the dean of Mahidol University’s Medical Department, Dr Piyamit Sitara, says the university has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Cancer Institute of Thailand to implement a joint analysis plan, leading to precision treatment for patients. Mahidol University is Thailand’s premier cancer medical research institute based in Nakhon Phatom, north west of Bangkok. Both parties will ... » Learn More about Ministry of Health Says Cancer the Number One Killer in Thailand
Thai ministry allows use of some parts of hemp, cannabis plants, but recreational use still banned
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalised the regulation draft that will remove cannabis and hemp from Thailand’s list of narcotics, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said. The draft will soon be presented to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for approval before being announced in the Royal Gazette. As per the draft, the following parts and extracts of the two plants can be consumed: Bark, stem, stalks, fibre and root Leaves without flowers Extract that contains no more than 0.2 per cent of cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol Hemp seeds and their oil extract “Once the regulation is announced, these parts of cannabis and hemp used for medical and health care purposes will not go under category V narcotics and will therefore not be illegal,” he said. “Hemp fibre and oil extract will also be allowed to use in textile, food and cosmetic industries. “However, the use of cannabis and hemp for recreational ... » Learn More about Thai ministry allows use of some parts of hemp, cannabis plants, but recreational use still banned
Covid-19 Cases Spike in Southern Thailand’s Yala Province
The public health department office in Southern Thailand’s Yala Province has verified 40 new covid-19 cases after thorough testing. The cases include those recently returned for Ramadan from neighbouring countries. Provincial health department chief Songkran Maichum said on Sunday that intense testing since April 20 had uncovered 40 new cases, now confirmed in lab results. Four new cases were found in Muang, 24 in Yaha, seven in Bannang Satar and five in Raman districts. Dr.Songkran said the new cases would cause some hospitals, including Yaha Hospital, to approach their full capacity. “The quicker we find them, the better it is for health officials,” he told the Bangkok Post . Also adding that officials will be mobilized to prevent the virus spreading out of control. People at risk of infection were Muslim pilgrims returning from religious activities in Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan. Also those working in Malaysia and attendants of Islamic religious events in the ... » Learn More about Covid-19 Cases Spike in Southern Thailand’s Yala Province
Thai Ministry of Public Health says 98.44 percent of Covid-19 cases recently in Thailand were imported from overseas
Thailand- The Thai Ministry of Public Health made an announcement on their social media accounts this afternoon regarding recent statistics around Covid19 in Thailand. The statement, in full, is below: “From the reports of confirmed cases in the previous two weeks, among 64 confirmed cases, the majority (63 cases or 98.44% of the confirmed cases) were people who returned from abroad and were being observed under state quarantine supported by the government. Only one confirmed case was infected in Thailand. One of the reasons for this is that many returnees are students and working-age people. This shows that even those who are young and who do not show symptoms of COVID-19, might be infected. (The Pattaya News notes that many are also migrant workers living in close quarters) The Ministry of Public Health also stated today that they were adding an additional 9000 quarantine rooms in the near future to help sustain the expected large number of additional Thai returnees still ... » Learn More about Thai Ministry of Public Health says 98.44 percent of Covid-19 cases recently in Thailand were imported from overseas
Health Minister becomes first person in Thailand to receive Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine, witnessed by Thai Prime Minister
Bangkok – Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul became the first person in Thailand to receive the first Covid-19 vaccine from the Sinovac company, followed by four other ministers, witnessed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha. A group of several cabinet ministers arrived at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi this morning, February 28th, to receive the first Covid-19 Sinovac vaccines on their first day of distribution. The first person who was vaccinated was Anutin Charnvirakul, under the supervision of Dr. Yong Poovorawan, a medical professor in pediatric hepatology at the Faculty of Medicine of Chulalongkorn University. The Prime Minister and other ministers were also watching closely for encouragement. The next injection was Satit Pituthecha, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Itthiphol Khunplume, Minister of Culture and former Pattaya mayor, Kanokwan Vilawan, Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit, Permanent Secretary of the ... » Learn More about Health Minister becomes first person in Thailand to receive Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine, witnessed by Thai Prime Minister
Muhyiddin to make official visits to Saudi Arabia and UAE
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be undertaking official visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates starting March 6. This will be Muhyiddin's first official visit to both countries since assuming office on March 1 last year, said Wisma Putra. The Prime Minister's three-day visit to Saudi Arabia will start on March 6 and from there, he will undertake a visit to the UAE starting March 9. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a small delegation comprising Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, and senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office and Foreign Ministry. "The official visit will be subject to strict Covid-19 preventative SOP as agreed upon by the Health Ministry, the National Security Council (NSC), and by the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health and Prevention of the UAE," said Wisma Putra in a statement on Friday (March 5). Among the SOP is for the Malaysian delegation to provide negative ... » Learn More about Muhyiddin to make official visits to Saudi Arabia and UAE
Thai FDA expedites the process to list cannabis as an “essential medicine”
Cannabis could soon become an “essential medicine” in Thailand. While the plant’s euphoria-inducing buds are still illegal and classified as a narcotic, other parts of the plant that do not cause a “high,” like the leaves, are being pushed into the food and medicine industry. The Thai Food and Drug Administration is even trying to speed up the process to include cannabis on the National List of Essential Medicines and to also allow it to be used in food, according to the FDA secretary general Supattra Boonserm. Yesterday, the FDA committee approved a draft ordinance to allow the once-criminalised plant to be on the essential medicines list as well as to be an ingredient in food. “Users can put oil extracts from cannabis in breakfast cereals, bakery products, beverages, snacks or butter as well as in food supplements.” There are 2 main components in cannabis: tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, and cannabidiol, known as CBD. THC is the psychoactive component which causes the ... » Learn More about Thai FDA expedites the process to list cannabis as an “essential medicine”
Caucasians Increasingly Being Blamed for Thailand’s Covid-19
As the Covid-19 Wuhan virus shifts from China to Europe, so too are racist attitudes towards foreigners in the virus-hit kingdom of Thailand. The Thai government has also impose new restrictions on inbound travelers. The restrictions also includes newly-required health certificates and proof of health insurance. Caucasians are increasingly being blamed for the country’s growing outbreak of over 599 cases. Those numbers have surged in recent days, rising from 322 on March 20 to 599 on March 22. Thailand has so far reported only one Covid-19 related death. Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has blamed “dirty” Caucasian tourists for infecting Thailand with Covid-19. On March 12, Anutin stated: “ 90% of Thais are wearing masks. However, none of the Caucasians are wearing masks. “This is the reason our country is being infected. We should be more careful of the Caucasians than Asians. “Right now, it’s winter in Europe, and with the [coronavirus] outbreak, they have all fled ... » Learn More about Caucasians Increasingly Being Blamed for Thailand’s Covid-19
Expert Reveals Why Thailand Chose the AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine
Virology expert Dr Yong Poovorawan , has told a Public Health Ministry briefing to explain why Thailand chose AstraZeneca’s covid-19 vaccine. Dr Yong is chief of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University, appeared at a Public Health Ministry briefing in a bid to reassure the public after widespread concern over Thailand’s Covid-19 vaccine procurement . “It is impossible for [every country] to get vaccines immediately even when they have enough money,” Dr Yong explained. “The global population is more than 7 billion. Just 50 per cent of population would need 8 billion vaccines since each person has to take two doses. So it will be impossible to vaccinate everybody within this year.” How long before vaccine is approved – and will it be safe? Vaccines usually take a long time to develop in animal and clinical (human) trials, which first need approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said Yong. Clinical trials have three steps: ... » Learn More about Expert Reveals Why Thailand Chose the AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine