BANGKOK, 27 May 2013 The Public Health Ministry is to step up and collaborate with neighboring countries on the prevention of communicable diseases ahead of the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.
Director-General of the Health Department Dr. Porntep Siriwanarangsun said that Thailand is now preparing to become the region’s transport hub when the AEC comes into reality within two years from now.
Under that notion, Dr. Porntep conceded that Thailand will be exposed to risks of more communicable diseases due to the freer mobility of ASEAN citizens.
Therefore, the Health Department is planning to step up the prevention of transmissible illnesses with collaboration from other ASEAN nations while boosting public health services along the border regions and increasing the efficiency of the Surveillance and Rapid Response Team in such areas.
Dr. Porntep added that Thailand will strictly implement all measures under the International Health Regulations 2005, improve the network of field epidemiology teams with member countries of the ASEAN+3, and set up an ASEAN Aids center in the country.
The Director-General of the Health Department went on to say that all health-related personnel will receive further training in language skills, both English and those of neighboring countries, in order to help strengthen the international disease control efforts and effectively collaborate with other countries in the prevention of the spread of transmissible illnesses, when needed.
