Sally Furniss
Well-known member
M'sia, Thailand to join forces to control bird flu
http://www.bruneitimes.com.bn/details.php?shape_ID=45211
KUCHING
29-Sep-07
MALAYSIA and Thailand have agreed to draw up a standard operating procedure for more effective surveillance and control of infectious diseases, including avian influenza.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the collaboration was part of bilateral cooperation between the two countries which shared many challenges, such as potential health threats from the movement of food and goods between southern Thailand and the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia.
"It is important to enhance collaboration between health officials of both countries through information sharing to protect the people on both sides."
He was speaking to reporters after attending the Fourth Malaysia-Thailand Health Conference, which discussed the Joint Action Plan to implement bilateral cooperation on health matters.
Also present was Thailand's Public Health Minister Dr Mongkol Na Songkla.
Dr Chua said the Malaysian Food Safety Information System was already in place to enable the ministry to work closely with Customs at the entry points to monitor imported food which be taken for sampling and analysis, to check for any contravention of the food legislation.
On bilateral health tourism efforts, he said, the private sectors of both countries were encouraged to engage in collaborative exchanges and ventures, especially in the fields of wellness and plastic surgery.
"Thailand, which is doing well in the health tourism industry, receives about two million health tourists annually compared with only 300,000 annually in Malaysia at present," he added.
Given that Malaysia, particularly Kuching, was leading the drive to promote Malaysia as a regional clinical trial hub, he said traditional and complementary medicine were other potential areas of cooperation.
The new Clinical Research Centre at the Sarawak General Hospital here, the first such facility in the country, is expected to propel the thrust into biotechnology and clinical research upon its completion in two years' time. Bernama
http://www.bruneitimes.com.bn/details.php?shape_ID=45211
KUCHING
29-Sep-07
MALAYSIA and Thailand have agreed to draw up a standard operating procedure for more effective surveillance and control of infectious diseases, including avian influenza.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the collaboration was part of bilateral cooperation between the two countries which shared many challenges, such as potential health threats from the movement of food and goods between southern Thailand and the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia.
"It is important to enhance collaboration between health officials of both countries through information sharing to protect the people on both sides."
He was speaking to reporters after attending the Fourth Malaysia-Thailand Health Conference, which discussed the Joint Action Plan to implement bilateral cooperation on health matters.
Also present was Thailand's Public Health Minister Dr Mongkol Na Songkla.
Dr Chua said the Malaysian Food Safety Information System was already in place to enable the ministry to work closely with Customs at the entry points to monitor imported food which be taken for sampling and analysis, to check for any contravention of the food legislation.
On bilateral health tourism efforts, he said, the private sectors of both countries were encouraged to engage in collaborative exchanges and ventures, especially in the fields of wellness and plastic surgery.
"Thailand, which is doing well in the health tourism industry, receives about two million health tourists annually compared with only 300,000 annually in Malaysia at present," he added.
Given that Malaysia, particularly Kuching, was leading the drive to promote Malaysia as a regional clinical trial hub, he said traditional and complementary medicine were other potential areas of cooperation.
The new Clinical Research Centre at the Sarawak General Hospital here, the first such facility in the country, is expected to propel the thrust into biotechnology and clinical research upon its completion in two years' time. Bernama