Thailand now becomes GACD member for joint research projects on chronic diseases

BANGKOK, November 6 (TNA) - Thailand, through the Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), has signed an agreement with Canada on joint research projects, aimed to tackle chronic diseases, under the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD). The agreement was signed at Bangkok's Government House on Thursday, when Alain Beaudet, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), met Thai Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Yongyuth Yuthavong to invite Thailand to become a member of the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD). Thailand is the only member country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that Canada has invited to join the global alliance due to the Kingdom's potential and readiness. The Thai government then assigned HSRI Director Dr. Somkiat Wattanasirichaigoon to ink the GACD's membership pact, aimed to support international health research projects and cut government expenditures relating to chronic diseases. Dr. Somkiat then told journalists that five most common chronic diseases killing Thai people include those resulting from drinking and smoking, coronary artery disease, diabetes, traffic accidents and cancers, which increasingly cost the Thai government. Dr. Somkiat assessed that the government's budgets to deal with the chronic diseases are expected to exceed 6.6 per cent of Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2019, saying he hopes that the membership in the global alliance should help support international health research projects and reduce the Thai government's health expenses. The CIHR president, in turn, acknowledged that global collaboration on chronic disease research projects is considered important for public health in Thailand and in other countries worldwide, as chronic diseases are major problems in several countries. According to the CIHR president, the GACD is a new kind of cooperation between developed and developing countries on such researches and practices to prevent and deal with chronic diseases and treat patients. (TNA)