WHO recognizes Thailand for best cancer treatment

BANGKOK, July 3 (TNA) -- A cancer specialist said the World Health Organization (WHO) praised Thailand for its best cancer treatment and management for its price bargaining to ensure patients’ access to medications. Prof Dr Isarang Nuchprayoon of the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University said that in the past medicines to treat cancer in children had been very expensive and a patient had to pay 300,000 baht for 80% chance of permanent recovery. “Payment of 100,000 baht had afforded only 20% of survival,” he said. Then the National Health Security Office came to the rescue after being informed of the problem in 2008. The office then promised funds for hospitals that were able to treat child cancer up to its standard. “Since then all Thai children have had access to the treatment,” Prof Dr Isarang said. He said the WHO praised Thailand for its best management for cancer treatment as all cancer patients had access to treatment and medications, and treatment costs were very low. “We have a system to bargain for the prices of overall medications and this results in substantial decreases in medication prices. Only the countries with such bargaining power can have access to expensive medications. Many countries dare not do so and their citizens have no access to the medications,” Prof Dr Isarang said. (TNA)