Deputy Government Spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul (Source: nationthailand.com)
Bangkok (VNA) - The ThaiCabinet has officially approved the proposal to operate the new ASEAN Centrefor Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (APHEED).
Deputy Government SpokeswomanTraisuree Taisaranakul said the Ministryof Public Health submitted a tentative request to the ASEAN Secretariat'sHealth Division to establish the centre on October 19.
Traisuree said operating APHEED wouldbring many benefits, including lower medical costs, support for screening andimmunisation programmes, and assistance with medical checks and disease controlamong migrant workers.
The centre will also boostconfidence among investors and tourists in Thailand's healthcare system and otherASEAN members, she said.
For thefirst five years, the centre will cost about 530 million baht (17 million USD)to operate annually, which will rise to 1 billion baht a year in the long runwhen all its functions are up and running.
TheJapanese government and ASEAN Secretariat will provide a one-off initialcontribution of about 620 million baht, although further contributes from both,as well as other countries, have yet to be clarified.
TheHealth Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, therefore, asked the Thai Governmentto approve a budget to operate the centre in accordance with a requirement thatthe host government contribute 20 percent of the annual operational costs,although that amount must not exceed 10 million USD (310 million baht)./.
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Deputy Government Spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul (Source: nationthailand.com)
