Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi has urged the Public Health Ministry to support research and development projects by adopting medical technology developed by Thai scientists.
He yesterday led a group of scientists to introduce medical innovations to Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri and senior health officials.
Among them were a dental CT scanner, medical rapid prototyping, artificial leg-making technology and rice-based medicine for treatment of wounds in diabetic patients.
The innovations were developed by scientists from agencies under the Science and Technology Ministry.
"We can assure you that Thai-made medical technologies are up to international standards while their prices are much cheaper than those of imported ones," Mr Plodprasop said. "We would like these technologies to be used in state hospitals."
Mr Plodprasop said the technologies were already in use in some state hospitals and had received good feedback from medical practitioners.
Taweesak Koranantakul, director of the National Science Technology Development Agency, said Chiang Mai University Hospital has been using the dental CT scanner, DenttiScan, and more than 240 patients have undergone scans before having dental surgery.
Mr Taweesak said he hoped the Public Health Ministry would use DenttiScans at five other hospitals in the northern region. The device costs 34.13 million baht, which includes maintenance.
Mr Taweesak said medical rapid prototyping can reduce the time needed for a brain operation by 50%. About 1,000 patients have used the technology for brain surgery, he said.
Permanent secretary for health Narong Sahamethapat said both ministries could work together to install Thai-made technologies in 800 community hospitals and 10,000 tambon-level hospitals.
However, the technologies must pass evaluation and get approval from the ministry's committees on medical devices control and medical technology screening.
Dr Narong pledged to set up a special committee to study the possibility of buying the devices. "We are not only looking for products at a good price but also want top quality," he said.
Mr Witthaya said the price of medical products should be reasonable as many foreign countries had made interesting offers.
