Deputy PM and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met with Andrea Palm, deputy secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, yesterday to discuss a range of health-related issues and bilateral cooperation.
The two met during the five-day-long Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Health Week in Bangkok which began Monday.
Mr Anutin said Thailand-US bilateral public health cooperation is underlined by Thailand's strong support for the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).
The GHSA includes more than 70 countries, international organisations and non-governmental organisations, and private sector companies that seek to fight infectious diseases.
Mr Anutin gave several examples of Thai support for the GHSA such as the country's readiness to prepare laboratories and the provision of vaccines to Burmese children living on the border for communicable disease prevention.
Ms Palm said Thailand managed the Covid-19 pandemic well, especially with the public's active cooperation with government preventive guidelines such as mask wearing and social distancing. Ms Palm also thanked Thailand for sending Covid-19 virus samples that were used for developing drugs and vaccines against the disease.
Mr Anutin also expressed his admiration for US assistance during the pandemic of donating several million doses of mRNA-based vaccines and antiviral drugs. He said the US also welcomed the establishment of the Asean Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases. The centre's Secretariat Office will be opened today in the capital with Asean and Apec ministers attending, he said.