The Thai Medical Council's proposed new regulations on stem cell research may not be approved without opposition from the National Research Council of Thailand and other researchers. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/read.php?newsid=30103591&keyword=stem+cell+treatment+thailand

But looking back over the past few years it shouldn't come as any surprise that a move to regulate stem cell treatments is underway. There have been several causes, some not so obvious.

1.) Aggressive sales by private stem cell banks in Thailand. Seeking to target new families with the storage of cord blood stem cells these companies went over the top with their marketing efforts and brought a controversial issue into the public eye.

2.) Stem cell roller scandal. Last year several private beauty clinics were exposed for offering a stem cell based wrinkle removing technique called "roller" or "derma roller" neither technique approved by the Thai FDA. Ironically, the concern was not the efficiency of the stem cell use but the way in which it was applied, raising concerns about hygiene. More bad publicity.

3.) Lack of independent labs to test stem cell viability. The private hospitals that have used stem cells often have no way of verifying that the cells are the right type or from the right patient. They also don't know if enough of the cells are still viable, or alive. This has nothing to do with the larger question of does the stem cell treatment yield positive results, but it does give critics a scientifically based argument to call for more regulation.

4.) Academics vs. private hospitals. It's all about the money. Academic scientists with a vested interest in securing government funding for stem cell research are some of the strongest voices calling for the new regulations. Since the regulations would effectively bring any research and treatment under the control of universities they would gain not only scientifically but economically. Some of Thailand's leading universities receive funding in the hundreds of millions of baht for stem cell studies. These same universities are also in a bid to compete with leading private hospitals for affluent patients to earn more revenue. It's not as mercenary as it seems. The gains from this lucrative target market help to cover money-losing treatments for poor patients.

Healthcare, whether at home or abroad, is usually considered from the patient's point of view. What is the disease? What is the best treatment? How much will it cost? What if something goes wrong?

But what about your Doctor? Are you a risk to them? Dr. Pauline Chen, writing recently in the New York Times, offers an interesting commentary on the risks faced by healthcare workers from patients with serious diseases: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/health/21chen.html

As Dr. Chen notes, doctors are ordinary people willing to take risks because of their beliefs.

Human stem cell treatments to be banned in Thailand?

This according to an article in Thailand’s The Nation on May 25, 2009. The proposed ban is scheduled to take place in September 2009.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/topstory/30103512/Treatments-using-human-stem-cells-to-be-banned

As the article points out, the study and research of stem cells will continue to be allowed and it’s not clear if some medical treatments will be allowed “with permission.”

Not every area of treatment will be banned, notable exceptions being bone marrow transplants and some blood disorders and there may be exceptions for some heart diseases due to Thailand’s on-going research into stem cell treatment in this area.

The decree to regulate stem cell tests seems primarily aimed at clamping down on the number of small, independent clinics that have multiplied recently promising anti-ageing and dermatological improvements.

The proposed oversight board may not be in place for 2-3 years, according to one stem cell specialist I spoke with. This same specialist is also slated to be on the regulating committee to oversee which stem cell treatments will be allowed.

Is this a setback for patients seeking stem cell treatments in Thailand?

Perhaps temporarily while the various health and legal representatives try to sort out the ethics and legalities of stem cell treatment. But look for more clarity on exactly what treatments will be allowed and under what circumstances. Hopefully, the new decree will force out the quick-profit clinics and dubious stem cell banks while allowing real research to go forward, leading eventually to medically sanctioned and legal stem cell treatments.

Bumrungrad is one of Thailand's leading international hospitals and handles almost every type of medical procedure. They have a very useful online listing of 40 common procedures and a range of real costs.
http://www.bumrungrad.com/realcost/index.aspx

While medical tourism is usually safe, cost-effective and transparent, there are a few things you should be aware of when planning your trip. Try to avoid the following:

Member Cards sometimes offered by medical travel companies these cards promise -- for an upfront annual fee -- extra benefits for travelers such as a free health check-up, priority check-in at selected hotels and hospitals, welcome gift baskets and other sundries. Most of these benefits are standard amenities anyway, or you can usually get them just by asking. Be wary of things like automatic room upgrade at “preferred parter” hotels. Think about it: if a room upgrade is automatic either the hotel has lots and lots of rooms to guarantee this or, more likely, it’s not a very popular hotel or destination.

People from all over the world come to Thailand for medical treatment ranging from preventative health screening to cosmetic surgery to major medical operations. What is it that makes Thailand such a popular destination for medical tourism?

Affordable and available treatment. The cost of most medical treatments in Thailand is usually less than in other countries, even when you include the costs of travel and stay in Thailand. Compared to medical procedures in countries like the US and Europe, Thailand is considerably cheaper. But just as important as cost for some patients is being able to receive treatment without delay. Most procedures can be scheduled around the patients' schedule with no waiting period. This also makes it convenient for travelers and their families to arrange a vacation in Thailand during the recovery period.  Thailand offers a nice and warm environment with friendly people and many places to visit and things to do. Daily expenses like food and stay are comparatively cheap so it's possible to stay for longer periods of time without worrying about financial burdens.

Quality and service. Health care at the major medical clinics and international hospitals is world-class with state-of-the-art equipment and highly qualified surgeons and medical staff equal to the best health care systems anywhere. Their specialists are US, UK and Japan trained and they can communicate with patients very well. The level of close personal attention from Doctors, nurses and administrators is probably among the best anywhere in the world.

There are many benefits to receiving medical care in Thailand. This blog is a forum for patients, families of patients, medical personnel and others with an interest in medical travel to share their thoughts and experiences.

People have been sick with Influenza Viruses for thousands of years and in the past, caused millions of deaths. People are killed by even ordinary Flu. According to the data from the center of disease control, there are 36,000 deaths annually from Influenza in US and 250,000 Americans have been hospitalized from the virus.

SARS, Bird flu and now Swine flu become threatening to the world. Fortunately with this current outbreak, it would seem that the world has it under control. Thailand hosted regional swine flu meeting with ASEAN countries on May 7 and 8. Up to date there have been NO confirmed cases of Swine flu detected in

Thailand and any other asian country. For more information, please read the following link.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/266732,thailand-to-host-regional-swine-flu-meeting.html

Thailand has been quick to put in place measures by means of setting thermal scanners at 4 main international airports and the hospitals have put on an alert to treat any person show flu like symptoms.

So What can you do to avoid any viral influenza? The following hygienic practices are very effective:

• You should avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough, and indeed, if you are sneezing and coughing yourself, stay at home and don’t bring your virus to the office to be shared with your work colleagues.
• You should cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze and dispose of the tissue in the bin.
• You should wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly.

Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food and keeping physically active to avoid suffering from influenza virus.