On 20 September 2023, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) witnessed the Handover Ceremony of the first batch of medical equipment under the Grant Assistance for Covid-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support. Dr. Supakit Sirilak, Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences, Mr. OBA Yuichi, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission, Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Embassy of Japan, Mr. SUZUKI Kazuya, Chief Representative, JICA Thailand Office, Dr. Ballang Uppapong, Deputy Director-General of Department of Medical Sciences also attended the ceremony at the Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health.

The said programme was a testament of a successful cooperation between Thailand and Japan. Under this programme, the medical equipments with the Japanese technology will be provided to Thailand under the Grant Assistance for the year 2022-2026 in the amount of 500 million Yen (approximately 120 million Baht). This support aims to strengthen the resilient health system to prepare for post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery in three areas, namely (1) upgrading quarantine measures at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and border checkpoints (2) supporting the COVID-19 vaccine cold chain logistics and (3) enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic system in medical facilities located in Thailand’s border areas.  The first batch of medical equipment, including the Quantitative antigen test equipment and the consumables for SARS-COVID-19 antigen test, have already been delivered and installed at the Department of Medical Sciences. The other remaining medical equipments under the Japanese Grant Assistance will be delivered to Thai departments concerned of the Ministry of Public Health as planned.

The aforementioned support from the Japanese Government reflects the close cooperations between Thailand and Japan through the partnership between TICA, the Ministry of Public Health, the Embassy of Japan, and JICA. The programme has significantly contributed to the effective disease control and the well-being of the people along the border areas between Thailand and her neigbouring countries.