Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) organised the 2nd medical webinar between Thailand and Peru under the Thailand-Peru Development Cooperation Programme 2021-2023.

On October 21, 2021, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency, together with Dr. Augusto Magno Tarazona Fernández, Vice Minister of Health of Peru, Mr. José Antonio Gonzales Norris, Executive Director of APCI, Dr. José Luis Seminario Carrasco, Director of the National School of Public Health (ENSAP), Mr. Sorayut Chasombat, Ambassador of Thailand to Peru, and Ms. Carmen Azurín, Minister of the Embassy of Peru in Thailand, gave the opening remarks for the second Medical Webinar on "the Shift of Thailand’s COVID-19 Management Policy Amidst the Challenges of New Variants: Home Isolation Approach and the Alteration of Clinical Practice Guidelines" with Dr. Narumol Sawanpanyalert, Chief of Medical Emergency Response Unit, Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, as the speaker.

This activity is organised as a part of the Thailand-Peru Development Cooperation Programme 2021-2023, which is an umbrella cooperation between the two countries in various sectors including public health. This programme offers an invaluable platform for knowledge and experience exchanges in the prevention, surveillance and treatment of COVID-19 through a series of webinars which are organised throughout 2021.

With over 300 participants, the webinar was actively participated by Peruvians healthcare professionals from all over the countries. After the presentation by Dr. Narumol, substantive questions for the speaker cover various issues, such as the updated drug use guidelines for COVID-19 patients, pediatric cases, treatment for pregnant women, COVID-19 testing system, vaccination efforts, infected healthcare workers management, re-infection of COVID-19 patients, home and community isolation management, asymptomatic patients care, mental health of COVID-19 patients and rules and regulations for work and travel.

At the end of the webinar, Dr. Narumol concluded that the key lesson learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is the importance of “preparedness” for any emerging diseases. Although Thailand has placed a great importance to prepare for any epidemics, COVID-19 brings about many lessons and new knowledge that Thailand has learned and adapted to in order to find appropriate ways and modalities to prevent future outbreaks and losses.