The Current Status of Clinical Trials in Thailand

Abstract

Approximately the size of France, Thailand has a population of 60 million people, of whom approximately 90% are Buddhist. The country has become industrialized in recent years. There are 10 public and one private medical schools. Under the Ministry of Public Health, there are 33 hospitals at the national and regional levels which are primarily categorized as special hospitals, 92 general hospitals at the provincial level, and 707 community hospitals at the district level. There are also approximately 75 general hospitals under other ministries.A number of clinical trial centers have been established with support from international organizations and agencies in developed countries. Most clinical trials are conducted in medical schools and general and special hospitals at the provincial, regional, and national levels. In most medical schools and research centers, there is an institutional review board (IRB). Under the Ministry of Public Health, there is an ethics committee (EC) responsible for ethical revie...