One accolade was for a computer programme that makes keeping patient records simple. The second was for a national first in infant dental care.

More than 2,000 health professionals attended the ministry's annual conference yesterday where caretaker Deputy Public Health Minister Anutin Charnveerakul presented the awards.

Angthong public health official Dr Suwannachai Wattanaying and Ubon Ratchathani dentist Kanittha Arrote walked away with Bt10,000 cheques and honour plaques.

The winners were chosen from more than 730 proposals and 191 finalists.

Anutin said next year's awards would be expanded to recognise five professionals for their research and development.

Kanittha was inspired to develop a fluoride treatment for infants after noting an alarming rate of decay in the deciduous teeth of six to sevenmonth olds.

She knew this would affect their permanent teeth later in life.

Taking into account infant health and growth Kanittha focussed on prevention, initially having children aged seven months to 12 years take fluoride pills.

But that became complex because of the supervision required to prevent overdoses.

So, she decided to use a fluoride application on the teeth of nine to 18month old infants - the first time such an approach had been tried in Thailand.

The fluoride "varnish" was applied every three months - a job that took barely 10 minutes and cost about Bt20.

The process proved efficient in preventing decay in more than 60 per cent of children. The treatment is now used all over the country.

Suwannachai's "ECare1" computer programme is a one stop service for medical professions seeking patient records - wherever that patient may be.

The programme recorded a patient's complete medical background. It allowed for speedy diagnosis and treatment, Suwannachai said.

ECare1 was a "Web application" and could be accessed via the Internet so local health centres can be in instant touch with provincial public health offices, the doctor explained.

It has slashed the time practitioners had to wait for important records.

The software is being employed in Suphan Buri, Nong Bua Lamphu, Angthong and is coming soon to Roi Et.

Duangkamol Sajirawatthanakul

The Nation