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Published on November 9, 2007

Speaking at a seminar yesterday, Thailand Research Fund director Piyawat Boonlong said research projects should include providing information about the local area that would be useful to policy-makers, and data on the relationships between the local area and neighbouring countries - as well as Muslim history. Asst Prof Piya Kittaworn, an academic from the South, said it would be interesting and useful if researchers studied the cultural interaction between Muslims and Thais in the three southernmost provinces.

Organised by the Health System Research Institute, the seminar on "Knowledge Management for healthcare and peace southern part Thailand" was aimed at exploring the direction of research to be conducted in the South. Up to 200 researchers attended the event.

Dr Pongpisuth Jong-udom, who heads the Health System Research Institute, said the healthcare in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat needed more local input for it to be appropriate with local culture and traditions.

He believed this could be an important key to help people in the three provinces access more healthcare services.

Meanwhile, Dr Somsak Chunharas, secretary-general, National Health Foundation, said to improve healthcare services, researchers would have to find a resolution based on the diversity of culture there.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation