Thailand praised for new drug

Wed, 11 Jul 2001 | Source: DPA

BANGKOK (DPA): Thailand was praised in a report issued on Tuesday by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for its efforts in producing a powerful new antimalaria drug.

The Human Development Report 2001 said the new Thai-made drug dihydro-artemisinin (DHA) has been "hailed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most important developments in malaria treatment... (and) will soon provide a new edge against resistance" to malaria.

Every year since 1990, the UNDP has commissioned the Human Development Report by an independent team of experts to measure countries' achievements in terms of life expectancy, birth rate, educational attainment, adjusted real income and general well- being.

This year the Human Development Index classified Japan (9), Hong Kong (24), Singapore (26) and South Korea (27) as countries with "high human development". Malaysia (56), Thailand (66), the Philippines (70), China (87), Vietnam (101), Indonesia (102) and Myanmar (118) were ranked as countries with "medium human development". Norway came out first, Sierra Leone last.

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