Thailand Now Sees WHO as an Unreliable Source of Information

Last updated on May 18th, 2021 at 05:50 am

After the Covid-19 pandemic, Thai’s now view the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an unreliable source on health issues, Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs, a specialist at Bangkok’s Vichaiyut Hospital, said.

He pointed out that WHO is quite slow in providing information. Especially when they inform the public on certain issues, these tend to change constantly. The organization previously caused Thais to panic about PM2.5 dust particles using the United States as a standard, Dr. Manoon said. On June 9, WHO said Covid-19 asymptomatic infections rarely spread the virus. But two days later, medical professionals in several countries countered the statement. Consequently the WHO was forced to change it. Dr. Manoon also said that Thais have done the right thing by wearing face masks. Even before WHO saw it as an important means to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. The WHO was also late on its announcement to that effect.

He said 18 years in the US taught him that most doctors from many institutions such as the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have their own measures. Especially to deal with public health issues since. The WHO’s advice and suggestions usually worked for developing countries.  Developed countries like Thailand have standards that are different from developing countries.