Viroj Sumyai (Thailand)

Education: BSc in Chemistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand (1976); BSc in Pharmacy, Manila Central University, Manila (1979); MSc in Pharmacology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok (1983); apprenticeship in narcotic drugs epidemiology, St. George's University of London, England (1989).

Previous posts: Assistant Secretary-General, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health. Director of Narcotics Control Division, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health (1988-2001); expert in Narcotic Drugs, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health (1992-1997); Senior pharmacist, Narcotics Control Division, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health (1990-1992).

Publications: Publications include: "Improving availability of opioid pain medications: testing the principle of balance in Thailand", dissertation, Civil Service Executive College, Civil Service Training Institute, Thailand Civil Service Commission" (2008); "National pharmacotheraphy policy for people dependent on opioids", Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health (2007); "Guide for pharmacists: addiction treatment and maintenance pharmacotherapy programmes in the Government hospital", Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health (2007); "Guidelines for the medical management of patients with methamphetamineinduced psychosis", Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health (2006); "Clinical guidelines and procedures for the use of methadone in the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence", Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health (2005); "A Complete handbook of clandestine chemistry, pharmacology and epidemiology of LSD", Bangkok, Kredthai, 2002.

Honours: Prime Minister's Drug Education and Prevention Award (2005).

Meetings attended: Meeting of the Asian Collaborative Group on Local Precursor Control, first to fourth meetings (2008); Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies of Asia and the Pacific region, twentieth to twenty-ninth meetings (2005); Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Senior Officials on Drug Matters, seventeenth to twenty-sixth meetings (2005); annual sessions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs thirty-ninth (1996) to forty-seventh sessions (2004).