15 July 2016, Bangkok

INCB Learning held a national awareness-raising workshop on 15 July 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand on the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes. The workshop brought together regulatory and law enforcement authorities of Thailand, health care professionals and civil society, as well as representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community, to discuss the importance of ensuring adequate access to controlled substances for pain management and the treatment of mental health and other conditions.

Dr. Viroj Sumyai, Second Vice-President of the Board, presented the INCB Availability Report (2015) at the event, which was held at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board of Thailand. Dr. Sumyai highlighted the need for training and awareness-raising on the subject of availability, which was also called for by the United Nations General Assembly at its special session on the world drug problem in April this year, and for international cooperation to support such activities.

Press release available here.