Bangkok--29 Jan-- Thailand will introduce its two life-science innovations on stem cell products regulation and a model for elderly care at the APEC 2008 Meeting in Peru. A working committee on APEC’s life sciences forum met at the Public Health Ministry to prepare the country’s agenda for the APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum in Peru on Feb 22, 2008. The meeting was chaired by Dr Paichit Varachit, deputy permanent-secretary for the Ministry of Public Health, with Dr Thongchai Thavichachart, director of Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences as a secretary. Dr Thongchai said TCELS as a life science coordinating agency in compliance to Apec framework, has proposed two life science innovations as the country’s agendas for the APEC summit. The first project is the regulation of stem cell products and services which is being supervised by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health Services Support, Ministry of Public Health. As the use of stem cells for medical treatments have been better recognized worldwide, they need regulations for the productions and services, said Dr Thongchai. He hoped the APEC summit this year will get countries in ASEAN economic zone to come to think of making joint agreement in each economic zone. Another proposed project is the comprehensive elderly care programme. Based on the so-called Bangkok 7 model, the programme is a combination service of the community-based healthcare system and the comprehensive health service. It was a cooperation of Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Health Department, the Thai Red Cross Society, and the Thai Red Cross College of Nursing. The project has already been adopted in the Health Department’s policies and operation system, and has been recognized for its efficiency in caring for aging persons. It was introduced by Dr Suthichai Jitaphankul, chief of Geriatrics Division, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. Dr Thongchai said the project can be presented as a model for other countries. Both innovations have already been approved by the committee, said Dr Thongchai. The APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum was first held in 2002 in Thailand, with Suwit Khunkitti being the first chairman.