Historical Background

World Health Organization in collaboration with Ministry of Public Health and Thai Government has designated the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Malaria since 1996 and redesigned for every 4 years.

Referring to WHO on WHO CC's general information, the idea of using national institutions for international purposes dates back to the days of the League of Nations, when national laboratories were first designated as reference Centres for the standardization of biological products. As soon as WHO was established, it appointed more reference Centres, starting in 1947 with the World Influenza Centre in London for worldwide epidemiological surveillance.

As early as 1949, the Second World Health Assembly laid down the policy (which has been constantly followed since) that the Organization should not consider "the establishment, under its own auspices, of international research institutions" and that "research in the field of health is best advanced by assisting, coordinating and making use of the activities of existing institutions". All WHO collaborating Centres, whether they deal with research or not (most of them do), have been designated under that policy, which has undoubtedly enhanced national participation in the Organization's activities. There is, however, an exception to that policy, in the WHO Region of the Americas, where a number of "international health Centres", some with regional (hemisphere-wide), others with sub-regional functions, have been set up, and are financed and administered by the Pan American Health Organization, the regional organization of WHO for the Americas.

More information about WHO Collaborating Centre general information

Where the Institution is located

Faculty of Tropical Medicine,
Mahidol University

420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchawithi
Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Tel : + 66 (2) 3549100-19, Ext. 1327, 1318, + 66 (2) 6435614
Fax: + 66 (2) 3549141

Email: tmirunit@diamond.mahidol.ac.th, tmpwl@mahidol.ac.th

Programme / Area of Collaboration

Clinical Management of Malaria