Bangkok Hospital Medical Center (BMC) and the College of Sports Science and Technology, Mahidol University (CSST) have been accredited as the first FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence in Thailand and the ASEAN since early 2012. On 28 May 2012, Professor Prof. Jiří Dvořák, FIFA Chief Medical Officer and Chairman of F-MARC (FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre) officially presented the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence Certificate to Dr Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, group CEO and president of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, and Dr Chatree Duangnet, CEO of BMC, and associate professor Sirirat Hirunrat, deputy dean of CSST.

H.E. Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr Sombat Kuruphan was the chairman of this auspicious inauguration ceremony, where Mr Worawi Makudi, FIFA Executive Member and president of the Thailand FA, was in attendance as was Dr Gurcharan Singh, FIFA Medical Committee member and chairman of the AFC medical committee, along with over 100 invited guests from the football family and all sporting media of Thailand.

Dr Paisal Chantarapitak, deputy hospital director and director of the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, outlined the F-MARC criteria for the medical centre to receive this accreditation, which are: 1. clinical expertise with multidisciplinary approaches 2. team physician experience 3. prevention 4. education 5. research, and 6. football event management. BMC and CSST have fully met these criteria, even including an extra aspect on football medicine education for the public.

Prof. Jiří Dvořák has also emphasised the objectives and aims of the worldwide FMCE network, which are to improve the healthcare of football players at all levels based on scientific knowledge, and to promote football as a safe and healthy leisure activity and develop its contribution to world health.

“We are certainly proud, honoured and privileged to be part of the worldwide FMCE network in this region. It will encourage both BMC and CSST to continue our collaboration in development in the field of football medicine,” said Dr Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth.

Your contact at the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence in Bangkok, Thailand:

Dr Paisal Chantarapitak

Bangkok Hospital Medical Center 2 Soi Soonvijai 7, New Petchburi Road, Huaykwang District Bangkok 10310, Thailand

Tel. +6681 373-3000 E-mail address: paisal@bangkokhospital.com  paisal1951@gmail.com http://www.bangkokhospital.com