On 11 September 2026, H.E. Ms. Nipa Nirannoot, Ambassador-Designate of Thailand to Senegal, hosted a working lunch at the Ivy Lounge, Hua Chang Heritage Hotel, to facilitate an exchange of views on medical innovation and Thai traditional medicine between the Senegalese medical doctors and hospital executives and high-ranking representatives of relevant Thai institutions, including:

• Professor Dr. Keerati Charoencholvanich, Head of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital;

• Associate Professor Dr. Pinit Kullavanijaya, Assistant Secretary-General of the Thai Red Cross Society;

• Associate Professor Dr. Pravit Akarasereenont, Deputy Head of the Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine for Research, Siriraj Hospital, together with representatives from Siriraj Hospital;

• Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA);

• Ms. Arunee Heim, Deputy Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA); and

• Panpilai Baiyoke Vice Chairlady of Baiyoke Group of Hotels

On this occasion, the Ambassador-Designate congratulated the Senegalese medical doctors and hospital executives on successfully completing the training and study visits under the hospital management capacity building programme. She also expressed her appreciation to the executives and representatives of the relevant Thai institutions for their strong support, which contributed significantly to the success of the programme and its objectives of further advancing cooperation between Thailand and Senegal in human resource capacity building and the exchange of knowledge and expertise in public health and medicine.

In addition, Associate Professor Dr. Pravit Akarasereenont, representing Siriraj Hospital, gave a presentation on Thai medical innovations and products with potential for introduction into African markets. Both sides also exchanged knowledge and experiences on integrating modern medicine with complementary and alternative approaches, including Thai traditional medicine.