Assistant Professor Worrawit Wanichsuwan, M.D., colon and rectal surgeon at the PSU Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, has spent more than five years to develop a device to help colostomy patients deal with their unique condition: excrement passing through a colon diverted from the anus to a hole in the abdomen. The "THAI Colostomy Bags from Thai people to Thai people" research project team used rubber, one of the main economic products of Southern Thailand, to develop the device, and delivered it to five hospitals in the south: Songklanagarind Hospital, Trang Hospital, Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital, Surat Thani Hospital, and Vachira Phuket Hospital. The device improves the quality of life for colostomy patients, and it is cheaper than similar devices imported from abroad. The makers predict improvements to the production process and availability of the device in the region.
This brilliant innovation serves as yet another example of how Thailand, a major producer of rubber, can manufacture a variety of medical equipment using this material to increase the value of rubber. The case also highlights the strong academic potential and firm community commitment of Prince of Songkla University. As the largest university in the southern region of Thailand, PSU’s core mission includes responsibility for local development, along with maintaining the university’s position as an academic and innovative leader employing cutting-edge research, living up to the PSU founding principle: “for the Benefit of Mankind”.
