Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Bayer reinforced its commitment to advancing healthcare solutions for patients in the APAC region with very diverse healthcare landscapes and varying patient needs.

‘By 2050, heart failure cases in the Asia-Pacific region are projected to reach 74.5 million, a staggering 127.6% increase from 2025,’ stated Ashraf Al-Ouf, Head of Pharmaceutical Commercial Operations markets in Asia-Pacific at Bayer. ‘Amid these concerning projections, we are poised to address healthcare needs and bring new therapeutic options for patients across countries in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.’ In addition to Cardiovascular Diseases, Bayer is well positioned to tackle a range of healthcare challenges. Its product portfolio for the APAC markets includes therapies in areas such as Oncology, Ophthalmology, Women’s Health, and Radiology.

In addition, the company is accelerating its momentum through pharmaceutical innovation and clinical research. Currently, Bayer is conducting 34 ongoing clinical trials in APAC, demonstrating its dedication to advancing medical research and improving patient outcomes. Besides, the company has established two life science incubators in Asia: Bayer Co.Lab Kobe and Bayer Co.Lab Shanghai, which is the largest co-creation incubator in APAC. They are focused on fostering and promoting early-stage biotech innovation in areas such as Cell and Gene Therapy and Oncology.

Looking ahead, the APAC markets present significant growth potential for the company. ‘Bayer is leveraging its global expertise while adapting to local market dynamics in Asia- Pacific’, said Ashraf Al-Ouf, Head of Pharmaceutical Commercial Operations for markets in Asia-Pacific at Bayer. ‘We are investing in partnerships and collaborations with local partners that enhance our reach and effectiveness in delivering innovative solutions.’

‘Our research aims to provide a transformative therapeutic option for patients living with congestive heart failure’, explained Gustavo Pesquin, CEO of Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), Bayer’s wholly owned, independently operated subsidiary. ‘We work relentlessly to reshape what’s possible for those impacted by this severe diagnosis.’

After the first investments into the technologies, Bayer’s drug development pipeline in cell and gene therapies grew and comprises several programs in preclinical, early, and advanced clinical stages. In addition to cardiovascular diseases, key research areas in cell and gene therapies include Neurology, Rare Diseases, and Ophthalmology. This year, Bayer is advancing progress for patients with Parkinson’s disease, being the first company with both investigational cell as well as gene therapies for this condition. More precisely, the investigational gene therapy, currently in clinical Phase II, has received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The investigational cell therapy, which has also received this designation, is recruiting first patients in a Phase III clinical study. Australia has been included as one of the countries in Asia-Pacific in the clinical Phase III trial. Furthermore, Bayer has recently achieved a significant milestone with the FDA’s Fast Track designation for an investigational cell therapy targeting specific forms of inherited retinal diseases. It is the first clinical study using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived photoreceptor cells to restore vision for these patients by replacing damaged retinal cells with healthy ones.

In addition to its activities in cell and gene therapies, Bayer is driving different modalities across disease areas such as Cardiovascular, Oncology, Women’s Health, Radiology, and Ophthalmology. By advancing its portfolio of innovative products, Bayer remains committed to improving the lives of various patient groups around the world. Of note is Bayer’s recent pipeline progress: submitting a new low dose magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent for marketing authorization in several countries worldwide; receiving the first approvals for a hormone-free treatment to relieve moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women; and providing a new treatment option for patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Aligned with its mission ‘Health for all, Hunger for none’, Bayer remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare through innovation, investment, and a steadfast commitment on improving patient outcomes in the Asia-Pacific region and across the world.

Thailand’s new minister of tourism and sports has vowed to start collecting a 300-baht tourism tax during his four-month term and instructed the relevant parties to communicate the benefits of the scheme to visitors.

Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn said on Friday that the tax is important because the proceeds go to fund insurance coverage for visitors as well as tourism infrastructure development.

He acknowledged the additional cost could affect sentiment, as foreign travellers have voiced concerns about it in social media discussions in the past.

The idea is far from new. It was first mooted in 2020 and finally received cabinet approval in February 2023. But the previous four tourism ministers were unable or unwilling to initiate collection.

Though a study was completed on the benefits of the tax, it still has not been adopted because of concerns about the potential impact on tourism sentiment.

The rate approved in 2003 was 300 baht per person for arrivals by air and 150 baht for land or sea entries.

Former minister Sorawong Thienthong vowed earlier this year to start collecting the tax by the end of 2025, but he later changed his mind.

‘If we impose this tax, we must communicate how much tourists could benefit from it,’ said Mr Artthakorn.

Speaking during a visit to the ministry on Friday, he said new campaigns were planned in the fourth quarter to lift spending and arrivals. By the end of October, the ministry also aims to finalise the budget that was left over from a 1.76-billion-baht domestic subsidy scheme.

The new administration has also emphasised the importance of ensuring tourism safety and finding a way to bring foreign arrivals back to the pre-pandemic level of nearly 40 million, the minister said.

Thailand is currently on course to welcome about 33.4 million foreign arrivals in 2025, down from 35.5 million last year.

Mr Artthakorn said he had set targets for the fourth quarter this year and the first quarter next year, but was not ready to disclose these figures yet.

The asset management company (AMC) planned to address the bad debts of retail borrowers will cover 3.8 million eligible debtors with a total debt value of 120 billion baht, according to the Finance Ministry.

Finance permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit said the new AMC will be established as a joint venture between the public and private sectors. The company will take over debts of up to 100,000 baht per debtor from financial institutions, then restructure these debts to make monthly repayments more manageable.

This should ease the burden on small borrowers, allowing them more disposable income for consumption, which in turn will help stimulate the economy, said Mr Lavaron.

There are 1.4 million small borrowers with commercial banks that owe a total of 35 billion baht, and another 2.4 million small borrowers with non-bank institutions that owe 85 billion baht.

He said the funding for the AMC to purchase debts from financial institutions will come from allocations by the Bank of Thailand. These funds originate from contributions commercial banks are required to make to tackle the Financial Institutions Development Fund’s debt problem.

During the pandemic, part of this money was used to support entrepreneurs under the “Khun Soo Rao Chuey” (You Fight, We Help) programme. Of the 36 billion baht allocated, 26 billion remains and will be earmarked to establish the AMC, said Mr Lavaron.

New Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas stated in parliament during the government’s recent policy announcement the new AMC for household debt restructuring will increase liquidity for Thais.

For example, he said borrowers previously making instalment payments of 2,000-3,000 baht per month to financial institutions may, after restructuring, pay only 500 baht.

The household debt resolution policy was dubbed one of the government’s five key pillars to be implemented within four months. Other policies include:

Stimulating the economy and tourism through the “Khon La Khrueng Plus” co-payment scheme, expected to launch at the end of October.

Providing liquidity support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by having the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation provide guarantees totalling 50 billion baht for businesses in the supply chains of large companies. If large businesses support SMEs under the “Big Brother Helps Little Brother” scheme, the Revenue Department will allow these expenses to be deducted from taxes.

Increasing personal savings for retirement by having the Government Lottery Office allocate part of its marketing budget to savings accounts for those who purchase online lottery tickets. Each buyer receives an individual savings account that can be withdrawn at age 55. This programme is separate from the “retirement lottery” scheme.

Developing workforce skills for future industries, including bio-agriculture, smart farming, artificial intelligence and digital technology, data centres and electric vehicles. The Board of Investment has a Competitiveness Enhancement Fund worth 10 billion baht that can be allocated in collaboration with the private sector to select workers for reskilling and upskilling.

Re: “Legal eagles voice worries over Thaksin’s pardon bid”, (BP, Oct 1). Whatever naughtinesses he may have been accused of, it cannot be denied that Thaksin Shinawatra continues to prove a moral exemplar to the nation in at least two areas. The first is that he faithfully follows the traditional example of accumulating the greatest possible sufficiency of extreme wealth; the second is that he entertains as unfailingly as Lisa Manoban herself, albeit with his humorous approach to preached legal norms rather than with her doubtless impressive song and dance routines.

Like the best humour, Thaksin’s latest also makes a pertinent point. So, is that impertinence or what? So, add on another 15 years, no? Or are Arnon Nampa’s offences still way, way more serious than anything Thaksin or Prayut Chan-o-cha or Capt Thamanat Prompow have ever done?

Felix Qui

No to carbon tax

Re: “Climate Act, digital tools key to net zero”, (BP, Oct 2).

Now, the real reason behind climate alarmism is finally coming to light: carbon pricing — a tax on life that global planners (WEF, NV) have been trying to implement since the 1970s. I believe a carbon tax is a bad idea for the following reasons:

Carbon dioxide should not be seen as a pollutant but as a life-supporting gas essential to plant growth. Through photosynthesis, plants create food from CO2 and sunlight. Rising CO2 levels have contributed to global greening (the “aerial fertiliser effect”) and increased agricultural productivity. These benefits may outweigh potential climate risks, raising doubts about taxing CO2 emissions.

Uncertainty undermines the case for aggressive emissions cuts, since the link between reducing CO2 and lowering extreme weather impacts is tenuous. Cost-effective defensive measures — such as infrastructure improvements — are more reliable than global CO2 controls.

Policy priorities should be: eliminating harmful energy regulations, pursuing localised defences against extreme weather, and considering Pigouvian CO2 taxes only with broad international cooperation. Otherwise, unilateral emissions reductions risk economic harm and energy insecurity.

Anna Aarts

Fence or fiction?

Re: “A border fence too far”, (Editorial, Sept 2).

I have seen various items on social media that Thai people have contributed vast sums of money in order to construct a wall between Thailand and Cambodia. On the other hand, however, I have neither seen anything in the newspaper nor heard anything from the government about undertaking such a project. So are there approved plans to, or is someone perpetrating a tremendous scam on the people?

Wondering

Crank column

Oh dear, PostBag has degenerated into a tit-for-tat rant fest again. I have many times requested a crank column be inserted somewhere else, possibly in the Life section. I almost miss Eric Barht’s contributions, not that I agreed with him on most things. I assume he has retired from PostBag or moved to a different platform.

Newly appointed Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat has pledged to improve dialysis services for more than 100,000 patients nationwide within the next two months.

The move comes in response to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s directive to ensure such treatment is provided free of charge under the “Kidney Dialysis Treatment Everywhere with One ID Card” scheme.

The announcement was made on Wednesday after Mr Anutin raised concerns over widespread complaints from patients who reported being charged extra fees for dialysis, despite their entitlement to free treatment under the universal healthcare programme, also known as the 30-baht scheme.

Mr Anutin tasked the new minister with resolving the issue within two months.

In response, Mr Pattana said the ministry is preparing immediate measures to ease the burden on patients, including exploring the possibility of providing travel allowances for those who must regularly commute to treatment centres.

“The real solution lies not only in dialysis but in organ transplantation, which is the ultimate treatment for kidney disease. The ministry will also work to expand transplant services for the greatest benefit of patients,” he said.

Jadej Thammatacharee, secretary-general of the National Health Security Office (NHSO), expressed confidence that the upgraded services would be in place within two months.

He said patients would no longer incur additional costs, adding that a multidisciplinary team would be established to more effectively assess and prioritise cases.

Not all patients require dialysis, yet some are advised by their doctors to begin treatment earlier than needed, he noted. To address this, the NHSO is considering offering second medical opinions to prevent unnecessary treatments and ensure more efficient use of the budget.

Currently, the NHSO has allocated 16 billion baht for dialysis services, with an estimated increase of more than 3 billion baht required next year. Dr Jadej suggested that “unnecessary cases” may be contributing to the rising costs.

He also acknowledged that while the “Dialysis Everywhere with One ID Card” policy is highly ambitious, further discussions are needed to ensure its successful implementation.

Myanmar nationals residing in refugee camps can now register for a permit that will allow them to work legally in the country, the Ministry of Labour announced.

The move came after the cabinet on Aug 26 passed a resolution allowing refugees to take up jobs in the country, as part of the government’s bid to address labour shortages.

Labour Minister Trinuch Thienthong said on Thursday the resolution, which took effect on Wednesday, is in line with the government’s plan to meet the demand for labour from various industries while providing refugees with the opportunity to participate in the economy legally.

The move will benefit 42,601 refugees aged between 18-59 living in nine shelters across Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi provinces — about 12,000 of whom have expressed interest in working, said Pichet Thongphan, director-general of the Department of Employment.

He noted employers have already registered 6,152 vacancies.

Sectors with the highest demand include construction, electronics manufacturing, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and food and beverage production, he said.

Employers seeking workers from refugee shelters must first register the vacancies they wish to fill at their local employment office, providing details about the position and the duration of the contract.

The relevant authorities will direct employers to choose from a pool of applicants deemed suitable for the jobs they listed.

The workers must then seek permission from district authorities to leave the controlled area. Once outside the camps, they must report to authorities in the province of employment within 48 hours, he said.

Employers must then bring the workers to a state medical facility to undergo health checks and register them for insurance.

Afterwards, employers can submit work permit applications with all the required supporting documents.

The initial application fee is set at 100 baht, while the annual permit renewal fee is 900 baht. Workers may engage in all types of jobs not explicitly prohibited for foreigners.

Mr Pichet urged employers to follow all procedural requirements to ensure compliance with the law. Guidance and support are available at provincial employment offices nationwide or via the Ministry of Labour hotline at 1506.

As Swarovski celebrates “130 Years Of Joy” throughout 2025, expect the maison’s majestic waterfowl gracing the anniversary editions.

Global creative director Giovanna Engelbert has reinterpreted the Swarovski Swan for statement pieces under the commemorative Vienna Collection.

“The swan is a beautiful, almost mythical creature that represents grace, beauty, eternal love and transformation. It was chosen as Swarovski’s emblem because it highlights our eternal love of crystal and the elegance of our artistry and creations,” said the global creative director since 2020.

The logo originally featured an edelweiss as a symbol of purity and beauty. Swarovski modernised its trademark in 1989 with a swan, inspired by the works of Gustav Klimt.

In 2021, Engelbert evolved the logo by placing the swan inside an octagon with strong edges representing the savoir-faire of Swarovski’s artisans.

The know-how includes meticulous crystal setting and high-jewellery techniques, used in crafting the Vienna Collection.

Luminous clear crystals contrast with ruthenium accents in the architectural designs while the kinetic energy of abstract wings and feather-like forms evoke the swan’s graceful movements. Pavé detailing and stones in mixed cuts and sizes intensify the light in each piece.

“I wanted to pay homage to the Swarovski Swan by imagining it in an abstract way, taking flight — a symbol of movement, energy and reinvention. These designs are meant to feel classical in spirit, but with a sharp, contemporary edge that feels alive. They transcend time, taking us from 1895 to 2025 — a journey between heritage and the future,” said Engelbert.

A prelude to the epic, Daniel Swarovski invented an electric cutting machine and applied for a patent in 1891. The revolutionary technology allowed cutting jewellery stones into a variety of shapes and facets.

A new era of crystal production then began in 1895, when Swarovski partnered with Franz Weis and Armand Kosmann in establishing their business in the small alpine village of Wattens in Tyrol, Austria.

With its own melting furnace, the company has been producing crystal glass in-house since 1913. Innovative cutting and polishing techniques further made Swarovski Crystals unrivalled in the way they capture the light and refract it with an intense brilliance, clarity, radiance and depth of colour.

Today, new crystal cuts, shades and sizes are still conceived at the historical headquarters in Wattens. Other materials include Swarovski Created Diamonds with the same optical, chemical and physical attributes as mined stones; and Swarovski Zirconia with the Round Pure Brilliance cut, comparable to Tolkowsky Ideal Cut.

Crystals in various cuts as well as Swarovski Zirconia shimmer on various pieces from the Vienna Collection such as the ruthenium-plated choker with a pear-shape crystal at the tip enhancing the radiance.

The designs of the sculptural choker, matching ear cuffs and bangle are inspired by the swan’s graceful wings.

Octagon-cut crystals and feather-like wings characterise a standout necklace while a fringe-like effect on ear cuffs captures the delicate nature of feathers.

A ring is designed with the swan’s head and neck wrapping around the finger along with dramatic feather-like strands.

The emblematic swans from the Vienna Collection have seemingly migrated to the autumn/winter 2025 collection. The jewellery are designed with the same mixed-cut silhouettes in ruthenium and clear crystals, to further celebrate Swarovski’s 130th anniversary.

BBIX (Thailand) Company Limited (BBIX Thailand), a subsidiary of Japan’s SoftBank Corp, has officially launched ‘Open Connectivity eXchange’ (OCX) connection points in Thailand. The connection points are located at the international-standard data centres of True IDC North Muang Thong and True IDC East Bangna Campus in Bangkok, ensuring stability and security. The new service is designed to elevate cloud connectivity for businesses, enabling greater efficiency and performance.

OCX is a cloud-based network service developed on BBIX’s IX (Internet Exchange) platform, created to deliver secure, fast and scalable connectivity. Customers can instantly provision private networks on-demand via an online portal, reducing setup time from weeks to just minutes. The service also supports flexible bandwidth expansion to facilitate cloud migration or new project deployments, while enabling single-platform connectivity to major cloud providers such as AWS and Oracle.

Furthermore, OCX offers seamless international connectivity covering Tokyo, Singapore and Thailand. It provides carrier-grade reliability through private, logically separated connections dedicated to each customer, thereby minimising the risk of eavesdropping or cyberattacks. Its robust infrastructure also enables effective monitoring and rapid incident response, ensuring maximum stability and operational efficiency.

The service benefits a wide range of businesses reliant on cloud technology to drive operations, including IoT platforms in the manufacturing sector, financial and banking institutions, and Software as a Service (SaaS) providers. It also addresses the needs of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) seeking direct, stable, private and high-speed cloud connectivity, as well as enterprises undergoing system expansion or experiencing fluctuating traffic that requires flexible bandwidth management.

Mr Hidetoshi Ikeda, Managing Director of BBIX (Thailand) Company Limited, stated: ‘The launch of OCX connection points not only enhances the provision of highly secure and reliable network services but also aligns with the rapidly expanding demand for cloud services in Thailand. Market forecasts indicate that the Thai public cloud sector will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.68% between 2025 and 2030, reaching a market volume of USD 8.51 billion by 2030. This growth reflects the strong demand for cloud solutions that are flexible, cost-effective and secure. OCX has been purpose-built to truly meet these needs, offering multi-cloud capabilities, global connectivity and scalable performance. I am confident this service will strengthen competitiveness and provide new options for businesses in Thailand.’

BBIX Thailand remains committed to accelerating digital transformation and creating new business opportunities for customers in Thailand and across Southeast Asia. Businesses interested in consulting about this service can contact bbix-sales@bbix.net.

The amnesty bill has been submitted to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha for inclusion on the House agenda, with second and third readings expected before the current parliamentary session ends later this month, according to a source.

The legislation, reviewed by a House committee chaired by Pheu Thai MP Natthawut Saikuar, merges three bills that passed their first reading on July 16.

It seeks to extend amnesty for politically motivated offences over a 20-year period, from 2005 to 2025, while explicitly excluding corruption cases, offences causing death or serious injury, and violations of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese-majeste law.

If enacted, the bill would grant amnesty to individuals prosecuted for political offences during this period, erase their criminal records, and terminate ongoing proceedings. Civil cases involving state agencies or state enterprises would also be dropped.

The bill further calls for the establishment of a nine-member committee to review individual amnesty applications. Chaired by the prime minister, the panel would include the justice minister, the permanent secretary for justice, the secretary-general of the National Human Rights Commission, three legal or human rights experts, a civil society specialist in conflict resolution, and the permanent secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, who would also act as secretary.

Special provisions are proposed for offenders under 18 at the time of their actions, allowing the committee to recommend rehabilitation measures or request courts to suspend proceedings in line with juvenile justice principles.

Chaithawat Tulathon, former leader of the Move Forward Party and a member of the House committee, said the bill reflected the spirit of the three drafts.

He added that committee members from the People’s Party – the successor to the court-dissolved Move Forward – have reserved the right to discuss conditional amnesty for Section 112 cases during the House examination of the bill.

A Senate committee in July said it supported amnesty for young people who may have committed political offences out of recklessness or impulsiveness.

The use of Section 112 was revived in 2020 as youth-led protests against the government of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha gained momentum. About 280 people, many of them students at the time of the alleged offences, face lese-majeste charges that are still before the courts.

Five amnesty bills were originally proposed but only three were accepted by the House.

The three were sponsored by the United Thai Nation (UTN) MP Wichai Sutsawat, Klatham MP Preeda Boonplerng and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul. The UTN-sponsored draft was used as the primary version for further deliberation.

The two that did not pass were proposed by the People’s Party and a network of civil society groups.

The Ministry of Commerce has announced a campaign to ease the cost of living for consumers by selling quality pork at a special price of 100 baht for 2 kilogrammes nationwide throughout October.

The ministry’s Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has joined with the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand (SRA) to stage the campaign, which also aims to rebalance pork demand and supply in the market, following a decline in farm gate pig prices.

Prices have been pressured by the economic slowdown, reduced consumer purchasing power, a downturn in the restaurant business and the return of many Cambodian workers to their home country, said Yanee Srimanee, deputy director-general of the department.

These factors have reduced pork consumption, resulting in oversupply and pig prices falling below farmers’ production costs.

The DIT regularly takes steps to protect pig farmers by ensuring prices remain fair, for instance by setting a minimum selling price. Last month it instructed major retail and wholesale operators not to sell lean pork for less than 102 baht per kilogramme.

Under its new initiative, 100,000kg of pork will be offered to consumers at special prices, in line with Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun’s policy to lower household expenses.

Ms Yanee said the pork, sourced from approved farms that are members of the SRA, is being distributed at designated selling points and through the department’s Blue Flag fairs throughout the month.

Sitthiphan Thanakiatpinyo, the SRA president, said the campaign has been well received by consumers so far.

He said the scheme not only provides affordable pork to consumers, but also offers an effective channel to release surplus pork into the market, helping farmers earn appropriate incomes.

To further manage supply, the association is taking other steps including a piglet cycle-cutting programme, processing 100,000 piglets to produce roast pork and reduce supply over the next four months.

The association has also requested the four major pig-raising companies store pork in cold storage for six months, limiting the volume entering the market.

In addition, a maximum slaughter weight of 110kg per pig was set to ease the glut in the market.

The association expects these actions will help restore the supply and demand balance in the market, said Mr Sitthiphan.