The main uses for these products are for accidental-related injuries, particularly for automobile accidents. The majority of accident patients are admitted to a public hospital because of their accessibility, low expenses, and capabilities. A few public hospitals in Bangkok, Lerd Sin Hospital, Siriraj Hospital, Central General Hospital are well known for accident and orthopedic treatment. Lerd Sin Hospital, Siriraj Hospital and Rajvithi Hospital are also the three major producers of medical and sporting braces, crutches, and splints. Artificial orthopedic devices from these hospitals are distributed among the other public hospitals throughout the country.
Local production is limited to the accident-related product subsector.
U.S. Biomaterials All of the major producers of heart valves in the U.S. are represented here in Thailand. Medtronic and St. Jude Medical are two leading suppliers in Thailand. St. Jude Medical coordinates with a local traffic radio station to collect donations from listeners and give away free heart valves including operating costs to poor cardiovascular patients with very serious symptoms. CarboMedics is the third leading heart valve supplier followed by Sorin Biomedica. Baxter Healthcare has just entered the Thai market by forming a partnership with Osotsapha Co., Ltd., a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor in Thailand.