Foreign healthcare experts to receive awards today

HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej has assigned HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to present the awards to Professor Morton M Mower and Sir Michael Gideon Marmot on his behalf.
Mower, from the United States, was honoured in the field of medicine, while Marmot from Britain received accolades for his contribution to public health.
During a meet the press event yesterday, both men said they were extremely honoured to have received the awards.
“With this award, people will understand more about the benefits from my research. They pave the way for further studies on the use of electric currents at the cell level,” Mower said.
The American is co-inventor of the Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator and the main inventor of the Cardiac Resynchro-nisation Therapy device.
Mower hails from the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Medicine.
Marmot, a pioneer in the field of social epidemiology, believed becoming a Prince Mahidol Award recipient would bring more attention to the reduction of health inequality.
“We need to look at a holistic approach. We need to promote equality from birth till death,” he said.
 Marmot – a professor of epidemiology and public health – also serves as president of the World Medical Association.
He said an important factor in good health was a warm family |that well nurtured children since they were infants, giving them |emotional stability. Family development was key to reducing health inequality and he urged both society and the government to provide support for it.
Marmot said about 40 per cent of Thais now worked without having a clear employer and, as a result, did not enjoy a good working environment.
He also recommended tax measures in curbing risk factors such as alcohol consumption.
As for the elderly, Marmot suggested they should receive support to live a proper and useful life.