"Pharmacies can let us know when and where diseases like dengue fever occur," said Deputy Bangkok City Clerk Sittisat Jiamwongpaet. "They can advise customers to see a doctor if necessary."

Pharmacies play a major role in healthcare because more than 30 per cent of people visit one when they fall ill, he said.

Of the nearly 500 pharmacies in Bangkok, at least 200 have agreed to cooperate with the BMA, he said.

Preserving local wisdom

The Culture Ministry will produce 3,000 manuals to guide local authorities on keeping archives about their areas.

Minister Anusorn Wongsawan said the guide would teach authorities how to preserve local wisdom in documents that would be research material for students.

Bt20m to protect ancient texts

Culture Minister Anusorn Wongsawan has set a 2009 budget of Bt20 million to establish a new system for keeping all ancient documents. It will comprise air-conditioners to control the temperature for 24 hours, a system to copy ancient documents in digital format and fire alarms.