Heart disease is killing more Thais, and the only way to reduce the risk is to control weight, exercise and develop good eating habits, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit warned yesterday.

He said the mortality rate of heart disease in Thailand was 2.6 per cent, compared to 4.9 per cent in other countries, and the consumption of alcohol, smoking as well as eating excessive fat, sugar and salt were all contributing factors.

Nonthaburi's Chest Disease Institute is the only healthcare provider that offers 24-hour emergency treatment for heart-attack patients. Chiang Mai's Suan Dok, Ubon Ratchathani's Sappha Sitthi Prasong hospital, Phitsanulok's Phuttha Chinnaraj hospital, Songkhla's Hat Yai hospital and Bangkok's Rajvithi Hospital will be upgraded soon to offer round-the-clock service.

The institute will train medical personnel on emergency care as part of a Bt35-billion budget from the Thai Khemkhaeng scheme next year.