CREATED THE FRENCH ASSOCIATION FOR THE THERMAL RESEARCH ( AFRETH )

The French crenotherapy has legitimated its scientific importance by the constitution of AFRETH (French Association for the Thermal Research), a project of national character created according to the initiative of ANMCT, CNETh and the Thermal and Climatique Federation of France, among other institutions and presented in the 22th edition of the Forum of Thermalies´2005, that took place in Paris.

The fundamental aim of the French Association in the Thermal Research, (AFRETH) is to promote the investigation of the thermalism and to favour the clinical studies allowing to improve the services to the users and patients.

The financing is assured by the thermal stations since they will dedicate two Eurus by each curista and that mean around a million Eurus, having in mind that the thermal stations are used aproximately by 550.000 social patients every year.

The idea of putting ahead this scientific experience, starts from the initiative of three of its founder members, representing the different aspects of the thermal activity in the French National Plan of Thermalism.

The National Association of Municipalities possesing Spas (F.T.C.F.), for the thermal stations and its protection at county level.

The French Thermal and Climatic Federation (F.T.C.F.) for the scientific, medical and economic activities of the thermalism.

The National Council of Thermal Exploitations (C.N.E.Th.) for the development of treatments.

The Statutes of AFRETH are based in the promotion of the scientific research applied to the activity of the thermal establishments and paying special attention to the clinical research.

With the start of AFRETH the thermalism is endoved with a tool of high level that will allow, among other things, to put forward a better evaluation of the medical service that accompanies the thermal medicine.

Under René Rettig's chairmanship, mayor of the thermal station of Luchon, the Council of Administration of the French Association for the Thermal Investigation will support their decisions with the supervision of the Scientific Council of AFRETH, presided over by the Professor Christian Roques, of the University of Toulouse.

SCIENTIFIC BOARD
The Scientific Board is composed of twelve university specialists and it has the guarantee of the national companies of medical ensurance. It has as main mission to propose high-priority subjects of research, to elaborate the biddings, to paralyze those projects not available for study and to advise AFRETH about developing of the results obtained in these works .

According to sources consulted by TERMASWORLD, the first investigation project is already carried out and the results are expected to be known at the end of September 2005.

The President of the Thermal and Climatique Federation of France, Dr. Christian Corne, expressed his Dr. Christian Corne satisfaction due to the important mobilization of the French thermal profession, managers of the sector and voters, because of the presentation of the new Association in the 22 edition of the Thermalies, celebrated in Paris, where it has been also stablihsed the headquarters of AFRETH.

"It has been a very productive encounter, Corne manifested. We have officially presented the Association for the Thermalism Research after the approval of its statutes and we consider it as a project of national character and a very ambitious scientific challenge."

In his opinion "It can be considered as a demonstration of the interest to improve the quality of the medical-thermal service that will be accompanied by protocols of viability studies and directed by professors of well-known prestige. " The Chairman of F.T.C.F. told the assistants to the act of presentation of AFRETH thanking their participation and very especially their trust in the future of the thermalism in France."

TERMAS WORLD AGENCY