Private hospitals join in flood-relief efforts
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The Public Health Ministry is teaming up with private hospitals to provide medical treatment for people in flooded provinces.
About 40 private hospitals in Bangkok and the Central region are expected to join in. The move comes after many provincial hospitals were left inundated. “Patients will be treated at private hospitals for free. All they need to do is give hospital staff their social security details,” Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said.
He also instructed hospitals in Bangkok and adjacent provinces, including Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani, to be prepared for the flood situation and make evacuation plans.
“More than 10,000 cubic metres of water from the North will flow down to the Central region and Bangkok. There is no point in building flood barriers. The first thing is to evacuate patients to a safe place,” Witthaya told health officials at a meeting on handling the flood situation.
“We expect the floods to last for about two months and need to make evacuation plans,” he added.
He also instructed all hospital staff and medical workers to support each other.
“Since we are facing the toughest time in our lives, the young generation, especially medical workers, should learn how to deal with natural disasters and provide medical care to affected people,” Witthaya said.
However, a source at the ministry said only 206 beds in six Bangkok hospitals and 70 beds in private hospitals in the Central region were available for flood victims.
Meanwhile, Deputy Public Health Minister Torpong Chaiyasarn led a group of comedians to Lop Buri yesterday to offer some light relief to people affected by the floods.
Since Tuesday, more than 84,622 people in flood-affected areas were diagnosed with severe depression, with about 607 of them considering suicide and 4,592 under stress.
“We have to accept the truth and not panic. We should talk and help each other move forward,” he said.
