Vachira Phuket Hospital doctor calls for microscope donations

[webfact]

Vachira Phuket Hospital doctor calls for microscope donations

By The Thaiger

 

 

Boonlert Sripairotkul, a Neurologist at Vachira Phuket Hospital, has posted a call for donations in order to purchase a new microscope for the hospital as the current machine has been used since 2002 and “produces strange noises”.

 

The 17 year old microscope has been used for brain, spinal cord and blood vessels operations.

 

The doctor told TheBangkokInsight that hospitals in the same area usually receive 50 million baht as an annual budget and each hospital must compete on presenting how necessary they need to spend the budget.

 

“This hospital also did the same in order to purchase a new microscope but we couldn’t get enough support as other hospitals also need the budget to spend on equipment that helps them save people as well.”

 

The price of a new microscope is quite high.

 

“One small microscope costs 18 million baht while the larger version costs 23 million baht, and that’s why the purchase has been suspended.”

 

 

The doctor said they have tried to do maintenance and in 2012, they found that the machine was already too old.

 

“It’s hard to find spare parts for it while the repair and maintenance costs have become more and more pricey.”

 

Another way they have tried is borrowing the machine from Patong Hospital as they don’t have any neurologists there. That’s the reason why patients from Patong Hospital are transferred to Vachira Hospital as well. The neurologist also has to share the machine with the orthopedic department.

 

“Many doctors, including me, have experienced the malfunctions of the machine. The noise is one thing but what’s more serious is the focus of the microscope that is not accurate anymore. When doing operations such as a brain operation, the focus is crucial.”

 

This is the reason why the doctor has had to post for donations. Vachira Phuket is the central hospital for provinces on the Andaman coast, such as Krabi, Ranong and Phang Nga as well as Patong Hospital. There are about 150 patients in need of operations per year. The budget is not enough for Vachira Hospital while the number of patients has increased, including tourists and foreign labourers.

 

“Many times, the hospital has to give free treatment as the patients say they have no money. When reporting to their embassy, the embassy only reply with a thank you letter.”

 

There are about 2,500 – 3,000 OPD per day at Vachira Hospital while last year there were about 1,000 OPD per day and the number tends to increase.

 

The hospital is losing money, approximately 200 – 300 million baht each year and the doctor believes that Vachira is not the only place that is facing this. The doctor said that the co-payment system is the best long-term solution which helps indicate which patients are underprivileged and in need of support from the hospital.

 

He said that Artiwara ‘Toon’ Bodyslam has a program to help hospitals in Andaman coast this coming October. The director of the hospital asked if the microscope should be added in the list, which made him very happy, but it is not guaranteed how much Vachira Hospital would receive for the microscope as the donation will be spread among many hospitals in the area.

 

“We have tried asking for donations from businesses when our 4 elevators were broken all at the same time but the donations came with conditions for medical privileges.”

 

“I posted about this because I’m 51 years old. When I’m 55, I will be retired from this career. There will be 2 neurologist who will replace me. They are currently studying. I’m doing this for the next generation.”

 

UPDATE: The Ministry of Public Health is meeting with Dr. Boonlert Sripairotkul sometime soon. We will keep you up to date.

 

Source: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/vachira-phuket-hospital-doctor-calls-for-microscope-donations

 

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2019-08-30

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[Mango Bob]

Now you see why I would never go to a Government Hospital for a cold.  You come out dead.

[watcharacters]

9 minutes ago, Mango Bob said:

Now you see why I would never go to a Government Hospital for a cold.  You come out dead.

 

But think how much money you'd save.

 

[OneMoreFarang]

I think it's pretty easy: If the hospital has specialists and working, maintained, specialized equipment, then they should offer those services.

And if they can't guarantee any of this then they should say: Sorry, we can't do that.

 

Offering a service and then working with old unreliable equipment is not an acceptable option!

[ChipButty]

Thats why Im against the government buying new military equipment Tanks, Submarines and APC's this is a government hospital which lots of people have no choice but to use.

[Joe Mcseismic]

Strange. Several years ago, I was hospitalized in BHP for a lung infection.

I had to go to Vachira for an MRI. My doctor told me that Vachira had the best equipment because it is a government hospital.

[Olmate]

25 minutes ago, Mango Bob said:

Now you see why I would never go to a Government Hospital for a cold.  You come out dead.

The hospital wasn,t put there for you, show some respect.

[Joe Mcseismic]

28 minutes ago, Mango Bob said:

Now you see why I would never go to a Government Hospital for a cold.  You come out dead.

What an incredibly stupid and ignorant statement.

In Phuket, those doctors that work at Siriroj and Bangkok Hospital Phuket, all have to put in a certain amount of hours at Vachira.

[Vacuum]

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

“produces strange noises”

Any Thai that watch television should be used to this.

[RotMahKid]

State Hospital ? easy: ask the states "General" he has enough, right?

Edited August 30, 2019 by RotMahKid

[Bob12345]

2 hours ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

What an incredibly stupid and ignorant statement.

In Phuket, those doctors that work at Siriroj and Bangkok Hospital Phuket, all have to put in a certain amount of hours at Vachira.

Where did you get that little "fact"? (Which is definately incorrect btw).

 

Why would a doctor at a private hospital put in hours at a competing government hospital? Who would demand that and why? That makes no sense at all.

Edited August 30, 2019 by Bob12345

[stevenl]

11 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

Where did you get that little "fact"? (Which is definately incorrect btw).

 

Why would a doctor at a private hospital put in hours at a competing government hospital? Who would demand that and why? That makes no sense at all.

They are required to do that, I think as part of their education, but could also be a contractual requirements.

[Joe Mcseismic]

1 hour ago, Bob12345 said:

Where did you get that little "fact"? (Which is definately incorrect btw).

 

Why would a doctor at a private hospital put in hours at a competing government hospital? Who would demand that and why? That makes no sense at all.

It is a fact. I was told by the doctor treating me. Doctors have to do Pro Bono work.

So you see, you are wrong. Also, I don't appreciate being called a liar.

Edited August 30, 2019 by Joe Mcseismic

[LivinginKata]

1 hour ago, Bob12345 said:

Where did you get that little "fact"? (Which is definately incorrect btw).

 

Why would a doctor at a private hospital put in hours at a competing government hospital? Who would demand that and why? That makes no sense at all.

 

Government hospital is not competing. These doctors give back to community for a day or 2 half days each week (but they do get paid). Plus they see far more patients and gain more experience than the quieter private hospitals.  

[Joe Mcseismic]

1 hour ago, Bob12345 said:

Where did you get that little "fact"? (Which is definately incorrect btw).

 

Why would a doctor at a private hospital put in hours at a competing government hospital? Who would demand that and why? That makes no sense at all.

Here is an article that proves Thai doctors work in private and government hospitals.

https://kaitlynbutko.wixsite.com/thailand/blog/the-fancy-private-hospital

 

Where's your proof that they definitely don't Bob?

[colinneil]

4 hours ago, Mango Bob said:

Now you see why I would never go to a Government Hospital for a cold.  You come out dead.

What a crazy thing to say, government hospitals here are perfectly ok.

I am living proof of that, spinal cord severed, 4th/ 5th vertabrae shattered, punctured lung, 4 broken ribs, broken pelvis/ femur/ hip.

Wife told to expect the worse, still here almost 6 years later thanks to the skill and dedication of doctors/ nurses at a government hospital.

[Bob12345]

2 hours ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

It is a fact. I was told by the doctor treating me. Doctors have to do Pro Bono work.

So you see, you are wrong. Also, I don't appreciate being called a liar.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

Here is an article that proves Thai doctors work in private and government hospitals.

https://kaitlynbutko.wixsite.com/thailand/blog/the-fancy-private-hospital

 

Where's your proof that they definitely don't Bob?

 

I am not calling you a liar, I am only pointing out that the "facts" you are giving are INCORRECT. I dont think you misrepresent things on purpose, it seems like you simply misunderstood what you were told and what you read. Let me explain:

 

Point 1: in the article you give they are talking about the hospital next door. Maybe you are not familiar with Phuket, but next to Vachira hospital is another hospital, which is not Bangkok Hospital (Bangkok hospital is much further down the road). Next to Vachira hospital is a government hospital, which is part of Vachira, under the name "Mahogany care". It was built in the past couple of years and is open for about a year now already. This is simply the same hospital (with the same doctors) with shorter waiting lists at higher prices. Bangkok hospital is not next door, and it is not government run but private.

Google maps image of the building, which is located EXACTLY next to Vachira hospital:
https://www.google.com/maps/@7.8980222,98.3837333,3a,75y,260h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szYuegh38eWpdlVU_YkPDdQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

Point 2: the work doctors do at the Mahagony care unit is not pro-bono. They get paid for it on an hourly basis but do have to fulfill their contractual hours at the Vachira hospital also. So it is basically overtime they do there (my assumption based on my knowledge of how the Thai medical system works). Nowhere in the article it says its pro-bono (it only mentions pro-bono as patients coming to vachira without means to pay their bills) and i dont think the doctor treating you will tell you how much he earns at each place.

 

Point 3: my wife has been working at BHP as a doctor for the past years and has not done a minute of work at Vachira hospital. How is that possible? None of the friends working at BHP do extra hours at Vachira, how is that possible? They work between 260 and 300 hours at BHP per month, they simply have no time to work at another government hospital next to that. When we just moved to Phuket she did think about working there a bit every week to see more action (more interesting cases) and give back to the community, but that was completely out of free will and that idea was parked when her working hours increased and we got kids. 

 

Edit: What LivinginKata says was the reason she considered working there a bit extra. Most doctors who would consider that have often some extra free time (less shifts to divide between the doctors in their department) or are just "doctor-junkies" who really like their work.

 

Edited August 30, 2019 by Bob12345
added a link + comment

[Bob12345]

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

They are required to do that, I think as part of their education, but could also be a contractual requirements.

Nope, when you graduate you are obliged to work in a government hospital for a couple of years OR pay off the government.

Doctors who work at a government hospital are not working at BHP as that is a seperate organisation. BHP will not hire someone who already works full-time at a government hospital. If you want to work at BHP after graduation you need to pay off your study debt (or let BHP pay it off).

Contractually BHP tells many of its doctors they are NOT ALLOWED to work in a private clinic or somewhere else. 

[ChrisY1]

 

"The 17 year old microscope has been used for brain, spinal cord and blood vessels operations."

Brilliant advertising!

[Is this real]

How many microscopes could be had if just one Army Armored Personnel Carrier was sold?  What is the priority?

[Old Croc]

Not much of the above relates to the fact that this government hospital has an old, defective, microscope that is being used for (microscopic) surgery and urgently requires replacement.

Apart from being another good reason I'd never use a government hospital here, it's criminal that a government awash in money is not adequately equipping a hospitals to the point they are asking the public for donations! (GoFundMe?)

This is the hospital that, in the past, has blamed the expat community for their outstanding debts.  Any fool could work out that short term, idiot tourists, or very poor Thais, are the most likely to default on payments.

This hospital also has responsibility for the completed, but unlikely to open in the foreseeable future, Chalong Hospital.  They don't have the money to equip the place. The budget dissipated.

Something is very wrong with their management and budgetary departments that they cannot get the funds from Government to properly run their extremely important community service!

[Joe Mcseismic]

1 hour ago, Bob12345 said:

 

 

 

 

I am not calling you a liar, I am only pointing out that the "facts" you are giving are INCORRECT. I dont think you misrepresent things on purpose, it seems like you simply misunderstood what you were told and what you read. Let me explain:

 

Point 1: in the article you give they are talking about the hospital next door. Maybe you are not familiar with Phuket, but next to Vachira hospital is another hospital, which is not Bangkok Hospital (Bangkok hospital is much further down the road). Next to Vachira hospital is a government hospital, which is part of Vachira, under the name "Mahogany care". It was built in the past couple of years and is open for about a year now already. This is simply the same hospital (with the same doctors) with shorter waiting lists at higher prices. Bangkok hospital is not next door, and it is not government run but private.

Google maps image of the building, which is located EXACTLY next to Vachira hospital:
https://www.google.com/maps/@7.8980222,98.3837333,3a,75y,260h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szYuegh38eWpdlVU_YkPDdQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

Point 2: the work doctors do at the Mahagony care unit is not pro-bono. They get paid for it on an hourly basis but do have to fulfill their contractual hours at the Vachira hospital also. So it is basically overtime they do there (my assumption based on my knowledge of how the Thai medical system works). Nowhere in the article it says its pro-bono (it only mentions pro-bono as patients coming to vachira without means to pay their bills) and i dont think the doctor treating you will tell you how much he earns at each place.

 

Point 3: my wife has been working at BHP as a doctor for the past years and has not done a minute of work at Vachira hospital. How is that possible? None of the friends working at BHP do extra hours at Vachira, how is that possible? They work between 260 and 300 hours at BHP per month, they simply have no time to work at another government hospital next to that. When we just moved to Phuket she did think about working there a bit every week to see more action (more interesting cases) and give back to the community, but that was completely out of free will and that idea was parked when her working hours increased and we got kids. 

 

Edit: What LivinginKata says was the reason she considered working there a bit extra. Most doctors who would consider that have often some extra free time (less shifts to divide between the doctors in their department) or are just "doctor-junkies" who really like their work.

 

I've been living in Phuket for 35 years and regardless of what you say, I know that doctors from Siriroj and BHP work some hours at Vachira.

 

[Psimbo]

8 hours ago, Mango Bob said:

Now you see why I would never go to a Government Hospital for a cold.  You come out dead.

First comment and its based on ignorance- but we 'welcome' input from others on a Phuket thread. A shame some people have to be negative all the time.

 

The German Dr who works at Vachira (and has a private clinic) is the best on the island if you break an arm or a leg. He has practical experience as he's dealing with the victims of crashes every day. I now someone who had a compound break of their leg- he fixed it with an external bar and screws- on return to the UK the specialist there was very impressed and said he couldn't have done it better himself. The guy has been back since and is back to full health. I also know someone who had 2 knee replacements done there by him. 

 

The same op in BPH would have been at exorbitant cost and unnecessary procedures would have been done to pad the bill. I know plenty of people who have come out of BPH with more problems than they went in with- 2 nearly died.

 

 

5 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

Where did you get that little "fact"? (Which is definately incorrect btw).

 

Why would a doctor at a private hospital put in hours at a competing government hospital? Who would demand that and why? That makes no sense at all.

The ENT Dr at Mission also has his own Clinic.

 

Edit: the microscope at the center of this issue is now being funded as the Public Health Dept has clearly been embarrassed and shamed into action over the whole thing. The power of social media (or a crafty move by the Hospital Director).

Edited August 30, 2019 by Psimbo

[Bob12345]

2 hours ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

I've been living in Phuket for 35 years and regardless of what you say, I know that doctors from Siriroj and BHP work some hours at Vachira.

 

But that is not what we are discussing, right?

 

You stated the following:

In Phuket, those doctors that work at Siriroj and Bangkok Hospital Phuket, all have to put in a certain amount of hours at Vachira.

 

I said that is not true, and I gave evidence for that (discredited you evidence, plus indicated i know over a dozen of doctors at BHP who don't).

 

Some doctors indeed work at BHP and Vachira. 

That is what I also indicated when i told my wife was planning to do the same.

But they do that out of their free will, and therefore your initial statement that they HAVE TO do that is not true.

Even doctors are free to chose where to work in case it is not blocked by their contract. I am not disputing that in any way.

Some doctors I know also sell insurances, do stock trading, or rent out properties. That has nothing to do with the discussion we are having.

 

Will you now please admit that you were wrong and what i said was right?

 

Edit: your comment reads much like "I have been here for 35 years and no matter what the facts are, I know better".
Clearly you don't. Go to BHP tomorrow and ask ANY doctor if they are forced to work in Vachira hospital.

And don't try to move the goalposts. You stated they had to work there, not that they can possible work in 2 hospitals.

Edited August 30, 2019 by Bob12345

[Bob12345]

1 hour ago, Psimbo said:

The ENT Dr at Mission also has his own Clinic.

So?

What is your point?

 

If his contract allows him to have his own clinic, then he can have his own clinic.

 

[Dumbastheycome]

I see  little in the  responses above that recognize the  very articulate  explanation  by a  Doctor who at the sunset of his  career is appealing  for  funding for new equipment that will better provide for  patients mostly under the  care of upcoming  specialists.

Thai Government  Hospitals  provide an amazingly  good standard of specialist  surgical services and I  have  respect  for the genuosity of  those surgeons I  have  met.

In this  very honest appeal  which  explains the need, the funding obstacles which have incrementally  caused  the need from a social  and professional  perspective  yet avoids  direct  recrimination about  cause leading to the need indicates an admirable caring professional attitude. 

 

[Redline]

Frightening that a microscope used in brain surgery going out of focus 

[30la]

I advise you to ask for a donation to the government, they are spending billions for toys for the military ...