Health ministry to provide blood pressure monitors in public places, promoting self-care

Tanakorn Sangiam

 

 

BANGKOK(NNT) - It is estimated some 13 million Thai people have hypertension, and almost half of these are unaware of their condition, which leads to other complications. In a preventive effort, the Ministry of Public Health has joined hands with related agencies to place 100 automatic blood pressure monitors in public places, allowing the general public to measure their own blood pressure and to monitor risks to their health by themselves.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul has witnessed a signing ceremony for a cooperative agreement between the Department of Disease Control, the Department of Provincial Administration, the Department of Local Administration, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, to promote the general public’s access to free blood pressure monitoring.

 

The Ministry of Public Health and related agencies will be providing automatic blood pressure monitors which the general public can use by themselves. The 100 devices will be placed in public places such as district offices and government’s one-stop-service centers in Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan. The Ministry of Public Health will also encourage the general public to adopt healthier lifestyles by refraining from smoking and drinking alcohol, increasing physical activities, and reducing the consumption of excessively sweet, oily, and salty food, to prevent themselves contracting non-communicable diseases.

 

The campaign Know Your Number, Know Your Risk will be run in parallel with the placement of blood pressure monitors at hospitals and government offices, as well as providing training programs for village volunteers to help take care of villagers’ health.

 

Based on a survey, 24.7 percent of the Thai population has hypertension, or about 13 million persons. This number is increasing. About 45 percent of persons with hypertension are unaware of their condition due to unnoticeable early symptoms. Failure to treat the condition in time could lead to other complications such as stroke, coronary artery disease, and kidney disease.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2019-11-10

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Could be a good thing, IF there is a nurse instructing people further, so people don't rush to by antihypertensive medication over the counter.....

Large pharmacies is the better choice for location...have staff there that can answer questions and make medical recommendations...????

What use is this. Blood pressure needs to be monitired regularly, not once every 6 months as the local nurse does for my Mrs.

The money could be better used installing de defibrillators in various public locations.

Big Pharma will be laughing all the way to the bank. 

I’m surprised they have not issued monitors to immigration at the airport... 

Yep, I am old enough to remember when Walmart had these in their stores. A lot like those orange 'safety phones' on the tollway; nothing is so good that it won't be screwed with by those willing.

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Based on a survey, 24.7 percent of the Thai population has hypertension, or about 13 million persons. This number is increasing. About 45 percent of persons with hypertension are unaware of their condition due to unnoticeable early symptoms. Failure to treat the condition in time could lead to other complications such as stroke, coronary artery disease, and kidney disease.

And they worry about overly inflated unrealistic hospital bills they say the foreigners don't pay? 

They'll probably install them in immigration offices; next visa extention application, it'll be, "Blood pressure too high, 7 day extention, goodbye".

 

My blood pressure is up within 2 minutes of leaving the house, due to the idiots on the road; there's no getting away from it.

Who will do upkeep-they will be broken and nasty dirty I presume