Community Free Medical Transport Programme Offers Lifeline to Bangkok’s Most Vulnerable

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Access to public healthcare in Thailand is a basic right, yet for many, the simple act of visiting a doctor remains a serious challenge, primarily due to transportation difficulties. For the elderly, disabled, and economically disadvantaged, travelling to a hospital appointment can be both physically and financially overwhelming.

 

To address this barrier, the Zendai Foundation, in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the National Health Security Office (NHSO), has launched the “Safe Ride with Heart” programme. Funded by Bangkok’s Local Health Security Fund, the initiative aims to ensure that patients, regardless of their circumstances, can attend medical appointments with safety and dignity.

 

 

The pilot service currently operates within Bangkok and is available to all patients, irrespective of the healthcare scheme they are under. It specifically targets three vulnerable groups: the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and those facing transport or financial hardship.

 

Jiraporn Chawin, whose husband is bedridden due to complications from swollen kidneys, is one of many who have benefited. Previously unable to afford transport to rehabilitation sessions prescribed by doctors, she described walking 2 kilometres daily to collect food from a local temple. The turning point came when a local health centre connected her with the Zendai Foundation.

 

“Before this, I only knew how to call the hospital. I had no idea who else to contact or what steps to take,” she recalled. Now, trained staff assist her with booking appointments via LINE, making the process quicker and more efficient.

 

Patients need only submit their name, hospital appointment slip, contact details, and address. The foundation then arranges a suitable vehicle based on the patient’s condition.

 

“I’m overjoyed,” said Jiraporn. “This service not only helps my family but many others who are struggling. We no longer have to wait endlessly for emergency ambulances, which often aren’t available.”

 

From Costly Taxis to Free Door-to-Door Service

 

Eighty-one-year-old Santisuk Bunyalert, a retired civil servant, also shared how the programme has changed his life. Previously dependent on taxis, which were both expensive and hard to find early in the morning, he now benefits from free transport directly from his home.

 

“My son, who lives in another province, doesn’t have time to take me to the hospital. He saw the programme and had my daughter sign me up. It’s so much more convenient now,” he said.

 

Safety is the cornerstone of the programme. All drivers, whether taxi or van, are required to undergo training not only in defensive driving but also in basic first aid and patient assessment. Supanya Thamminrach, one of the drivers, explained that they must be prepared to handle emergencies, including contacting the 1669 emergency line.

 

“It’s not just about driving. We have to observe patients, recognise their symptoms, and know what to do before help arrives,” he explained.

 

Supanya ensures he contacts patients a day in advance and arrives 30 minutes early to assess their home environment and introduce himself to build trust.

 

Volunteer Sutthas Homsaat highlighted the tailored approach taken for patients with critical needs. If patients can walk, taxis are assigned. For more serious cases, such as those requiring oxygen support or residing in multi-storey homes, vans equipped with medical devices and adequate space are deployed.

 

Sutthas, trained in emergency medicine by Khon Kaen University, recounted a recent case where a bedridden patient had to be safely moved from an upstairs bedroom using a stair-chair transporter.

 

“This knowledge is vital. Without proper training, moving a patient like that could be dangerous,” he said.

 

Zendai Foundation Director, Nonthawat Boonba, acknowledged that many patients miss appointments, not out of neglect, but because travel costs are unaffordable. “For bedridden patients, hiring a medical transport vehicle can cost up to 3,000 baht per trip,” he said.

 

The foundation now aims to increase the number of transport rounds per month and expand its services to cover suburban areas. High-priority patients such as those requiring ongoing dialysis will be among the first to benefit from extended service coverage.

 

For thousands across Bangkok, “Safe Ride with Heart” is more than just a transport service, it’s a vital link to care, hope, and human dignity.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-05-01.