Ambulance Fee Dispute Allegedly Delays Cancer Patient’s Hospital Trip

Ambulance Fee Dispute Allegedly Delays Bangkok Cancer Patient’s Hospital Trip

The family of an 83-year-old cancer patient has accused a private ambulance team of blocking a government emergency vehicle from taking her to hospital because of a disagreement over a cancelled booking. Her son said he contacted both the 1669 emergency service and a private provider as his mother experienced chest tightness and breathing difficulties, then cancelled the private ambulance after learning that an Erawan emergency vehicle was on its way. After the government ambulance arrived and placed the woman inside, the private vehicle allegedly blocked the alley and refused to move until the family paid a cancellation charge. The company disputes the family’s version of events, says the fee was 1,500 baht rather than 1,000 baht and denies intentionally preventing the patient from receiving medical care. Thailand’s National Institute for Emergency Medicine and the Public Health Ministry have ordered an investigation and called for measures to prevent similar disputes from interfering with emergency treatment.