Doctors Being Sent To Help Flood Victims

THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS SENDING DOCTORS TO TAKE CARE OF FLOOD VICTIMS

The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Suchai Charoenratanakul, has sent teams of mobile doctors to take care of people being affected by floods in many provinces in the North and the Northeast. He has also claimed that the universal 30-baht medical scheme is still workable.

Dr. Suchai said that he had assigned the Health Department to provide flood-affected areas with enough fresh water. Furthermore, the officials of the Health Department will test the purity of water for consumption, especially in areas where people have been using underground water, hoping to protect them from diarrhoea.

The Ministry of Public Health is also sending out teams of doctors to give free medical supplies and advice.

As for the National Health Security Fund, known as the universal 30-baht-per-hospital visit scheme, Dr. Suchai denied the planned merger of the scheme with the Social Security Fund, saying the 30-baht medical scheme has sufficient funds. In the new fiscal year, starting October 1st, 2004, the scheme has been allocated 14,000 million baht. This will generate 1,660 baht for each patient, an increase of 150 baht from the current fiscal year.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันอังคารที่ 13 กันยายน 2548