Unfazed By Rising Costs, Philanthropist Vows To Continue Running Free Khao San Road Clinic

[Lite Beer]

SPECIAL REPORT

Unfazed by rising costs, philanthropist vows to continue running free Khao San Road clinic

Thanapat Kitjakosol

The Nation on Sunday

Surat wongcharnsil, left, helps patients register, in addition to interviewing them and taking their pulse.

A philanthropist businessman has vowed to continue running his free polyclinic till the end of his life despite a steady increase in monthly costs.

Surat Wongcharnsil, 53, has operated the Surat Medical Polyclinic on Khao San Road, a predominantly tourist area of Bangkok, for nearly five years, spending up to Bt150,000 on the salaries of the resident doctors and staff. The free clinic treats both poor people and those who are able to pay, in addition to foreign tourists frequenting the area and illegal migrant workers.

In the near future, free traditional massage for people having nerve-related problems, paralyses or pareses of any kind will be available as rehabilitation treatment. This service, once ready, will be provided by a number of doctors and professional practitioners, which would cost the clinic another Bt80,000 in monthly cost for 20 patients a day.

The ground floor of the clinic will be soon expanded, to accomm-odate more patients, on top of the daily average of 40, and part of it will be made into a library where Dhamma books will be provided. A meditation centre will be opened for those interested, he added.

He said the medicines prescribed by his clinic cost him Bt80,000 a month, and the figure would soon rise to Bt100,000 because he only wanted quality medicines to be prescribed to patients. "If only cheap medicines are prescribed to them, they will return for extended treatments anyway," he explained.

Surat said he was inspired by a "Bt5 Clinic" operated Dr Sapha Limphanichkarn in the Rama V Road area, which charges all patients only Bt5, irrespective of the cost of treatment. Surat said he opened the clinic to honour a vow he made when his mother was seriously ill a few years ago.

"I pleaded for my mother's recovery at the time, and made a vow to give free medical treatment for the rest of my life in exchange for that, and two days later, my mum recovered, and returned to normalcy immediately," he said.

"She lived for another three years, before passing away at 82. I want to continue operating my free clinic until the rest of my life if my wife and my children approve of this decision of mine in the long term," said Surat.

He said many people thought that he was running the free clinic to seek popularity and enter politics in the near future. Even close friends kept asking him: "Why the hell are you doing this?"

"I have done it for the mere sake of fulfilment of my happiness achieved through giving, especially giving to those in need, in addition to keeping my vow for my mother's health," he added.

Surat's earnings come from a leather export business, rents from a resort in Phetchaburi, and also from his eight apartments in Bangkok, along with leases from shophouses in the Khao San area. He said he could absorb the expenditure on the clinic.

Surat Medical Polyclinic has 35,000 patients in its registration, making up 60 per cent of all patients who are mostly Thais, while the remaining 40 per cent are foreign tourists and migrant workers and hilltribe people who are both legal and illegal. There are 10 part-time resident doctors and two nurses on daily duty.

The polyclinic, located on Ram Butree Road across from Wat Chana Songkhram, is open from 5pm to 9pm on weekdays and from 9am to 1pm at the weekend. It is closed every Wednesday and on public holidays.

Dr Bancha Rojwimolkarn, a resident doctor, said he was proud to work at this free clinic, and that the medical service here was of the same or higher quality than the Bt30 universal healthcare, because of good medication and high-cost treatment, without patients having to undergo observatory periods like elsewhere. "Even patients who can afford good treatment come here, and pay, because they are impressed with the efficient services here," he added.

A male nurse, Thitinant Udomphol, said Surat kept telling the staff to treat patients as if they were their relatives, and the staff had treated all patients equally, irrespective of how they dressed or whatever their social status. "I feel good working here. It's to me like making additional merit, working in this profession," he said.

Suphachai Wongphinij, the other male nurse, said he could have earned more elsewhere, but he chose to work at this clinic because it made him proud.

A dressmaker, Sawang Kaewkhontho, said the clinic's odd working hours are good for people like her who work all day.

-- The Nation 2012-09-30

[Dr Robert]

Wow, a genuine Thai hero with the real nam jai...hats off ladies and gentlemen, time for some humility and respect for khun surat.

[cloudhopper]

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

There is maybe hope for Thailand after all; think if they can get people like Khun Surat into the Government and police force then we could have a really great country here.

[fareastguy]

Wish he would consider running for PM.. the grass roots would love him long time..

[Mousehound]

We all need people like this as an example of how to live better,

[DocN]

...I am lost for words! I didn't know, people like him exist anymore! I bow to you, sir!

[GentlemanJim]

100% !!!

[kutjebu]

Very nice,khun Surat Wongcharnsil,

[dindong]

[sbk]

Slur against all Thai people removed. Please read the forum rules.

[MEL1]

...I am lost for words! I didn't know, people like him exist anymore! I bow to you, sir!

His name "Surat" is an anagram of "Sar tu"! = bless you, in Thai!

-mel.

[jcw]

Wish he would consider running for PM.. the grass roots would love him long time..

He is clearly to nice, and has morels that are way to high to be a Thai PM.

Congrats to this man,

[Suradit69]

There is maybe hope for Thailand after all; think if they can get people like Khun Surat into the Government and police force then we could have a really great country here.

The monetary value of his generosity is monumental, but his kindness and caring nature are not so rare amongst Thais as some people seem to think.

[redroo]

wow,

that just blew me away...!

and restored my faith in thai people.

[nickjam]

What a wonderful story. From my experiences around the world, it's often the poor that are the most generous and prepared to help fellow men. This man is comfortable but probably not amongst the elite super wealthy. His friends think he's mad and look for ulterior motives to explain his generosity. If only the supposed upper echelons of this country could follow khun Surat's lead, this would be a truly great country. I'd love to know just how much the clans that own SIngha/CP/Red Bull/Central/True etc etc + politicians give back to this country.

[theajarn]

Unfortunately the ugly truth might be waiting at the end of his time. My dad was a physician who treated the sick, poor etc. He refused to accept money from the poor. When he passed away, the reality hit. I grew up watching hundreds of strangers come and go from his clinic and yet at the funeral hardly a handful of those people came back to pay their respects. It was like "oh well -- the guy dropped dead -- time to find another doctor who'll treat us for free".

Though according to my mum, my dad's father got a really big turnout on his funeral. He was also a doctor who treated the poor and didn't take their money for it. These days where we're all connected through the internet you'd think that news would travel faster and better... yet at the same time we seem more disconnected in society than before.

[yourauntbob]

three cheers

[vesiva]

Now that's a TRUE buddhist (as opposed to the millions of other 'buddhists' in thailand)

[billd766]

I feel that there are quite a few more people like him out in Thailand.

Quiet unassuming people who do this sort of thing as he has done now without publicity but sadly they they are outnumbered, outspoken and often seen by the public negatively very loso Hisos who care nothing for other people and are fuelled by greed and I want it all NOW attitudes. They will never change.

When Khun Surat Wongcharnsil is reincarnated he will come back as a far better person and not as a politician.

That is a position reserved for snakes and cockroaches.

[khunken]

There are quite a few regulars on TV who should have this article PMed to them. The 'I hate Thais' brigade, that's who.

I salute this man who joins other Thais willing to put their hand into their pocket to help their fellow men & women without discrimination. It's just a pity that there are so few of these people, not only in Thailand, but around the world.

[Bluespunk]

Good man. I hope he us thinking of running for office. The world, not just Thailand, is crying out for leaders who put the needs of others before their own selfish desires.

[asiawatcher]

Unfortunately the ugly truth might be waiting at the end of his time. My dad was a physician who treated the sick, poor etc. He refused to accept money from the poor. When he passed away, the reality hit. I grew up watching hundreds of strangers come and go from his clinic and yet at the funeral hardly a handful of those people came back to pay their respects. It was like "oh well -- the guy dropped dead -- time to find another doctor who'll treat us for free".

Though according to my mum, my dad's father got a really big turnout on his funeral. He was also a doctor who treated the poor and didn't take their money for it. These days where we're all connected through the internet you'd think that news would travel faster and better... yet at the same time we seem more disconnected in society than before.

It's expected. The merit making accounts for the next life. It does not require people at a funeral. Very Buddhist.

[hellodolly]

A truly great man.

I believe there are many more Thai's just like him but without his resources.

All to often people are unwilling to give a Thai a chance.

I am a old man and the other day I was walking home (not a great distance) crossing a bridge I heard a person coming up behind me. I stepped over to the side to allow him to pass me. He was a young fellow 20 to 25 I would guess. We were just about at the end of the bridge where he had parked his motor bike. He turned to me and asked where I was going and could he give me a ride.

I declined pointing that t was just a short distance and the exercise did me good.

I have many experiences here in my 6 years in Thailand of similar uncalled for friendliness.

Just give them a chance.

Remember if you are in a tourist area that is how they make their living by getting the most money they can for their product the same as we retirees did when we were working and the people who are working today do.

[Dap]

There is maybe hope for Thailand after all; think if they can get people like Khun Surat into the Government and police force then we could have a really great country here.

I agree with you HSLSNS 100% ... if only ...

[noitom]

This is great to read. How a Thai wealthy class is giving back to society. Rarely do ever read about charity and giving in Thailand. Rarely if ever is it ever reported that even the very wealthy ever do anything except operate with impunity and flaunt the law.

Hats off to this guy in this story.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

What a wonderful story. From my experiences around the world, it's often the poor that are the most generous and prepared to help fellow men. This man is comfortable but probably not amongst the elite super wealthy. His friends think he's mad and look for ulterior motives to explain his generosity. If only the supposed upper echelons of this country could follow khun Surat's lead, this would be a truly great country. I'd love to know just how much the clans that own SIngha/CP/Red Bull/Central/True etc etc + politicians give back to this country.

How much the Shinawatra clan has given back to the country we all know by now.

[Mousehound]

There are many Thai people giving time and money to help orphanages - you just need to look them up. Also my wife, who was unwell for some time, has been spoken to several times about whether she would like to sit down for a rest by small shop people (no they weren't expecting us to buy from them) and also we have been given a lift - no charge expected - by a kind family seeing us walking home. Not something I encounter anymore in Australia I am afraid. I rarely bump into really rude Thai people. I do see some pretty rude farangs unfortunately. Remember, what goes around comes around.

[sbk]

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