Local Clinics To Be Improved Nationwide

Local clinics to be improved

B1.06bn to be spent to upgrade services

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry is spending over a billion baht to improve the capacity and services of state-owned local clinics to better serve patients and relieve congestion at major state hospitals. Minister Phinij Jarusombat said on Friday his ministry through the National Health Security Office (NHSO) was spending 1.06 billion baht on improving some 1,000 local clinics nationwide.

Most people prefer to visit large hospitals for treatment because they feel local clinics offer inferior medical care, he said.

If local clinics are improved, they would certainly be in a position to provide patients with an equally impressive medical treatment and thus help relieve overcrowding at large hospitals, the minister said.

NHSO secretary-general Sa-nguan Nitayarampong said his office would introduce ''pilot improvement programmes'' at local clinics in 13 provinces, namely Ayutthaya, Phitsanulok, Si Sa Ket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phrae, Nakhon Sawan, Songkhla, Roi Et, Kalasin, Ratchaburi, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Chachoengsao.

In Bangkok, such programmes will take place at health centres of Siriraj Hospital and other hospitals under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

--Bangkok Post 2006-05-21