The
Southern Andaman Medical Clinic and Bangkok
Hat Yai
Hospital recently joined
forces to provide emergency transportation and medical escort services for any
tourists or patients who need to be transported from the island to the mainland
hospital for professional medical treatment.
Mr.
Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said,
“This collaboration and the availability of professional medical treatments and
medical escort services will increase the confidence of tourists when
travelling in this increasingly popular area around Ko Lipe and other islands
in the Andaman coastal areas. When they know they can rely on high-standards of
medical care should an emergency arise, tourists are more likely to come here
and explore the lovely region.”
“This
new service will not only help to ensure that visitors to this area can travel
safely, but will also help to enhance the international image of Thailand as
having first-class healthcare for tourists from around the world. This is also
a positive development for the kingdom’s southern islands which are popular
tourist destinations for domestic and foreign travellers alike.”
Because
of this collaboration between the two medical institutions, the resident
physician at the Southern Andaman Medical Clinic will be able to provide a
diagnosis of symptoms in emergency cases and ensure that the primary correct
treatment is given to patients.
In
more complex emergency situations, the physician will consult with the
specialists at the Bangkok
Hat Yai
Hospital via a video link
to get initial advice. The results of the primary medical check-up by the
Southern Andaman Medical Clinic can then be sent online directly to a referral
centre, so that the mainland specialist has all the information on hand.
If the patient needs to be transported to the mainland hospital, this can be arranged by the medical centre working hand-in-hand with the Bangkok Hat Yai Hospital Referral Centre.
Medical
escort services by speedboat from Ko Lipe to the mainland
The
transportation from Ko Lipe will be done by speed boat. While being
transported, patients will be escorted by a medical team with life-saving
support expertise and apparatus. The medical staff of Bangkok Hat
Yai Hospital
will be on standby at Pakbara Pier to take over and deliver patients quickly
and safely to the mainland hospital.
The
Southern Andaman Medical Clinic is privately-owned and is the only medical
centre on Ko Lipe with a fully-qualified physician and 24-hour medical
services. Run by Dr. Pitaya Laorakpong MD and MPH, the medical centre boasts
advanced communication technology to provide medical treatment for patients.
Also
on Ko Lipe, is one state-run health station and three privately-owned pharmacies.
A new privately-owned medical clinic is currently under construction.
Source:-
TAT