Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Narong
Sahameathapan gives a lecture on life before retirement.
Urasin Khantaraphan
About 1,500 medical personnel from across Thailand listened to ideas on
healthcare reform and improving service to patients at the Public Health
Ministry’s annual conference in Pattaya.
Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai and Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome opened
the Aug. 13-15 convention at the Zign Hotel with Chonburi Hospital director
Dr. Aatsa Teeyapan.
Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Narong Sahameathapan lectured
doctors and administrators from general and regional hospitals on “Public
Healthcare Reform to Bring People Happiness,” a central theme of the
meeting.
Itthiphol added that reorganization of Thailand’s healthcare system, with
more transparency and fairness, would improve the public’s perception of the
healthcare industry. Goals should include reducing patient-wait times and
providing the same medicines in all regions of the country.
The meeting covered other topics, as well, including retirement planning,
healing diseases without medicine by Dr. Bunchai Isaraphisit of Rajthani
Hospital in Ayutthaya, and a talk show-style forum hosted by Thaworn
Sothishuen.
Awards were also presented for outstanding professionals in eight sectors:
medicine, medical management, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, hospital
management, general management and academia.
Chonburi Hospital won awards in all eight areas.
