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Taksin-Pattaya Rotary gets the good word on health insurance
Dr. Iain Corness
The last meeting of the Taksin-Pattaya Rotary Club was an
informative evening on health insurance. The address was given by Dr.
Michael Moreton, the International Service Medical Coordinator from the
Bangkok Hospital Group.
 Dr.
Michael Moreton gave a talk on health insurance to Taksin-Pattaya Rotary
Club.
Dr. Moreton began by advising the Rotarians that the concept of “health”
insurance is in fact a misnomer, as it is really “illness” insurance. He
then went on to explain the differences in various insurance levels, and how
the fact that ‘honesty is the best policy’ when making the initial
application, claiming that insurance companies are better at dredging up
your past than the American CIA.
He also reminded people to read the fine print - as the policy was written
by lawyers on behalf of the insurance companies. Not on your behalf! The
fine print will also show who is covered by the policy, and he said that the
insurance company’s definition of “spouse” may be different from that of the
policy holder.
He tackled the vexed question of ‘pre-existing conditions’ and suggested
that this item be considered before changing insurance companies. Exclusions
were also covered in his address, and these usually include cosmetic
surgery, psychiatry, obstetrics and other ‘unapproved’ procedures such as
stem cell therapy. ‘Pre-approval’, where this can be arranged from the time
frame should be pursued as much as possible.
He concluded the address saying, “Health insurance - it’s expensive and
tricky, but better than having a wallet-ectomy!”
An informative question time followed, with both Dr Michael Moreton and the
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s Dr. Iain fielding the questions. In the final
round-up, Dr. Michael Moreton advised the Rotarians that Thailand, and
especially the Bangkok Hospital Group (the largest group in SE Asia), had
some ‘cutting edge’ technologies, especially the Stem Cell Therapy at the
Bangkok General and the SuperSight Surgery at the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
UNICEF and the Jesters say ‘Thank You’
John Stevens and Sean Franklin
proudly display their UNICEF
and Jesters Certificates of Appreciation.
Mike Franklin
Point of View Media Group CEO John Stevens, with Creative Services
Director Sean Franklin, received Certificates of Appreciation for Platinum media
sponsorship of the 10th Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive in 2007, and
recently in February 2008, the 7th Khun Anand Charity Golf Invitational for
UNICEF.
Both charities are working to help disadvantaged children in Thailand have an
education and a better life. The POV Media Group routinely supports these and
other charity events by providing promotional display facilities at prime
locations in Bangkok.
PCEC has hip (and knee) meeting
It’s necessary to arrive in good time these days to get a
seat at the Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) at Henry
J. Beans. The meeting on February 17 was no exception as the series of full
weekly programmes continued.
This week’s MC, Richard Silverberg started the proceedings by introducing
Jay Thirst, board member of the Chiang Mai Expat Club. Jay reciprocated by
inviting anybody who visits Chiang Mai to attend their meetings which take
place at the Orchid Hotel on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
 Dr
Montien, an Orthopaedic surgeon at Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, demonstrates
a model of a knee replacement.
The meeting continued with Richard welcoming back Gavin Waddell, Head of the
International Relations and Marketing department of the Phyathai Hospital in
Sriracha. Gavin, now a member, remarked that he had been informed that he
was the youngest member of the PCEC. A quick scan of the audience certainly
confirmed this!
Gavin then introduced Dr Montien Sirisuntornlak, an Orthopaedic surgeon who
specialises in hip and knee replacement. Dr Montien has performed more than
500 operations of this type.
Dr Montien then provided a detailed account as to the structure of the knee
joint in healthy condition and those which may be affected by a variety of
adverse conditions when the joint becomes worn.
Dr Montien then described joint replacement as a surgical procedure where a
joint consisting of worn, diseased or damaged surfaces of the bone cartilage
are replaced. This known as total knee arthroplasty and consists of removing
the diseased joint and replacing it with a new one consisting of metal and
plastic materials. The replacement joint acts as an artificial joint
enabling the patient to perform normal painless movement.
The presentation continued with graphic illustrations as to how replacement
is carried out with an emphasis on the need for postoperative professional
care. Whilst the new joint may not be quite as durable as the original, the
return to a normal lifestyle could be expected 3 months after the operation.
The expected lifetime of the new joint can be expected to be minimally 15
years. The operation has a success rate of over 95%. A Total Knee
Arthroplasty at the Phyathai Hospital costs between 200 thousand and 250
thousand baht which would include 6 days hospitalisation.
Many questions were put to Dr Montien such as the age limit for such an
operation. Dr Montien responded stating that provided the patient was in
good general health, anyone in their 70s and 80s would be suitable for
treatment.
The meeting continued with Darrel Vaught announcing the proposed detailed
itinerary of the one day PCEC excursion to Bang Saen and the surrounding
area. A final date for the trip was expected soon.
Sally Techasopon then gave another brief Thai Language lesson with a useful
word or phrase to be learnt on the day. This week Sally provided some
valuable insight into the colours, with their Thai words, which are
associated with different days of the week. In English, these are Monday –
Yellow / Tuesday – Pink / Wednesday – Green / Thursday – Orange / Friday –
Blue / Saturday – Purple / Sunday – Red.
PCEC Chairman Richard Smith confirmed that he was in contact with the US
Navy regarding finding suitable projects for their voluntary work within the
Pattaya area as part of the Cobra Gold Exercise in May. Richard is hoping
that the Navy may allow the PCEC to visit one of their ships.
Prior to the regular Open Forum, MC Richard Silverberg commented that now
that the writers strike in the US has ended, an improvement in the jokes
could now be expected! However, as the Open Forum conductors Bob L’Etoile
and comedy partner Sig Sigworth soon demonstrated, this was not the case and
the usual standard of humour was the order of the day!
However, as always it provided an opportunity for questions about living in
Thailand with an emphasis on Pattaya to be asked. For more information
regarding not only PCEC Sunday meetings but also the varied mid week
activities, please see the Community Happenings section of Pattaya Mail or,
for more details, visit the Club’s website at www. pattayacityexpatsclub.com
Digital golf course clicks
with customers
CRC Sports Co., Ltd., managing
director, Nath Vongphanich surrounded
by beautiful women at the Golf Click grand opening.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Golf Click opened its second and largest branch in Pattaya on February 16,
featuring a digital golf room in addition to the wide selection of top
quality golf equipment and accessories.
Located in front of Home Work in South Pattaya and owned by CRC Sports Co
Ltd, Golf Click was formally opened by mayoral advisor Itthipol Khunplome,
along with CRC managing director Nath Vongphanich.
Also present were three Chonburi members of parliament, namely Phojanart
Kaewpaluk, Thanarot Rojanakulsret, and Maitree Soiluang.
Nath said that Golf Click distributes all types of golf supplies and
equipment and has been opened following the good response to the Thaniya
branch. Pattaya he said is a good market, with Thai and foreign customers
alike having the means to make high level purchases.
Top brand names such as TaylorMade, Callaway, Nike, Titleist, Cobra and
MiZuno are on sale, and the store also has the first digital golf room in
Pattaya. Here, customers can try out the equipment on a digital course
before buying. The store is located on an area of 400 square meters, making
it one of the largest single retail outlets in Pattaya.
Poet recites for leftover food to support her 75-year-old mother
Patcharapol Panrak
A 55-year-old woman poet is reciting verse at a temple and sweeping
the temple forecourt in return for leftover food for herself and her
75-year-old disabled mother.
A Pattaya Mail reporter visiting Themprasart Temple on February 14 to
offer food to the monks heard a woman reciting a poem loudly north of the
monks’ house. Her name was Mrs Naruemol Paimanee, and she is well known as
being the poet of her village, Moo 4 in Sattahip Sub-district.
 Naruemol
recites poems at her local temple for food for her and her aging mother.
Naruemol said she came from her residence in the morning to help the priests
sweep the temple courtyard. She collects refuse to lighten the priests’
load, and helps the temple distribute leftover food that the priests receive
in the morning. She takes this food home to her 75-year-old mother, Mrs
Choey Rotthong, who is disabled after falling in a baht bus accident in
1992. Choey, who underwent brain surgery, cannot speak and can barely move.
The reporter went to visit Naruemol’s house and was concerned to see that
Choey had to crawl along the floor to visit the bathroom, as Naruemol is not
strong enough to carry her. Naruemol said that if she tried they might both
fall down and hurt themselves, which would cause an even greater problem.
Naruemol said that her elderly husband had passed away two months ago. Her
education is limited and she can’t find any work to survive and support her
mother. The only thing she can do is count on the temple for some leftover
food to survive day by day. Because she is already old and believes that no
one will give her work, she uses her experience to compose poems, which she
recites for the monks each morning.
An elephant never
forgets Valentine’s Day
Patcharapol Panrak
Pang Christmas, a four-year-old elephant at Nong Nooch Tropical
Garden, celebrated Valentine’s Day by presenting a bouquet of flowers to an
attractive Russian girl.
 After
six-year-old Plai Maimuang painted red hearts, four-year-old Pang Saengdao
filled them in with painted flowers.
Nong Nooch director Kampol Tansatcha said that February 14 provides an ideal
opportunity for the elephants to display their skills, painting red hearts
and flowers onto large pieces of paper to present to visitors. It is also an
ideal opportunity for the gentle beasts to charm everyone, performing
tricks, playing football, and treating visitors to a little teasing and
elephant humor.
Six-year-old Plai Maimuang painted red hearts while four-year-old Pang
Saengdao painted flowers, much to the pleasure of the crowd. Then Pang
Christmas presented a bouquet of flowers to a female Russian tourist, and
everyone laughed and applauded. Elephants and humans alike had a great
Valentine’s Day at Nong Nooch.
Pang Christmas presents a
bouquet of flowers to a Russian tourist.
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