BANGKOK, 23 August 2011 – The Ministry of Public Health has instructed 35 hospitals at risk of flooding to move all medicines and equipment to higher places and to continue providing their services for patients regardless of the situation.
According to Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri, four hospitals have become inundated, comprising two in Ayutthaya province with the water level of between 30-60 centimeters high, one in Nakhon Sawan with a flood level of 10 centimeters high and one in Phitsanulok with a flood level of 5 centimeters high. Therefore, the Ministry has installed water pumps at the venues in order to siphon off the floodwater while all of the hospitals are still open for service. Sandbags have been prepared for the hospitals’ protection in case the water level climbs even higher.
Mr Witthaya reported that there were currently 35 other hospitals under the Ministry’s supervision prone to flooding. Fourteen of them are located in Prachin Buri, 9 in Phitsanulok and 12 in Pathum Thani. All of them have been ordered to relocate their medical supplies and equipment to high places out of water’s reach. A flood prevention plan has also been adopted to avert impacts on medical services for flood victims, of whom more than 51,000 have fallen ill.
