BANGKOK, 9 January 2014 The Ministry of Public Health has ordered hospitals under its jurisdiction to reschedule patient visits to avoid the period of Bangkok shutdown next week.
According to Dr. Suphan Sithamma, director-general of the Department of Medical Services, patient visits will be moved forward to an earlier date in order to avoid the period from January 13 onward. Public hospitals have also been told to ready their ambulances and patient beds to accommodate emergencies, starting on the morning of January 13.
Dr. Suwat Siasiriwatthana, director of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization, has affirmed that his agency has a priority list for drugs and medical items, especially those required for serious conditions. The GPO has been making the medicines and items to ensure adequate supply and the agency has already started distributing the items to hospitals that were running low on inventory. The GPO factory will operate as normal if possible, but it will switch to using the plant in Rangsit if the situation calls for, Dr. Suwat added.
