BANGKOK, Apr 10 – The Public Health Ministry has ordered 885 hospitals nationwide to go on full alert to provide medical services as many people will be travelling to the provinces during the long Songkran holiday.
Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr Narong Sahametapat said Thursday that he has deployed more than 160,000 medical personnel at 855 hospitals under ministry supervision nationwide to handle emergency cases during the Songkran holiday, beginning from tomorrow through next Thursday.
High casualties from road accidents are expected during Songkran, although many agencies concerned have implemented measures to curb the death toll and injuries.
Drunken driving is expected to be the biggest single cause of road accidents.
All hospitals must also ensure that their operating rooms, emergency wards, intensive care units, blood supplies and respirators are ready to handle accidents around the clock.
Nearly 14,000 emergency medical teams, public and private, are ready to be dispatched to accident scenes to provide help to victims throughout the festival.
Medical teams can be contacted via Helpline 1669. Special check points will also be set up to help inspect and control drunk driving.
