BANGKOK, 26 December 2013 — The Ministry of Public Health has prepared 160,000 strong medical personnel to deal with road accidents during the year end holidays nationwide.
Thailand has for a long time experienced a high number of casualties from road accidents during major holidays, including the New Year. Though the government has been trying to reduce the rate, it has met with little success. In 2013 the death toll from road accidents during the seven-dangerous days surrounding the New Year was 365 people, while the number of injuries was 3,329.
In an attempt to bring the casualties down, the Ministry of Public Health will put 160,000 doctors and nurses as well as related personnel at 1,500 hospitals, both public and private, on duty between 27 December to 2 January. The ministry has also prepared more than 14,000 emergency mobile units nationwide to assist road accident victims around the clock.
According to Permanent Secretary for Public Health Narong Sahamethapat, major causes of road accidents were drunk driving and speeding.
