Expanding medical services set for Bangkok's neighbouring provinces

BANGKOK, March 7 (TNA) The Thai government, through the Ministry of Public Health, has decided to expand medical services in Bangkok's neighbouring provinces to serve their growing population. Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Narong Sahametapat told journalists of the decision, after Friday's (Mar 6) meeting on the health services development for eight central Thai provinces, including Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Sing Buri and Angthong. Dr. Narong said that the expanding medical services will focus on Nonthaburi, where medical personnel and patient beds at local hospitals will be increased over the next couple of years, after a latest survey found that the number of people living in the province has jumped sharply to over two million now. Dr. Marut Jirasetsiri, a public health expert, pointed out, meanwhile, that there are only 600 patient beds at hospitals in Nonthaburi, while the number of beds should be at least 1,200, or double more than presently. Dr. Marut revealed that the meeting resolved to gradually increase patient beds at four out of six hospitals in Nonthaburi from 2016 to 2018. (TNA)