Chiang Rai News
Public Health Openes Travel Medicine Clinic at Chiang Khong Hospital
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CHIANG RAI – The Ministry of Public Health has opened a travel medicine clinic at Chiang Khong Hospital in Chiang Rai to prevent diseases and health hazards commonly caused from traveling.
The clinic offers counseling and health care services before and after travel, including vaccination, medical check-ups, issuing health certificates and offer treatments of common diseases caused by traveling.
According to a study, 55 percent of travelers inbound to developing countries will encounter health problems. Eight percent of them will have to seek medical attention with a fatality rate of 1:100,000.
The Disease Control Department’s Director General Amnuay Gajina said that the Department of Disease Control under the Ministry of Public Health has opened eight other travel medicine clinics at major cities in special economic zones and tourist destinations.
The eight other newly opened clinics include Bamrad Naradura Institute in Nonthaburi, Tuberculosis Centre, District 1, in Chiang Mai, Koh Samui Hospital in Surat Thani, Hat Yai Nawarat Center in Songkhla, Nong Khai Hospital in Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom Hospital in Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan Hospital in Mukdahan and Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention in Bangkok.
These travel medicine clinics will be fully operational from 12 September onwards.
Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsattayathorn said that Thailand is expected to become a major destination in the next four years for about 44.5 million travelers, and that clinics like these will be needed to facilitate the increased number of travelers.
By Supawadee Wangsri
Photo: Jim and Family