Temporarily Suspended Services at Ubon Ratchathani Hospital for Recent Arrivals from Cambodia
In the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital has taken unprecedented measures to ensure safety amidst escalating tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. The hospital has temporarily suspended several services for new Cambodian patients due to security concerns.
The hospital director, Dr Monchai Wiwatthanasitthipong, announced on Thursday that the hospital would no longer accept new Cambodian patients, except in emergencies. This decision comes as a response to the ongoing border clashes in Ubon Ratchathathani, one of the battlegrounds in the armed conflict.
In addition to this, the hospital has temporarily terminated communication assistants for the Cambodian language and services for Cambodian patients. Access to certain hospital areas has also been restricted for Cambodian patients currently admitted.
These precautions are primarily aimed at ensuring the safety of patients, staff, and the facility itself. The hospital has cited heightened tensions, including an incident involving an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) near the hospital, as reasons for these measures.
However, the hospital insists that Cambodian patients already admitted will continue to receive appropriate and non-discriminatory care. The hospital remains committed to providing health services to military personnel and civilians regardless of their nationalities on humanitarian grounds.
The hospital's decision and the internal memo were posted on social media, garnering increased public attention. The provincial public relations office also announced the closure of three district hospitals in the northeastern provinces - Nam Yuen, Nam Khun, and Na Chaluai, with patients being transferred to other safe hospitals.
The hospital's priority is now to provide health services to the injured and people affected by skirmishes between Thailand and Cambodia. As the situation remains uncertain, the hospital's decisions and internal memo have been met with a mix of understanding and concern.
Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital, one of the main hospitals in Ubon Ratchathani, has been receiving increased public attention due to these developments. The hospital's closure and the ongoing border clashes are receiving widespread coverage in local and national media.
[1] Source: Hospital's internal memo posted on social media [2] Source: Announcement by the provincial public relations office [3] Source: Local news report on the hospital's decision and its impact on patients and the community.
- Despite health-and-wellness services being suspended, Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital recommits to providing non-discriminatory care for all patients, including those with medical-conditions, on humanitarian grounds.
- The temporary discontinuation of Cambodian language communication assistants and services for Cambodian patients in the hospital is primary prevention to secure health-and-wellness facilities and personnel, amidst war-and-conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia.
- The escalating tensions and related incidents, such as drone activity near the hospital, have led to increased demand for health services related to general-news, crime-and-justice, and boundary issues among other patients affected by the clashes.
