Emergency medical service center opened at Bangkok's Government House

BANGKOK, January 25 (TNA) - The Thai government has opened an emergency medical service center at the Government House to provide government officials and even people in nearby areas with checkups and to serve emergency patients, before they are sent to hospitals, if needed. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday officially opened the emergency medical service center on the first floor of the Command Building 1 in the compound of the government seat. Yingluck told journalists that there are one doctor, one nurse and an ambulance at the center at a time and such medical facilities may be later opened at other government offices, especially those located far from hospitals. Yingluck noted that the Ministry of Public Health has been assigned to consider the setting up of such medical centers at other government offices, if necessary. Public Health Minister Dr. Pradit Sintawanarong said, meanwhile, that doctors from his ministry's Department of Medical Services will take turns to work at the center, where an ambulance has now been deployed during office hours. According to the minister, the center is ready to serve ministers, government officials, journalists and even the general public in the vicinity of the Government House, giving them first aid or respiratory aid, before they are referred to hospitals, if needed. The public health minister insisted that the opening of the emergency medical service center has nothing to do with the recent death of former deputy prime minister and tourism and sports minister Chumpol Silpa-archa, acknowledging, however, that the death of the former deputy premier accelerated the opening of the emergency medical service center at the government seat. Chumpol abruptly suffered a stroke at the Government House last December before being rush to a hospital for treatment. He passed away on Monday. (TNA)