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Published on September 8, 2007

Yupa Wongchai, a researcher at Thammasart University, said yesterday that most healthcare providers and hospitals did not take care of patients well or inform them politely about their condition and treatment.

Complaints from patients registered with the universal healthcare scheme surged from 1,864 in 2005 to 2,945 last year.

Most patients agree that medical workers do not make sure they clearly understand their treatment and that patients withhold from the doctor or medical worker information about their symptoms.

Hospitals and other medical-care providers also do not have enough medical equipment while their patient load is growing.

Complaints about medical service to the Social Security Office rose from 944 in 2005 to 1,012 last year.

However, there were no complaints from government officials about medical service under government welfare programmes.

To prevent errors during treatment in the hospital, medical workers and patients need to communicate to each other more clearly particularly information about the treatment and symptoms of patients, Yupa said.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation