Friday TRENDS
PATONG HOSPITAL now has just four doctors and its director to serve a large resort community and up to 430 patients a day.
Eight other doctors have resigned over the past year, primarily because of low pay rates.
The resignations leave hospital care in Patong bordering on chaos.
The Deputy Director General of Public Health cancelled a visit scheduled for September 27.
Hospital care is now in the hands of Hospital Director Thaweesak Netwong and three doctors, one of whom has already resigned.
Another has been brought in from Vachira Hosptial in Phuket City.
Dr Jiranat Sitimongkhol resigned on September 24.
She told officials she was resigning because of problems with her health and her family.
The remaining doctor, Dr Kutchuma Tongtan, is Phuket-born and does not wish to leave the island.
''I have told the ministry about the problems we have here many times but little interest has been shown,'' Director Dr Thaweesak said.
''If it was high season, just imagine how difficult everything would be.''
He and the other doctors are now working long hours, but the extra hours they work bring them a rate of pay that is just one third what is paid at Vachira Hospital in Phuket City.
Dr Thaweesak would like to see the hospital privatised and enlarged from 60 beds to 200 beds at a cost of 700 million baht.
The new Cabinet is expected to approve the project shortly.
Dr Thaweesak believes the hospital can pay doctors a better salary if it is allowed to operate on its own.
Meanwhile, most serious in-patient cases are now being transferred to other hospitals.
Immigration Numbers Increase
AN INCREASE in the number of Immigration staff working at Phuket International Airport has been approved.
The Immigration Superintendent at Phuket International Airport, Police Colonel Paveenah Boonsuthi, said the current 51 staff would be supplemented by eight or 10 additional officers this high season.
He hoped the increase in numbers would reduce waiting time and enable Immigration to process arrivals at a rate of 14 each minute.
Officials are still awaiting the go-ahead for the introduction of fingerprint scanners. One remaining problem is a lack of officers who can speak Korean or Russian.
September Slide in Tourist Numbers
THE CONTINUING pain for tourism is showing in figures from September 1 to September 21 that reveal a drop of 23.01 percent in flights to and from Phuket.
Flights totalled 1609, down from 2090 in the same three week period last year.
Passenger numbers were similarly affected, falling by 24.16 percent from 248,439 to 188,353.
Overall, the number of passenger arrivals and departures between October 2007 and August 2008 was 5,657,763, up 3.68 percent.
Airport general manager Wicha Nurnlop said that the six-millionth passenger was expected sometime in September but because of the airport blockade, it would now probably be December when that happened.
The airport celebrates its 20th birthday on October 8.
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TRENDS
every day, Monday to Friday, at Phuketwan. It's essential reading. To tell us your news, email bigislandmedia@gmail.com or telephone 081 6513489.Latest
TRENDS
from Phuketwan:September 18
Tiger Airways is to double flights on the Phuket to Singapore route, first indication of a return to normality this high season; Island consumer prices drop; How Sky Dive Reef will be sunk.
Phuket Singapore Flights To Increase; Inflation Drops
September 17
The political turmoil that has damaged Thailand's reputation as a safe haven tourist destination is likely to continue despite the election of a new Prime Minister.
Phuket PAD weighs Next Move Against New PM
September 16
Central Festival Phase II brings a 140 million baht expansion, with new brands set to arrive; The 2008 Vegetarian Festival is sharpening its act, too; Sky Dive Reef meeting planned . . . again.
Phuket Central Festival Phase II Set to Sale
September 15
This week should give Phuket and Thailand a new leader. The best role model for 'new politics' is Singapore; Travel warning stays; Rawai supermarket opens with showgirls
Phuket and Thailand Need a benevolent Dictator
September 11
The Andaman's added attractions this high season will include a month of widespread price cutting in November, part of a push to revitalise the tourism industry on Phuket and in the region.
Phuket Price Packages Chase Tourism Rebound
