Two doctors rewarded for outstanding work

Dr Suthee Suddee, doctor of Ubon Ratchathani's Warin Chamrap hospital, and Dr Walairat Chaifu, director of the Pang Ma Pha hospital in Mae Hong Son, were given their awards by Privy Council President Gen Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday.

The award was created in honour of Dr Kanoksak Poonkaysorn, a former director of the Ta Phraya hospital in Sa Kaew province, who was shot dead in 1984 while returning from treating patients in the Aranyaprathet district.

Prem said the doctors should be admired for their dedication. "I want their colleagues to be proud of them," he said. "I expect rural doctors to be good to poor people who cannot help themselves. It is our duty to do this for our country."

Suthee, 42, started his career as director of Bundarik Hospital in Ubon Ratchatani province in 1990, before moving on to treat patients in the Warin Chamrap district in 1997. A graduate from Mahidol University's Siriraj hospital, he said he prefers working in remote areas.

"At that time, few doctors wanted to work upcountry, many preferring to work as specialists in big cities. But I wanted to stay close to patients and help them," he said, adding that doctors could work to improve the healthcare system instead of just treating patients. Suthee's community healthcare centre at Warin Chamrap district's Huay Ka Yoong village does not just provide primary healthcare but also helps improve patients' quality of life.

Meanwhile, Walai, 39, who has been treating patients in Mae Hong Son province for 14 years, said she likes living upcountry because of the tranquillity and also because she wants help hilltribe people.

Walai graduated from Chiang Mai University in 1994 and found employment at Mae Hong Son's Srisangwan hospital. In 2002, she moved to Pang Ma Pha hospital in 2002, where she is now the director.

Every weekend, Walai and her mobile medical care team drive up bumpy roads, and sometimes even climb mountainous areas in the rainy season, to treat people.

"Bumpy roads and heavy rain cannot stop us from helping people," she said.

Since Mae Hong Son has a diverse population with a variety of languages, Walai needs to use a translator while treating patients. She accepts that sometimes things can get lost in translation, which is why she has received several complaints from patients.

"We have to improve our bedside manner when tending to patients and explain things to them in a friendly manner," she said.

BOX

The outstanding rural doctor award was established in 1985 in honour of Dr Kanoksak Poonkaysorn, a former director of the Ta Phraya hospital in Sa Kaew province who was shot dead in 1984 while returning from treating patients in the Aranyaprathet district.

The award is aiming at rewarding to doctors who dedicate themselves to work for the rural poor.