A leader's pride comes before a Covid-19 fall
A leader's pride comes before a Covid-19 fallAs a leader, what makes you proud? Does it make your day seeing people, young and old, camp out on the streets all night to queue for a Covid-19 test? Other leaders would at least feel awkward about news that people had to compete to make reservations for their own vaccines. And all those photos showing people who have been confirmed to have Covid-19 lying around waiting to be admitted. You must regard it as a show of your magnanimous spirit when you donated three months of salary to help Covid-19 sufferers.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 12, 2021 23:37 UTC
Private hospitals urge state to cover costs
Private hospitals urge state to cover costsThe atmosphere at MedPark Hospital, a new hospital located on Rama IV Road. He said around 60% of hospital beds in Bangkok are in private hospitals. "That budget might be reasonable for medical services in public hospitals but is not practical for private hospitals because we have high costs such as salaries of medical personnel. This is more reasonable for treatment in private hospitals. "There are no private hospitals that can make a profit of more than 10-12%.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 12, 2021 23:37 UTC
Leaving no patient behind
(Photo: National Science and Technology Development Agency)Recently, a 12-year-old blind child was left alone in his room to quarantine. Not long after, his mother who was a diabetic, died due to Covid-19 and his father was admitted to a field hospital as well. "When an ambulance is sent to pick up a disabled patient, staff will carry him/her out on a negative pressure isolation stretcher to prevent transmission. A telehealth platform is used by staff to treat disabled patients at a field hospital at the Sirindhorn Science Home. National Science and Technology Development AgencyAuthorities have developed the Sirindhorn Science Home as the first field hospital for disabled patients.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 12, 2021 02:15 UTC
Drones to play big role in crime fight
The Hanuman unit is to replace a commando unit that has been reassigned to provide security for His Majesty the King and the royal family members. "Drones will play an important role in helping to survey and maintain order in areas ordinary police cannot approach. Pol Maj Gen Jirabhop said the unit, which consists of 10 small drones and 10 drone pilots, is undertaking a period of testing and training. During operations, the drones can capture criminal movement and activity on 10 screens which can reduce the need for potentially violent encounters prior to arrests, Pol Maj Gen Jirabhop said. By law, gunning someone down can be regarded as an act of self-defence if the criminal is regarded as a severe threat, said Pol Maj Gen Jirabhop.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 12, 2021 01:30 UTC
A double dose of reality
Mixing vaccine brands and getting an mRNA booster after 2 Sinovac jabs has led to a scrambleA health worker prepares a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at Bang Sue Grand Station. People queue to receive Covid-19 vaccines at Bang Sue Grand Station. A health worker prepares a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at Bang Sue Grand Station. A health worker prepares a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at Bang Sue Grand Station. The GPO set the price of the Moderna vaccine at 1,100 baht a dose, but after injection fees are included, the Private Hospital Association settled on 1,650 baht a dose.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 12, 2021 01:30 UTC
Enough Covid stunts already
Enough Covid stunts alreadyIt was heart-wrenching to see hundreds of people spend overnight on a pavement outside Wat Phra Sri Maha That in Bang Khen district last week as they waited to get queue tickets for free Covid-19 testing. With new Covid-19 cases surging to nearly 10,000 cases a day and delays in vaccinations, the government must not allow the Covid testing problem to add to the crisis. Hospitals earlier were reported to be reluctant to provide Covid tests, as an old regulation required them to receive a Covid patient. In addition, free Covid-19 testing needs to be expanded from the six venues at six districts in the capital offered at present. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's promise that "there must be no one to be left to die at home again" sounds hollow.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 12, 2021 00:45 UTC
Frontline medical staff pour their hearts out
Frontline medical staff have played a key role in fighting the novel coronavirus war especially the third wave reported in early April in which seven medical staff have lost their lives and many more infected. "Although our hospital has Covid–19 insurance to medical staff, it does not cover compensation during quarantine,'' he added. Call for sympathySomsak Akksilp, the Department of Medical Sciences director–general, said some medical staff had not been able to return to their families for two months. Medical staff whom he visited asked for five things: a clear policy, cooperation, disease control, a strong medical system and inclusive vaccinations. Thanarak Plipat, Regional Health 5 Office CEO, said he acknowledged the hardship of medical staff during this time.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 11, 2021 22:52 UTC
Vaccine alone no cure for Covid's ills
It is also noteworthy that the announcement didn't mention any new economic relief measures. The government was forced to implement selective lockdown measures across Thailand amid concerns the new daily infection number will reach 10,000 cases. The National Economic and Social Development Council in May cut its economic growth outlook for this year to 1.5%–2.5% from 2.5%–3.5%. Vaccination is also key in achieving herd immunity and economic recovery. South Korea is planning on producing about a billion vaccine doses for major companies and Thailand must be among the first to acquire them.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2021 21:45 UTC
Who will lead Haiti after president's killing?
Who will lead Haiti after president's killing? Moise had organized no elections since arriving in power in 2017, leaving Haiti with only 10 elected lawmakers, just one-third of the Senate, since January 2020. Haiti's constitution states that in the event a president is unable to carry out his duties, the prime minister shall assume power. That nomination, registered Monday in the official journal of the Haitian republic, led some observers to question Joseph's claim to power. - Letting Haitians decide -As the country's de facto leader since Wednesday, Joseph has the official backing of Helen La Lime, the UN special representative in Haiti.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2021 21:00 UTC
Protesters shift aim to coalition parties
A person flashes a three-fingered salute on the skywalk at Ratchadamri intersection in Bangkok in support of the "car mob" urging coalition parties to pull out of the coalition on Saturday. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)A "car mob" has shifted its target to pressure coalition parties after several anti-government groups before it failed to urge the prime minister to resign. Also on Saturday, Friend Zone, one of the pro-democracy groups, started a campaign on Change.org for coalition parties to pull out of the government. We hope MPs of all coalition parties love democracy enough to leave the grip of the current regime and switch sides to stand with people,” they said. The votes of PPRP (119) and senators (250) alone cannot choose a PM and the wildcard is indeed the coalition parties.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2021 12:28 UTC
Knowing your expertise
Auto lending is the group's core business under Tisco Bank, which is 100% owned by Tisco Financial Group. Auto loan borrowers are a key segment that have been heavily affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. "After offering the haircut option to auto loan customers for 2-3 months, we've not found a moral hazard problem. Thousands of auto loan customers were eligible this year, and hundreds of borrowers participated in the programme, said Mr Sakchai. The group's BIS ratio base was 22%, while Tisco Bank was at 22.8%.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 09, 2021 23:37 UTC
Complaints hit northern rail projects
Bidding for the two double-track railway projects worth 128 billion baht in the North and Northeast could be marred by alleged irregularities, a seminar was told. The Den Chai-Chiang Khong project, valued at 72.9 billion baht, is made up of three construction contracts while the northeastern Ban Phai-Nakhon Phanom route, worth 55.4 billion baht, has been split into two contracts. "Initial information that is available is that the bidding price is slightly lower than the median price, compared to the double-track railway project in the South with a fairly low bidding price. Prachak Sapmanee, an observer of the two projects, said that there were problems with the bidding framework, leaving small bidders unable to take part. Under the regulations, a project must be split into small contracts to allow small bidders to take part.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 09, 2021 21:22 UTC
ASPS recommends safe stocks, holding cash as cases mount
ASPS recommends safe stocks, holding cash as cases mountA new lockdown is expected to negatively affect the stock market. The handling of the pandemic remains a worry and with a looming lockdown expected to be announced today, the Thai stock market took a tumble. However, if the number of daily new infections decreases in the next quarter, the SET will gradually recover, said ASPS. ASPS recommends Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS) because it is likely to grow given rising demand for medical examinations and vaccinations. ASPS expects its profit in the second quarter to increase significantly year-on-year.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 09, 2021 00:00 UTC
Racing for super app supremacy
Business experts believe a super app war is approaching in the digital economy as corporates are gathering a broad range of services, such as transport, logistics, travel, e-commerce, food delivery and online payments under one app. Startup unicorns such as Grab and Gojek started as ride-hailing and food delivery services but have expanded their reach into other areas. AirAsia now offers a broad variety of services through their super app besides travel and hotel bookings, which is pressuring other existing players like Grab to adjust, Mr Suthikorn said. Kerry also has a hub-and-spoke logistics network countrywide for its delivery service while Grab and Gojek are still focused on point-to-point services. Gojek still has a small market share in Thailand's food delivery market and is racked with losses.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 08, 2021 23:59 UTC
Govt's last Covid chance
Govt's last Covid chanceToday, the Centre for Covid19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meets to debate imposing more stringent Covid measures in Bangkok and its vicinity as well as the the four southernmost provinces in a new bid to battle Covid-19. Set to take effect for 14 days, the steps would lead to Bangkok and its vicinity being sealed off, with inter-provincial travel banned. The Public Health Ministry has revised its vaccination plan regularly to accommodate the needs of the economy and the state's plans to reopen the country. It must also accelerate Covid testing capacity in the capital as well as build more Covid isolation and field hospitals. The government has 14 days, its last chance to restore battered public confidence in its performance.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 08, 2021 23:48 UTC