Thai doctors get free heart checks to combat pandemic stress
Bangkok’s MedPark Hospital began offering free heart checks for doctors on Monday, as stress levels among medics skyrocket during the pandemic.
The "Save Doctors' Heart" project will run for six months until August 12 this year.
Hospital managing director Dr Phongphat Pratanwanich explained that the ratio of medics to patients is low and falls further every time a doctor falls ill.
"If any doctor gets sick, others have to bear the burden, especially during public health emergencies such as the Covid-19 crisis," he said. "This means doctors are not looking after themselves, especially when it comes to heart-related diseases."
The idea of the free heart checks was to reduce losses to the public health sector, he added.
Meanwhile, MedPark Hospital's cardiology specialist Wasan Udayachalerm said the project was designed to help doctors lead longer, healthier lives.
"Doctors can treat patients even after reaching retirement age," he added.
A total of 297 doctors died of heart-related diseases between 2017 and 2021, according to the Medical Council of Thailand. The youngest to die was just 31.
Doctors can register for a free heart check at https://medpark.hospital/DoctorsHeartProject.
