Thai hospitals...

I visited a local public hospital today to visit J's aunt who has a horrific condition...she had a growth on her voice box a few years ago and the only treatment suggested was complete removal of her voice box. She hasn't been able to speak (only in whispers) since. She has never had problems with it until last week the hole in her throat (for breathing) became infected and consequently she can no longer eat or drink and has difficulty breathing through the pipe in her neck. The doctors say they can't do anything, just try to clear the infection but they say she may never eat again and she'll have to have a permanent IV drip in her arm. I just find this absolutely devastating and can't help but wonder if she was in a more developed country what alternatives she would have.

The difference between Thai hospitals and Australian hospitals is incredible. Aussie hospitals (in my experience) are sterile and generally pretty quiet. Thai public hospitals (in my experience) are one step up from filthy, overcrowded and noisy. They have long rooms of 20 or so beds spaced less than half a metre apart with a bathroom down one end. There were also beds end to end lining the balcony both up and down stairs. The only privacy available is a plastic shower curtain that wraps around the bed but that is only used if the person is unable to go to the toilet. There were about 60 people - patients, visitors and nurses - filling this room. The air is stagnant with way too few fans oscillating. The food I saw delivered today was boiled cabbage with a piece of carrot, some nasty looking meaty substance and rice...no exceptions, everyone eats the same. The beds are steel frames with thin slats of plywood screwed on and a 2 inch mattress on top.

The thing that stands out the most to me though is that every single person had at least one visitor. Lots of people were coming and going but there is always one person to stay with the patient 24/7. I also experienced this when I was a volunteer after the tsunami. We had a rotating "roster" of people whose job it was to be a hospital companion. If no one was available the Thais became extremely distressed until someone was found to be a visitor. It is quite extraordinary...you go into any western hospital and you're only allowed in at certain visiting hours and rooms are considered full if there are 4 people in them. They can be very lonely places for the elderly or long term patients. Just compare that to a Thai hospital where you're not even alone to go to the toilet!

The compassion, benevolence and friendliness most Thais display are laudable...it really is such a major reason why I love living in Thailand. The selfishness in my own home land often saddened me and living here has really shown me that selfishness is one of the worst qualities a person can hold on to.