DHAKA: It is definitely an emotional and pleasant experience for Bangladeshis in foreign lands to listen and speak in Bengali or even find the language in written. It makes Bangladeshis happy and they start to won the foreign country in no time. But when an ailing Bangladeshi national visits that country for better treatment, he or she feels one more thing that is ‘relief’ by communicating with own language.
Such emotions rushed to my mind when I entered Bangkok Hospital, the biggest private network hospital and found out a section of ‘Bangladesh Medical Services’ alongside others such as Maldives, Japan, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Anyone will be greeted with refreshing vigorous feeling while entering the hospital as it is disciplined in a neat and clean manner. The hospital compound is surrounded by flowers and it seems that thousands of flowers primarily act as a medicine for curing the patients.
The doctors’ chambers are located in the ‘W’ type building (Bangkok Wattanosoth Hospital). At the reception desk, there is a Bangladeshi lady sitting among others. Pure drinking water facility can be found just next to the sitting arrangements. A list of doctors can also be found there but surpassingly enough without any degrees mentioned beside names. Only MD degree is mentioned next to their names even though all the doctors are very much qualified with higher degrees. Among them, there is a doctor DR. Shakti Ranjan Pal MD of Internal Medicine who has been serving in the hospital for the last 26 years.
On an average, 30 patients from Bangladesh seek treatment in Bangkok hospital everyday. Bangladeshis have finally come out of the notion that only Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok can provide good treatment. This hospital, equipped with latest machineries, diagnostics, tests and veteran doctors, is comparatively cheaper than other hospitals in Bangkok. People, who suffer from wrong treatment due to wrong diagnosis in Bangladesh, also go there for treatment.
Dr. Shakti Ranjan Pal told Banglanews that Bangkok Hospital is not a follower of anyone rather it is a pioneer. We have finally come out from the idea to wait for when the heart attack will occur and then we will go to the doctor. He continued that in this hospital we treat with utmost sincerity using latest equipment. The Bangladeshis are given special care with Bengali interpreter. The nursing of this hospital is also top notch.
Hospital authority has introduced an interpreter and Bangla help desk called ‘Bangladesh Medical Services’ due to gradual increase of Bangladeshi patients seeking appointments in the hospital. Health co-coordinator Dr. Sabina Arzoo, Iffat Kabir, Sania Anowar and Nusrat Islam Itu provide services there from 8:00am to 6:00pm.
They informed Banglanews that they provide all kinds of help to Bangladeshis who seeks appointment with doctors, about the nature of treatment, accommodation and the transportation information.
Deputy Head of Marketing Protik Anowar informed that this Bangkok Hospital was established in 1972 with an aim to treat heart diseases and cancer. There are 14 Banglaee doctors and officials for the Bangladeshis. There are three departments in Bangkok hospital- Bangkok Heart hospital, Bangkok Cancer hospital and Rehabilitation hospital. The departments of Nuero, Dental, and Medicine are also looked by experienced doctors. There are coffee shops, restaurant, shopping Mall and travel counters within the hospital premises. In the restaurants there are separate menu for different countries.
Bangladesh stands at number six based on number of people seeking treatment at Bangkok Hospital from outside of Thailand. In 2016, about 20 thousand Bangladeshis sought treatment in this hospital.
Dr. Kazi Sabina Arzoo, working at Bangladesh help desk, told Banglanews that about 30 to 50 Bangladeshis take help from this desk everyday. Many patients sense trouble after coming over here due to different languages. But as soon as they come to this desk, they all feel relieved. We prepare their profile and provide necessary guide line about doctors and other related matters. We also act as tour guide.
Russel Mahmood Khan, PRO of Bangladesh Medical Services, said the help desk existed here from much earlier but from 2012 it has taken a new dimension alongside improvement of services giving special emphasis for the Bangladeshis. We are getting more response now.
Ivy Tripland, Assistant Marketing Manager of Bangkok Hospital told that the Bangladesh one stop services includes bed to bed transfer, Visa processing, accommodation, estimated cost of treatment and transportation, Air ambulance, making appointment with doctors and support of air ticket.
She also informed that there are facilities of tele-medicine and tele-radiology for people staying in Bangladesh.
For more information, please contact Dhanmondi office 01951111805, Banani : 01951111801 and Chittagong : 0177782550.
BDST: 1940 HRS, OCT 22, 2017
SJN/AP/SMS
