Health officials form the control center
PUBLISHED: 10 Feb 2025 at 10: 14
After the International Rescue Committee ( IRC ) budget has been suspended, the Public Health Ministry will establish a command center to coordinate with border hospitals regarding the treatment of refugees.
Additionally, it intends to send portable medical teams to treat refugees in refugee camps every month during this time, according to Minister Somsak Thepsutin.
Donald Trump, president of the United States, recently decided to temporarily halt IRC revenue for three months.
For Thailand, Mr Somsak said that includes nine immigrant homes which were established in 1984, and are now home to at least 100, 000 migrants.
Seven of those, located in Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Tak and Mae Hong Son, were operated under IRC security.
They service 69, 789 refugees at the moment, with a budget supported by the security agencies in cooperation with the United Nations ( UN) and international organisations.
The department reported that in 2024, the seven homes transferred 13, 835 people to Thai government institutions, as well as providing treatments for 26, 255 kids aged 1–5. The government contributed approximately 8.74 million baht per month to the immigrant treatment budget next year, or about 80.8 million baht.
According to Mr. Somsak, the IRC’s resources suspension may result in an increase in the workload for hospitals close to borders. However, it should be noted that the Ministry of Public Health has a responsibility to give aid solely based on human rights principles.
Our facilities are not expected to treat all immigrants, according to the statement. Everything had also fall under the purview of IRC. In this regard, a strategy has been put in place to mitigate the impact, “he said.
For short-term steps, the government ordered the setting up of a central control centre to work with frontier hospitals, with a regular report to be submitted to the government.
Every month, mobile health medical teams will be dispatched to the shelters to treat the residents. To reduce go costs, local hospitals will also offer extra support through telehealth platforms.
Without lengthy documents, he claimed, refugees who require urgent care or chronic illnesses may be transferred to hospitals. Additionally, the ministry will have a specific budget to cover border hospital costs for more medical care, supplies, and further medications.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may also ask for a review of the help suspension and to ask for assistance from various international organizations while developing sustainable health plans for refugees, he said.