Udon thani: Ramathibodi Poison Center has sent antidotes through the National Health Security Office (NHSO) system to assist patients affected by a poisoning incident at a noodle shop in Udon Thani.
According to Thai News Agency, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) disclosed that the Ramathibodi Poison Center provided the antidote "methylene blue" to address the needs of five critically ill patients from the noodle shop incident in Udon Thani province. This was achieved through the NHSO-supported system, ensuring timely access to essential medication. The NHSO also acknowledged the Udon Thani Hospital's medical team for their role in patient care.
Dr. Nopparat Phanthuset, Director of NHSO Region 8, Udon Thani, shared details about the incident involving adverse reactions after consuming noodles at a restaurant in Ban Phonsawan, Nong Na Kham Subdistrict, Mueang District. The situation necessitated immediate hospitalization. The Ramathibodi Poison Center provided direct consultations to treating physicians on symptom assessment, poisoning diagnosis, and antidote administration. They coordinated the swift delivery of Methylene blue to the hospitals, allowing five patients with severe symptoms to receive the antidote promptly.
Dr. Nopparat emphasized the collaboration among the Ramathibodi Poison Center, NHSO, and Udon Thani Hospital, highlighting their joint efforts from symptom assessment and diagnosis to toxicology consultation, antidote distribution, and ongoing patient care.
He commended the Udon Thani Hospital's medical team for their resource mobilization to provide prompt and appropriate treatment according to medical standards. This incident, he noted, underscores the national healthcare system's and emergency care network's capacity to effectively connect resources and expertise, ensuring citizens' timely access to necessary treatment.
Dr. Nopparat further elaborated on Thailand's antidote system, a collaborative effort between the NHSO and the Ramathibodi Poison Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, and associated networks. This initiative, launched in 2010, addresses the challenge of "orphan drugs" - antidotes crucial for saving poisoned patients but not widely available due to profitability issues.
The system, established by NHSO and the Ramathibodi Poison Center, includes selecting essential medications, procurement, stockpiling, national distribution, and providing toxicology consultation to physicians. This ensures patients under all insurance schemes have access to necessary medications in a timely manner.
Medical personnel dealing with poisoning cases can contact the Ramathibodi Poison Center hotline at 1367, which operates 24/7.