Plea for help as Thai’s care bill in Korea mounts
KALASIN: The family of a 25-year-old female university graduate is seeking help from the government as it attempts to get her transferred from a Korean hospital to one in Thailand after she suffered a medical emergency in Korea during a leisure trip with friends last week.
Relatives of Rapeeporn Nasa-an, who recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, had called the Damrongdhama Centre of the Interior Ministry asking for assistance, said Thong-on Nongsoda, a former kamnan in tambon Nong Waeng in Kalasin’s Somdet district.
The kamnan earlier told the local press about Ms Rapeeporn being treated at a hospital in South Korea and that her family is trying to get her back to Thailand.
Somporn Kueasuwan, 48, an aunt of Ms Rapeeporn, said her niece went on a trip to South Korea with three friends last Monday and was supposed to return home on Friday. But on Thursday, the aunt said she was contacted by friends saying the young woman had suffered from shock which resulted in losing consciousness and being rushed to hospital.
As Ms Rapeeporn remained unconscious in hospital, her friends had to return home, said Ms Somporn, adding she had learnt the hospital wants Ms Rapeeporn’s family to bring about 200,000 baht to pay off her medical bill. The friends, Ms Rapeeporn’s relatives in Korea, and family in Thailand sought help from the government, asking it to contact the Korean hospital to get it to continue treatment while her relatives try to find the money, Ms Somporn said.
Kalasin provincial governor Natthaphat Suwanprateep said the Kalasin branch of the Damrongdhama Centre had contacted the Department of Consular Affairs and provided it with various documents. The Thai embassy in South Korea also was aware of the incident.
Bang-on Nasa-an, 45, Ms Rapeeporn’s mother, said the family was trying to find the money to pay the bill and the cost of travelling to see her daughter in Korea.
She expected to leave for Korea today but the family still needs help regarding her daughter’s medical bills, which came to 200,000 baht per day. Ms Rapeeporn moved from Kalasin to live in Bangkok with her parents many years ago but still visits relatives in Kalasin during long holidays, said Ms Somporn. Mr Natthaphat has paid 5,000 baht to Ms Rapeeporn’s relatives in Kalasin as initial help.