BANGKOK: Over a million people suffered from several diseases caused by PM2.5 air pollution during fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023 - September 31, 2024), the Public Health Ministry revealed on Thursday (Jan 9).
Of the 1.04 million, 442,073 people suffered from dermatitis, eye inflammation (357,104), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (226,423), asthma (18,336), acute myocardial infarction (4,051) and other symptoms (28).
The Department of Health noted that patients suffering from PM2.5 pollution had to spend 3 billion baht: 2,752 baht was spent on average by each person to treat asthma, 16,000 baht for acute myocardial infarction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and up to 197,600 baht for lung cancer.
Using dust protection against particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter saved more than 1.80 billion baht in hospitalisation expenses for bed-ridden patients, the department added.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has launched measures to tackle PM2.5 pollution based on its severity:
- Boosting awareness among people, focusing on sending notifications via Mor Prom and SmartOSM applications.
- Mitigating impact on people’s health by monitoring the PM2.5 situation, providing dust-free rooms and nets in areas at risk of pollution, and considering work-from-home scheme for vulnerable people.
- Enabling all groups of people to access medical treatment both online and onsite, such as opening the Pollution Clinic platform and launching mobile medical units to take care of vulnerable people.
- Boosting management efficiency once the PM2.5 situation becomes severe, such as opening emergency operations centres and encouraging local organisations to tackle pollution.
Ministry permanent secretary Opas Karnkawinpong said 4,700 dust-free rooms are available in 56 provinces, including the ministry’s health facilities (3,009), child development centres and schools (858), office buildings (457), and other venues like restaurants and coffee shops (376).
The ministry has provided 1,338 sets of dust-free nets to residents in 34 provinces, he said, adding that more dust-free nets and facemasks would be provided to residents at risk of PM2.5 pollution and public health service centres.
Opas said the ministry would proactively screen people at risk of developing symptoms due to PM2.5 pollution based on the ministry’s health data centre records.
The Department of Disease Control is enhancing data collection efficiency, using digital disease surveillance, and collaboration with the Bureau of Epidemiology and National Science and Technology Development Agency, he added. - The Nation/ANN
