The report in Saturday's Business section that Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Plc (BGH), a private group, has acquired a hospital in the Northeast and is looking to expand its hospital acquisitions there is not as positive as it first seems.
The Northeast is an area where the government should expand its health services and improve conditions at government hospitals. The high cost of medical treatment in the private hospital sector would benefit only those who can afford it while leaving the rest standing in the cold unable to pay the higher costs.
Udon Thani is already feeling the pinch. Every time another hospital is acquired by the BGH, renovations take place to enhance the appearance of the hospital and costs go way up, but there seems little improvement in the quality of medical treatment. The recent cartoon showing hospitals gobbling up money sums up the situation nicely.
Bereleh
THAI EMPLOYEES RIGHT TO BE 'SELFISH'
In his letter in last Wednesday's Postbag, ''THAI staff so selfish'', Burin Kantabutra supports Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan's threat to employ ''the army and other state agencies'' instead of the striking THAI staff.
It would be interesting to see Thai soldiers and policemen serving travellers aboard THAI airplanes, especially if they are allowed to carry firearms.
I am not familiar with the details of the current dispute, but my general observations of business in Thailand leave me pretty sure that while THAI is charging first world prices for their air tickets, their employees are not making first world wages.
Experience shows that the only way way hard working employees will be given a share in the growing wealth of the companies they are working for is by forcing the organisation to do so, through methods such as striking.
Strikes and the threat of strikes are the only efficient means available to employees to get salary raises they deserve from penny-pinching managers and shareholders of airlines around the world.
THAI staff are doing the only thing they can to keep their salaries adjusted to the rising cost of living, and I wish them success in their struggle against THAI's wealthy shareholders.
We live in a selfish world and it is not fair to blame hard working and underpaid employees for trying to get what's coming to them from their wealthy employers.
Nehemia Vilheim
Bangkok
LANCE IS ONLY HUMAN
Why is everyone making such a big deal about Lance Armstrong doping to win his seven Tour de France titles (now stripped)? So he is a crook. What else is new?
How many baseball players dope up in order to hit more home runs, or sprinters to shave a tenth of a second off their times? What about all the boxers who are given decisions they clearly didn't deserve? Everyone knows those judges are paid off.
When I was in high school in the US, most students worshipped the football stars despite the fact that some of them were the meanest kids in school. My point is that 99 per cent of the people in this world don't give a hoot about integrity and character, only winning.
If selfishness and dishonesty are part of how the real world works, then people should stop being so self-righteous about Lance Armstrong's doping. He is no different from most of people.
Eric Bahrt
Pattaya
THE ROLE OF QUIET DIPLOMACY
I couldn't agree more with your opinion piece on Thursday, ''APRC offers roadmap to prosperity''. The establishment of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council took place at the most appropriate time. The ''Asian century'' has a real chance to make a positive mark on the history of the world only if it is a peaceful century, and diplomacy has a vital role to play in making this crucial objective a reality.
The future contribution of this young mechanism to the development of the complex art of silent or quiet diplomacy can be most valuable. Peaceful solutions cannot be found in a climate of public political polemics.
By imaginative quiet diplomacy it is possible to persuade parties in a dispute to take advantage of the UN consensus recommendations for international negotiations, which can then be used to reach win-win situations. Indeed, negotiations should be conducted in good faith and states should endeavour to maintain a constructive atmosphere during negotiations and to refrain from any behaviour which might undermine the negotiations and their progress.
Moreover, states should use their best endeavours to continue to work towards a mutually acceptable and just solution in the event of an impasse in negotiations.
Using quiet diplomacy to de-escalate conflicts and to boost the confidence of all concerned parties may yet prove to be the deciding factor in creating the necessary conditions for lasting, realistic solutions to conflicts and disputes in Asia.
Ioan Voicu
CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING
136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110
Fax: +02 2403666 email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
All letter writers must provide full name and address.
All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.