http://www.si.mahidol.ac.th/siriraj_online/eng_version/
I don't know it's the best,
but it can be helpful for small medical problems....
Expert health advice is now just a few clicks away
Siriraj's doctors use the hospital's website to answer questions from the curious and concerned
* Published: 19/06/2010 at 12:00 AM
* Newspaper section: News
With a few clicks of your mouse, Siriraj Hospital comes right to you.
The hospital has offered free medical advice on its online service for almost eight years, at http://www.sirirajonline.net.
The online service is not aimed at reducing the burden of one of the most popular state hospitals in the country, which now treats up to 3 million outpatients alone every year. It is offered as an extra service.
"The number of patients coming to the hospital has not reduced. That is not the objective," deputy dean of the medical faculty Dittakarn Boriboonhirunsarn said.
"We hope people will take better care of their health after visiting the online service," he said.
The project started with a dozen doctors working with hospital staff to answer questions sent in by email. After receiving positive feedback, the hospital launched the online project fully in October 2002.
The number of visitors has grown over the years as access to the internet has improved. The website now gets 50,000 visitors a year.
About 6,000 questions are sent to Siriraj Online each year. The questions are screened by staff and doctors who run the project.
"We also send questions to specialist doctors who can give the right answers," said Dr Dittakarn, who is responsible for public relations and special affairs.
Most questions submitted to the website are for doctors at the medical faculty followed by the obstetrics and gynaecology, surgery, orthopaedics and paediatrics faculties.
The issues cover everything from general diseases to surgery and advice on having babies.
One patient wrote: "I recently had a chromosome test done. I received the test results, but I can't understand them. All I want to know is if my chromosome count is normal. Unfortunately, I don't have an appointment with the doctor who ordered the test for another two months.
"What can I do to get the answer to my question? he asked.
The reply: "If you can scan the result and post it on the web somewhere, we can look at the result for you," one doctor replied.
Another question? "Dear doctors, I have been married for almost five years and still don't have any children. I am 39 and my wife is 28. I am considering going for treatment. What kind of technology is being used in our country? Are there any risks?"
The answer: "There are many new assisted reproduction techniques these days. However, the use of each technique depends on the condition of each couple. I would recommend both of you visit the infertility clinic to determine the cause of infertility first. After that the doctor will discuss treatment choices with you."
Those who send in questions cannot expect a real-time response. The response time depends on the availability of doctors, as they answer questions in their free time.
"Doctors can answer the questions at their offices or at home as all have access to the programme," Dr Dittakarn said.
The service is also available in English. One visitor, apparently a non-Thai, sent in this question:
"Dear Sir, my Thai wife, daughter and I are coming to live in Thailand in the near future. I myself am an insulin-dependent diabetic.
"Could you please tell me how I would go about getting my insulin in Thailand. Is it available at pharmacies or would I have to get it from a hospital. Also, could you tell me how much it costs?"
The reply: "You can get the medicine from pharmacies but I'm not sure how much it costs. But if possible, I would recommend you come to the hospital to get it prescribed before you get it from pharmacies."
Students have also sent in questions to the website which they were given as part of school examinations, so they wouldn't have to find the answers themselves. The doctors refuse to supply the answers.
"We knew right away because the questions were uncommon. They were exactly the same as questions assigned in exams," Dr Dittakarn said. "Of course, we never gave them the answers."
