The Public Health Ministry has stepped up safety measures for health workers in the wake of a sexual assault incident at a healthcare unit in Bung Kan province on Saturday.
Deputy permanent secretary for public health Kiattibhoom Vongrachit said yesterday the minister had ordered heads of state-run healthcare units nationwide to intensify safety measures for health workers who do night shifts.
However, Dr Kiattibhoom stressed the stepped-up efforts should not affect medical services.
The increased safety measures include installation of CCTV cameras at crime-prone areas near healthcare units and exemption of female workers from working the night shift.
On Saturday night, a nurse was assaulted at a tambon-level health promotion hospital in Bung Kan province around 9.30pm.
The victim had opened the door of the facility when a 17-year-old showed up complaining of a headache. He then punched her in the stomach and dragged her into a room where she was sexually molested, local police said. The young man was later arrested the same night after the victim fled and reported the incident to local police.