Women’s Health is Family Health
By Kathleen Pokrud
As March 8th was International Women’s Day, this month prioritises women’s health and better health outcomes for families and communities as a whole. Elite+ sat down with two health experts from Phyathai Paolo Hospital Group to learn why women’s health is a key component of family health,
Dr Suchawadee Pongthanawisut, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, began by explaining, “Women's health is essential not just for individual well-being, but also for families and communities. Women experience unique health challenges, including reproductive health, hormonal changes and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Addressing these concerns through proper healthcare, education and support can improve quality of life and overall societal well-being.
“The stigma associated with mental health is a significant issue in Thailand as in many cultures where emotional struggles are often seen as a personal weakness rather than a medical condition. This prevents many individuals, especially women, from seeking help due to fear of judgment.
“However, mental health is just as important as physical health. Encouraging open conversations, increasing access to professional support and integrating mental health awareness into education and workplaces can help reduce this stigma.”
Dr Suchawadee went on to share how to identify signs of mental issues. “Signs of mental health struggles may include persistent sadness or mood swings, changes in sleep or appetite, withdrawal from social activities and physical symptoms, like headaches or unexplained aches. Ways to handle these issues are open conversation concerning emotions and stress, professional help, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, building strong support networks among family and friends and practicing stress management techniques.”
Dr Kraipope Jarupaiboon, MD, Phyathai Paolo Hospital Group’s director of Medical Innovative Technology and International Affairs Support Cluster, introduced Tele-consultation as a new remote healthcare service where patients can connect with doctors via video calls, phone calls or chat platforms. He said, “At TeleCare, we have our own highly communicative web-based platform that allows individuals to receive medical advice, diagnosis and even prescriptions without having to visit a clinic or hospital.
“For women, telemedicine is particularly beneficial for gynaecological consultations, maternal care, mental health support, managing chronic conditions and simple diseases, all from the comfort of a woman’s home.”
Dr Kraipope believes that Telemedicine is transforming healthcare accessibility. He elaborated on how this service can assist, saying, “Busy women and working mothers who struggle to find time for in-person health advice, pregnant women who need regular monitoring without unnecessary hospital visits, women in rural or underserved areas who lack access to specialist care, patients with mobility issues or those recovering from surgery and, lastly, person’s needing mental health support where privacy and accessibility are crucial can all benefit as studies have shown that telehealth reduces hospital visits, improves patient adherence to treatments and ensures earlier detection of health issues.”
Although telemedicine is a game-changer, Dr Kraipope advised patients to be mindful and “choose a trusted telemedical provider where the platform is certified and uses licensed doctors. Understand, though, that some conditions may require offline physical exams or emergency intervention. Other issues include privacy and data security with stable internet connection.”
Ms Norachan Malakul Na Ayudthya, director of International Insurance and International Affiliation introduced the Phyathai Paolo Hospital Group, explaining, “We are a network of private hospitals in Thailand known for providing high-quality medical services. The group comprises Phyathai Hospitals and Paolo Hospitals, which operate under BDMS (Bangkok Dusit Medical Services), one of the largest private healthcare groups in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The group includes six Phyathai and five Paolo hospitals across Thailand, especially in Bangkok and major cities.
Phyathai-Paolo Hospital Group offers a range of services, including specialized medical treatments, digital healthcare solutions, and telecare services. We also focus on holistic service design, placing human well-being at the core of their operations. The group has made significant contributions to the healthcare ecosystem through initiatives like the PIL Innovation Hub, CILA Learning Platform, and Health Up application. Our proactive approach extends beyond private healthcare, impacting society through programs like the Healthy Together Program and The Selection Platform.”
