More than 250 Lao doctors, nurses and students from various medical facilities around Vientiane will provide medical services at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December.

Member of the National Olympic Committee of Laos and Chairman of the Medical Anti-Doping Commission, Dr Alongkone Phengsavanh, said on Monday the team will be divided into three groups for medical services, food safety issues and doping tests.

The doctors come from major hospitals in Vientiane including Mahosot, Mittaphab, Setthathirath, 103 and 109 and the University of Health Sciences . Some will provide emergency medical services for athletes injured while competing, while others will specialise in assisting athletes with physical rehabilitation to recover from minor injuries.

Dr Alongkone said about 80 doctors and nurses will take part in training courses next month to learn more about doping tests.

In addition, doctors and nurses in major hospitals will be on stand-by 24 hours a day to provide emergency medical services for everyone during the games.

“Even though it will be the first time we've hosted the SEA Games, we are confident our team can provide effective and efficient services, as we have already proven when we hosted other big events such as the Asean Summit in 2004,” Dr Alongkone said.

By Sangkhomsay Bouphanouvong