Foreign medical tourists to be given entry priority

By Barry Kenyon

 

  

Foreign patients holding doctor appointments in Thai hospitals will be given top priority.

 

The Thai ministry responsible for tourism has specified that the first foreigners to be allowed into the country, possibly in July, will be restricted to business people with written support from partner companies and patients holding doctor appointments in Thai hospitals. Medical tourism in Thai private-sector hospitals has become a profitable niche market in recent years.

 

Earlier, it had been suggested by government agencies that the first priority would be permanent residents and foreigners stranded abroad who are married to Thai partners and/or have family financial responsibilities.  The new announcement seems to push humanitarian considerations further down the line.
 

Meanwhile the Tourism Council of Thailand is lobbying for restricted-destination travel bubbles between Thailand and China as early as September.  Because quarantining is obviously non-feasible for short-stay vacationers, a tracking app to keep tabs on individuals during their stay together with coronavirus tests at their hotels are under consideration.

 

Full story: https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/foreign-medical-tourists-to-be-given-entry-priority-303614

 

 

-- © Copyright Pattaya Mail 2020-06-12

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

“Earlier, it had been suggested by government agencies that the first priority would be permanent residents and foreigners stranded abroad who are married to Thai partners and/or have family financial responsibilities.  The new announcement seems to push humanitarian considerations further down the line.”

 

Business and private hospital sick people first. It’s all about the money, money, money. 

 

“Meanwhile the Tourism Council of Thailand is lobbying for restricted-destination travel bubbles between Thailand and China as early as September. “

 

Shock, horror who would of thought .......glad I was sitting down. 
 

 

Time for a teeth cleaning... ????

Surely separated families are of more importance and should be top of the list.

I don't see the sense behind this idea of staggered arrivals as if Thailand some sort of a posh club with "preferred" tourist, this will only add more headaches to those who need to obtain special permits to come and for the authorities here to verify them, if you let people come let the all come, not pick and choose...

1 hour ago, Tounge Thaied said:

Time for a teeth cleaning... ????

That was my first thought, too. When I travel out and need to come back, just schedule an appointment. Those with family here should do the same. 

I suddenly need some medical attention. Having not seen my wife and kids for 4 months must be a medical problem. Broken heart perhaps?

2 hours ago, baansgr said:

Surely separated families are of more importance and should be top of the list.

Emotionally yes, financially no (their thinking).

3 hours ago, Kadilo said:

“Earlier, it had been suggested by government agencies that the first priority would be permanent residents and foreigners stranded abroad who are married to Thai partners and/or have family financial responsibilities.  The new announcement seems to push humanitarian considerations further down the line.”

 

Business and private hospital sick people first. It’s all about the money, money, money. 

 

“Meanwhile the Tourism Council of Thailand is lobbying for restricted-destination travel bubbles between Thailand and China as early as September. “

 

Shock, horror who would of thought .......glad I was sitting down. 
 

 

This always has been about money - these last 4 months of Corona data have been about this moment, they can't wait to get the Chinese tour groups back on the buses and shuttle them around like sheep bleeding them dry because they don't know any better, I'm waiting for day and sudden realisation by Chinese tourists - they've been had

3 hours ago, baansgr said:

Surely separated families are of more importance and should be top of the list.

They don't give a (deleted) about you or your family - that has been very well demonstrated over the last 5 months, they would rather a big chunk of their citizens went abroad and never came back, this military regime has their sights firmly set on the China model of rule, western tourists and families don't fit that model we are seen as outspoken obstacles who interfere (Hong Kong fine example) - that has been obvious over the last few years, the way to stop it is to get rid of them and that will take some doing, you would be looking at a very bloody conflict with no guarantee what would be left - there are many recent examples of these sorts of uprisings against dictatorships - the Thai military government are walking a very thin line right now - I hear it all the time with growing decent 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thai ministry responsible for tourism has specified that the first foreigners to be allowed into the country, possibly in July, will be restricted to business people with written support from partner companies and patients holding doctor appointments in Thai hospitals. Medical tourism in Thai private-sector hospitals has become a profitable niche market in recent years.

so husbands & fathers stuck abroad can go f.... themselves and do the expensive 60.000 baht quarantine while...

17 minutes ago, smedly said:

They don't give a (deleted) about you or your family - that has been very well demonstrated over the last 5 months, they would rather a big chunk of their citizens went abroad and never came back, this military regime has their sights firmly set on the China model of rule, western tourists and families don't fit that model we are seen as outspoken obstacles who interfere (Hong Kong fine example) - that has been obvious over the last few years, the way to stop it is to get rid of them and that will take some doing, you would be looking at a very bloody conflict with no guarantee what would be left - there are many recent examples of these sorts of uprisings against dictatorships - the Thai military government are walking a very thin line right now - I hear it all the time with growing decent 

In a nutshell.

 

Worrying times for the expat community, sadly.

7 minutes ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

so husbands & fathers stuck abroad can go f.... themselves and do the expensive 60.000 baht quarantine while...

The mistake was they did not recognise their actual status in the first place, and thought that by marrying, having kids or being a student bought them more privilege and rights in Thailand.

 

Without a work permit it is a glorified (and expensive) tourist visa.

 

A harsh wake up call for many that have put all their eggs in one basket here.

1 hour ago, smedly said:

they can't wait to get the Chinese tour groups back on the buses and shuttle them around like sheep bleeding them dry because they don't know any better

No, TVF Economics has always held, with perfect consistency, that Chinese spend no money in Thailand and in fact have no money. Not sure how you've missed these Pronouncements, which are issued regularly when Chinese tourists are observed.

 

Must be some other reason.

As long as they don't try to ride a bus or visit Wat Pho.

Good  now  I know where to come when I get CV19.

Compassion 0 Naked Greed 1

Billfold Biopsy.

 

 

20 minutes ago, PerkinsCuthbert said:

Compassion 0 Naked Greed 1

Has it ever been anything else?

Wat Pho is closed to all foreigners now so the Chinese cannot go there lol.  Just saw this on Fox News

Im gonna open up a online business selling doctors note for anyone seeking "medical" notes to enter LOS

 

Please allow "Somchai" into Thailand, he needs to have his frank reattached to his beans--

 

Signed Somchais' Mom....Kop Khun Krup  Enclosed is brown envelope with 200 bt

Are they already taking reservations for their Covid-19 vaccination?

2 hours ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

so husbands & fathers stuck abroad can go f.... themselves and do the expensive 60.000 baht quarantine while...

You can get quarantine for 30.000 THB.

2 hours ago, BigStar said:

No, TVF Economics has always held, with perfect consistency, that Chinese spend no money in Thailand and in fact have no money. Not sure how you've missed these Pronouncements, which are issued regularly when Chinese tourists are observed.

 

Must be some other reason.

They pay up front for a package group holiday - they have no idea what freedom is and what a holiday is supposed to look like - they are taken to predetermined overpriced shops and other attractions and have no idea that 200m away the stuff they are being offered is a fraction the price - they simply don't know any better as they are herded around - they have no concept of going online booking a flight and a hotel on their own like we do and have done for decades, we are seasoned travellers - they are literally being taken for a ride 

1 hour ago, rwill said:

Are they already taking reservations for their Covid-19 vaccination?

yes - a covid saline injection for 20k baht 

Sure...and Covid 19 patient first...

"Foreign medical tourists to be given entry priority."

That is just typical, medical tourists are more important than people who actually live here and have wives and families.

Expats and semi-expats who have to work abroad bring money to Thailand every month for years. Most love this country and miss their spouses and families.

It's sad to see that a hospital appointment is more important to the Thai government.

I'm just wondering if the private hospitals are starting to feel the crunch?  Sure medical tourism brings in some patients but whenever I went to see my Doctor at Bangkok Pattaya the hospital is mostly filled with Western Expats / foreigners and many have thier Thai spouse and family with them.  

Medical tourism alone is not going to support all the private hospitals in Thailand.  Another related situation; what about the private schools?  Who is going to be supporting them?  If the Western Expats leave and take thier families with them, who's going to be paying the tuition and attending those schools?

I am in a retirement visa. Stranded in Australia.  I was planning a medical procedure in hospital in Thailand this year anyway before all this COVID happened.  Wondering if I could get in to get the hospital treatment done (day surgery) and then stay based on my retirement visa so I can go back to my home there? Would I be quarantined to a hotel room first after the treatment for 14 days or before?  Or not at all?