More than 1,700 medical tourists arriving this month

By The Nation

 

 

More than 1,700 medical tourists have registered to enter Thailand from July 1 but strict quarantine will prevent any from importing Covid-19, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced today (July 3).

 

Among the first foreigners to be allowed back into the country, medical tourists will be allowed to travel around Thailand from August 1, once their 14-day quarantine and treatment had been completed, said CCSA spokesperson Taweesin Visanuyothin.

 

Special tour packages for medical tourists will include massage and spa, fitness centres, healthy food, herbal products, and visa services, while accommodation will be provided by hotels with the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) certificates and the “Well Hotel” standard.

 

The first batch of 1,700 medical tourists come from 17 countries, including Myanmar (478), Laos (477), Vietnam (39), China (65), the United Arab Emirates (223), Oman (187), Kuwait (137), Qatar (95) and Saudi Arabia (14).

 

“Villa Quarantine”, for foreigners who stay in their accommodation and don’t travel, could be ready by August, said Taweesin.

 

Meanwhile, a September launch date was being eyed for the “travel bubble” plan to allow entry to foreigners from countries at low-risk of Covid-19 transmission, he added.

 

The medical tourism and wellness programme offers two types of quarantine depending on treatment: Hospital Quarantine for patients receiving short treatments within their 14-day quarantine and Alternative Hospital Quarantine for longer procedures such as infertility treatment (Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer or GIFT).

 

Taweesin emphasised that all patients must complete the 14-day quarantine even if they recover early since Covid-19 can be detected on the very last day of quarantine. Any medical tourists who test positive for Covid-19 can continue with virus treatment in separate areas prepared for foreigners at private hospitals.

 

Medical tourists will be tested three times for Covid-19: before departing for Thailand, on arrival, and before returning home. Only medical tourists who travel by air would be granted entry to Thailand and all must be carrying a certificate of entry (COE) from a Thai embassy.

 

At least 62 private hospitals have registered as quarantine hospitals for medical tourists.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30390728

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-03

 

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

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

Medical tourists will be tested three times for Covid-19: before departing for Thailand, on arrival, and before returning home.

This will be a mess, people will not know nor allow for the the lab time for the tests;going to be a lot of people turned away at airports, <deleted>-off, angry people, people who couldn't make all the requirements in the 72 hour window 

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

Special tour packages for medical tourists will include massage and spa, fitness centres, healthy food, herbal products, and visa services

They haven't mentioned the full frontal lobotomy, which they will obviously need in order to comply with the medical tourist visa requirement.

Kerching incoming oil money ????

And the cabaret show goes on.

Seems like the better and more expensive version of alternate state quarantine. Includes everything for your wellbeing. Go in stressed and old, come out relaxed and young, 500.000.- Baht in your bank account missing. LOL

 

 

Edited July 3, 20206 yr by Berti

This is the new normal for the wealthy unhealthy tourists who want to have fun in the sun before they cash in....

Bangkok post said as follows:

 

"After the 14-day period, tours can be arranged for them to visit anywhere in Thailand," he said.

 

hope this is true... 

 

Just called the embassy they told me to talk to a hospital and checkout their packages and then to contact the embassy again and they could arrange it for me. He couldn't tell me anything that would happen after the 2 weeks quarantine simply because Thailand did not tell the embassies anything yet.

4 minutes ago, reallyaffiliated said:

Bangkok post said as follows:

 

"After the 14-day period, tours can be arranged for them to visit anywhere in Thailand," he said.

 

hope this is true... 

 

Just called the embassy they told me to talk to a hospital and checkout their packages and then to contact the embassy again and they could arrange it for me. He couldn't tell me anything that would happen after the 2 weeks quarantine simply because Thailand did not tell the embassies anything yet.

Does anybody have a list of the 60+ hospitals that are a part of this?

I think pretty much all of the larger "internationall" hospitals are part of it, and they can arrange everything.

 

Incidentally for Cambodians entry can be overland per oen hospital I spoke with recently using just 1 checkpoint where an arrangement is in place.

Ten days ago they said 30,000 medical tourists had registered with them, now it's only 1,700?

 

2 hours ago, jackdd said:

Ten days ago they said 30,000 medical tourists had registered with them, now it's only 1,700?

 

1700, this is 0,00425 % of tourist arrivals 2019. What a rebound to normal levels. (sarcasm)

Why they even bother with it. Hard to understand.

1 hour ago, Berti said:

1700, this is 0,00425 % of tourist arrivals 2019. What a rebound to normal levels. (sarcasm)

Why they even bother with it. Hard to understand.

Pressure from the international hospital lobby, no doubt. The likes of Bumrungrad must have been really hurting.

13 hours ago, webfact said:

The medical tourism and wellness programme offers two types of quarantine depending on treatment: Hospital Quarantine for patients receiving short treatments within their 14-day quarantine and Alternative Hospital Quarantine for longer procedures such as infertility treatment (Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer or GIFT).

I have a note from a major BKK hospital that I need to follow up ("short treatment") on my recent total hip replacement surgery. I don't need to be in the hospital for 14 days and would be perfectly willing to do normal ASQ... but ASQ sounds like it will only be available for people receiving long-term hospital services.

Guess I need to contact my local Thai Embassy for further muddyfication.

17 hours ago, webfact said:

The first batch of 1,700 medical tourists come from 17 countries, including Myanmar (478), Laos (477), Vietnam (39), China (65), the United Arab Emirates (223), Oman (187), Kuwait (137), Qatar (95) and Saudi Arabia (14).

Are they crazy? I wouldn't let anyone in from Qatar, with the highest per capita infection rate in the world!

A pure waste of time and (their) money! Are these people retarded or what?

Wellne$$

 

~o:37;

8 minutes ago, orang37 said:

Wellne$$

 

~o:37;

Yes, everything you're NHS or public health insurance in your home country wouldn't pay for. 

What I just wonder: would a Western doctor's medical advice be enough to qualify as a medical tourist? 

18 hours ago, YetAnother said:

This will be a mess, people will not know nor allow for the the lab time for the tests;going to be a lot of people turned away at airports, <deleted>-off, angry people, people who couldn't make all the requirements in the 72 hour window 

Welcome to the NEW covid reality.

Myanmar and Laos accounting for more than half of these "medical tourists"???

 

There is something fishy here...

The Middle Eastern countries aren't doing very well at controlling the virus. For example, these were the daily new infections reported yesterday:

 

Qatar - 756 + 3 deaths

UAE - 672 + 1 death

Kuwait - 813 + 1 death

Oman - 1,374 + 5 deaths

Saudi - 4,193 + 50 deaths

 

Is it really wise to invite people from these countries here, even if they're going to be quarantined? Rattling the hornets nest comes to mind.

11 hours ago, Berti said:

Why they even bother with it. Hard to understand.

The private hospitals need the cash... 

16 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

Myanmar and Laos accounting for more than half of these "medical tourists"???

 

There is something fishy here...

Nose jobs?   Can I get in for a sex change and then say the bill goes to the previous "guy"....

18 hours ago, bluesofa said:

They haven't mentioned the full frontal lobotomy, which they will obviously need in order to comply with the medical tourist visa requirement.

Sorry, but your comment reminded me of the song lyric I think is brilliant: I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than have to have a full frontal lobotomy. 

Hmmmm .... now I'm just the average guy who lives in Vientiane, I used to be a regular visitor at the Khon Kaen University Hospital, because; It was easy to drive from Nong Khai to KK, accommodation was cheap with a mired of restaurants to eat at, the Hospital offers 1st Class service for a 'little' extra and they have saved my life on several occasions (I am 67 by the way). However, now the Thai Govt. is suggesting that I have to go to one of their 62 designated PRIVATE hospitals ? and fly down to BKK with my wife and maybe another person, and stay in their designated Hotel at their prices etc. etc. ... I'll probably have a heart attack when I see the accumulating bills before I head back to Laos !!!

Why can't I be a medical tourist for Covid? I'd bring money. 555

all with covid ?

 

:-)

 

 

1 hour ago, GaryAdriaenssens said:

A pure waste of time and (their) money! Are these people retarded or what?

 

No, not retarded, they are sick and quite probably desperate.  Most of them are coming from countries with a very poor medical infrastructure.

The usual Thai complexity... who really wants to come ? Confusing message is that they can travel around Thailand after 14 days ? 

54 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

Myanmar and Laos accounting for more than half of these "medical tourists"???

 

There is something fishy here...

Oh! Ye of little faith.....Read few years back of how Thailand counts its medical tourism numbers,..by enquiries only,now India by procedures,but Thailand is so damned expensive just wonder why anyone comes

16 minutes ago, Cadan said:

The usual Thai complexity.

It's amazing how simple so many things in Thailand can be. I find that forum posters tend to overcomplicate the simplest process, however. In this case I think it's wise of Thailand to try to avoid a reintroduction of COVID. Probably inevitable, however, as time goes by.

 

16 minutes ago, Cadan said:

who really wants to come ?

Whoever wants to go for a hospital visit? I don't really want to go to an upcoming dental appt. What do you need, a lollipop and balloon?

 

16 minutes ago, Cadan said:

Confusing message is that they can travel around Thailand after 14 days ? 

How is that in the least confusing? Know how to read a calendar?

Edited July 4, 20206 yr by BigStar