Image: Reuters file photo

 

The controversial practice of dual pricing raised its ugly head again on Wednesday after provincial health officials in Phuket confirmed foreigners will be charged to take a rapid COVID-19 test, while Thai nationals get it for free.

 

Until April 30 anyone visiting Phuket is required to produce a certificate confirming they have had two vaccination doses or that they are free of COVID-19. 

 

As few people are likely to be able to provide such a certificate given the slow rollout of the vaccine in Thailand, the alternative is to take a rapid COVID-19 test at Phuket Airport or the Tha Chat Chai checkpoint before entering the island.

 

However, health officials revealed that while Thai nationals will be able to take the test free of charge, foreigners must pay 500 baht if they want to take the rapid COVID-19 test prior to entering the province. 

 

Thais are not required to pay due to the cost being covered by the National Health Security Office (NHSO). But this seemingly is not extended to foreigners, despite most foreigners in Thailand currently being long term expats.

 

Thai language news site Thansettakij sad it was “good news” that Thai people could take the test for free, while foreigners would be charged 500 baht.

 

 

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Well, that's a surprise ????

No lessons learned.. at all!

Somewhat outrageous...  

 

But... in fairness, the 500 baht charge is not quite the excessive rip off I was expecting when I read the headline. 

 

That said: Thailand could make inroads to cover up its xenophobic practices if it offered free tests to those who can show they have solid ties to Thailand.... i.e. Those with Work Permits, Driving Licences, Yellow House Books, Pink ID, those on Non-Immigrant Visas etc... 

 

And yet further contributing to both feet in the mouth..... Isn’t Thailand desperately ‘hurting’ for tourism to improve.... Yet, what does it do ????.... 

......... It announces to the World...  we support dual pricing !!!!  

 

It really is a shame and embarrassing on behalf of those Thai’s I know that Thailand so frequently and reliable trips up because it has both feet in its mouth. 

 

 

Ultimately, it is issues such as this which may just make me think... Nah, why should I bother going to Phuket.... 

And again a reason not to go there. 

45 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thais are not required to pay due to the cost being covered by the National Health Security Office (NHSO). But this seemingly is not extended to foreigners

So exactly the same as in Australia, where only locals can get a Medicare card and discounts on medicine.

 

The headline and the way it is written will stir up all the PC brigade who like to endlessly claim they are victimised "It's not fair"

 

500 baht.

Who cares? 

 

7 minutes ago, RobMuir said:

So exactly the same as in Australia, where only locals can get a Medicare card and discounts on medicine.

 

The headline and the way it is written will stir up all the PC brigade who like to endlessly claim they are victimised "It's not fair"

 

500 baht.

Who cares? 

 

The fact is when it was first announced, the charge was 300 baht for all arriving in Phuket, but then they realized this would kill all local tourism so changed it to free for Thai's and 500 for foreigners. 

 

So yes the PC brigade have every right to be up in arms over this.

If the virus don't get you rest assured you will gouged to death before long before any signs of a tickle cough ???? 

So now they can blame the foreigners for the spread because they were not/refused to be tested!

11 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

So yes the PC brigade have every right to be up in arms over this

 Well, the PC brigade better harden up. This is South East Asia, not Cottonwool Nannyland.

 

Expecting the Thai taxpayer to foot the bill for our Phuket holidays is a bit much.

 

If you don't like it then apply for citizenship. 

 

500 sounds fairly reasonable to me.

 

Just now, RobMuir said:

 Well, the PC brigade better harden up. This is South East Asia, not Cottonwool Nannyland.

 

Expecting the Thai taxpayer to foot the bill for our Phuket holidays is a bit much.

 

If you don't like it then apply for citizenship. 

 

500 sounds fairly reasonable to me.

 

Just about every statement you've made is so wrong its obvious you just don't get it so I'll not bother debating with you.

19 minutes ago, RobMuir said:

 Well, the PC brigade better harden up. This is South East Asia, not Cottonwool Nannyland.

 

Expecting the Thai taxpayer to foot the bill for our Phuket holidays is a bit much.

 

If you don't like it then apply for citizenship. 

 

500 sounds fairly reasonable to me.

 

Well it seems Phuket's economy needs foreign tourists to survive

when foreign tourists don't need specifically Phuket, there are so many others options in the world

 

I have done only 1 trip to Phuket 2 years ago, and i promised to myself it was the first and the last

 

i haven't been impressed at all by the scenery , and the rip off were quite obvious all over the place

 

even if the thais give me 500 bahts to go for holiday here

i will not go here again

One way to encourage the resident falang to go holiday for long weekend.....Not.

2 hours ago, RobMuir said:

Expecting the Thai taxpayer to foot the bill for our Phuket holidays is a bit much.

 

No, the Thai taxpayer's money is for submarines and the off-shore bank accounts of corrupt officials, why waste money on trivial stuff like public health?

 

Falang hap to pay.  You pay now!

 

 

3 hours ago, kingofthemountain said:

Well it seems Phuket's economy needs foreign tourists to survive

when foreign tourists don't need specifically Phuket, there are so many others options in the world

 

I have done only 1 trip to Phuket 2 years ago, and i promised to myself it was the first and the last

 

i haven't been impressed at all by the scenery , and the rip off were quite obvious all over the place

 

even if the thais give me 500 bahts to go for holiday here

i will not go here again

 

Well, congratulations for you. 

But honestly I don't think Thais in Phuket care the slightest about you not going there again. And neither do I think that any of the arguments you made are any valid reasons for Thai taxpayers to pay for your trip to Phuket. In fact they're not, just because you go there and spend some money doesn't mean the state has to pay for your stuff.

1 hour ago, bendejo said:

No, the Thai taxpayer's money is for submarines and the off-shore bank accounts of corrupt officials, why waste money on trivial stuff like public health?

 

Even then your argument becomes a fallacy. The fact that they buy a submarine which they might no need and that there are corrupt officials, doesn't mean they have to pay for foreigner's COVID tests. 

 

Or when you become sick and have to pay for your medical treatment, is it also double pricing because Thais with social security can treated way cheaper than you will?... 

 

Come on guys, learn not to be manipulated with this ridiculous headlines... 

Looks like it comes down to Money, Money,  Money.  Dual pricing alive and well.  What did anyone really expect.  Unless you test freely people will find this a reason to not test and you will not get this under control.  Just bad form all around.  Cheap yes, but still bad form.

5 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

However, health officials revealed that while Thai nationals will be able to take the test free of charge, foreigners must pay 500 baht if they want to take the rapid COVID-19 test prior to entering the province. 

It's not that much, but in all seriousness, what farang in their right mind would want to travel Phuket, risk a covid test and the extra charges a positive result 'could' bring anyway ? 

5 hours ago, Shuya said:

And again a reason not to go there. 

 

Why do you think they did this?

 

They don't want you there, this is clear.

 

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

It's not that much, but in all seriousness, what farang in their right mind would want to travel Phuket, risk a covid test and the extra charges a positive result 'could' bring anyway ? 

I agree - who would risk being forcefully admitted to one of the Thai Field Hospitals. They are a breeding ground for virus mutations and Covid variants

No surprise if you want the jab you pay dbl than the thais.test for covid is the same.One day it will end double pricing

4 hours ago, expatjustice said:

 

Well, congratulations for you. 

But honestly I don't think Thais in Phuket care the slightest about you not going there again. And neither do I think that any of the arguments you made are any valid reasons for Thai taxpayers to pay for your trip to Phuket. In fact they're not, just because you go there and spend some money doesn't mean the state has to pay for your stuff.

 

Even then your argument becomes a fallacy. The fact that they buy a submarine which they might no need and that there are corrupt officials, doesn't mean they have to pay for foreigner's COVID tests. 

 

Or when you become sick and have to pay for your medical treatment, is it also double pricing because Thais with social security can treated way cheaper than you will?... 

 

Come on guys, learn not to be manipulated with this ridiculous headlines... 

You along with another poster are making a huge assumption on one of the most basic facts. Expats here are either retired or working. Those working locally such as my son pay local taxes. So why do they have to pay?

No surprise amazing Thailand TIT

7 hours ago, RobMuir said:

 Well, the PC brigade better harden up. This is South East Asia, not Cottonwool Nannyland.

 

Expecting the Thai taxpayer to foot the bill for our Phuket holidays is a bit much.

 

If you don't like it then apply for citizenship. 

 

500 sounds fairly reasonable to me.

 

So you will be going there will you with your family/friends to take advantage of that very reasonable offer. Of course should you be unable to visit at this time then as it is such a reasonable offer perhaps you would reimburse those elderly foreigners, possibly whom had previously worked years in Thailand and paid Thai taxes,  whom have already booked and will now be forced to subsidise Thais going there.  Thankyou, your generosity will be appreciated by all on TV.

8 hours ago, RobMuir said:

So exactly the same as in Australia, where only locals can get a Medicare card and discounts on medicine.

 

The headline and the way it is written will stir up all the PC brigade who like to endlessly claim they are victimised "It's not fair"

 

500 baht.

Who cares? 

 

Who cares? How high would it have to go before you would care? 5,000 baht? How about 50,000 baht? Name your limit, really I'm interested.

A questionable Sinovac vaccine and dual pricing .... nuff said.

Also in Koh Samui they do the same thing, last Friday I did a swab with my Thai wife at the Nathon Public Hospital: she had for free and I paid 1,950 baht.

Wer'e foreigners and never the Thais miss an opportunity to remind us

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Somewhat outrageous...  

Why? Farangs get no free health care in LOS, so why would they make an exception for this health related test?

If any farangs think that the government cares about them, IMO they have not been paying attention to what is going on.

The days when farangs were welcomed to LOS were IMO long ago.

IMO they want us all to be 30 day millionaires on visa exempt entry, spending large and then going back whence we came.

IMAGINE back home.....

 

Everyone free....Thais, line 5, you will pay

 

Luckily in some parts of the world everyone is treated the same, especially in the worst pandemic of our lifetime.  

Foreigners should skip Thailand because of this.

8 hours ago, RobMuir said:

 Well, the PC brigade better harden up. This is South East Asia, not Cottonwool Nannyland.

 

Expecting the Thai taxpayer to foot the bill for our Phuket holidays is a bit much.

 

If you don't like it then apply for citizenship. 

 

500 sounds fairly reasonable to me.

 

Any foreigner working in Thailand on a Work Permit will be exempt from this charge,as they pay Social Security every month in their salary.