Phuket to make foreigners pay for COVID test, Thais get it for free

[Henryford]

Just cancelled my planned holiday to Phuket. They have lost far more than 500 baht.

[crazykopite]

Good enough reason for foreigners to stick two fingers up at Thailand and go elsewhere for future holidays . I’m from the U.K. it would be interesting to know how many Thai nationals were treated for Covid whilst stuck in the U.K. one thing Is for sure the treatment regardless of cost would have been free. I should mention my Thai GF who has been stuck in Phuket has attempted to get a Covid test and a vaccine 3 times and is told to re apply  yesterday she decided to head home instead and go into quarantine she contacted me this morning to say she is getting her Covid done later today when the medical staff visit her she has rented a room by her mums for 14 days 

Edited April 22, 2021 by crazykopite

[PatOngo]

This does not project a very good image of Thailand, and you know how dear you hold that image! ????

[Bkk Brian]

25 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

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.

When you work and pay local taxes it is also compulsory to pay social security, this entitles you to the same health care benefits as any working Thai, I know a few who quite rightly take advantage of this.

Edited April 22, 2021 by Bkk Brian

[thaibeachlovers]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

When you work and pay local taxes it is also compulsory to pay social security, this entitles you to the same health care benefits as any working Thai, I've know a few who quite rightly take advantage of this.

Then the courts will need to clarify the situation.

[vandeventer]

500 Baht? That's cheap! Just wait and see how much you have to pay for the vaccines when they come in. I guess after awhile some might get used to this.

[crazykopite]

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.

 

Thai Tax Payer  ???? your having a laugh most of them hide the money under the bed they will do anything to avoid paying taxes 

[heybuz]

9 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? 

 

My sons girlfriend from Brazil has a medicare card and is scheduled to have open heart surgery in australia for free ,all people are tested for free and will be vaccinated for free for covid, discounts for medicine are pursuant on your working or family finiancial status.

[473geo]

Well the toolbox certainly sprung open today showing those who clearly have lost their love for Thailand!! Or are just miserable tight gits!!!

It is rumoured a farang has visited our area of issan from Pattaya who arrived with him not sure, but a whole village is now closed off

 

Double the charge for those who have forgotten they are guests of Thailand and care more about  500 baht, or the cost of an extended covid recovery in hospital, than spreading the disease

 

For me I have had 5 covid tests 3 in the UK 2 in Thailand, quarantine 15 days, 14 further days of daily temperature checks, and I would not bother about a further 500 baht expense

 

Happy to assist your efforts Thailand, and thank you my Thai family and friends for making me feel so welcome in these uncertain times

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

Then the courts will need to clarify the situation.

Need to clarify what? 

 

That dual pricing is ok on health matters just because you're foreign despite paying taxes and social security?

[ExpatOilWorker]

Time to say f'uck it to Phuket.

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

2 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Need to clarify what? 

 

That dual pricing is ok on health matters just because you're foreign despite paying taxes and social security?

LOL. No- to clarify if farangs that pay Thai social security get the test free or not.

 

BTW dual pricing would only apply if Thais paid something- they don't, so it is just farangs pay and Thais don't.

Edited April 22, 2021 by thaibeachlovers

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Time to say f'uck it to Phuket.

 

 

 

 

I gave the v sign to Phuket long, long ago. It stopped being worth it last century, IMO.

[Bkk Brian]

5 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

500 Baht? That's cheap! Just wait and see how much you have to pay for the vaccines when they come in. I guess after awhile some might get used to this.

500 baht cheap? Thats relative to your situation and its the principle here.

 

Take a family traveling to Phuket, a foreign husband, his Thai wife and a couple of mix heritage kids, only the husband has to pay, what message does that send to his own children? 

[Compass Call]

There is an easy answer to this.

If you don't like it, stop whingeing and go back to your own country!

I'm quite sure that the Thai people will be glad to see the back end of the moaning foreigners! 

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, Compass Call said:

There is an easy answer to this.

If you don't like it, stop whingeing and go back to your own country!

I'm quite sure that the Thai people will be glad to see the back end of the moaning foreigners! 

Always at least one to continue the "If you don't like it go home" Montage.  Try again sir and thanks for playing.  You do not see the inequity for those that pay taxes or work here now do you, and I bid you a fond farewell, "Good Day"

[Bkk Brian]

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL. No- to clarify if farangs that pay Thai social security get the test free or not.

 

 

I don't think so, its not been mentioned in the order by the governor. 

[Blot]

In the last 6 months, and on 4 occasions, I have been charged between 4,500 and 6,000 Baht for Covid tests by Bangkok Hospital Group. 

[473geo]

4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

500 baht cheap? Thats relative to your situation and its the principle here.

 

Take a family traveling to Phuket, a foreign husband, his Thai wife and a couple of mix heritage kids, only the husband has to pay, what message does that send to his own children? 

That the oh so generous father will not let 500 baht get in the way of the family holiday?

[Bkk Brian]

3 minutes ago, Compass Call said:

There is an easy answer to this.

If you don't like it, stop whingeing and go back to your own country!

I'm quite sure that the Thai people will be glad to see the back end of the moaning foreigners! 

Or you can debate the ethics of it and why they are wrong or not? Seems more reasonable to me..................

 

The other option is that if you don't like so called whinging foreigners here in Thailand then you could also go back to your own country and live there right?

[alant]

5 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

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.

Yep and an ill thought out action I think.

This will potentially increase the possibility of the spread of the virus and or result in a reduction of foreign visitors.

May be better for business to give the test free to all.

Edited April 22, 2021 by alant

[Old Croc]

Putting aside the usual petty, personal financial circumstances and ingrained bigotry, there are two sides to this debate about payments for covid testing..

 

Should visitors to the country on temporary visas (pretty well all of us) receive free medical treatment sponsored by the public purse? Does that happen in our home country? Should those visa holders who pay taxes be exempt, instead of being part the usual official scattergun approach to all non-Thais? 

or

Is the fight against the global  pandemic, coupled with the need to  re-start a major section of the economy, more important than the need to impose fees on visitors thereby putting those goals in jeopardy?  Should all aspects of the struggle against this virus be fully funded by governments everywhere?

 

Personally, I enjoy the cheapness of Thailand generally, very much like the almost complete lack of extra taxes and fees I would be paying in Australia for just about anything, so have no qualms in paying a little more than a citizen for medical treatments here.

 

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, 473geo said:

That the oh so generous father will not let 500 baht get in the way of the family holiday?

Or perhaps the family realize its just plain unethical and discriminatory to their dad/husband?

[bluejets]

Never had a problem with any "dual pricing" in Thailand.

 

One is a visitor to their country and should respect their ways in every way.

 

 

[carlyai]

9 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? 

 

We're talking about Covid here, and everyone in Australia gets tested free. But to get to Australia from Thailand you need to have a Covid test before the plane trip which costs around B5000 odd for a same day service at a private hospital.   

[473geo]

6 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Always at least one to continue the "If you don't like it go home" Montage.  Try again sir and thanks for playing.  You do not see the inequity for those that pay taxes or work here now do you, and I bid you a fond farewell, "Good Day"

But surely those working and paying taxes are making money in Thailand rather than their own country, as such maybe a 500 baht contribution to pursue their lifestyle choice is not a step too far? Unless of course they are unhappy here then then even free test would possibly be seen as an intrusion!!!

[473geo]

3 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Or perhaps the family realize its just plain unethical and discriminatory to their dad/husband?

You think?

[Trujillo]

"Owing to a rumor that COVID-19 Rapid Tests are being sold online and that the public can buy them and test themselves at home, the Department of Medical Sciences has clarified that the test kit is a test for antibodies only; it cannot detect the virus or indicate if the user is infected with the virus. The rapid tester should be used and the results interpreted only by specialists or medical technicians. If home users get a negative reading in the result, they might think they do not have the virus and then unintentionally spread the virus to others. So the department has warned the public not to buy the COVID-19 Rapid Test and use it themselves.
Category : NEWS ROOM
April 21, 2021"

 

(Bold added)

 

APPROVED SOURCE: 

The Government Public Relations Department

 

 

 

[PGSan]

18 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

what message does that send to his own children? 

I have no idea!  Please tell us: too much with the rhetoric.

[Bkk Brian]

2 minutes ago, 473geo said:

You think?

I know..........................I live in Phuket and I know the reactions of my family when I'm subject to discriminatory practice, for instance, they would rather walk out of a restaurant that has dual pricing separate menus than allow this unacceptable behaviour to go on. Its about what is right and what is wrong, thankfully my family have values.