Thailand to launch new medical treatment visa on Jan 1

[webfact]

Passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport. File photo

 

By Online Reporter

Thailand will introduce a new medical treatment visa on Jan 1 in a bid to help establish itself as a global leader for healthcare tourism.

 

Deputy government spokeswoman Tipanan Sirichana said the new multiple entry medical visas will be valid for a period of one year and will allow the holder to stay in Thailand for 90 days.

 

Up to three family members can also be included on the visa, Ms Tipanan added.

 

Applicants will need to prove they have funds of at least 800,000 baht to cover expenses in Thailand and they must also have accident and COVID-19 insurance which provide a minimum coverage of 3 million baht or US$100,000.

 

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/thailand-to-launch-new-medical-treatment-visa-on-jan-1/

 

-- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-11-17

 

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[AloisAmrein]

I think this approach is much too early. A few years ago the doctors were not able to deal with my sinusitis during 3 months. Back home the doctor gave me the right antibiotic, and the sinusitis was gone in 3 days.

[Naamblar2014]

Didn't they do this a while back? 

[British Bulldog]

I wonder if this will cover those of us who have to cross the border from Vientiane to Udon and Khon Kaen and alike ... they seem to be hell bent on forcing visa's on us after our 2 yearly freebies and yet we can fly in and out of Thailand everyday without visa hassles !!!

[Bim Smith]

So relieved to hear the words Global leader for a change. Hub is so yesterday.

[Celsius]

2 hours ago, AloisAmrein said:

I think this approach is much too early. A few years ago the doctors were not able to deal with my sinusitis during 3 months. Back home the doctor gave me the right antibiotic, and the sinusitis was gone in 3 days.

 

But how is this possible? Thailand medical care is world class ????

[ChrisY1]

The hub of boobs and botox!

[Boomer6969]

2 hours ago, AloisAmrein said:

I think this approach is much too early. A few years ago the doctors were not able to deal with my sinusitis during 3 months. Back home the doctor gave me the right antibiotic, and the sinusitis was gone in 3 days.

Thai doctors would say that your provider is an idiot.

Edited November 17, 2022 by Boomer6969

[elektrified]

3 hours ago, AloisAmrein said:

I think this approach is much too early. A few years ago the doctors were not able to deal with my sinusitis during 3 months. Back home the doctor gave me the right antibiotic, and the sinusitis was gone in 3 days.

There is nothing wrong with the quality of the medical and dental care here. Perhaps you didn't see the right doctor.

[Denim]

9 minutes ago, elektrified said:

There is nothing wrong with the quality of the medical and dental care here. Perhaps you didn't see the right doctor.

Yup. Had both medical and dental care here ( private ) and always top notch and faster than the NHS.

[Celsius]

18 minutes ago, Denim said:

Yup. Had both medical and dental care here ( private ) and always top notch and faster than the NHS.

 

Why make such a comparison. It's nonsense.

 

I can go to Canada and get a private healthcare too, often at the fraction of the cost than in Thailand. Also, it will be tax deductible.

[Old Croc]

3 hours ago, AloisAmrein said:

I think this approach is much too early. A few years ago the doctors were not able to deal with my sinusitis during 3 months. Back home the doctor gave me the right antibiotic, and the sinusitis was gone in 3 days.

Without some specific details this seems like just another Thai bashing post. 

Did you consult with an Otorhinolaryngologist in a first-class hospital or just a general doctor in a private surgery?

Thailand is generally recognized as having world class medical facilities and doctors, albeit at a price.

[kennw]

16 minutes ago, Denim said:

Yup. Had both medical and dental care here ( private ) and always top notch and faster than the NHS.

So the private hospital (monopoly) group has been able to get a cash cow special visa, the insurance group also in on the act. But is'nt that why influential groups are able get a big share at the trough.    

[Surasak]

Some of the doctors here need to understand, these medical tourists will be asking questions and expect civil  answers.

Not the attitude, 'I'm the doctor, how dare you ask'!

That attitude mostly from older doctors.

[Old Croc]

Purely on a cost basis, I would prefer the existing method of medical tourism:

 

"Currently, foreigners visiting Thailand for the purpose of medical treatment apply for a tourist or non-immigrant visa, which allows only a single entry into the country."

[Surasak]

38 minutes ago, Denim said:

Yup. Had both medical and dental care here ( private ) and always top notch and faster than the NHS.

Would that be, 'The No Hope Service'?

[Bangkok Barry]

41 minutes ago, elektrified said:

There is nothing wrong with the quality of the medical and dental care here. Perhaps you didn't see the right doctor.

It's pot luck. I'm convinced that some doctors qualify by buying a white coat. I was once diagnosed with bronchitis when, as another doctor later confirmed, I had severe food poisoning and would have been dead within two days without proper treatment.

 

Soon after I arrived in Thailand I visited a dentist and was told I needed three teeth removed. I thought not, and still have them 25 years later. Another time I was told I needed root canal surgery. I didn't.

 

A friend had a heart attack and was told it was indigestion, and was lucky someone with him took him elsewhere where he was treated appropriately.

 

Another friend was feeling down on himself and in need of some TLC and pretended he had suffered whiplash in a taxi accident. He was taken to a hospital, which not only diagnosed a non-existent injury but produced an x-ray to support it and said he needed to stay as an inpatient.

 

 

[Toby1947]

I know two individuals who were diagnosed with  cancer at the Pattaya Bangkok Hospital. Only to return to the U.K. worried out of the minds, to fined no cancer whatsoever. Thailand world class medical care my ar&e. 

[Zack61]

I’ve found the medical services in Thailand pretty good but they don’t like delivering bad news. So it might be that you’re going to have to ask a lot of questions to get it out of them. The care is good but communication of bad news is poor. 
My experience at least. 
Dental very good. 

[Gerard052]

4 hours ago, AloisAmrein said:

I think this approach is much too early. A few years ago the doctors were not able to deal with my sinusitis during 3 months. Back home the doctor gave me the right antibiotic, and the sinusitis was gone in 3 days.

For some reasons, I am not surprised one bit.

[proton]

Will they be doing sex tourist visa next 

1 hour ago, Old Croc said:

Without some specific details this seems like just another Thai bashing post. 

Did you consult with an Otorhinolaryngologist in a first-class hospital or just a general doctor in a private surgery?

Thailand is generally recognized as having world class medical facilities and doctors, albeit at a price.

Recognised by who? vastly over prescribing medicines, including antibiotics for almost anything, dismal paliative care at end of life and generally poor communicating skills with patients are not world class at all. While I have found dentists here to be mostly world class a lot of the hospital services are not, at least in my experience.

Example asked on the phone for a medical check up at Rama 2 hospital went through what for and given a price. When going there the next week they put the price up by 50% took 2 hours of arguments, excuses and phone calls to get the original price. Tests showed several problems, had the same tests done back home not long after- no problems raised at all

Edited November 17, 2022 by proton

[KhunLA]

Seems  tourist visa does the same thing, without all the BS.

[Old Croc]

(Recognised by who? vastly over prescribing medicines, including antibiotics for almost anything, dismal paliative care at end of life and generally poor communicating skills with patients are not world class at all. While I have found dentists here to be mostly world class a lot of the hospital services are not, at least in my experience.)

 

@ Proton

Thailand's healthcare system ranked among best in the world - Thailand News - Thailand News, Travel & Forum - ASEAN NOW

 

I won't argue about private hospitals here over-prescribing meds and services to the unwary.

I have found almost all Thai doctors speak English and I have no problems discussing my medical issues with them. Most locals and some foreigners treat doctors with awe, I don't, and will agree or disagree with them if I feel they are going against my best interests.

Edited November 17, 2022 by Old Croc

[Xonax]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

and they must also have accident and COVID-19 insurance which provide a minimum coverage of 3 million baht or US$100,000.

Why can't they just use the insurance, which is included in the new 300 Baht arrival-tax??

[sambum]

1 hour ago, elektrified said:

There is nothing wrong with the quality of the medical and dental care here. Perhaps you didn't see the right doctor.

"A few years ago the doctors were not able to deal with my sinusitis..........."

 

Last time I was at school, the letter "s" at the end of a word meant plural - yes?

[Lizzy Duang]

5 hours ago, AloisAmrein said:

Back home the doctor gave me the right antibiotic, and the sinusitis was gone in 3 days.

May I ask what antibiotic that was?

[KhunLA]

Nothing wrong or 'different' with the docs here vs say USA.   They saved my life last month, having a medical oops, and quick-ish, competent action prolonged the inevitable.  This at a small gov't (PKK)  hospital, nurses stabilized me, then transferred to a larger gov't (Hua Hin) hospital for the life-saving procedure.

 

I've had back surgery in the USA by excellent staff, along with not letting one doc touch me, as research showed he was unsuccessful in almost all his surgeries.

 

There are good and bad docs / professionals in all fields.  Better research if elective, better luck, if an emergency, such as mine.  Private vs govt hosp, and I have to say I've had better care at govt/university hospitals, than overprice private hospitals.

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

Without some specific details this seems like just another Thai bashing post. 

Did you consult with an Otorhinolaryngologist in a first-class hospital or just a general doctor in a private surgery?

Thailand is generally recognized as having world class medical facilities and doctors, albeit at a price.

"Otorhinolaryngologist" That sounds like the surname of one of these Thai policemen with the fancy ranks.

[Old Croc]

4 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

"Otorhinolaryngologist" That sounds like the surname of one of these Thai policemen with the fancy ranks.

First time I saw it on the door of a clinic at a Bangkok Hospital I did a double take and had to check what it was.

It's a bit like my kidney doctors calling themselves Nephrologists which is apparently derived from a Greek word for the organ.

[Robin]

Desperate to talk up some new form of Visa.  How many are going to qualify for this, and how many of those will be rushing to Thailand for treatment.  I have nothing against Thai medicine, but who want to be in hospital in  foreign country?

Particularly with on with dubious medical malpractice laws?

At one time Thailand did very well with simple 'tourist' visas, or non-visa entry, 1 month, 2 month, 3 months, and ech easy to extend.