Public Health Ministry to ask Thai govt to collect entry fees from foreigners

[haybilly]

I'm sure that someone will have already mentioned this- but, don't all foreigners pay through the noise for any Medical procedures incurred in LOS already?

And, what is the visa fee for, if not to milk tourists??

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[DocN]

Amazing idea!

Renovate your broken health system on the back of your PAYING) guests!

[janpharma]

Another strategic move of the corrupters...

Many farang already look beyond the amazing smile...let's hope that the TAT start to think.

By the way, if foreigners need medical assistance they pay for it...so it has always been and always will be.

[Arjay]

What happens if you can prove you have health-medical insurance that covers trips abroad? Do we need to supplement idiots that don't? Obviously the Thais want to pass the buck to responsible persons. Call it "Shinawatra-Care" like Obama-Care in the U.S.

[ajarnmarc]

Isn't there already an airport fee etc

Very true.

There's already a departure fee in place,

and has been in place since 2000.

Adding 500 bht on top of that, will then make it 500 bht to enter,

and 500 bht to depart.

I never understood what the departure fee was for?

If you stayed at a 5 star hotel/resort, there was an additional 50 bht fee per day,

for the Elephants.

So Thailand is great about charging it's tourist to help supplement their concerning issues.

They make the fee's small enough that they hope we just won't care about paying them.

[laurentbkk]

well I think our governments should do exactly the same for all Thai tourists entering their countries. After all its called , reciprocity .... In my country Thais can buy properties, lands etc ..and here we cannot .. I think its time for our governments to adopt a stronger attitude with such practices.

[masuk]

Amazing Thailand.

Does the TAT approve, or can they market this?

Don't know the facts but does any other civilised country do this?

And no guesses where the fees would end up.

Most likely financing the shortfall of the rice scam to enrich a dozen or so families who appear to control it.

Indonesia charges all foreign visitors a U$25.00 fee (7,500 baht) on arrival in return for a 30-day tourist visa.

One would think there is a nice income from all the tourists in hotel fees, purchases, domestic travel.

[draftvader]

Let's pretend for a minute that this scheme did work in its intended manner (i.e. tourist enters, pays fee for medical insurance, visits hospital with problem, has all hospital fees paid from insurance) don't you think this scheme would be open to massive abuse?

Herr Schmidt in Hamburg has a hernia that needs operating. In Germany he is looking at a E2,000 bill. He purchased a return flight to Bangkok for E1,000, pays B500 on arrival and spends the remaining money in Pattaya during his "recovery".

See, it just doesn't work.....but they know that and anybody actually trying to claim anything is going to find this insurance utterly worthless and they are either going to need private insurance or a credit card. Ah, that's how it works!

[rafish]

When you have a failed economy you tend to look for other resources to assist in paying for economic errors. 23 million visitors and not one will complain r even notice the charges. If and when they need or require medical services while in Thailand, they will no doubt pay full price for ferangs.

Quadruple what the local Thai pays. (30 Baht)

[louthlincs]

can't see it happening

[Mosha]

Is my calendar wrong? Is this April fool's day?

It falls everyday here.

[Lancelot]

The myth of Thailand providing free health care for tourists. I've never had any free health services in Thailand. I have never met any one who has or even knew of that ever happening...

But why not? 23 million visitors -what ever the actual number is- and still growing by leaps and bounds. Is it little wonder the locals hold us in low regard? No matter how shabby the treatment, we we submissively accept it and rave about how wonderful it is here.

Beam me up Scotty...

[Bkungbank]

Total 23 Millions tourist generated 900 Billions will reach 1 Trillion next year what is the problems some tourist claim 10 Billion Baht for medical purpose, nobody wants to sleep in hospital that is the true fact.

[rafish]

I'm sure that someone will have already mentioned this- but, don't all foreigners pay through the noise for any Medical procedures incurred in LOS already?

And, what is the visa fee for, if not to milk tourists??

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Not according to the Thai media reports from hopital staff in Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Seems according to media reports that over 2 million Baht has been spent by Thai hospitals for indigent Foreigners who became ill or suffered accidents while on Toruist visits. Not an excessivly large amount of money spent for those requireing medical assistance when one compares it to the reported 23 million tourists that visit Thailand...especially since Thai locals pay their 30 bhat if low end users. Hi-so don't bother going to Thai hospitals anyway, they go to private medical facilities or out of country for reliable services.

[GeorgeO]

Isn't there already an airport fee etc

That fee, which was THB 500, was subsequently added to the costs of the flight tickets, so it is now collected and forwarded to the relevant agency by travel agents.

Given that we no longer have to buy this THB 500 exit fee, they obviously feel that there is scope to reintroduce it under a different guise.

Since the vast majority of tourists are sensible enough to have medical cover included in their overall costs, I'm willing to bet that this will have much greater impact on tourism than the Health Ministry or TAT can imagine, simply because it is based upon the principle of charging people for something they do not want or need.

[Mosha]

So now we will pay to enter as well as leave if you travel by air.. That should really attract tourists, as for easing the healthcare burden caused by tourists, they have short memories. They are supposed to be insisting all tourists have travl insurance aren't they?

[stopthegreed]

So long as the money goes to the health service, All of it, then Its a good idea.

But we all know it will just end up lining the pockets of the few.

[GeorgeO]

The myth of Thailand providing free health care for tourists. I've never had any free health services in Thailand. I have never met any one who has or even knew of that ever happening...

But why not? 23 million visitors -what ever the actual number is- and still growing by leaps and bounds. Is it little wonder the locals hold us in low regard? No matter how shabby the treatment, we we submissively accept it and rave about how wonderful it is here.

Beam me up Scotty...

Totally agree. My visits to hospital obviously bring a big smile to the faces of the attending physician and staff, essentially because they know that they can charge what they feel like.

For example, THB 7,500 for the withdrawal of some fluid from my knee and some (normally) very cheap medication. I reckon the treatment was worth less than THB 1,000, and it would have been even less if I had been a Thai patient.

How are we to believe that huge numbers of patients are receiving free medical cover when you are asked at the time of registration whether you have medical insurance or whether you will pay the costs yourself?

I'm pretty sure that if I said I had the means to provide neither, I would be sent back out on to the street.

[casindonet]

Entrance fee to lala land?

Sent from my GT-I9200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[qdinthailand]

I thought my visa fee was to enter....

No, your visa fee goes to fund Immigration services. If you (and others) didn't come, Thailand wouldn't need immigration officers at the airports, at the land borders, wouldn't need systems to monitor and track non-residents, etc.

Other agencies charging additional fees, like the Health Ministry, seems reasonable. Of course, some would consider this unreasonable socialism, taking money from some to share with others (as in, charging everyone in order to pay for the few who don't bother to have insurance or financial resources to cover their sorry asses in case of medical calamity).

Now, that being said, this surely would be a large pot-o-gold for dipping into by any and all other agencies of the government, or when elected representatives get together and decide they need it for other projects (and certain 'personal' expenses they need to mitigate for being in the service of their country).

[cmsally]

I would imagine that well over 50% of tourists are adequately insured. So hardly fair to charge them. In addition, if you are on some kind of organised trip your travel company will have accident insurance. The premiums and cover for this was recently doubled by the Thai govt as it was deemed to not be enough - so tour companies are paying double to get customers coverage. I am guessing that any fall shorts on this is coming from vehicle accidents. In which case all they need to do is check that public transport and vehicle hire has the correct insurance - that would solve the problem.

It maybe a little presumptive but I am wondering if the average Chinese has insurance. With the huge increase in numbers this could be where the problem stems from.

Edited October 18, 2013 by cmsally

[oneday]

Would payment mean entitlement to free treatment in Government Hospitals?

Of course...isn't this a fair and just country.

[Soutpeel]

Amazing Thailand.

Does the TAT approve, or can they market this?

Don't know the facts but does any other civilised country do this?

And no guesses where the fees would end up.

Most likely financing the shortfall of the rice scam to enrich a dozen or so families who appear to control it.

Indonesia charges all foreign visitors a U$25.00 fee (7,500 baht) on arrival in return for a 30-day tourist visa.

One would think there is a nice income from all the tourists in hotel fees, purchases, domestic travel.

Thats for the cost of your visa, not for health care...and BTW have I missed something with the exchange rates in the last 24 hours ?

US$ 25 = THB 7,500

$1 = THB 300....the US OAP's must be throwing their zimmer frames in the air with joy..a short time is only going to cost them $ 4 or so now...

[bkk_mike]

 

This is not world first.

Many country have such law.

Some even force you to exchange x dollars per day to their currency.

 

Do ANY of those countries have a major tourist industry a fraction of the size of Thailands?

Thailand already has the tourist rip-off of the 150 baht charge to use ATMs. Couldn't they take some of that ill-gotten gain for the health ministry without adding another way of ripping off tourists.

[CockneyGit]

Parts of the fees would be used to compensate medical service costs for foreign tourists, Pradit said.

[harber8]

What a crock of Bull. All the Thai government wants is more money.

All most Goverments want is more money.......

[gemini81]

So long as the money goes to the health service, All of it, then Its a good idea.

But we all know it will just end up lining the pockets of the few.

mandatory to pay even if you already have insurance and then lining the pockets of the already rich..and thats good? Man, better think it through before typing! Sheesh, haha.

[DocN]

I thought my visa fee was to enter....

No, your visa fee goes to fund Immigration services. If you (and others) didn't come, Thailand wouldn't need immigration officers at the airports, at the land borders, wouldn't need systems to monitor and track non-residents, etc.

Other agencies charging additional fees, like the Health Ministry, seems reasonable. Of course, some would consider this unreasonable socialism, taking money from some to share with others (as in, charging everyone in order to pay for the few who don't bother to have insurance or financial resources to cover their sorry asses in case of medical calamity).

Now, that being said, this surely would be a large pot-o-gold for dipping into by any and all other agencies of the government, or when elected representatives get together and decide they need it for other projects (and certain 'personal' expenses they need to mitigate for being in the service of their country).

I actually (even though I am living here) would be willing to pay a fair share, IF -and that is a big IF- the money would (fully or at least a big part of it)

flow into the health care system!

But I guess, we all know, that it will not go anywhere near there!

[puukao]

Sorry, I will be flying into BKK and then heading straight to the hospital for both brain surgery and a triple bypass. I have no insurance. I put the cost at 3 million baht.

I also think Thailand should charge 500 baht for each camera brought into any 10,000,000 temples in LOS.

Furthermore, a fine of 1000 baht for any tourist taking more than 5 pictures per session.

Additionally, I think all emails should be sent to the Thai Government and a fee of 5 baht per word assessed.

[Hecate]

This is not world first.

Many country have such law.

Some even force you to exchange x dollars per day to their currency.

What countries are these "many"? No place I've visited. I'm not doubting you but which countries have such a tourist unfriendly law?

No doubt this is yet another hare brained idea that will die the death it deserves.

The 30 day visa on arrival in Indonesia costs $25 US. I don't have a huge problem with Thais charging 500B. Tourists who stay in Thailand for 30 days use roads, infrastructure and so on. Why should Thais pay for that? Not all of them benefit from tourism. Some have seen prices rise because of farang.

I'd like to see the money well spent--that's an issue with any government. How about spending some of it to clean up the environment!! Proper public washrooms on beaches would be excellent too.