Medical certificate for work permit

[tvqanda]

Hi! My paperwork for a work permit has come through but am told by my employer that I need a medical certificate to complete the application.

I live in Phuket, specifically Patong.

Does anyone know what it currently entails to get such a certificate?

I'm assuming that the days where we could just pay 100 or so Bht to a doctor at a clinic for the paper only are gone for good in view in view of the new and tighter visa regs/rules in place now.

Frankly I'm not keen on spending thousands of baht for blood tests etc.. that are reallynks not needed so am wondering if there are still places that do the above in Phuket/Patong/Phuket Town?

Thanks in advance for any info on the above!

[isawasnake]

The 100 baht version will most assuredly work. Just go to the nearest clinic. If you have them in phuket.

[digitalchromakey]

The 100 baht version will most assuredly work. Just go to the nearest clinic. If you have them in phuket.

Unfortunately Phuket Labour want to know if you show Gram Negative for Syphilis, so a blood test is mandatory here for the WP.

'Heath Check' plus Work Permit Blood Test at Phuket International costs around 500 THB as I recollect.

BKK Phuket is ridiculously expensive for this check up (?1500 THB+), Mission or Vachira or for that matter Patong would probably be cheaper.

[kickstart]

If i may put in my 2 stang's worth. I had to renew my work permit,back in April, and I had to have a blood test and a diabetes test , the Depo of Labour actually stipulated a blood test,also had to do it 2 years ago, cost me 550 bart at my local hospital.I live in Lopburi

This time they where a lot of young people having blood tests,I thought what for ,asked one ,said they blood test was for a job interview at the locle pig/ chicken factory,work that one out .

It was the hospilal staff I felt for ,same small lab,same number of staff ,more than twice the work from 2 years ago.

[tolsti]

As you are in Patong your easiest option is Dr Wattana in Soi Wattana off Beach Rd. Google will turn up a map for you. I believe it is 500thb and is accepted by the Labour office.

[Soutpeel]

Why isn't your company paying for your medical, why should you care what it costs ?

[isawasnake]

The 100 baht version will most assuredly work. Just go to the nearest clinic. If you have them in phuket.

Unfortunately Phuket Labour want to know if you show Gram Negative for Syphilis, so a blood test is mandatory here for the WP.

'Heath Check' plus Work Permit Blood Test at Phuket International costs around 500 THB as I recollect.

BKK Phuket is ridiculously expensive for this check up (?1500 THB+), Mission or Vachira or for that matter Patong would probably be cheaper.

I have been assured that no matter what people say, hand them a paper that says you are cleared by a doctor and you are fine. So, pay 75 baht at a clinic or 800 baht at a hospital gets you the same thing. That is in Bangkok however, but I do know this works. Have there actually been reports of people turning a "clinic" checkup in, and being denied? That is the only way i'd believe it. The reason I say it, is they say you can't get the clinic version in BKK too, but it turns out you can in actuality, if you just hand it to them.

[digitalchromakey]

The 100 baht version will most assuredly work. Just go to the nearest clinic. If you have them in phuket.

Unfortunately Phuket Labour want to know if you show Gram Negative for Syphilis, so a blood test is mandatory here for the WP.

'Heath Check' plus Work Permit Blood Test at Phuket International costs around 500 THB as I recollect.

BKK Phuket is ridiculously expensive for this check up (?1500 THB+), Mission or Vachira or for that matter Patong would probably be cheaper.

I have been assured that no matter what people say, hand them a paper that says you are cleared by a doctor and you are fine. So, pay 75 baht at a clinic or 800 baht at a hospital gets you the same thing. That is in Bangkok however, but I do know this works. Have there actually been reports of people turning a "clinic" checkup in, and being denied? That is the only way i'd believe it. The reason I say it, is they say you can't get the clinic version in BKK too, but it turns out you can in actuality, if you just hand it to them.

Depends on the area you work in, in Phuket the blood test for syphilis is a labour department requirement, no blood test, no WP.

[Tywais]

The 100 baht version will most assuredly work. Just go to the nearest clinic. If you have them in phuket.

Unfortunately Phuket Labour want to know if you show Gram Negative for Syphilis, so a blood test is mandatory here for the WP.

'Heath Check' plus Work Permit Blood Test at Phuket International costs around 500 THB as I recollect.

BKK Phuket is ridiculously expensive for this check up (?1500 THB+), Mission or Vachira or for that matter Patong would probably be cheaper.

I have been assured that no matter what people say, hand them a paper that says you are cleared by a doctor and you are fine. So, pay 75 baht at a clinic or 800 baht at a hospital gets you the same thing. That is in Bangkok however, but I do know this works. Have there actually been reports of people turning a "clinic" checkup in, and being denied? That is the only way i'd believe it. The reason I say it, is they say you can't get the clinic version in BKK too, but it turns out you can in actuality, if you just hand it to them.

Depends on the area you work in, in Phuket the blood test for syphilis is a labour department requirement, no blood test, no WP.

Same in Chiang Mai and that changed a few years ago (3-4?) where most labor departments in Thailand require the blood test.

[GarryP]

The certificate for Bangkok must cover the illnesses mentioned in the attached file.

Medical Certificate - Standard Form 6 diseases.pdf

[tvqanda]

Thanks to all who have replied to my post. It was all extremely helpful!

Here's an update:

In the last 36 hours I inquired at four Patong-based clinics. Each confirmed what some of you had said: a blood test for syphilis is mandatory in Phuket if one wishes to obtain a Work Permit here.

The going "rate" for the med certificate appears to be from 500-800 Bht, again here in Phuket. I can't speak for other places in-country. I ended up going to a clinic near my flat yesterday afternoon.

I was charged 800 Bht total, 300 for the blood test and 500 for the doctor (whom I never even met) to fill out the requisite paperwork. My blood was drawn by an able technician with a brand new and completely sanitary hypo. I was told to return the next day same time to pick up my certificate. Apparently my blood test had to be sourced out to a lab in Phuket Town which was why it took 24 hours. Some of the clinics here have facilities to process the blood test on site. In this case the wait time is generally about 20-30 minutes instead and you can get the certificate same day.

In my case there was absolutely no other requirement other than the blood test for syphilis and ,of course, payment. The only "hiccup" so to speak was that the doctor couldn't make out my Passport number on the form which I had I written by hand, but that minor issue was quickly resolved with a phone call a couple of hours after my visit.

I returned same time this afternoon and was handed an envelope with certificate proper and blood test result (negative of course) within. I then gave both to my boss. After looking at the certificate (in Thai) he said everything was in order. I gave him my passport and was told I should have my WP within 7-10 days, maybe two weeks at the most.

Fyi I could have have gone to a couple of clinics that were cheaper but the one I settled on was closest. And I sensed that at this clinic there would be no other attendant procedures, tests, etc... and that aside from the blood test the paperwork would be simply pro forma. As it turned out I was right...

Again thanks to all for you responses... Much appreciated