New Border Health Clinics Will Reduce Patient Flow into Thailand

[Jacob Maslow]

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is planning to build health clinics along the borders of three neighboring countries. The goal is to reduce the number of patients entering the country to receive medical treatment they’re unable to pay for.

According to Rajata Rajatanavin, Thailand’s Health Minister, uncollected medical fees totaled 360 million baht last year. The majority of the fees were from immigrant patients who sought medical treatment in bordering provinces. Hospitals in these provinces were unable to turn these patients away.

To help combat the problem, the ministry has started to build health clinics along the borders in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Each one of the new clinics will cost around 500,000 baht to build. Funding for the construction will be provided by international organizations as well as the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Rajatanavin stated that the ministry has tasked provincial public health offices in Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Chiang Rai, Nan, Ubon Ratchathani, Trat and Sa Kaeo with providing technical assistance to the new clinics.

The first clinic was built in Myawaddy, Myanmar, just outside the Tak province. Umphang hospital has offered support in the building of the clinic, which will provide basic care for injury, illness and vaccinations. Rajatanavin said the results were encouraging and the ministry hopes they will continue to see cooperation going forward with the project.

The new clinics will help reduce the number of patients crossing Thai borders to receive medical treatment. According to Rajatanavin, some hospitals along the Thai borders had been facing financial difficulties because they were required to provide care to patients who did not have the means to pay for treatment. Unpaid bills reached 360 million baht in 2014.

The most common health problems seen at border hospitals include underweight children, pregnancy, child health issues, tuberculosis, malaria and HIV. The new health centers will help provide basic care to treat these common issues.

-- 2015-03-26

[greenchair]

Thailand is so quick to forget all the foreign help they received Only a few short years in the past.

Food, clothing, health care, education. There is a quiet foreign hand that has helped thailand to become the competitive country that is today.

When is this country going to give a little bit back to other countries less fortunate, as they were so freely given for many years.

[jacko45k]

Thailand is so quick to forget all the foreign help they received Only a few short years in the past.

Food, clothing, health care, education. There is a quiet foreign hand that has helped thailand to become the competitive country that is today.

When is this country going to give a little bit back to other countries less fortunate, as they were so freely given for many years.

And perhaps the fact that these people are coming into Thailand over bridges that were built and paid for by other countries too.

[Tchooptip]

500,000 Baht to build a clinic...

[12DrinkMore]

500,000 Baht to build a clinic...

Quote:

"The new health centers will help provide basic care".

[AlQaholic]

I did not know that pregnancy was a health problem.....well you may always learn something new in life...

[anon467367354]

I kind of like this idea and consider it a good one.

Not sure why people are so quick to slam it.

[geovalin]

Basically this is a good idea but who will you have in a 1/2 million bahts clinic? Only the very poor chaps who, by the way, could not afford a trip far inside Thailand and who could have the same very basic stuff in their own basic / poor country. I'm not sure that, at this moment, Burmese are risking to cross a border to get a paracetamol pill.
I guess that upper class are still welcome in Bumrungrad, Samitivej etc. In Paolo, some signs are written in Arabic and... in Khmer.
So for the middle class, need middle class clinic with better than basic care.

[Toknarok]

Last time I was in the local Govt. hospital the bed next to me was occupied by a Cambodian who was suffering from snakebite. He was treated for free and I've no doubt he just walked back to the nearby Cambodian border. Apparantly this hospital treats quite a few Cambodians. They can hardly turn away someone in urgent need of medical attention.

The border clinics appear to be a good idea, but as prieviously stated you're not going to get much for half a million baht.

[Hans vliege]

When this gouvernement start with a insurance for foreign people who lives in Thailand, and spent al ther money in Thailand. Many of them on this moment they have NO assurance, because the price for that is to high and there are to many roules that you can get medical treatment for many things. So gouvernement DO SOMETHING FOR THE FOREIGNERS from Europe, America tec.

[ChaangNoi]

I wonder what the operating cost on one of these would be.

[JOC]

When this gouvernement start with a insurance for foreign people who lives in Thailand, and spent al ther money in Thailand. Many of them on this moment they have NO assurance, because the price for that is to high and there are to many roules that you can get medical treatment for many things. So gouvernement DO SOMETHING FOR THE FOREIGNERS from Europe, America tec.

You need to understand, there is a big difference between expats/tourists fallen on hard times and people who are really poor!!

May I suggest, you visit the border area between Mae Sot and Mae Hong Son!!

[dotpoom]

I kind of like this idea and consider it a good one.

Not sure why people are so quick to slam it.

Right on. It has been mentioned here that Thailand should not forget the help it received from other countries in order to get back on it's feet. ....Well it seems they have already done that, so much so that border hospitals are beginning to suffer financially as a result.. If Thailand is to stay on it's feet isn't it OK to start moving on from here and expect payment now for medical services rendered.

[The Deerhunter]

When this gouvernement start with a insurance for foreign people who lives in Thailand, and spent al ther money in Thailand. Many of them on this moment they have NO assurance, because the price for that is to high and there are to many roules that you can get medical treatment for many things. So gouvernement DO SOMETHING FOR THE FOREIGNERS from Europe, America tec.

You shouldn't be here without Travel insurance available locally or arranged in your home country. (The latter is what we have & we live here.) Keep your emergency card in your wallet & go & have a blood test or something done at a good mid-priced private hospital, local to where you live, so they have a record of you & will admit you or transfer you there promptly if requested. (In that circumstance you are already a registered patient of theirs.) Failing that have a good bank account somewhere & a good overseas credit card. I have been in medium size country town hospitals in Thailand (visiting family) & I would not like to be there more than a few hours. Family sleeping literally under the bed on the floor & doing the food & Hygiene toiletry things. You wouldn't want the standard of care that Thais with no money or medical insurance get. Don't be silly. Have a plan. I have been a patient in a Thai tourist hospital (Phuket International Hosp.) Great treatment! Also got taken to a Chinese clinic in Siem Reap, Cambodia, when I got really sick suddenly. It scared me so much I self discharged & moved to Bangkok Hospital Clinic in Siem Reap. Swiss & danish doctors. Also great. Each occasion of admission has been for acute dehydration caused once by tummy bug & once by the worst sore throat of my life. It is very easy to become acutely dehydrated in this climate. Have an action plan for medical emergencies.

[Wat dee]

And falangs spend 3.000.000 building Issan villas.

[RubbaJohnny]

I did not know that pregnancy was a health problem.....well you may always learn something new in life...

Perhaps if your main wife finds out,seriously perinatal care good midwifery and checks can ensure healthy babies who after all will wipe our backsides when we are too old to look after arselves

[Dumbfounded]

Hi DH.

Can you expand on your post please, you have travel insurance from your home country but you are living here.

Are you living here full time as an expat or just part of the year? Have your claims been paid without question? if so, which insurer do you use?.

I am genuinely interested as I think travel insurance would be easier to get than applying for one of the majors who ask 100 questions about your health status

Rgds DF

[maidee]

so those border migrant people get FREE healthcare ???

and farang paying taxes here (lets just say, 15% in intrest from bank = also tax and in many cases, much more than average SOMCHAI)

gets nothing for free ?