Three-pronged plan for Thai medical tourism after Covid-19
The Medical Hub Policy committee has agreed on three principles for receiving medical tourists after the Covid-19 outbreak has been resolved, Dr Thares Krainairawiwong, Department of Health Service Support director general, said today (June 30).
The first is to establish separate 14-day quarantine guidelines for Thai returnee and foreign medical tourists, with Thais sent to hospital quarantine and foreigners to alternative hospitals (“Alternative Hospital Quarantine”). Advance appointments are required for alternative quarantine.
Foreign medical tourists must have tested negative for Covid-19 in the 72 hours before they enter the country. They must undergo a total of three Covid-19 tests, before, during and after treatment. Thais will have to pay for any quarantine arrangements they are not covered for. In the case of Alternative Hospital Quarantine, foreign patients and Thai nationals must pay all expenses.
The second principle is to promote Thailand as the “Healthcare Capital of the World”. Government agencies will push the message “Beyond Healthcare, Trust Thailand”, in order to build confidence in Thailand among international medical tourists post-Covid-19.
The third principle is to develop medical tools in Thailand to protect medics against Covid-19 and to test for the disease. The medical tools are divided into four groups: devices for screening and disease detection, devices for disease prevention and control, devices for sorting and sterilisation, and devices for treatment of diseases.