Determined to become an Asian medical hub, the Thai government has granted longer medical stays to foreign patients from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and China.
It was announced yesterday that the stay period for patients from the five countries will be extended from 30 to 90 days. According to Bangkok Post, the visa extension was effective immediately.
Each patient is allowed to bring up to four companions.
Deputy Prime Minister Narong Pipatanasai said that this was Thailand’s second group of “medical tourists” to be given an extended stay. The previous group were those from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Public Health Ministry, along with the Tourism and Sports Ministry, will cooperate to start this strategic 10-year plan (from 2017-2026) which pushes Thailand to become one of the world’s main medical treatment centers.
Narong added that there has been a steady increase in the number of foreign patients coming to Thailand for medical treatment, because its services meet international standards.
Last year, the government also extended the Long Stay Visa from one to 10 years for citizens of 14 countries including Australia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, to name a few.
The visa, granted only to foreigners over the age of 50 who meet certain income requirements, is also applicable to their spouses and children up to 20 years of age.
