In early April 2020 media reported that the Thai government warned private hospitals not to send medical bills to COVID-19 patients or their families, saying their medical expenses will be paid for by the government.

The warning, posted on the Government House Facebook page, followed complaints that COVID-19 patients at private hospitals were being required to pay for treatment and services that in some cases topped 100,000 baht.

The government said private hospitals should keep records of medical treatment and services and send the bills to related agencies for reimbursement. The MOPH’s draft regulations on reimbursement were approved by the cabinet.
​
If patients have health insurance, however, they are being encouraged to use their policies first. The Social Security Fund for workers in the private sector, the welfare fund for state officials and the “gold card” universal fund would wholly or partially cover the cost of COVID-19 treatment based on the fund to which the patients belong.

People who are covered by the “gold card” scheme are eligible to receive treatment for COVID-19 free of charge effective April 2, 2020 according to an announcement in the Royal Gazette. The announcement says if patients seek treatment at private hospitals, reimbursement will be made in line with the MOPH regulations.

When COVID-19 testing fees were published in the local press in March of this year, many people expressed shock at the exorbitant amounts charged by public and private hospitals.

Khasod English website reported on March 16 that Roongreung Kitpati, an advisor to the Ministry of Health, said those without symptoms or at-risk travel history should refrain from getting checkups, which could overcrowd hospitals and use up test kits.

“If you aren’t sick, please don’t get tests because it’s useless and wastes money. Most tests yield negative results. But if you are in an at-risk group, such as someone having contact with an infested person, please contact the Department hotline,” Mr Roongreung said.
​
Since March most hospitals have reduced prices for testing. Among 16 hospitals in the metropolitan Bangkok area contacted by The BigChilli at the end of September to ask the fees – see list below – only two charge foreigners more than Thais. This should elate those foreigners who always complain about 'double standards'. The wait for test results from these 16 hospitals varies from four hours to two days.

How complaints about medical fees are being treated
· In this exclusive report, we look at ways the government is curbing excessive charges for locals and foreigners
· Only two hospitals have dual pricing for COVID-19 tests
​By MAXMILIAN WECHSLER

Healthcare is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries - and Thailand is very much part of it. Modern, well-equipped hospitals are accessible in Bangkok and all 76 provinces.

Sooner or later most of us enter the hospital system, and in Thailand it’s a lot easier to seek treatment in a private hospital than a government facility, especially for foreigners.

Even though it comes at a much higher cost, many expats and tourists still consider medical care here a bargain compared to their own countries. And despite some criticism, most are impressed with the quality of care they receive.

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) legitimately claims that Thailand has gained worldwide recognition for its excellent healthcare services. According to the 2019 edition of the prestigious US magazine CEOWORLD Health Care Index, which ranks 89 countries according to factors that contribute to overall health, Thailand has the sixth best healthcare system in the world. Taiwan occupied the top slot, followed by two other Asian nations, South Korea (second) and Japan (third), with Austria and Denmark rounding out the top five.

The Health Care Index is a statistical analysis of a country’s overall healthcare system that includes infrastructure, competence of health care professionals, availability of quality treatments and medicines and government commitment. The index also takes into consideration environmental and social factors in individual countries including access to clean water, sanitation, overall obesity rates, tobacco use and government readiness to enforce health measures, for example by imposing fines on people who violate restrictions on tobacco use. 

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul hailed the CEOWORLD ranking, announced in August 2019, as confirmation that the determined efforts Thailand has made toward developing its healthcare sector have paid off. In September last year Minister Anutin said the government must not rest on its laurels, as mere rankings do not matter as much as how well the ministry performs its duty of maintaining public health. “It was a collective effort that got us here,” he added.

There is general agreement among patients that the accolades are well deserved, but on the home front it’s not all bouquets for Thailand’s hospitals and overall health care system. Locals often complain of waiting for hours at government hospitals when they have a health problem. The waiting period for further medical tests or surgery in non-emergency cases might be weeks up to a few months.

Expats complain they are charged more at government hospitals and some private hospitals, while others say they’ve been scheduled for unnecessary and costly procedures.

Despite our best efforts, life in the big city can get pretty complicated, trying to juggle work, social life, personal problems—not to mention the never-ending stream of stressful traffic. We can talk to friends and family, but their involvement might be a little too close to home…sometimes a professional opinion really helps to put things into perspective. Calling our concrete therapists from New Counseling Service (NCS) to the rescue for some solid advice! 
​
Do you have a question for one of our counsellors? We will never print your real name, you can ask anything anonymously. Just send your problem to: info@ncsbkk.com or message @ncsbangkok on IG, FB, or Line.

Despite our best efforts, life in the big city can get pretty complicated, trying to juggle work, social life, personal problems—not to mention the never-ending stream of stressful traffic. We can talk to friends and family, but their involvement might be a little too close to home…sometimes a professional opinion really helps to put things into perspective. Calling our concrete therapists from New Counseling Service (NCS) to the rescue for some solid advice! 
​
Do you have a question for one of our counsellors? We will never print your real name, you can ask anything anonymously. Just send your problem to: info@ncsbkk.com or message @ncsbangkok on IG, FB, or Line.

Dear Smiling/Crying,

■ Clearly things are not OK for you, even though it might seem so from the outside. You describe a feeling of emptiness and sadness, despite being surrounded by people at work each day. This must leave you feeling very isolated, disconnected and unable to be yourself, and it is not working for you. You say you don’t have any big problems or dramas, so that suggests your emptiness might be due to your key emotional and social needs not being met right now. Maybe you’re not sure about how to change that, but there are some things you can do, so don’t lose hope.

Maintaining this reputation of being the “helpful, together” person means that everyone else believes it, which also means they don’t know that you need support right now. Therefore you are the only person who can do something to change your situation, which involves having to reach out to others and be honest with them about how you’re feeling. This might seem a bit risky and daunting at first, especially as it will break that illusion people have of you. However, it’s going to be necessary for any change to occur, because you don’t deserve to feel sad and lonely all the time.

What kinds of things do you think you could change or add to your life to help relieve some of these sad and lonely feelings? More time and support from friends or family? Social activities with new people? More meaning in your work or personal life? Make a list starting with “I need” and then write down anything that comes to mind. Identify your own true needs (not what others have said about you) and be proactive in the steps you could take to get what you need most. If you need to improve your current relationships then don’t be afraid to explain this to your friends and family and ask if you can spend more time with them. Start with the people you think are most likely to respond in a positive way and if you’re comfortable, tell them why you’re asking for this. Since they care about you they won’t be upset by being asked, although be aware that some people may be limited in what they can offer you time-wise. If you want to develop new friendships then try asking your more sociable friends if they could invite you along when they meet with their other friends. Alternatively, there are many social or sports groups in Bangkok where you can get involved in new activities and meet people. Join a local Facebook group for activities or hobbies you enjoy and put out a specific request to meet new people. 

Ultimately, increasing your social and personal connections with others will help you overcome your sense of loneliness and hopefully your sadness as well. But if there are other things that you know need to change in your life—such as work, relationships, or health—these issues might take longer to address. Once you start taking steps resolve them at a deeper level, this should increase the sense of control you have over your life and give you hope that things can be better for you. Whatever you decide, be sure to find support in this process, whether that’s a trusted friend or family member, or a counsellor to guide you and cheer you on.

​Dave
Counsellor

To read DENGUE: THAILAND'S OTHER FATAL DISEASE (PART I) : https://bit.ly/2PugJeX​

In recognition of the fact that dengue is prevalent in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, the 10th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting in 2010 declared June 15 as ASEAN Dengue Day. Since then, this day has served as a key regional advocacy point to strengthen relevant information exchange and raise awareness about prevention and control measures.

Dengue is a global and regional threat causing a major additional public health burden for all communities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This neglected tropical disease has a wide clinical spectrum which includes both severe and non-severe clinical manifestations. Dengue continuously spreads as a mosquito-borne viral disease throughout the Asia Pacific Region, and is no respecter of national borders. Nearly 75% of all dengue cases worldwide occur in Asia and the Pacific. National leaders recognize that preventive measures need to be taken at the regional level in order to protect people within their borders. ASEAN is a driving force in preparedness against dengue and all regional health threats.

Mosquito-borne menace raises its head again in Southeast Asia hefty fines and even jail for property owners failing to get rid of mosquito larvae.
​By MAXMILIAN WECHSLER

On June 14 last year Dr Sukhum Kanchanapimai, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), announced strong measures aimed at stopping the spread of dengue fever in Thailand: Owners of properties who fail to get rid of mosquito larvae are subject to jail terms of up to three years and/or a fine of up to 25,000 baht.

Thailand is not alone in taking aggressive action to fight a public health menace that takes a lethal toll in this part of the world during monsoon season. The Singaporean National Environmental Agency announced on June 22 for households who repeatedly fail to eradicate mosquito breeding areas will face harsher punishments. Three-time offenders are subject to a fine of up to S$5,000 (about 112,000 baht), or imprisonment for a term of three months, or both, for the first court conviction.

Even heavier penalties are levied on construction sites where mosquitoes are allowed to breed. The fine for first offence has been raised from $2,000 to $3,000; the fine for second offence has also been raised from $4,000, to $5,000. Three-time offenders must appear in court instead S$5,000 fine, where they face a fine not exceeding $20,000, or imprisonment up to three months, or both, for the first conviction. The new penalties went into effect on July 15.

Despite our best efforts, life in the big city can get pretty complicated, trying to juggle work, social life, personal problems—not to mention the never-ending stream of stressful traffic. We can talk to friends and family, but their involvement might be a little too close to home…sometimes a professional opinion really helps to put things into perspective. Calling our concrete therapists from New Counseling Service (NCS) to the rescue for some solid advice! 
​
Do you have a question for one of our counsellors? We will never print your real name, you can ask anything anonymously! Just send your problem to: info@ncsbkk.com or message @ncsbangkok on IG, FB, or Line.

Despite our best efforts, life in the big city can get pretty complicated, trying to juggle work, social life, personal problems - not to mention the never-ending stream of stressful traffic. We can talk to friends and family, but their involvement might be a little too close to home…sometimes a professional opinion really helps to put things into perspective. Calling our concrete therapists to the rescue for some solid advice! 
​
Do you have a question for one of our counsellors? We will never print your real name, you can ask anything anonymously! Just send your problem to: info@ncsbkk.com or message @ncsbangkok on IG, FB, or Line.

Just a few short months ago, hardly anybody had heard of coronavirus, let alone COVID-19. That’s no longer the case, of course.

Today, this nasty virus is recognized around the world as a mass killer. Here in Thailand, thankfully, we’ve been spared the worst effects of the disease with a relatively small number of deaths (50+) compared to the US (61,656) and Spain (24,000) – and counting.

For now at least, COVID-19 is less deadly than Thailand’s long list of other killer diseases - cancer, malaria, dengue, hepatitis, measles, tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, leptospirosis, seasonal flu and HIV.

But there’s another disease that few people know about – and yet it’s responsible for up to 2,800 deaths a year. Called melioidosis, it’s the country’s third most-deadly infectious disease after AIDS and tuberculosis. The number of fatalities could be even higher, according to some reports, because of a lack of information about the disease.​