Thailand to launch tourism clinics

NONTHABURI, THAILAND, March 30 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Public Health, plans to open tourism clinics in 13 health districts nationwide within 2016 to provide health services to people before and after their travels. Thai Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Sopon Mekthon told journalists that all the newly-launched clinics are aimed to serve up to about 32 million international tourists annually, earning the Thai Kingdom up to about 1.62 trillion baht yearly if the targeted figure is met. Dr. Sopon said services provided at the tourism clinics include health counseling before and after people's travels, vaccinations, advices on disease prevention, medical check-ups, issuances of health certificates before travels and medical treatment of diseases contracted during travels. According to the senior Thai health official, his ministry's first tourism clinic, but Thailand's second of its kind, has already been opened at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Bangkok's neighbouring Nonthaburi Province since 2015. The senior health official noted that his ministry also plans to upgrade potential of Thai hospitals in tourist destinations nationwide to meet internationally-recognised standards, like HA and JCI. Last year, Thailand welcomed a total of 29.86 million foreign visitors and the number has been further growing. (TNA)