BANGKOK – As a major hub for medical tourism, Thailand will offer a one-year Medical Treatment Visa to attract foreign patients with high purchasing power to boost its medical tourism market.
Deputy government spokeswoman Dr Ratchada Thanadirek said the cabinet today approved in principle the Medical Treatment Visa or Non-MT Visa for patients and their supporters (up to three per patient) travelling to the kingdom for medical treatment.
“The Medical Treatment Visa targets visitors and patients who need continuous treatment. It is in line with the government’s plan to promote Thailand as a major hub for medical tourism,” she said at a press conference here today.
She added that foreign patients eligible for the new visa can stay up to 90 days and could seek permission for continuous stays if the treatment requires.
Patients and followers must each show bank statements with deposits of at least 800,000 Thai baht (RM99,644.33), and accident and Covid-19 insurance with coverage of at least three million baht.
Meanwhile, amid concerns about the Covid-19 Omicron variant, the cabinet today decided to continue the use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests for on-arrival screenings of all travellers entering the kingdom.
“There have been no reports of the Omicron variant here yet, but the public health authorities will step up screenings to contain the spread of the highly infectious strain in Thailand.”
On November 26, Thailand approved a plan to deploy Rapid Test Kit-Antigen (RTK-Ag) tests for fully vaccinated travellers from 63 Covid-19 low-risk countries and territories to expedite the entry process in a bid to boost its tourism sector.
Under the travel arrangement, travellers entering the kingdom via the “Test & Go” entry scheme only need to undergo an RTK-Ag test at Thailand Safety and Health Administration Plus-certified hotels. – Bernama, December 1, 2021
