Establishment of travel medicine clinics in major tourist cities

The nine clinics are supervised by the Department of Disease Control. They are located at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi; the Tuberculosis Area Center, Region 1, in Chiang Mai; Koh Samui Hospital in Surat Thani; the Nawarat Center of Hat Yai in Songkhla; Nong Khai Hospital in Nong Khai; the Chiang Khong Crown Prince Hospital in Chiang Rai; the Nakhon Phanom Hospital in Nakhon Phanom; the Mukdahan Hospital in Mukdahan; and the Institute for Urban Disease Prevention and Control in Bangkok.

This special clinic offers pre and post travel counseling to ensure visitors a safe and enjoyable journey. It also provides recommendations on travel vaccines, diagnosis, health check-ups, and medical treatment, as well as issuing medical certificates for travelers. 

A guidebook has been produced for doctors and other health personnel, and online counseling services have also been offered.

Thailand has long been a favorite holiday destinations for travelers from all over the world. It has also continued to record impressive growth in the international tourist markets. 

International foreign visitor arrivals in Thailand came to 26.5 million in 2013. The number dropped to 24.8 million in 2014 and rose to 29.9 million in 2015.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is optimistic that the projected figure of 33 million visitors in 2016 can be met. 

The number of tourist arrivals in Thailand is expected to reach 44.5 million in 2020. More than three million Thais also travel abroad each year.

Public Health Minister Clinical Professor Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn quoted a study stating that 55% of travelers to developing countries are likely to face health problems. 

Around 8% of them have to see the doctor. One out of 100,000 tourists dies because of diseases and health problems while traveling. These problems can be managed and prevented, if travelers are well-prepared and have sufficient information.

The Government is pushing for developing Thailand as a medical hub in order to upgrade the quality of life of Thai people and to offer health services for foreign visitors. 

The Ministry of Public Health has also developed hospitals, under its supervision, in various tourism destinations, to meet the standards set by the Joint Commission International and Hospital Accreditation of Thailand.

The number of international visitors in the country is on the increase each year. Therefore, the establishment of travel medicine clinics will cope with the situation.