Medical Standards of Thailand
Before a medical tourist makes a decision to get health-related services at a certain hospital in a certain country, he or she naturally needs to be assured of the safety, convenience, and medical capacity that can be expected there. These qualities must be outstanding among countries offering similar services, and comparable to the qualities available in his or her own country.
Most medical tourists would compare the medical standards in the destination with those in their own countries. Well-established standards are normally available in developed countries:
- In the United States, the Joint Commission International Accredited Organization (JCI) is the standard accreditation for hospitals.
- In UK and Hong Kong, the Trent International Accreditation Scheme is the accepted medical standard.
- In Canada, the Canadian Council of Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) is the accepted medical standard.
- In Australia and New Zealand, the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) is the standard accreditation for healthcare facilities.
Many developing countries also base their accreditation on standards established in developed countries.
In Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health has provided criteria for medical and nursing standards:
· Every physician requires a medical license to practice, and must be supervised by the Medical Council of Thailand.
· The Ministry of Public Health has established standards and assessment procedures for the Hospital Accreditation (HA).
Apart from these guidelines, many international hospitals in Thailand have acquired additional standards to meet the needs of their foreign patients. Currently, seven private hospitals have been accredited by JCI, while more than 10 other private hospitals are in the process of getting JCI accreditation. And many more hospitals are getting ready for JCI accreditation in the near future.
Meanwhile, more than 351 hospitals in the country have acquired HA: Hospital Accreditation by the Ministry of Public Health. A large number of hospitals have also acquired ISO9000 and ISO14000 certifications. Despite arguments that the ISOs are not hospital accreditation, the international standards of general management and environmental management reflect the hospitals’ commitment to deliver high-quality services. It is fair to say that ISO-certified hospitals are well prepared to acquire medical accreditation in the future.