Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing a new Medical Visa in Thailand. As we have discussed on this channel and we have had folks on this channel to discuss Medical Tourism in even more depth but something I have been kind of remiss in reminding folks of is the Medical Visa kind of got dropped a couple of years ago when COVID started because they really just couldn't deal with it I think from a practical perspective. It just wasn't really feasible so they just kind of axed the category, the old MT Visa category. 

However, it appears that it is coming back on the horizon. Quoting a recent article from Hua Hin Today, that's huahintoday.com, and I urge those who are watching this video, check out that article in detail, a lot of good information in there. The article is titled: Thailand to launch new Medical Treatment Visa on Jan 1. Quoting directly: "Thailand will introduce a new Medical Treatment Visa on Jan 1 in a bid to help establish itself as a global leader for healthcare tourism. Deputy Government Spokeswoman Tipanan Sirichana said the new multiple entry medical visas will be valid for a period of 1 year and will allow the holder to stay in Thailand for 90 days." So my first initial response to that was "oh it is kind of like the old multi entry visas", not so much. Quoting further: "Up to three family members can also be included in this Visa, Ms. Tipanan said. Ms. Tipanan said the Medical Visa will be restricted to people who require continuous treatment for a medical condition for more than 90 days. Partner hospitals will also be required to outline a concrete treatment plan and detail the expenses for the patient." So this isn't going to be some kind of Visa I think that folks can sort of use in lieu of a genuine long-term, long stay Visa. I don't think that's going to be the case. Instead what this is, it really is a Visa for Medical Tourism and for folks that need medical care.

Thailand truly is a, I would put it if not top of the list, top two or three in the world for medical care and three is low. It's one or two; it really is one, my opinion. The medical care here is just absolutely top notch. I mean the hospitals are incredible and the folks that staff them here are, generally they have degrees from universities in the West or in Europe, top level schools and quite honestly Thai Medical schools are quite good now too because they have had all this expertise pour back into the country and now it is sort of becoming sort of a positive feedback loop wherein Thailand itself is creating a number of really top of the line medical staff and it is clearly evident in the staffing in the hospitals here in the Kingdom. So yeah, I think it is probably a good idea to go ahead and roll out a new Medical Tourism Visa. Hopefully we will see positive developments on this topic as 2023 unfolds.