Bangkok-
Dr. Rienthong Nanna, director of the Mongkutwattana Hospital, part of the Bangkok Hospital group, has proposed allowing imported Covid-19 cases from other countries to fly into Thailand under strict precautions to seek medical treatment.
The proposal, which has been made to the Ministry of Public Health, would help support hospitals that have been severely impacted by the pandemic with lack of medical tourism.
Dr. Rienthong announced the proposal on Facebook, where it was met with mixed feedback on Thai social media. He stressed that every disease precaution would be taken and the patients would not be exposed to the general public. After they were treated and recovered from the virus they could then enter the country as a tourist and further contribute to the overall economy.
The proposal included measures like limiting the number of patients on airplanes, using his hospital as a testing location which essentially would be similar to a state quarantine center. He has encouraged other hospital directors, independent clinics and those in the hospitality industry that would be interested in the proposal to reach out to him and his hospital for further details and to help show public support for the measures.
It is important to note this is merely a proposal and the Department of Disease Control and the Ministry of Public Health, as well as the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, have not commented on the proposal.