If foreign workers are infected with COVID-19, how does the government help take care of them?

        According to the announcement of the Ministry of Public Health on 1 July 2022, the medical system set up to handle the Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19, for people in Thailand, will also cover foreigners who come to work in the country. Initially, if a group of foreign workers who have already come to work is found to be infected with COVID-19  but have no symptoms or no risk of developing the disease, they will be treated as outpatient and receive medication according to guidelines of “detect-distribute-finish” at a hospital in social security rights and all public or private hospitals that participate in the service and clinics or pharmacies registered with the NHSO throughout the country free of charge and practice according to the DMHT principle, which is to maintain a distance between people, wear a mask. As an essential precaution, everyone should wash their hands and check their temperature and check for COVID-19 in specific cases for at least five days.  

        But if a patient has severe symptoms  (yellow/ red stage), with worsening illness or needing to be admitted in a hospital, they may receive treatment at the doctor's discretion at the hospital, in accordance with their social security rights, and at all co-provided state or private hospitals free of charge. If you have any questions, please contact the Social Security hotline, tel. 1506, press 6 and press 7. 

        However, for foreigners working in Thailand, the Ministry of Labor has put in place a system of care and control to prevent COVID-19 by allowing employers to buy health insurance for foreigners who will come to work.  And after arriving, they must be checked for six diseases, according to the Ministerial Regulations specifying qualifications and prohibited diseases, including ATK examination. If no COVID infection is found, they will go through the process of obtaining a license, and  then the employer can accept them to work in the establishment straight away. 

        But if they test positive for COVID-19 (green stage), they must be quarantined at an OQ (Organization Quarantine) or an agency quarantine facility. In the case of yellow or red stage, the insurance policy is responsible for the cost of examination or medical treatment.  In the case that such rights are not covered, the employer will be responsible for the expenses.

Source : The National Health Commission office
Tel : +662 832 9013