Thailand Orders Inspections of All 1,203 Care Facilities Within Two Months

Thailand's government has instructed the Ministry of Public Health to carry out inspections of all 1,203 registered care facilities for elderly people and people requiring care within two months, according to Bangkok Post. The order covers the entire registered sector and follows reports of overcrowding, facilities operating without licences and alleged mistreatment of residents in Kanchanaburi and Nonthaburi provinces.

The inspections will be run by the Department of Health Service Support, working with its central office, 12 regional Health Service Support centres and provincial public health offices. Officials will assess compliance with the 2016 Health Establishment Act, examining premises conditions and safety and service standards. Checks will cover cleanliness, a safe environment, accessible entrances and exits for elderly residents, emergency response systems and safety equipment.

The government said the aim is to strengthen oversight, protect residents from improper treatment and ensure facilities meet required standards. Those standards include proper care systems, qualified staff and strict adherence to licensing rules. The nationwide campaign was prompted by complaints about restrictions on freedom, physical assaults, inadequate hygiene and other violations at care centres.

Specific findings drove the decision. At the Sothonchai Nursing Home in Tha Muang district, Kanchanaburi province, authorities found overcrowding, unauthorised care for people with mental disorders and cage-like beds, Bangkok Post reported. In Nonthaburi, inspectors identified two unlicensed facilities as well as overcrowding at a licensed nursing home.

All 1,203 facilities subject to the checks are registered with the Department of Health Service Support. The results of the two-month inspection drive and any follow-up enforcement have not yet been announced.