Phuket nursing assistants busted for illegal medical checkups

PHUKET: Officers arrested five people for illegally providing employee checkups at the Big C Super Center near Rajabhat University Phuket on Thursday.

Phuket Provincial Public Health Officers (PPHO) were conducting random checks in the Muang District when they stumbled across the illegal mobile unit, explained PPHO Chief Bancha Kakong.

“We arrested all five of them. Additionally, we seized their equipment, which included a mobile x-ray machine,” Mr Bancha said.

Officers declined to name the suspects, who had only completed a six-month nursing assistant training course.

“With the certification that they have, they are not qualified to do medical checkups without a certified doctor on hand,” Mr Bancha said.

The suspects were charged for illegally providing a medical service, illegally performing x-rays and conducting medical checkups without the necessary license.

Each charge is in violation of the Sanatorium Act, B.E. 2541 (1998), which carries a maximum penalty of a 60,000-baht fine, three years imprisonment, or both.

“All companies must be very careful about who they hire to conduct annual medical checkups. Please check their medical qualifications before signing the contract,” Mr Bancha said. “If you are unable to determine whether or not they are legally able to provided the service, please contact the PPHO and we will help.”

— Kritsada Mueanhawong