Thailand U.S. trade deal, Thailand trade agreement 2025, Thailand export tariffs

The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand has tightened rules on medical certificates for migrant workers as the number of foreign employees in the country continues to grow.

According to the Ministry of Labour, the number of registered migrant workers increased from 3.3 million in 2024 to about 4.08 million in 2025. Officials said the rapid increase supports the economy but also raises public health concerns, especially the potential spread of infectious diseases from abroad.

Dr. Akom Praditsuwan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health Service Support (DHSS), stated that private healthcare facilities must now strictly follow official standards when issuing health certificates for migrant workers. A special task force has been established to monitor compliance and prevent clinics from issuing false or incomplete medical documents.

“If any private healthcare facility issues a medical certificate without conducting a health check or if the certificate does not accurately reflect the actual health condition, it will be considered as issuing a false medical certificate,” he said.

All clinics conducting health checks for migrant workers must obtain permission from the DHSS or local public health offices and follow the Standard for Health Examination of Migrant Workers 2024. Those who conduct off-site checks must notify authorities at least 10 days in advance.

Non-compliance may result in additional penalties, including fines of up to 20,000 baht, imprisonment for up to one year and potential temporary closure of the facility.

In addition to tighter rules, the ministry has begun implementing a digital health insurance system for migrant workers. The initiative was officially launched on October 8, 2025, at the One Stop Service (OSS) Centre in Tak province.

The new system allows migrant workers to complete medical check-ups, receive electronic medical certificates and purchase state-provided health insurance online through the OSS platform, which is connected to the Financial Data Hub-Migrant Platform and the Health Insurance for Non-Thai People (HINT) system.