Bangkok:The Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) raided a health coach's booth secretly operating a disease screening service at a restaurant in the Bang Na area.
According to Thai News Agency, the DHSS, in collaboration with the Medical Council of Thailand and the police, intervened due to the illegal operation of a diagnostic booth that posed health risks to clients through inaccurate diagnoses, potentially leading to delayed or incorrect treatment.
Dr. Phuwadej Surakhot, Director-General of the DHSS, stated that they received a tip about an unqualified individual acting as a health coach and offering carotid artery occlusion (CIMT) scans to screen for stroke risk. Advertised through online channels with over 30,000 followers, this operation was deemed potentially harmful. Consequently, officers from the Legal Division, along with the Medical Council and Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) Sub-Division 4, conducted an inspection on October 21, 2016, at a restaurant in Bang Na District, Bangkok. They discovered a 22-year-old woman performing ultrasound examinations and a 49-year-old woman interpreting the results, neither possessing a medical license. The women were charged with practicing medicine without proper registration, a violation punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of 30,000 baht, or both, under the Medical Profession Act B.E. 2525 (1982).
Dr. Arkhom Praditsuwann, Deputy Director-General of the DHSS, emphasized the importance of qualified medical personnel conducting disease diagnoses, especially for critical conditions such as strokes. Misdiagnoses can lead to severe consequences, including permanent disability or death. The public is urged to verify healthcare providers' credentials through the Medical Council of Thailand's website. Reports of unauthorized diagnostic services can be made to the DHSS or provincial public health offices.