Health

Tzu Chi Foundation is an independent and separate organization from UNHCR. Whether or not they can support your case will be up to their final decision according to their guidelines, policies and criteria.  Please follow their guidance and recommendation for assistance.

• Tzu Chi Clinic has primary care doctors who provide direct in-person or remote Telemedicine consultations and assistance.
• Tzu Chi Clinic can make referrals and cover some outpatient medical care expenses, including medications. However, patients must first be assessed and approved by a Tzu Chi doctor.
• To register with Tzu Chi Clinic, you must present your UNHCR card or a valid passport.

⚠️ If you wish to receive medical assistance or reimbursement from the Tzu Chi Clinic, please contact them to consult about your conditions and medical reimbursement criteria before getting outside medical treatment.  Only pre-approved medical treatments/assistance can be reimbursed, except for some medical emergencies.

➡️ Please contact Tzu Chi Clinic for more information or to make an appointment.

Asylum-seekers and refugees can access medical care at Thai government hospitals and private hospitals.

Hospitals require an identification document for registration.  While most hospitals will request a passport, some hospitals may register the patient based on a UNHCR card.

Costs of medical care vary widely.  Government hospitals are generally more affordable than private hospitals.  As noted above, except in some emergency cases, reimbursement from Tzu Chi Foundation Clinic for hospital costs requires pre-approval.

It is important that you and your baby get medical checks and any needed treatment early in your pregnancy and that you know what kind of support you can access for the delivery.

Medical care for you and the baby while you are pregnant (antenatal care):

• Tzu Chi Foundation (TCF) can support antenatal care for any pregnancy through their obstetrics/gynecology clinic which operates at Tzu Chi Free Clinic four times a month.  Please make sure to reserve an appointment online here.

• Birth certificate: BRC can assist with preparing the information needed for the hospital birth notice and birth certificate, including translation of identity documents required by the District Office to issue the birth certificate.  Contact BRC for more information on this process.

Please review the services and criteria for Tzu Chi Clinic explained in the section “What does Tzu Chi Foundation Clinic cover?”  Generally, reimbursements are only given for pre-approved medical costs.

If the Tzu Chi doctor decides that you need out-patient medical care (this can be tests, specialized doctors, or medication) that Tzu Chi Clinic cannot provide, the Tzu Chi Clinic will refer you to a hospital for the needed care.  You will have to pay at the hospital but can ask for reimbursement from Tzu Chi Clinic.

**TZU CHI CLINIC WILL ONLY REIMBURSE CASES THAT WERE REFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL BY TZU CHI CLINIC**

If you pay for medical treatment that Tzu Chi Clinic did not refer you for, you will not be reimbursed.

However, if you require urgent medical attention that cannot wait, contact Tzu Chi as soon as possible to inform them, and they will decide if reimbursement can be made.

If your doctor recommends in-patient medical services (this usually means major medical interventions and that you have to spend at least one night at the hospital), please note that there are very limited funds for such procedures and they are approved on a case-by-case basis only. Please contact Tzu Chi before scheduling any in-patient procedures.  Tzu Chi will review your case and let you know if the costs can be covered.

Not all in-patient costs can be covered.

If you have a medical emergency and you have to go to the hospital, please contact Tzu Chi Clinic as soon as you can and explain the urgency of your situation.

Tzu Chi Clinic can let you know if emergency medical costs can be reimbursed.

➡️ Please contact the Tzu Chi clinic for more information.

Free covid-19 vaccines are now widely available in Thailand to anyone, regardless of legal status.  If you have any questions about where to get vaccinated, please contact Tzu Chi clinic.