Health

BRC Medical Unit can assist UNHCR registered refugees and asylum seekers with the following:

• Counselling on medical issues and access to medical care
• Support for major surgery and other medical interventions for life threatening conditions. (Cost and treatment must be pre-approved by UNHCR-BRC Health Panel)
• Cover set costs for delivery of the first child in Thailand. See the section below on “What medical support is there for pregnancy and childbirth” for more information on pregnancy and delivery support.
• Support for hospitalization at public hospitals for children under 5 years old.
• Distribution of condoms free of charge to all refugees.
• Accompaniment to hospitals and interpreter support for hospital visits (on a case-by-case basis and as agreed with BRC)
• Other free services provided at BRC for refugees and asylum seekers include psychosocial counselling, health education, mobile dental care and family planning.

⚠️ Except for some emergencies, only medical treatments/assistance that were pre-approved by the Health Panel can be reimbursed.

➡️ Please contact BRC Medical Unit for more information.

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.  Please contact BRC Medical Unit for any questions.

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 BRC or 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.

➡️ For any questions or concerns, please contact BRC for medical counselling.

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 twice a month.  Please make sure to reserve an appointment online here.

Support for delivery (child birth) costs:

• Through its partner BRC, UNHCR can provide financial support for child delivery only if this is your first pregnancy in Thailand.

The maximum support for normal delivery is THB 8,000, and for a caesarean section, THB 15,000.

• Tzu Chi Foundation will only provide financial support for child delivery for your second pregnancy, according to Tzu Chi guidelines.
• If this is your third or more child, costs cannot be covered by BRC or Tzu Chi Foundation. Please contact BRC for possible referrals to other organizations that may be able to help.

⚠️ BRC can only make referrals to other organizations if you have a medical certificate from a hospital confirming your pregnancy.

Medical counselling and support:

• Medical counselling and information: BRC can counsel on available support provided by UNHCR or other organizations. Counselling includes:
  • Recommendations of public hospitals close to your home,
  • Medical information on how to take care of yourself and your baby during and after your pregnancy, including information on vaccines for newborns.
  • Guidance on how to obtain birth registration documents for your newborn child.
• Medical interpretation: BRC can provide interpreters for phone or on-site appointments at some public health facilities. Due to the high demand for such requests, make sure to ask for this service at least one week before your appointment date.
• Experiencing problems or complications: BRC can make home visits during and/or after your pregnancy to monitor your condition and give you medical advice.
• Family planning: BRC can counsel with options for contraceptive procedures at a public hospital and provide financial support for these. Condoms are also available for free at BRC.
• 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.

To request reimbursements from any organization, we strongly recommend that you keep all medical certificates related to your pregnancy and child delivery. All organizations will require an original copy of the documents to process the reimbursement.

Please review the services and criteria for BRC and Tzu Chi Clinic explained in the sections “What do BRC health services cover?” and “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 contact BRC Medical Unit before scheduling any in-patient procedures.  BRC will review your case and let you know if the costs can be covered by BRC.

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 and BRC Medical Unit as soon as you can and explain the urgency of your situation.

BRC and Tzu Chi Clinic can let you know if emergency medical costs can be reimbursed.  If the fees cannot be covered by BRC or Tzu Chi Clinic, BRC Medical Unit may be able to negotiate a discount with the hospital.

➡️ Please contact the Medical Unit at BRC or Tzu Chi clinic for more information.

Contact BRC for information and support for children’s vaccines.

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 BRC.