Health
Health for kids in Phuket covers everything from maternity leave through to having a baby to kids dental care and pediatricians. Find out what vaccines your child should be having and what birth options are available.
Maternity Leave
According to the 1998 Labour Protection Act female employees who have made Social Welfare Fund payments for seven months or more prior to pregnancy are entitled to:
- 90 days of maternity leave
- Full pay: 45 days from the employer and 45 days from the Social Welfare Fund
- With a doctor's certificate, a temporary change of duties either before and/or after the child's birth is allowed
- Protection from termination of employment due to pregnancy
Birth
Most non-Thai mothers opt to have their child at either Bangkok Phuket hospital or Phuket International Hospital. At the former there is an unusually high rate of cesarean births. Be sure to discuss any requirements well in advance as you may be surprised (as I was) that on the day there is no gas and air available unless you pre order it! Additionally at Bangkok Phuket you can now bank your child stem cells which are then stored in Bangkok. It also advisable that you tell the Doctors and remind them when you arrive to give birth if you want to breast feed so that the baby is brought straight back to you after birth. Otherwise you may find your baby will be given a bottle of milk before being returned to you.
Before you leave the hospital you will be shown how to bathe the baby if you wish and you will also be given a health record. The health record must be kept and taken to every Doctors visit thereafter.
Vaccines
The following vaccinations are recommended with the only mandatory one being BCG to prevent tuberculosis
* Poliomyelitis
* Measles
* Mumps
* Rubella
* Tetanus
* Diphtheria
* Pertussis (whooping cough)
* Japanese B Encephalitis Vaccine
* Haemophilus Influenza (HIB)
* Hepatitis B
Birth Certificates and Registration
The hospital will make the neccesary arrangements for the birth certificate which will be in Thai. You then need to take this to a lawyers office and obtain a certified translation. Once you have this you need to contact your embassy in Bangkok to arrange for the official birth certificate from your home country and passport. Make sure you have the following documents also available as some or all may be required:
* The birth certificate, translated into English
* A passport-sized photograph
* The parents' passports
* A copy of the parents' marriage certificate, if applicable
* Divorce Certificate, if applicable
* A fee payable to the Embassy
Note that children who have one Thai parent will automatically be granted Thai citizenship.
Pediatricians
There are teams of pediatricians on hand at the international hospitals and you will also find local doctors close to where you live. Additionally one pediatrician stands out and is constantly being recommended by Mums and Dads in the South of Phuket. Dr. Siriporn Seauwatanakul operates a Child Care Clinic in Viset Rd, Rawai (opposite the Lemon Green Petrol Station). Open Monday - Saturday 09:00 - 12:00 and 17:00 - 19:00, call 076 383577 for an appointment.
Dentists
Dentists are also in abundance in Phuket but one Dentist stands out as it is Phuket's first child dentist. Children are kept relaxed with DVD screens, colourfully dressed Dentists, balloons, fish and lots of toys. Open daily from 09:00 - 20:30 and located in Phuket town. Call Children Family Dental Clinic on 076 210 069 to make an appointment.
