A man who has been posing as a medical doctor for 10 years and his assistant were arrested at a medical clinic in Bangkok’s Min Buri district.
A team of Metropolitan Police Division 3 officers raided the clinic in Min Buri district on Thursday and arrested two men inside, Pol Col Krit Komnoi, chief of MPD 3, said on Friday.
The suspects were identified only as Boonwiwat, 50, who allegedly acted as a physician by diagnosing illnesses, prescribing medication, and issuing medical certificates, and his assistant Natthawut, 30, who reportedly handled patient registration, administered injections, and dispensed drugs.
The raid followed a complaint from a local resident that a medical clinic in Min Buri district was illegally treating patients and issuing medical certificates without proper licensing.
An undercover officer was then sent to the clinic, posing as a patient with fever and sore throat, and requested a medical certificate for sick leave. A man identifying himself as “Dr Phong” examined the officer and diagnosed diarrhoea before issuing a certificate under the name of “Dr Amnuay”, recommending one day of rest. The clinic charged 300 baht for the service.
Police later visited the clinic, where they found Mr Natthawut working at the front counter. When asked for the doctor on duty, he led officers to the second floor, where they found Mr Boonwiwat, alias Dr Phong, lying on a bed. He was taken downstairs for questioning.
A search uncovered a large quantity of medicines, saline solution, surgical kits, syringes, sutures, medical gowns, and 1,390 baht in cash. Officers also seized more than 6,000 patient records.
Mr Boonwiwat claimed he was a “real doctor” and had operated the clinic for a decade. However, he was unable to produce a medical practitioner’s licence and showed only a licence in traditional Thai medicine, said police.
During the search, the arresting team noticed a visibly distressed woman standing in front of the clinic. The woman, whose name was withheld, told police she had just been treated at the clinic for fever and had received an injection from Mr Natthawut, after which she was given medication to take home.
Officers advised her to immediately seek treatment at the nearest hospital, as the substance she had been injected with was unknown.
During questioning, Mr Natthawut admitted to registering patients, assessing symptoms, dispensing medication and administering injections based on instructions from Mr Boonwiwat.
He said he learned how to give injections from Mr Boonwiwat and practised on patients.
Police initially charged the two men with operating a medical facility without a licensed practitioner, practicing medicine without authorisation, forging and using false documents, selling modern medicines without permission, and possessing Category 4 controlled substances for distribution.
Authorities said the clinic’s operating licence expired on Dec 31 this year. Mr Boonwiwat admitted he previously hired Dr Amnuay as the responsible practitioner, but the doctor did not renew his contract. He then changed the clinic’s name and assigned responsibility for patient care to Mr Natthawut.
Prescriptions and medical certificates were routinely issued under the names of “Dr Amnuay” and “Dr Chakkaraphit”, alternating between two related clinic branches.
Mr Boonwiwat also confessed to closing two clinics in mid-September after learning health authorities planned inspections.