Thailand Orders Closure of Nursing Home Over Abuse Violations
Thailand’s Department of Health Support Services has shut down the Baan Serm Suk Nursing Home in Nonthaburi after discovering residents were chained, denied food, and kept in unsafe conditions. The facility was also found to be housing 59 psychiatric and drug‑addiction patients without proper authorization and operating with more beds than licensed. Licenses have been revoked and the operator may face criminal charges under the Hospital Act.
Dr. Phuwadech Surakhot, Director-General of the Department of Health Support Services, said the agency acted after receiving allegations that residents were chained and starved, which endangers their physical and mental health. The inspection team found the home was providing 14 beds although licensed for only nine, and on the second and third floors it was secretly caring for 59 psychiatric patients and individuals with drug‑addiction‑related mental conditions without having obtained permission as a health‑care facility or hospital. This clearly exceeded the permitted scope and violated the law. He added that the licensee and operator failed to supervise and neglected to prevent such illegal and immoral conduct, which could endanger service users. Consequently, the department ordered the revocation of the facility’s health‑care business license and the operator’s license, effective October 12, 2026. Deputy Director-General Akom Praditsuwat noted that a senior‑care or dependent‑person facility may admit psychiatric or drug‑addiction patients only if they have been treated and are stable, and must have a doctor’s diagnostic certificate. Admitting such patients without proper authorization amounts to operating an unlicensed hospital, punishable under the Hospital Act of 1998 by up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both. Anyone with information about violations can contact the Department of Health Support Services at 02‑193‑7002 or the provincial Health Support Centers 1‑12.
