"We're doing this to commemorate His Majesty the King's 80th birthday," director-general of the Medical Registration Division Tares Krassanairawiwong said. The division is the responsibility of the Medical Health Service Department, which supervises nursing homes.

According to Tares, there are fewer than 10 nursing homes in the country with ministry medical-treatment licences. The number of elderly is increasing.

Most nursing homes cannot provide medical treatment and simply offer care for the aged. It is estimated those aged 65-plus account for 6 per cent of the country's 64 million people.

Family members at home care for most of these people, but as a result of changing lifestyles and work pressure there is an increasing need for nursing homes, particularly those providing medical treatment for chronic diseases.

The need for such centres is on the rise, especially as state hospitals are overstretched in terms of personnel and funding.

Tares said homes, in general, acted as rehab centres only. A medical-treatment licence is too expensive for most.

"We have to admit some of the requirements, originally intended for maximum protection of patients, make it difficult for medical nursing homes to take shape," Tares said.

Homes offering medical care must provide full-time doctors and nurses to look after those with chronic diseases. There must be enough ambulances,  labs and therapists, too.

Achara Deboonme

 The Nation