Thailand’s Consumer Protection Division (CPD) police raided two unlicensed clinics in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district and in Pathum Thani and arrested two men who claim to be doctors.

Acting on a tipoff from members of the public that the clinics, located in Khlong Song Ton Nun sub-district in Lat Krabang and in Khlong 1 sub-district in Pathum Thani, may be operating without licenses and that the “doctors” there may not be certified physicians, two police teams were sent to investigate yesterday (Saturday).

In a raid on the clinic in Lat Krabang, the police found a 51-year-old man, identified only as “Ratthaphum”, treating some patients. The police asked to see Ratthaphum’s doctor’s license, but he could not produce one and admitted that he worked at a hospital for about 13 years and then went abroad to attend a medical school, but did not complete his studies.

The suspect claimed, however, that he likes the medical profession and decided to open his own clinic about three months ago to treat patients.

In the other raid, on a clinic in Pathum Thani, the CPD officers found 36-year-old “Kritsaran” treating some patients. He admitted that he does not have a doctor’s license or a license to operate a clinic, but he claimed that he graduated with a medical degree from a foreign university, is now undergoing training at a state hospital and is in the process of taken an exam to obtain a doctor’s certificate.

Both were charged with performing medical procedureswithout a license, which carries penalties of three years in prison and/or a fine of 30,000 baht on conviction, operating a clinic without a license, which is liable to five years in prison and/or a fine of 100,000 baht on conviction, and selling pharmaceuticals without a permit, which carries five-year jail term and/or a fine of 10,000 baht, if convicted.

Both pleaded guilty to the charges.

Pol Maj-Gen Anan Nanasombat, commander of Consumer Protection Division, advised members of the public to check the credentials of doctors and the licenses of clinics before undergoing treatment.