History of Thai Travel Clinic

Our History

The Thai Travel Clinic at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases was first established in 2005. Initially, the clinic was just a small examination room on the second floor of the hospital’s Outpatient Department (OPD). Since then, the clinic has expanded, with the number of patients steadily increasing from 100-200 per year in the early years to 1,000 per year in 2011, and reaching 5,000 per year a few years later. Currently, the clinic serves over 14,000 patients annually and continues to show growth.

In addition to providing medical services, the clinic plays a crucial role in teaching and specialist training. A notable achievement is that the clinic and the Faculty of Tropical Medicine are the leading institutions for training specialists in Travel Medicine. The curriculum is approved by the Medical Council of Thailand, and the first cohort of resident physicians began training in 2014. Training continues to this day. Over the past 20 years, the clinic has produced more than 40 specialists in this field, who are then distributed among hospitals and public and private healthcare organizations.

Thai Travel Clinic in 2005.

In the academic and research fields, the Thai Travel Clinic also plays a crucial role. Our staffs teach physicians and medical personnel in various fields, particularly at the postgraduate level. They also publish numerous academic works in leading international medical journals. Furthermore, the clinic serves as a site for academic study visits in Travel Medicine for both Thai and foreign physicians and other medical professionals.

Timeline

1 October 2005

Established the Thai Travel Clinic.

The Thai Travel Clinic opened on October 1, 2005, on the 2nd floor of the Outpatient Department (now the Traditional Chinese Medicine Unit in the Sornchai Building).

2006

Join the GeoSentinel Network.

One year after its establishment, the clinic became a member of the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network, an internationally recognized academic network comprising over 70 member sites of university hospitals and leading medical centers worldwide.

In the same year, the Travel Medicine Research Unit was established to conduct research and create knowledge in this field.

2007-2011

Expand the clinic area and broaden the services.

The clinic expanded its area and added several important services, such as offering yellow fever and typhoid vaccinations, and malaria prevention medication, resulting in a significant increase in the number of travelers seeking services, exceeding 1000 people per year.

2012

Thai Travel Clinic's research is internationally recognized.

Research to create new knowledge in Travel Medicine field is one of our key missions. From its founding in 2005 to 2012, the clinic produced several high-quality research papers that are highly cited in academia. In 2012, our clinical faculty published an editorial in the Journal of Travel Medicine titled “Travel Medicine for Asian Travelers: Do we need new approaches?”, highlighting the importance of travel medicine for Asian travelers.

2013

The clinic has moved to the Rajanagarindra Building.

In 2013, the Thai Travel Clinic relocated to the new hospital building (Rajanagarindra Building), increasing its capacity to provide services. At that time, approximately 2,500 travelers were served annually.

2014

The first residency training program has commenced.

After the Medical Council of Thailand approved the specialized training curriculum in Travel Medicine and designated the Faculty of Tropical Medicine as the primary training institution, the Faculty began training its first residency training program in 2014. This marked the first time such a specialty training program was offered in Thailand and the world.

2018

The research was advanced, and the first academic book was published.

Since its establishment, the clinic has published more than 50 research papers in international medical journals, and its faculty physicians authored the book “Travel Medicine” in 2018, which is considered a significant academic textbook on Travel Medicine in Thailand.

2019-2022

Pre-departure screening and various services during COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thai Travel Clinic adapted and developed several services, including pre-travel COVID-19 testing, issuing vaccine passports, providing teleconsultation, and offering free COVID-19 vaccinations to the general public.

2023-2024

The clinic is continuously developing and expanding.

Following the pandemic, the clinic experienced continuous growth in all aspects: a significant increase in patients, exceeding 10,000 per year; increased research conducted by faculty and resident physicians; and a large number of visitors for internships. Furthermore, in 2025, the clinic’s faculty physicians authored the book “Travel Medicine, 2nd Edition,” a true advancement in this field.

2025

20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Thai Travel Clinic

Since its establishment in 2005, over 20 years, the clinic has cared for more than 100,000 Thai and international tourists from over 85 countries worldwide, and has published more than 125 research papers. The clinic has also produced over 30 specialist physicians in travel medicine. These achievements demonstrate the clinic’s continued success. The Faculty of Tropical Medicine therefore organized the “20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Travel Medicine Clinic” on January 16, 2026. Our clinic is committed to development and progress, in line with our vision: “To Be a Role Model in Travel Medicine Practice and Care.”