Thailand’s Department of Internal Trade Warns Dentists Against Charging Excessive Fees for Mouthwash

Thailand: The Department of Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce has raised concerns over the setting of dental service fees, particularly the charges for pre-procedural rinsing at private clinics. 

According to patient complaints, some dental clinics have been charging excessively high prices for this service, which do not align with the actual quality and cost of the service. To address this issue, the Dental Council of Thailand has been requested to inform its members about appropriate fees for pre-procedural rinsing and to disclose these fees to patients.

Disclosing Pre-Procedural Rinsing Fees to Patients

The issue of excessive fees for pre-procedural rinsing is of significant importance to the dental profession, as it risks the profession being perceived as profit-driven by society. To address this, the Dental Council has recommended that appropriate fees be set for pre-procedural rinsing, and that prices be disclosed and informed to patients. 

This approach aligns with the Council’s Code of Ethics for Dentists, BE 2538, which requires that fees be disclosed to patients when requested, while clause 8 of the code highlights the need for dentists to prioritize patient safety and waste reduction.

Protecting Patient’s Consumer Rights

Furthermore, dental clinics that charge for mouthwash must comply with the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services’ announcement regarding the display of prices of goods and services, which was issued on 3 July B.E. 2565. The announcement aims to protect consumer rights to compare prices or costs of services before deciding to purchase goods or services. Failure to display relevant service fees may result in a fine of up to 10,000 (USD$300) baht under Article 28, Article 4 of the Price of Goods and Services Act B.E. 2552.

The Price of Goods and Services Act, B.E. 2542, aims to prevent commercial coercion and to set prices of goods and services at a reasonable level accessible to the public. The sale of mouthwash in portions that do not correspond proportionally to the purchase of a bottle may fall under the category of intentional acts that cause prices to be unreasonably low or high, or cause price manipulation. 

The maximum penalty for such acts is imprisonment for up to 7 years or a fine of up to 140,000 baht (USD$4k), or both under Article 29, Article 41 of the Price of Goods and Services Act B.E. 2542.