After Reports of Caged Patients in Kanchanaburi: 8 Warning Signs to Check Before Choosing a Treatment Center

What Happened in Kanchanaburi

On 5 October 2026, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) inspected an elderly and psychiatric care centre in Tha Muang district, Kanchanaburi, after a complaint that patients had been physically assaulted, confined and detained. Officers found 92 patients, most of them psychiatric patients.

The Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) said the centre was licensed as a 50-bed care facility for elderly and dependent people, permitted to accept only psychiatric patients with mild conditions ("green level"), yet it was caring for around 100 people. The Minister of Public Health ordered DHSS and the Department of Mental Health to inspect it and said cage-like beds do not comply with regulations. The owner said the barred rooms were used for severe psychiatric patients for safety. The case is under investigation.

This centre is not a drug treatment facility, but the same lessons apply to any place that cares for patients on a residential basis, and it is not the first case in Kanchanaburi. In 2021 a drug rehabilitation programme run at a temple was ordered closed after more than 200 patients were found in overcrowded conditions, amid allegations of physical abuse and demands for money from families.

What Thai Law Says About Restraining and Secluding Patients

Section 15 of the Mental Health Act B.E. 2551 (2008) gives patients the right to treatment according to medical standards with regard for human dignity, and to have information about their illness kept confidential.

Section 17 states that treatment by physical restraint, confinement or seclusion is not permitted unless necessary to prevent harm to the patient, other people or others' property, and it must be under the close supervision of a treating professional according to professional standards.

In plain terms, restricting a patient is a temporary emergency measure, used only when truly necessary and with professional staff close by. It is not a way to house people, not a punishment, and not a shortcut to make up for too few staff.

Does a License Mean a Facility Is Safe?

A license is the minimum requirement, not a guarantee. The centre in the news held a license renewed in August 2026. The problems authorities found were that the license type did not match the patients it actually cared for, and that it held more patients than it was licensed for.

Families should ask what type of license a facility holds, whether it covers the service they need, and how many patients it may accept. For drug treatment, Thailand's Narcotics Code requires treatment to take place in a drug treatment facility designated under the law for the protection in Section 113 to apply. If unsure, you can ask the Department of Health Service Support on hotline 1426 or the drug treatment hotline 1165.

8 Warning Signs Not to Ignore

1. The family is not allowed to see the actual premises, including bedrooms and the areas where patients live, or is shown only a reception room.

2. No contact or visits are allowed for long periods without a clear treatment reason and a set time frame.

3. Staff cannot name the responsible doctor, nurse or therapist, or there are no qualified professionals on site.

4. Locking up, tying down, hitting or withholding food is described as "discipline" or "correcting behaviour".

5. The facility is overcrowded, with more patients than the rooms and staff you can see.

6. Costs are unclear, there are penalties for leaving early, or extra charges without paperwork.

7. There is no written treatment plan, and staff will not name medications or explain why they are used.

8. Patients are seized or forcibly brought in without a medical or legal process.

Questions to Ask Before You Decide

What type of license do you hold, what is the license number, and how many patients may you accept?

Who are the responsible doctor and nurse, and how many staff care for how many patients by day and by night?

If a patient has severe withdrawal, confusion or aggression, how do you handle it? Do you try to calm the situation through talking first, and when do you transfer to a hospital?

What is your policy on restricting patients? Who orders it, how long can it last, is it recorded, and is the family informed?

When can the family visit or call? How can a voluntary patient end treatment, and which costs should we know about in advance?

A good facility will answer these questions plainly. If the answers are vague or you feel rushed, slow down and gather more information.

If You Suspect a Family Member Is Being Mistreated

Ask to see the patient and request an explanation directly from the person in charge. Write down what you observe with dates and times, and keep admission documents and receipts.

You can report a health facility to the Department of Health Service Support on hotline 1426. In an emergency, call the police on 191. For advice on drug treatment or to find another facility, call the 1165 hotline.

How Petch Nava Can Help

Petch Nava is a legally registered private drug treatment facility in Amphawa, Samut Songkhram. Prices for every programme are published, and family therapy is part of the recovery process. Families are welcome to call and ask the questions in this article before deciding. All information is kept confidential.