Mae Tao Clinic prepares to open SCBU as number of newborns requiring special care rises

Mizzima

At the Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Mae Sot on the Thai-Myanmar border, the number of hospitalized newborns requiring special care has been gradually rising since 2021, and preparations are currently underway to open a Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).

According to data from Mae Tao Clinic, the number of hospitalized newborns requiring special care rose from 143 cases in 2021 to 290 in 2023, and reached 330 in 2025.

Premature babies, low-birth-weight newborns, and severely ill infants in particular require specialized medical care, specialized equipment, and close monitoring, which has posed operational challenges for the clinic in delivering these services.

As a result, some newborns have had to be referred to Mae Sot General Hospital for more advanced treatment. These hospital referrals not only incur higher costs for families but also place an additional burden on the neonatal special care services of Mae Sot General Hospital.

To address this and minimize unnecessary referrals, Mae Tao Clinic has initiated efforts to establish a Special Care Baby Unit.

In 2025, the clinic conducted a needs assessment and began renovations to integrate the SCBU into its Reproductive Health Inpatient (RH IPD) Ward. The renovations include upgrading electrical systems, preparing infection prevention and control (IPC) systems, and structuring patient care layouts.

Essential neonatal equipment, including incubators, phototherapy devices, patient monitors, infusion pumps, and neonatal resuscitation devices, has also been procured and prepared.

Training healthcare staff for the SCBU, alongside the development of clinical guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs), is currently underway, with a pilot run scheduled to begin in September 2026.

Once operational, newborns requiring special care will be able to receive enhanced treatment directly at Mae Tao Clinic, reducing expenses for families and minimizing unnecessary referrals to Mae Sot General Hospital.