Jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will continue receiving treatment at Police General Hospital under an extension approved by the Department of Corrections after a 60-day out-of-prison period expired on Saturday.

A report said doctors had concluded it was necessary for Thaksin to stay in Police General Hospital.

Details of his treatment could not be disclosed, in keeping with the patient’s right to privacy, said the statement.

Thaksin, 74, is known to have high blood pressure as well as heart and respiratory problems and other ailments associated with old age. He had surgery last month for an unspecified condition, his daughter Paetongtarn said.

Under the regulations governing inmate transfers to outside hospitals, any stay longer than 30 days must be approved by the director-general of the Department of Corrections. That approval was granted on Sept 22.

National police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol said earlier on Saturday that a medical opinion would be sent to the Department of Corrections to decide whether the patient would be transferred back to a prison or not. It was not up to the Office of the Royal Thai Police to decide, he said.

On Tuesday, the police chief ordered the Police General Hospital to submit a report on the treatment provided for Thaksin.

The move came after a photo was circulated showing Thaksin wearing a patient’s gown and face mask, heading for scans.

The photo, which went viral on social media, sparked criticism about special privileges and treatment Thaksin might be receiving.

Earlier, a group calling itself the Network of Students and People Reforming Thailand called on the Ministry of Justice to stop giving special privileges to Thaksin.