The healthcare system in Thailand is of a reasonably good standard. It is usual to find English speaking doctors and nurses in most hospitals and clinics and there are both private and public hospitals across the country. In order to obtain emergency medical assistance in Thailand the first option is to call the Tourist police on 1155 or alternatively you can call the nearest international hospital.

There are three sectors to the Thai health system. These are the government-provided health services, a number of non-profit health organisations known as NGOs and private health services.

The Department of Medical Services is responsible for all government-run healthcare services in Thailand. It should be noted that government hospitals and clinics are often crowded. Waiting times for treatment can be long and it may be that some hospitals do not have the most up to date facilities. Thai citizens will have a Universal Coverage Health card which means that healthcare is free, unless they need treatment on a Saturday for which there is a charge. These cards are issued by the National Health Security Office. If you are not a Thai citizen then you will need to pay towards your treatment. There are no restrictions on expats being treated in a Thai hospital but all wards are shared and some are mixed. A single room might be available but will cost extra. There are more than 900 government-run hospitals in Thailand.

The private hospitals in Thailand are well known for medical tourism, with people opting to travel to the country for cosmetic surgery and other treatments. Thailand has almost 500 private hospitals.

Those who are living below the poverty line and need medical treatment can attend clinics and hospitals run by organisations such as the Red Cross.

Those who need to see a general practitioner can find them at most hospitals or at clinics. The clinics in Thailand offer a wide range of services and this are reasonably cheap.

There are no state run medical plans which will offer medical assistance to expats who are not Thai citizens. Most expats who are working in Thailand will normally be a part of their employer’s health insurance scheme although private health insurance is available. It is worth checking the details of a private health insurance policy as many offer life insurance too and you may need to specifically request a ‘health only’ policy if you do not need the life insurance. In order to obtain health insurance you only need your passport or a Thai ID card, but if you require life insurance you need to have a work permit.

A patient who does not have health insurance may be asked to prove that they have the funds to pay for their treatment if they go to a private hospital in Thailand. Those who have insurance will not need to do anything except give the details of the policy as the hospital and the insurance company will communicate with each other directly although there are some policies which will expect you to pay then claim it back later. It is important to ensure that the policy gives plenty of cover as if the bill is more than the policy allows the patient will be expected to pay the difference before they are allowed to leave the hospital.

Smoking has been banned in many public places in Thailand and the numbers of smokers in the country are relatively low when compared with other countries in Asia. The government has run a number of campaigns to discourage smoking. Obesity is becoming a health issue in Thailand as the number of fast food outlets is on the increase. In many areas eating out is considerably cheaper than eating at home and this is one of the reasons for the higher levels of obesity.

There are a number of counselling services which are available in Thailand although many of these are private and will need to be paid for. The Samaritans does have a branch in Thailand and this is a 24 hour service which is staffed by volunteers and there is a line for English speakers to call.

Useful Resources

National Health Security Office
www.nhso.go.th
Tel: 1330
Email: inter-affairs@nhso.go.th

Samaritans Thailand
www.samaritansthailandblogspot.com
Tel: + 66 2713 6791 (English volunteers on this line)