Health
Local or international health insurance in Thailand? (2026)
Most expats either buy local or international health insurance in Thailand to satisfy a visa officer, not because they've actually worked out what they need. It's a box to tick, a document to upload, and then it's forgotten about until something goes wrong. That approach...
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Thailand launches Health Excellence 2026 to strengthen global health and healing tourism
Thailand has officially launched Thailand Health Excellence 2026, supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and a network of public and private partners, medical institutions, academic organisations, and wellness providers. The initiative aims to strengthen Thailand’s position as a global health and healing destination as more travellers seek experiences focused on prevention, recovery, longevity, …
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Thailand is cheap to relocate to – until one thing breaks the bank
A single person can live comfortably in Bangkok for about 43,000 baht a month, roughly US$1,200. Chiang Mai runs cheaper at around 30,200 baht (US$850), while Phuket costs more at 47,000 baht (US$1,300), largely down to rent. For most Western budgets, that’s a fraction of home-country living costs, and it’s the number most people research …
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Recharge this rainy season in Phuket with Sole Mio Clinic’s immunity & energy boost
“A strong immune system is your best daily protection.” The rainy season often brings a change of pace. While Phuket remains vibrant throughout the year, fluctuating weather, busy schedules, travel, and daily stress can leave the body feeling tired, depleted, and more vulnerable to seasonal illness. July is a timely reminder that wellness begins with …
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Vejthani International Hospital completes Thailand’s first private-hospital robotic kidney transplant from deceased donor
Vejthani International Hospital has successfully performed a kidney transplant from a deceased donor using the Da Vinci Robotic-Assisted Surgery System, becoming the first private hospital in Thailand to complete the procedure with this technology. The transplant was carried out by a multidisciplinary team including nephrologists, urologic surgeons, vascular surgeons, and healthcare professionals involved in organ …
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Jellyfish sting treatment: what to do and what not to do
You are wading out at one of Thailand’s beautiful beaches, water warm and clear, when something brushes your leg and the burning starts. Or maybe you stepped on something at the tide line that looked like a deflated plastic bag. Either way, getting the jellyfish sting treatment right in the next few minutes matters more …
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The Beekeeper House: Asia’s most accredited mental health and addiction rehab
The Beekeeper House, a medically licensed residential treatment centre in the mountains of Chiang Mai, has been awarded AACI Gold accreditation from the American Accreditation Commission International, the highest standard awarded to psychiatric and behavioural health services. The recognition places the centre among the most extensively accredited mental health and addiction facilities in Asia, and …
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Phyathai-Paolo partners with Shop.BeDee to advance personalised healthcare in Thailand
Phyathai-Paolo Hospital Group has announced a strategic partnership with Shop.BeDee, a leading digital healthcare platform, to enhance access to healthcare services and accelerate the shift toward personalised healthcare in Thailand. The collaboration reflects changing consumer behaviour, as more people are turning to digital channels to search for health information, compare services, and make healthcare decisions. …
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The symptoms women overlook and what a gynecologic oncologist in Bangkok wants you to know
Gynecologic cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related death in women, yet many of the earliest warning signs go unrecognised for months, sometimes years. By the time a woman seeks care, the window for early intervention has often already narrowed. Prof. Dr Siriwan Tangjitgamol has spent her career working at exactly that window. An …
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Travel insurance for long stay in Thailand: 10 things to consider
The Destination Thailand Visa has put thousands of remote workers, freelancers, and long-stay foreigners (people who stay for many months at a time, often 180+ days a year) into a position the insurance market was not really designed for. They live in Thailand in every practical sense, but on a visa that, on paper, looks …
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Retiring in Bangkok: why hospital access beats price per sqm
If you are retiring in Bangkok, you have probably been filtering neighbourhoods by price per square metre, BTS stops from Sukhumvit, and how far the nearest supermarket is. That is the wrong filter. The better one is simpler: which district puts you within 15 minutes of a hospital with English-speaking specialists, JCI accreditation, and direct …
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Thailand’s dominant Covid strain not more severe, DDC says
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control confirmed today, June 3, that the Covid-19 NB.1.8.1 variant has remained the country’s dominant strain since mid-2025, but officials have found no evidence that it causes more severe illness than earlier variants. DDC director-general Dr Montien Kanasawat said the Ministry of Public Health continues to monitor Covid-19 and changes in …
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Health insurance in Thailand may have just got more expensive
When your health insurance renewal in Thailand lands and there’s an unfamiliar clause about a 30% co-payment on next year’s medical bills, that’s not a mistake or a typo. It’s the result of a regulatory change that came into effect in March 2025, and 2026 is the first full renewal cycle where it shows up …
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Travel insurance in Thailand: why it’s not enough for expats
Travel insurance in Thailand covers the ambulance, the ER, and the first few days of treatment. For most short-term visitors, that is exactly what it is designed to do. The question changes when Thailand stops being a destination and becomes where you actually live. What travel insurance is actually designed to do Most travel policies …
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Ebola risks in Thailand under watch after Congo outbreak
The Thai government has ordered the Ministry of Public Health to closely monitor Ebola risks in Thailand after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo an international public health emergency. Deputy government spokesperson Ploythalay Laksameesaengchan said Today, May 20, that the WHO declaration concerned an Ebola …
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Thailand’s medical tourism recovery and rising demand for cosmetic surgery
In 2018, Thailand stood at the peak of its medical tourism boom. Millions of international patients travel to the country each year, drawn by internationally trained doctors, modern hospitals, and treatment costs often significantly lower than in Western markets. Then the pandemic paused global travel. Today, that momentum has returned. By 2024 to 2025, the …
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Foreign tourist among new Mpox cases reported in Thailand
Thailand has reported 1,074 cumulative Mpox cases and 16 deaths, with health officials warning people in higher-risk groups to monitor symptoms after new Clade Ib cases and infections linked to tourist areas. Dr Montien Kanasawat, director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said today, May 19, that surveillance data from the Division of Epidemiology …
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Online hair dye leaves Ratchaburi man with severe allergic reaction
A man in Ratchaburi has warned others to carefully check hair dye products after he suffered a severe allergic reaction from a hair dye he bought online that left his scalp irritated, his face swollen, and fluid leaking from the dyed area. The case was shared on Facebook by a user named Khun Weng Khao …
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Thailand tightens Hantavirus screening for South America arrivals
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) has tightened screening for travellers arriving from 13 South American countries as part of Hantavirus surveillance, although no cases have been found in Thailand. Today, May 12, DDC director-general Montien Khanasawat inspected the international disease control checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The visit followed screening measures introduced for travellers arriving …
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Coronavirus found in Thai bats poses low spread risk, DDC says
Thailand has found a coronavirus in bats during routine wildlife disease surveillance, but no human infections have been reported, and the public risk remains low, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC). DDC Director-General Dr Montien Kanasawat said today, May 8, that the discovery reflected Thailand’s ability to rapidly detect emerging diseases through its …
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Mpox cases in Thailand reach 48 after Songkran period
Thailand is closely monitoring mpox after the Songkran travel period, with 48 confirmed cases reported this year as of May 3 and health officials warning that more cases may appear during the disease’s incubation period. Department of Disease Control (DDC) chief Dr Montien Kanasawat said today, May 7, that mpox remains under close watch, especially …
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MP urges action as Thai youth depression hits 26.9%
Democrat Party MP Karndee Leopairote, yesterday, May 6, urged the government to strengthen mental health support for young people after citing rising rates of depression and self-harm among Thai youth. Speaking during a House of Representatives meeting at Parliament, Karndee said she was raising the issue both as an MP and as a mother after …
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Ubon Ratchathani man dies from rabies after puppy scratch
A man from Ubon Ratchathani died from rabies after he was scratched by a Siberian Husky puppy, prompting livestock officials to vaccinate more than 600 dogs and cats within a 5 kilometre radius of the outbreak site. The story was shared today, May 6, by Dr Worapol Charoenporn through the Facebook page สุขภาพดีไปกับหมอวรพล, after he …
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Cigna’s May offer: Save up to 20% on international health insurance for life
If you have been putting off sorting your health insurance in Thailand, May 2026 is the month to do it. Cigna Global is running an exclusive offer this month, save up to 20% on international health plans, and that discount stays with you for the lifetime of your policy. The offer runs until May 31, …
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‘Motion is life’ — What one orthopaedic trauma specialist wants you to know
Broken bones are more common than most people think. Around 50% to 60% of all orthopaedic cases involve fractures, not joint replacements, not spinal disorders, but fractures. Traffic accidents, falls, sports injuries, and workplace incidents send people through emergency rooms every day, and for many of them, the quality of care they receive in the …
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A new rhythm for your body with Sole Mio Clinic’s ‘Shape & Recover’ programme throughout May
Shape is not only built through effort. It is shaped by how the body recovers, responds and adapts. As May arrives in Phuket and the pace of travel begins to ease, Sole Mio Clinic is inviting locals and long-stay guests to use the quieter rhythm to reset, refine and support balance through its Shape & …
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Wiped out during Songkran in Pattaya? RejuveHub offers hangover recovery IV drip to help you get back on your feet
RejuveHub has published a 2026 Songkran guide for visitors in Pattaya and is promoting a seasonal Songkran Recovery IV Package, aimed at supporting hydration and recovery during Thailand’s New Year celebrations. Songkran in Pattaya often means long days in the heat, extended time outdoors, water fights, nightlife and alcohol. RejuveHub said this combination can leave …
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New Pratumnak gym Breathe focuses on strength, mobility and partner-led development
Breathe, a new gym focused on strength and mobility training, has opened in Pratumnak Soi 6, opposite the Russian market. The gym describes itself as more than a conventional fitness facility, saying it was created to make strength and mobility training easier to adopt for a wider range of people, from first-time gym users to …
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How slow is too slow? When to see a doctor for a low heart rate
Dealing with a heart condition can feel overwhelming, but understanding what’s happening in your body is the first step toward taking control of your health. If you or a loved one has been told you have a slow heart rate, you might be wondering if it’s a cause for concern. Let’s break down the facts …
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Thailand’s April heat can kill, but it can also bankrupt you
The heat in Thailand in April is not just uncomfortable. It is, by measurable standards, medically dangerous. Air temperatures regularly hit 40°C and above, but the number that actually matters is the heat index, which is how hot it feels when humidity is factored in. In Bangkok, that figure climbs to around 53°C on an …
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Phyathai 2 International Hospital wins the ‘Medical Tourism Hospital of the Year – Thailand’ at the Healthcare Asia Awards 2026
Phyathai 2 International Hospital, part of the Phyathai–Paolo Hospital Group, has been honoured with the prestigious Medical Tourism Hospital of the Year – Thailand at the Healthcare Asia Awards 2026, recognising excellence in clinical outcomes, service standards, and the ability to deliver seamless care for international patients. The award highlights the hospital’s success in building a comprehensive, …
