Health
Boost your well-being through our comprehensive articles on yoga, detox, spas, Thai massage, mental health, and wellness destinations to revitalize your senses in Thailand. Gain expert advice on finding the perfect retreat for rejuvenation and self-improvement, while exploring the therapeutic offerings throughout the country. Discover Thailand’s holistic approach to health and wellness, and experience the transformative power of relaxation and self-care.
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Officials raid Pathum Thani clinic run without a doctor
Health officials and consumer protection police found only a nursing assistant treating patients at an unlicensed clinic under a Rangsit dormitory on September 10.
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Why aftercare matters as much as the surgeon when you get cosmetic surgery in Thailand
Thailand has built a major cosmetic surgery industry over the past two decades, drawing international patients with experienced plastic surgeons, internationally accredited hospitals and costs that can be considerably lower than in Australia, New Zealand or the United States. Thailand’s medical and wellness tourism market was estimated at US$31.5 billion in 2024, with cosmetic surgery emerging as one of its…
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FDA dismisses cancer fears linked to plastic water bottles
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reassured consumers that PET water bottles are not made using BPA, after social media posts claimed bottles left in hot cars or direct sunlight could release dangerous chemicals and cause cancer. FDA deputy secretary-general Dr Pichet Puedkhunthod said today, September 10, that the information being shared online could give the public a misleading…
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Why does rain make you tired during Thailand’s rainy season?
There is a very specific kind of tiredness that shows up during Thailand’s rainy season. You are not ill, and you may have slept perfectly well, but the sky is grey, your shoes are damp, Bangkok traffic is barely moving, and somehow it is only 2pm. If you have ever wondered why rain makes you tired, there is some science…
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Thai ER doctor dies after falling ill on duty. Her family donates her organs
Family of ER doctor donates her organs after sudden illness on duty The Thai Red Cross Society has paid tribute to an emergency medicine doctor in Chachoengsao whose family donated her organs after she fell ill while treating patients. Dr Ketjutha Makarod, known by the Thai nickname Mor Ju, was an emergency medicine specialist at Sanam Chai Khet Hospital, the…
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Getting seriously ill in Thailand doesn’t have to derail everything
Most people planning a move to Thailand think about visas, housing, and cost of living. Fewer think about a cancer diagnosis, a heart attack, or a stroke – the kind of news no one plans for. These aren’t rare events, and knowing what each one actually costs and involves is far more useful now than it is from a hospital…
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Thailand becomes seventh South-East Asian country to end rubella
Thailand becomes the seventh country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to eliminate rubella as a public health problem.
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Thailand Reports 53,362 Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Cases in 2026
Health officials urge schools to screen for clustered HFMD outbreaks as rainy season cases continue, with over 53,000 cases and one death recorded this year in Thailand.
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The Friend Who Stopped Showing Up: Depression, Anxiety and What Actually Helps After 50
Nobody warns you that the hardest part of expat life in Thailand can arrive fifteen years in, and that it rarely looks like sadness. You have probably watched this happen to someone. He used to be at the Tuesday quiz. First to arrive at the golf day, last to leave the Sunday roast. Then it was “next time, mate.” Then…
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Meth-laced ‘K-Pod’ e-cigarette liquid found in Thailand for first time
The Department of Medical Sciences says a pod sample sent for testing in June contained methamphetamine and etomidate.
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You can consult a doctor at any hour, without ever leaving home
Got a cold that won’t quit, a stomach bug, or a question about a medication and don’t want to lose half a day to a hospital visit over it? Telemedicine in Thailand has become a practical answer to that, letting you speak to a doctor by video or phone in minutes, any hour, without booking a clinic slot you don’t…
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Thailand dengue cases hit 21,620, death toll reaches 31 in 2026
Thailand has recorded 21,620 dengue cases and 31 deaths this year, with infections continuing to rise during the seasonal outbreak period, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) reported today, August 26. Dr Anek Mungaomklang, deputy director-general of the DDC under the Ministry of Public Health, said the figures cover January 1 to August 19. Although case numbers remain below last…
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Royally-donated cancer drug reaches 215 gold card patients so far
The government says a royally-donated cancer drug has reached 215 patients so far. That’s out of 4,420 registered to receive it. Distribution continues toward a target of 23,000 boxes by October. Deputy government spokesperson Ploythale Laksameesangchan said on August 21 that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has so far delivered 2,880 boxes of the drug, IMCRANIB, to Lopburi Cancer…
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Phyathai–Paolo Hospital Group launches ‘Addwise Comorbid’ to advance Thailand’s intelligent healthcare ecosystem
Phyathai–Paolo Hospital Group has launched Addwise Comorbid, a Clinical Intelligence Platform designed to support physicians in assessing and identifying risks associated with comorbidities. The platform covers nine major body systems and helps physicians gain a broader understanding of each patient’s health profile, identify potential hidden risks, and connect patients with appropriate specialists or a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) when required. The…
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The living will in Thailand: your legal right to refuse life-prolonging treatment
There is a document in Thailand that most people have never heard of and almost no one thinks about until it is too late. It is called a หนังสือแสดงเจตนา, formally translated as a Declaration of Intent, though most people refer to it as a Living Will. It lets you write down, while you are still healthy and able to speak…
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Can you trust a hospital in Thailand for a serious diagnosis?
Is healthcare in Thailand good for foreigners, and would you trust it with a serious diagnosis? For a man in Ratchaburi, it all came down to which hospital he ended up at. A man in Ratchaburi went to San Camillo Hospital with chest pain that felt, in his own words, nothing like the tendon pain his medical file said he’d…
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The exclusions you probably haven’t read will cost you in Thailand
A single night in a private room at Bangkok Hospital can run past 25,000 baht before any treatment is added to the bill. Most expats assume their health insurance handles that kind of cost without a second thought. But the truth is, the exclusions section of the policy, the part almost nobody reads past the first page, is often where…
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Are you actually covered at private hospitals in Thailand, or just insured?
A patient with private health insurance in Thailand is admitted to a hospital in Bangkok, and the hospital still asks for a deposit before it will begin treatment. That isn’t a clerical error or a rare exception. It’s how the system is designed to work, and most expats only discover it once they’re standing at the admissions desk with a…
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Health officials warn high risk groups over mpox
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) is closely monitoring a rise in mpox cases since June and is urging people in high-risk groups to watch for symptoms and seek medical care promptly. Between January 1 and July 18, the country recorded 139 confirmed cases and two deaths, both involving patients who were living with HIV. Most infections this year have…
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7 things that will void your health insurance in Thailand
Health insurance in Thailand rarely lets you down at the point of purchase. It fails at the point of the claim, usually for a reason you never saw coming, whether you’re a working expat, a retiree on a long-stay visa, or a family that’s relocated here for good. That’s exactly why expat health insurance in Thailand deserves a closer look than most…
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Vaccinations for Thailand travel 2026: what you need, what you don’t, and what the law requires
Thailand has no mandatory vaccine entry requirements for most nationalities arriving from Western countries. But that does not mean vaccinations for travel to Thailand are a formality. The country is tropical, the food and water carry real risks, and the gap between what is required and what is genuinely recommended is wide enough to cause problems if you ignore it.…
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5 moves to make with your expat health insurance in Thailand before 60
Expat health insurance in Thailand gets harder to buy the closer you get to 60. If that birthday is creeping up on you, you’ve probably already wondered whether your current coverage will actually hold up when you need it most. Insurers don’t just charge more as you age; they also treat your medical history very differently depending on when you…
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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 has always carried some risk. In 2026, it carries more than usual. A handful of…
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Thailand liver fluke cases reach 2,656, no deaths reported
Thailand recorded 2,656 confirmed liver fluke cases between January 1 and July 7 this year, with the highest rates found in the Northeast and North, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC). Data from the Division of Epidemiology’s Digital Disease Surveillance system showed that case rates were highest among people aged 50 to 59, followed by those aged 60…
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Thailand Health Excellence ArokaGO partnership connects 285 providers with global travellers
Thailand Health Excellence 2026: The Next Chapter of Global Healing, supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), has announced a strategic partnership with ArokaGO to strengthen Thailand’s position as a Global Health & Healing Destination. The partnership will feature more than 285 Thai healthcare, medical, and wellness providers on the ArokaGO platform, giving international users a digital channel to…
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Thai woman claims black magic ritual left stone-like object in vagina
A Thai woman underwent surgery after doctors discovered a large stone-like object in her vagina, years after she claimed an Indonesian black magic practitioner forced an object into her vagina, according to a case shared by a surgeon on June 30. Sunthorn Srisuwan, a Hat Yai Hospital orthopaedic surgeon, said the 47 year old woman had experienced chronic lower abdominal…
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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, emotional wellbeing, and quality of…
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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 before they relocate to Thailand.…
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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 transplant care. The team jointly…
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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 than most people realise. Thailand’s…
