Best Hospital for Medical Tourism in Thailand
The complete guide on how to find the best hospital for medical tourism hospital in Thailand.
Why Is Thailand a Popular Medical Tourism Destination?
Thailand is not only known for its unrivalled beauty and tropical sun, but it is also one of Asia’s most popular medical tourism hospital destinations. Every year, millions of people travel to this country for medical treatment, the main reasons why Thailand is a popular destination for medical tourists are summarised below.
Cost
When it comes to medical tourism, one thing to remember is the cost of your treatment. Even after factoring in the cost of airfare, hotel, and everyday living expenses, Thailand’s medical care is still significantly less expensive than that of most other countries.
Top Quality Hospitals
Thailand’s private hospitals, such as Bangkok Hospital, Bumrungrad Hospital, Samitivej Hospital, and Phyathai Hospital, are well-known for their excellent service and facilities. These high-end hospitals offer top-of-the-line, international-standard comfort and convenience. For example, Bangkok Hospital offers 5-star studio apartments, well-appointed suites, cutting-edge medical equipment, and highly trained paramedics. As a result, many Westerners tend to have their medical needs met at Bangkok Hospital.
Experienced Doctors
Many Thailand’s doctors, surgeons, physicians, and dentists study and train in Western hospitals and are accredited by at least two international medical associations. Thai doctors follow the standards of internationally recognized medical boards and are more than capable of providing you with the best possible treatment.
Treatment Packages
Another advantage of medical tourism in Thailand is the ability to buy care packages rather than individual operations. Treatment packages are a collection of medical treatments that you can receive in a single visit while paying for both medical and hospital fees, which are usually included in the price. Treatment packages are common for plastic surgery, dental procedures, yearly check-ups, operations and many more.
Tourist destination
Thailand one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with Bangkok as the most visited city in the world. Thailand’s vibrant culture, delicious cuisines, friendly locals, breathtaking historical landmarks, excellent hospitality facilities, luxurious malls, and natural beauty all contribute to the country’s appeal as a medical tourism destination.
Key Points
- Millions of people come to Thailand each year to get the medical treatment they need.
- Thai hospitals are designed for comfort.
- Many of Thailand’s doctors, surgeons, physicians, and dentists study and train in Western hospitals.
How to Choose and Find the Best Hospital in Thailand?
You can find the best hospitals in Thailand by doing your own research or getting the help of a reputable medical tourism agency.
Getting the Help of a Reputable Medical Tourism Agency
There are only a few medical tourism companies in Thailand, and it’s a convenient choice if you want the whole thing taken care of for you. Medical tourism companies serve as a middleman between you and your doctor. They will provide you with airport transfers, hotel transportation, and hospital transportation, among other services. Medical tourism companies will usually request your most recent medical records in order to provide you with an estimation of care time and cost. Many medical tourism businesses collaborate with hospitals and do not charge any upfront fees.
Doing it Yourself
If you want to search for hospitals on your own, there are a few things to consider and think about when you narrow down your options.
- Make sure the hospital you want has the services you need. If you go to Thailand for medical treatment, you want to get the best care possible and recover as quickly as possible. Thai hospitals, the majority of which are in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket, have a wide range of specialities.
- Ensure that the services are up to date. When you stay in a private hospital, you can expect standard hospital amenities such as air conditioning, a private bathroom with a shower and heater, and a full nursing care system. However, if you’re looking for anything specific, make a request ahead of time.
- Examine the credentials of doctors and surgeons. For a doctor who works in a large hospital, years of experience, certifications, specialities, and the number of procedures conducted are all likely to be accessible online.
- Ask for price quotes. In most cases, particularly for more complicated procedures, price quotes are given after you submit your medical records. If you emailed the hospital, they would give you an estimate of the costs of your treatment.
What Are the Best Hospitals in Thailand?
Most hospitals in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, now have cutting-edge medical equipment, a resort-like setting, multilingual customer service and most importantly low medical costs. If you’re planning a medical trip to Thailand particularly in Bangkok, check out the top 5 hospitals for Medical Tourism in Bangkok.
Bumrungrad International Hospital
Bumrungrad International Hospital is the first hospital in Asia to receive international accreditations from JCI in 2002. Its lobby is built to look like a luxury hotel, making it one of Bangkok’s most luxurious medical centres. The medical check-up package and plastic surgery treatment are the most common packages among foreign travellers. Bumrungrad International Hospital was once ranked as one of the top ten hospitals in the world by Newsweek. To accommodate all types of visitors, the hospital provides translation of up to 17 languages. Visitors interested in signing up for a subscription can always get a quote from the hospital’s website.
Samitivej Hospital
Samitivej Hospital is another famous international traveller’s hospital. The hospital’s facilities and services are similar to those in Bumrungrad and there are a variety of check-up packages to choose from. For locals and most foreigners, it is regarded as a five-star hospital.
Sikarin Hospital
Sikarin Hospital is known for its highly-trained specialists, advanced medical technology, and world-class services. It is a 240-bed hospital located on the Eastern side of Bangkok that has provided comprehensive medical care for over 20 years. It has numerous specialised centres, from orthopaedics to cosmetic surgery. All of these centres are armed with modern and up-to-date medical technology, and every treatment is performed by skilled and experienced professionals.
S Medical Spa
Owned by Dr Pakpilai Thavisin, one of Thailand’s most prominent beauty doctors which now employs more than 15 beauty doctors of various levels of expertise. Each treatment is properly performed, and an examination of the guest’s physical body condition, skin condition, and health condition is conducted before the right treatments are recommended. All VAV procedures, such as colon detox spa treatments, botox injections, laser cosmetology and others, must be approved by a physician. To ensure the guests’ mental and physical well-being, a healthy diet and exercise will be recommended in addition to the treatment.
Holistic Medical Center
This is a medical centre that resembles a high-tech gym and provides both slimming and medical facilities. Most other slimming centres’ check-up services aren’t as extensive as Holistic’s. MRI check-up equipment is imported from Germany and most check-ups can provide up to 92 per cent accuracy. The medical professional will prescribe the necessary therapies based on the medical screen and the MRIT check-up kit costs anywhere from 4500 Baht. After their check-up, guests will visit The Bodhi to test out the latest fitness equipment imported from Germany.
You can be assured that Thailand’s health and medical facilities are outstanding and comparable to western standards.
What Are the Most Popular Medical Procedures Performed in Thailand?
Medical tourists come to Thailand for a number of procedures. The following are some of the most common treatments:
Cosmetic/plastic surgeries
Any beauty procedure in Thailand costs a fraction of what it will cost in the United States or the United Kingdom.
Dental procedures
Many Thai dental clinics and hospitals are well equipped and perform a full range of dental procedures from regular checkups to the most complex dental surgeries. The prices are also fair and the requirements are globally recognized.
Medical check-up
Medical check-up programs is a trend in the global medical tourism market, these services are recommended for anyone with the frequency varying according to the patient’s age and condition. Patients in their 40s and 50s are particularly advised to use them.
Cardiac procedures
Cardiac surgery centres can be found in several Thai hospitals, some of the procedures included are heart bypass, angioplasty, and heart valve replacement are among the procedures performed in Thailand.
Orthopaedic surgery
International patients travel to Thailand for a range of orthopaedic procedures, including Computer Assisted Surgery (CAS) Micro Invasive Surgery, where surgeons have been trained abroad and equipment used for the procedures is guaranteed to be new and innovative (MAS). Hip and knee replacements, as well as spine surgeries, are traditional orthopaedic procedures in Thailand.
Infertility treatment
IVF, ICSI, IUI, and PGD are all common procedures that can be performed in Thailand at considerably lower costs than in most developed countries.
Bariatric surgery
Bariatric surgery including gastric bypass, gastric banding (lab-band); Ophthalmology and eye surgeries which includes LASIK, Cataract surgeries, etc.
Thailand was one of the first Asian countries to have a hospitals certified by the Joint Commission International (JCI)
How safe is it to Undergo Medical Procedures in Thailand?
There are over 1,000 hospitals in Thailand with over 470 of them being private facilities. Thailand was one of the first Asian countries to have hospitals certified by the JCI and currently has accredited 64 hospitals, clinics and home care facilities across Thailand.
Hospitals in Thailand that cater to medical tourism are dedicated to offering competitive packages that include comfortable accommodation, interpreter services and escorts for foreigners. For example, Bangkok Hospital, which caters specifically to medical tourists has an entire “Japanese Wing” with Japanese-speaking doctors and nurses. The Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok appears to be a luxurious hotel, with valet parking, a visa extension service, and a team of interpreters and translators.
How Do Foreigners Pay For Their Medical Treatments in Thailand?
If you’re being admitted for inpatient treatment or having major surgery, it’s normal for private hospitals to request payment in advance. You first pay an estimate of how much the operation will cost taking into account the duration of your stay, the cost of surgery, and other fees. The deposit normally begins at 10% and varies depending on the situation.
Thai hospitals do not accept instalment payments or any similar payment plans and payment plans must be worked out through the credit card company. Checks and traveller’s checks are rarely acknowledged as payment. Cash, international Visa or MasterCard debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Amex, JCB, Diners Club International and UnionPay credit cards are all suitable. You can also pay by an international wire transfer which must be completed at least five business days ahead of time to ensure transfer authentication.