Why is Thailand so popular for medical tourists?

Considered to be one of the most popular destinations for contemporary medical tourism, Thailand continues to see a surge in patients seeking top-quality, affordable care. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai and the beaches of Phuket, thousands visit annually, combining luxury travel with first-rate quality care, for the ultimate medical tourism holiday.

It appears convenience is one key component as to why patients keep returning for invasive and non-invasive treatment. Several international airports service this southeast Asian hub with non-stop flights to locations across Thailand including Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya. Low-cost internal flights mean traveling around is cheap and easy.

But this is only scratching the surface.

Significant financial injections from the Thai government have led to a genuine medical boom with major boosts to the country’s healthcare infrastructure. Thailand’s reputation for delivering world-class medical care is unrivaled with superior aesthetic treatments at value-friendly rates.

Procedures have never been more accessible at an extensive range of internationally accredited medical facilities.

The warm weather is undoubtedly a huge draw but Thailand has become an essential place for outstanding cosmetic and plastic surgery carried out by highly trained surgeons. Offering more than 1,000 private medical facilities, Thailand is also home to the biggest private hospital in South East Asia, Bumrungrad International Hospital.

Furthermore, Thailand was the first Asian country to achieve the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) status. Known as JCI accreditation, The healthcare bar is set very high with only the best of the best achieving the ‘Gold Standard’ in healthcare and patient safety. In fact, this idyllic location boasts more than 60 clinics with international healthcare accreditation measured on par with US standards and practices.

According to June Jenkinson of MyMediTravel, “The patient experience has significantly improved in recent years. Imagine walking into a pristine clinic with identical levels of clinical care as you would find back home.”

“This is enhanced by fully qualified doctors who have undertaken rigorous training abroad and on-demand bilingual staff possessing leading expertise and knowledge.”

“Patients benefit from up to the minute diagnostic equipment, fiercely competitive prices, and Thailand’s renowned ingrained service culture, which leads to a dedicated patient-focused visit. With clinical premises, labor and running costs significantly lower, the consumer can enjoy savings of 30-80% across a wealth of procedures.”

From hair transplants to gender reassignment surgery, medical tourists are flocking to enjoy top-notch care, price-busting procedures, and an incredible destination for both pre and post-treatment recovery.

Medical tourists are spoiled for choice thanks to the all-encompassing range of Thai clinics such as the JCI-accredited Sikarin hospital that has been established for 25 years or newer, more specialized clinics like the BellaMode Clinic. Offering an extensive range of treatments, the latter is the leading facility for Korean style plastic surgery.

Thailand has now emerged as a world leader in the medical tourism sector with groundbreaking medical facilities together with an incredible adventure-tourism hotspot. The medical tourism trend is here to stay in 2019 and beyond.