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Prepare for care

Healthcare and hospitals in Thailand.

A practical orientation to emergencies, public and private hospitals, dental care, cosmetic surgery, pharmacies and the documents to prepare — without diagnosing or recommending treatment.

For an emergency, use an emergency service

SawaLife is not an emergency or medical service. Call the national medical emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department. If possible, share your location, symptoms, allergies and callback number clearly.

Medical emergency · 1669 Tourist Police · 1155

Choose the right level of care

Emergency

Use 1669 or an emergency department for a serious accident, breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness or other immediate danger. Do not wait for an online reply.

Routine and minor care

A clinic or hospital outpatient department can handle non-urgent assessment. Confirm hours, language support, identification and payment method first.

Specialist or continuing care

Contact the relevant department before travel. Confirm records, referral, medication continuity, equipment and insurance pre-authorisation.

Pharmacy and medicines

Use a licensed pharmacy, keep medicines in labelled packaging and verify active ingredient, dose and interactions with a pharmacist or doctor.

Where to get care

Facility map

Click a pin to see the facility name, category and a short description. Locations are approximate — always confirm the exact address before travelling.

PPublic hospital HPrivate international hospital DDental clinic CCosmetic surgery

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Facility directory by category

This is a non-exhaustive directory of official facility websites, not a quality ranking or personal recommendation. Confirm department, opening, language, insurance and current contact details directly.

Public hospital

Private international hospital

BNH Hospital Bangkok Private hospital with international-facing services

Dental clinic

Cosmetic surgery

Public track

How the public system works

Thai public hospitals (often university hospitals such as Chulalongkorn or Siriraj, or regional hospitals in each province) also treat foreigners on a direct-payment basis. Prices are usually far lower than the private sector, and for a genuine emergency the nearest public hospital is often the fastest and best-equipped option, especially outside Bangkok. In exchange, expect service mostly in Thai (fluent English is uncommon outside major teaching hospitals), long waits during business hours, non-urgent cases seen on a first-come basis rather than by appointment, and payment usually required on-site (direct billing with a foreign insurer is rare). Always carry your passport — it is the standard identification document.

Private track

What private and international hospitals offer

Major private groups (Bumrungrad, the Bangkok Hospital network of the BDMS group, Samitivej, BNH, Vejthani, MedPark, Praram 9, Piyavate…) explicitly target international patients: English-speaking (often multilingual) staff, a dedicated international patient desk, appointments bookable online or by phone, a written estimate before treatment and, with many international insurers, direct billing that avoids paying up front. Several are JCI (Joint Commission International) accredited, a globally recognised quality and safety standard. This service level comes at a cost: a consultation or admission typically costs several times the public-hospital price. Always ask for a written estimate before any non-urgent procedure and confirm your insurer’s prior authorisation.

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Public vs private at a glance

Criterion Public hospital Private international hospital
Cost for routine care Low to moderate High, often 3–10 times the public price
Front-desk language Thai first, limited English Fluent English, often multilingual
Waiting time Can be long outside real emergencies Fast appointments, dedicated desk
Direct billing to insurance Rare, direct payment is standard Often available with major insurers
Quality accreditation Ministry of Public Health standards Often JCI and/or HA Thailand
Suitability for a real emergency Often fastest, especially outside Bangkok Excellent but sometimes further or costlier

Dental tourism

Dental care: a major dental-tourism destination

Thailand is one of the world’s leading dental-tourism destinations: implants, crowns, veneers and whitening typically cost 50–70% less than in a Western country, at comparable material and follow-up quality in established clinics.

Typical prices (THB)

These amounts are indicative: they vary by clinic, practitioner and materials used. Always ask for a written quote before committing.
Dental implant (per tooth) THB 35,000 – THB 70,000
Ceramic crown THB 8,000 – THB 25,000
Dental veneer THB 12,000 – THB 25,000
Professional whitening THB 4,000 – THB 12,000

Rates automatically converted to THB for guidance only, based on each operator/facility's official baht-denominated pricing. Open currency converter

Points to check

Before choosing a dental clinic, check these essential points.
  • Verify the dentist’s registration with the Thai Dental Council.
  • Ask for before/after photos of cases similar to yours.
  • Ask about sterilisation protocols and the origin of the equipment used.
  • Confirm the name and licence of the practitioner who will perform the procedure, not just the clinic.
  • Get post-treatment follow-up and warranty terms in writing before paying a deposit.

A safety topic

Cosmetic and aesthetic surgery

Bangkok and Phuket are among the world’s major cosmetic-surgery hubs (rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction, facelifts…), at prices well below Europe or North America. This information is provided for defensive, informational purposes only: SawaLife does not recommend any procedure or provider. A cosmetic procedure remains full surgery, with genuine risks, a recovery period and possible complications.

Typical prices (THB)

These amounts are indicative: they vary widely by facility, surgeon and procedure complexity. Always ask for a detailed written quote.
Rhinoplasty THB 80,000 – THB 250,000
Breast augmentation THB 120,000 – THB 280,000
Liposuction THB 60,000 – THB 200,000
Facelift THB 150,000 – THB 350,000

Rates automatically converted to THB for guidance only, based on each operator/facility's official baht-denominated pricing. Open currency converter

Safety checks before any procedure

Always verify that the surgeon is certified by the Thai Medical Council and, ideally, a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand in the relevant specialty — cosmetic surgery is not restricted to qualified plastic surgeons at every unaccredited provider. Also verify the accreditation of the hospital or clinic itself (JCI or HA Thailand), not only the practitioner. Plan a realistic recovery period on site before flying home — flying too soon raises the risk of complications such as blood clots or wound reopening. Standard travel insurance almost never covers complications from an elective cosmetic procedure — check your policy’s exclusions before you travel.

Accreditation bodies

Always verify the facility’s accreditation and the practitioner’s certification before booking any procedure.

Red flags of a provider to avoid

  • The practitioner cannot produce a licence number verifiable with the Thai Medical Council.
  • The procedure is offered outside an accredited hospital or clinic, for example in a salon or hotel room.
  • The seller or intermediary pressures you to book and pay immediately.
  • The price is far below every other accredited provider for the same procedure.
  • No post-operative follow-up or complication protocol is offered.

The rest of the care pathway

Other clinics, pharmacies and telemedicine

For everyday needs, a dense network of neighbourhood clinics and licensed pharmacies complements the hospital system. Major pharmacy chains employ trained pharmacists who can refer you to a doctor when needed. Telemedicine has grown for teleconsultations and prescription renewal without travelling.

Pharmacy networks

Telemedicine

Visa for medical treatment

A stay organised around a medical treatment falls under a dedicated visa category. SawaLife does not restate the rules here: see the matching visa page, which stays current.

View the medical-treatment visa

Check your coverage before you travel

Hospital admission, surgery, evacuation: compare coverage and exclusions of your travel or long-stay insurance before any procedure, urgent or planned.

Compare insurance

Prepare before you need care

  • Save 1669 and your insurer assistance number.
  • Carry policy details and know whether pre-authorisation is required.
  • Keep a concise medication, allergy and medical-history list.
  • Ask for an itemised estimate and receipt when circumstances permit.
  • Confirm whether the facility bills the insurer directly or asks you to pay.
  • For island or remote stays, understand the referral and evacuation pathway.

Official and primary references

Directory and emergency references checked on 2026-07-15. Facilities, departments, prices and contacts can change. This page is general information, not diagnosis, triage, treatment advice, provider endorsement or a guarantee of access or cost.