Thailand has earned a reputation as a global healthcare destination, attracting patients from around the world seeking high-quality medical treatment at competitive prices.
But is the quality of medical treatment at public and private hospitals in Thailand really competitive?
If you’re looking for a simple answer it may probably come as no surprise, because the answer is the same no matter where you go in the world.. you get what you pay for.
In this article, I’ll discuss public and private hospitals in greater detail and point out some important factors that could be more relevant for foreigners.
If you want, you can skip to the comparison of public and private hospitals, or you can start in the next section where I’ll first explain how your reason for being in Thailand will affect which type of hospital you’ll access.
Types of hospitals in Thailand
In Thailand, there are government-owned medical facilities which include general public hospitals and public health centers. There are also private medical facilities, which include private clinics and private hospitals.
Overall, there are over 38,512 health facilities, of which 370 are private hospitals.
If you get into an accident or fall ill, the type of hospital you’ll go to will most likely depend on the reason why you are in Thailand.
Hospitals for tourists
When you travel to Thailand for a holiday, you’ll probably have travel insurance. Travel insurance actually provides excellent benefits, and it allows you to comfortably access private hospitals during your visit.
Just take note that not all private hospitals are the same. Some private hospitals can be 2-5 times more expensive compared to other private hospitals. Also, some have better specialists, experts, facilities, and equipment.
Hospitals for Employees
If you go to Thailand to work for a company, you won’t be able to rely on travel insurance for long because its validity is only around 3 months.
Instead, your employer will apply for a work permit for you and along with it social security. Your social security card will give you access to the public hospital network (with a few exceptions).
Social security is affordable and not bad at all for what you get. However, your coverage is limited to public hospitals. Read further in this article to learn more about the benefits of private hospitals.
Hospitals for long-term residents
Long-term residents are people with visas that allow them to stay in Thailand for one year or longer. These are usually people on retirement visas, education visas, or people who are living in Thailand with their Thai spouse.
People who work in Thailand legally are also considered long-term residents, but be mindful that having a long-term visa is separate from having a work permit. Not all long-term residents work and therefore don’t have a work permit and therefore also no social security.
Just like with foreigners who come for work, when you have a long-term visa you are eligible to apply for your own personal health insurance with an insurance company here in Thailand.
Comparison of public and private hospitals
Let’s have a look at some of the big differences between public and private hospitals in Thailand.
English speaking staff
The quality of staff employed at public vs. private hospitals in Thailand is very different.
You may struggle to find English speaking staff at public hospitals, which may add a bit to your stress when needing to go to the hospital.
You’ll also need to complete and sign forms, which will be in Thai for legal reasons.
However, I would say that the doctors at public hospitals usually speak English, or the staff will see that you speak English and find a doctor who does. This means that you should be able to communicate your symptoms and get some feedback.
In comparison, all private hospitals have English speaking staff. You’ll also find that some private hospitals have interpreters for other languages too, like Chinese.
More documents and hospital signage will be in English as well.
In general, private hospital staff are much more helpful and friendly to foreigners, which brings me to the next point.
Level of service at Thai hospitals
In your country have you ever been to a government office and seen that employee that looks like the unhappiest person alive? It may not always be the case at public Thai hospitals, but I would definitely say it can be very similar.
Whether you have a general inquiry, need to wait for a document, need a stamp, need to pay, or whatever, the level of service at public hospitals is usually not the best experience.
Below is an example of the cashier waiting area at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok which is a public hospital (also considered a university hospital).
The waiting area above is on a good day. Sometimes I have to wait up to an hour just to pay the hospital bill.
The level of service will also be different if you are living or working outside of a big city. These public hospitals can be less crowded, which means that the hospital staff can attend to you sooner.
Private hospitals are quite the opposite.
You’ll be greeted and helped at the front door, and the staff will always use polite or respectful Thai language with you. Nurses are attentive and are very helpful in getting you around the hospital.
Hospital facilities
There is a big difference between hospital facilities in Thailand.
Not all hospitals have specialized medical equipment, and some hospitals have outdated diagnosis machinery.
For example, not all hospitals have an MRI machine, and some hospitals will have an older MRI machine. This can also be true for many different types of equipment or facilities.
In general private hospitals have more advanced hospital facilities compared to public hospitals.
For example many hospitals could have, say, an oncology department, but only a few private hospitals could have a specialized oncology department that includes more advanced facilities, equipment, and staff.
Private hospitals are more likely to have hospital facilities for patient comfort. This means:
- a larger waiting area
- More staff (a lot less waiting)
- Comfortable chairs
- Spacious building
- Clean facilities like bathrooms
- Signage in multiple languages
- Convenience stores inside the hospital
Have a look below at some pictures of my recent visit to Bangkok Hospital in Chiang Mai.
Staff qualifications
From general staff to nurses, doctors, and specialists, private hospitals have better staff qualifications compared to public hospitals.
But you don’t always have to go to the most expensive private hospital to get the best doctor. Specialists from one private hospital may also work at other private hospitals. You can usually find this information online.
Some private hospitals also have departments with staff who specialize in specific critical illnesses, such as stroke, heart attack, or cancer.
Medication
It depends on the medication, but in general public hospitals use more generic or cheaper medicine.
Even for those who have social security at a private hospital, they are not allowed to be given the more expensive medicine.
It may sound unfair, but this is a big difference between public and private hospitals in Thailand.
Just remember that private hospital medication is always more expensive.
One of the reasons is because some of the medicine you receive from private hospitals is imported. The medicine itself is often better, and you won’t always be able to find the same product in a general Thai pharmacy.
Private hospitals make most of their profit from the sale of medication. The largest share of private hospitals’ revenue (35.2%) comes from the sale of medicines and pharmaceuticals.
Everyone complains about the cost, but at the same time they are happy to receive the better medication.
Hospital room rate
If you need to stay overnight at a public hospital and you plan to use your social security card, expect to receive 700 baht per night for a room, or 4,500 baht if in the ICU.
With your own personal health insurance the room rate is usually a few thousand baht per night, depending on the policy plan you choose.
You may ask, is social security cover enough for the hospital room rate? The answer is a definite no. These days the hospital room rate has really gone up in both public and private hospitals. Even with personal health insurance you may have to pay in a bit, depending on the private hospital you go to.
The hospital room rate will vary greatly depending on:
- Whether the hospital is public or private
- Sharing or a private room
- Hospital location – city or rural
Some private hospitals’ room rates are also much higher than those of other private hospitals.
For example, Bangkok Hospital and Bumrungrad Hospital can have beautiful suites which can cost 75,000 baht per night.
Be careful when you see a hospital room rate advertised, sometimes it doesn’t include the service charge, food, or other expenses.
On a side note, I’d just like to mention that if you ever stay in a private room at a hospital, the room will usually cater for family or relatives to stay with you. While this is essentially great, foreigners in Thailand don’t always have family or relatives in Thailand to stay with them. During your stay if you need more help or support you should mention it to the nurses.
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In Conclusion
When you come to Thailand, whether it be as a tourist, for work as an employee, or to live as a long-term resident, be sure to have enough health insurance cover for the duration of your stay.
I wish that if something were to happen to you, you would be treated at a proper hospital and get the best care possible. Nobody wants to be sick far away from home.
From this article I hope that you see the benefits of having enough coverage to access private hospitals. Also, to see that it’s not always necessary to go to the most expensive private hospitals.
If you ever plan to work in Thailand, or stay as a long-term resident, I’d be happy to advise you on different health insurance policies from AIA Thailand. You can send me a message here.
