About Bangkok, Thailand
Healthcare in Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand’s private healthcare system consists of a large number of well-equipped, state-of-the-art hospitals with English-speaking doctors and nurses. These top-of-the-line operations rival and frequently exceed the standards of North American hospitals, and you’re often able to visit a specialist within a short time of walking through the front door…without booking an appointment beforehand.
As in other countries, the private medical associations vary in size from one hospital to a network of professionally staffed institutions that are scattered throughout the country. The Bangkok Hospital Group, the country’s largest and best-known private hospital operator, has 13 network locations throughout Thailand.
On the other side of the spectrum, the public hospitals are staffed with well-trained doctors and many have the same level of facilities as some of the large private networks—however, they can be quite slow and sometimes crowded. But the public hospitals serve as a less expensive alternative for those expats who do not have insurance or who cannot afford the private hospitals, and many foreigners don’t mind the longer wait times because of the substantially lower fees.
Thailand snapshot
Capital City | Bangkok |
Languages | Thai, English spoken widely by healthcare professionals |
Form of Government | Constitutional monarchy |
Time Zone | GMT+7 |
Country Dialing Code | +66 |
Currency | Thai Baht |
Global Peace Index 2016 | Medium |