THAILAND HEALTHCARE

There are more than 1,000 hospitals in Thailand, so as a retiree in Thailand you will not be left without medical care, with the level of healthcare generally of good to excellent quality.

Thailand has been ranked within the top 50 best healthcare systems worldwide by the World Health Organisation. This is also reflected by the wellbeing of the population: among developing countries Thailand has one of the highest life expectancy rates.

As with many SE Asian countries Thailand offers both a public and private healthcare system.

Public Healthcare System

Public hospitals in Thailand have of relatively good standard of care. The public system is open to all expats, but if you are not eligible for admission into the national healthcare system, you will need to pay for the treatment in public facilities. However, the cost of treatment in a public hospitals are low.

Public hospitals are much less expensive than their private counterparts, but they are generally more crowded and sometimes less well equipped for more serious ailments. However, all the medical facilities in the country are staffed by well-trained doctors and nurses who provide excellent care to both expats and locals alike..

Private Healthcare

Private hospitals in Thailand are first class, with many seeming like first class hotels. They often employ western trained professionals and utilise up-to-date and ultra-modern medical equipment and technology. The staff are very efficient, and waiting times for consultations, treatments and operations are very short.

The expat community generally chooses the private system as they are still able to get great value for money, with costs being a fraction of private hospital fees in western countries. This allows them to also choose the facility where they wish to be treated and they can be assured of English speaking staff.

If you do not have international private health insurance, you will invariably be asked to pay a deposit on admission to the private hospital service.