Along with India and Singapore, Thailand is Asia’s prime country for medical tourism and it’s growing at a rapid rate. With internationally trained physicians, low cost treatments, and inexpensive hotel rooms, there is no wonder why. It is estimated that around 500,000 tourists arrived in Thailand in 2011 for medical purposes all across the board from cosmetic to cardiac surgeries. This number is much higher than Singapore’s 200,000 because Thailand offers the whole package, from treatment to travel, for a very affordable rate. Majority of the health care services are part of the public sector with around 1,002 hospitals and 9,765 health stations.
It goes without saying that the country’s capital, Bangkok, is the main destination for healthcare considering the convenience and recognition of hospitals. It’s even safe to call Bangkok one of the world’s leader in medical tourism especially with hospitals like Bangkok Hospital, Bumrungrad International, and Phyathai Hospitals Group. Bangkok Hospital is actually catered to medical tourists and has locations throughout the country. Majority of the staff at Bumrungrad International was trained in the US, UK, or Europe. Procedure costs can be easily estimated on their website. Heart Bypass surgery can run anywhere from $27,000 USD to $43,000 USD in Bumrungrad International, while it can easily cost you over $100,000 USD in the United States. Talk about a bargain! On the other hand, Phyathai Hospital Group consists of three hospitals with language interpreters for over 22 languages (besides English)!
Besides the professionalism and knowledge of doctors, another great aspect of Thai healthcare is the comfort. Hospital rooms are designed to make you feel at home. If you look at photos, you can easily mistake them for hotel rooms with their decor, style, and amenities. And I am not joking! See for yourself on Bumrungrad International’s website.
As stated in the Healthcare in Singapore article, it is always best to purchase travel insurance. While healthcare in Thailand may be cheap, it is still cheaper and safer with insurance. If you are going solely for medical treatment, you will be in good hands and do not need to worry. It was recently calculated that Thailand’s medical tourism is growing 16% per year, and that can only be a result from the top quality and expertise of their services.
For more information on Thailand medical tourism, check out the following video:
Photo by xophe_g
