Destination THAILAND
Why we consider Thailand for medical tourism
Thailand is synonymous with its breath-taking coastal surroundings, beaches and beautiful temples. The Southeast Asian country is renowned for its tourism â including its luxurious spas, wellness resorts and its famous Thai hospitality.
It is also well-known for the excellent quality of its hospitals. They are among the best in Asia, with state of the art facilities & well-trained medical professionals â including many US board-certified specialists who are experts in their fields. Thai hospitals offer quality medical services â but at a significant discount to countries in Europe & North America, making Thailand a popular medical tourism destination. Popular specialty procedures performed in Thailand include cosmetic surgery, transgender procedures, orthopedics, cardiology, IVF/reproductive medicine, spine surgery, and dentistry. Hospitals boast the latest technology, and are equipped with language translators and exclusive international wings to cater to foreign patient
Key strengths of Thailand for Medical Tourism
- Among the lowest costs in the world for medical treatment.
- World-class medical facilities equipped with the latest technology.
- Â Highly-trained medical practitioners with international experience.
- Â Excellent hospitality & professionalism.
- 5. Healthcare offerings which include alternative treatments such as therapeutic massage,
acupuncture etc. - Â An extensive private hospital network.
- Â A visa/permit regime with liberal qualifying criteria, offering easy access for foreign
nationals - High-quality leisure tourism offerings
- Â Easily accessible by flight.
Information for Travelers to Thailand
General Information
Cities In Thailand
Vaccine
Visa Requirements
General Information
Capital and largest city:
Other large cities:
Monetary unit:
Exchange rate:
Languages:
International Dialling Code:
Bangkok
Nonthaburi; Nakhon Ratchasima; Chiang Mai
Baht
USD 1 = Baht 32.82
Thai (official) 90.7%, Burmese 1.3%, Other 8%, English (secondary language of the elite).
+66
Type A
- 2 pins
- Not grounded
- 15 A
- almost always 100 â 127 V
- socket compatible with plug types G
Type B
- 3 pins
- Grounded
- 15 A
- almost always 100 â 127 V
- socket compatible with plug types G
Type C
- 2 pins
- Not grounded
- 2.5 A
- Almost Always 220 â 240 V
- socket compatible with plug types G
Type F
- 2 pins
- Grounded
- 16 A
- 220 â 240 V
- socket compatible with plug types G
Map
Vaccine
Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.
All Travellers
Routine – Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine,
Vaccines – diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
Some Travellers
Hepatitis A – This vaccine is recommended because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Thailand, regardless of where you are eating or staying.
Thyphoid – You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in Thailand. This vaccine is recommended for most travellers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.
Most Travellers
Hepatitis B – You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so this vaccine is recommended if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures.
Japanese Encephalitis – You may need this vaccine if your trip will last more than a month, depending on where you are going in Thailand and what time of year you are traveling. You should also consider this vaccine if you plan to visit rural areas in Thailand or will be spending a lot of time outdoors, even for trips shorter than a month. Your doctor can help you decide if this vaccine is right for you based on your travel plans. See more in-depth information on Japanese encephalitis in Thailand.
Malaria – Talk to your doctor about how to prevent malaria while travelling. You may need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria, especially if you are visiting low-altitude areas. See more detailed information about malaria in Thailand.
Rabies – Rabies is present in bats in France. However, it is not a major risk to most travellers. Rabies vaccine is recommended for only these groups:
- Travellers involved in outdoor and other activities in remote areas that put them at risk for bat bites (such as adventure travel and caving).
- People who will be working with or around bats (such as wildlife professionals and researchers).
France Visa for Medical Purposes
France Visa for Medical Purposes is destined for foreigners who need to enter and stay in a French territory temporarily to get a medical treatment in a medical institution located in a French territory. Typically, this visa type is issued to foreigners who cannot get the appropriate health care in their home country.
Apart from the general requirements, the following are the specific additional documents to apply for this French visa type:
- A Letter of invitation from the medical institution, or, A Formal Agreement of the French Hospital for Patientâs Admission â Both documents must include information such as the aim of the foreign patientâs consult, his/her current diagnosis, information about the therapy to take, the length of it, the appointment date, medical costs involved, the main doctor in charge, and so on. For critical or emergent cases, the invitation letter must be enclosed together with a formal confirmation from the medical institution â stating the readiness to treat the patient on a specific date of arrival.
- Evidence of a Prepaid or Covered Medical Treatment
- Payment receipt of medical fees from the French Hospital â A letter affirming the costs of the patientâs treatment are already covered.
- Detailed information on medical treatment fee â issued by the medical institutionâs financial department (for uncovered medical treatment)
- A bank transfer slip confirming the payment of a medical treatment fee (for prepaid medical treatment of the applicant)
- A guarantee letter from the applicant â An affirmation certificate to assure the patientâs capacity to cope with the extra medical costs (when expecting unforeseen costs of medical treatment to happen)
- Verbal note from the Embassy of the home country of the applicant in France, or, Verbal Note from the Ministry of Health of the home country The formal document must declare the readiness of the relevant government of the applicantâs home country to cover his medical treatment costs (for covered medical treatment by the Government of the home country of the applicant)
- A Letter of Confirmation from the Employer â i.e. A Bank Statement of the Employer â A letter confirming the employerâs financial capability to cover his employeeâs medical treatment in a French territory (for covered medical treatment by the Employer of the applicant) â if applicable
- Birth Certificate (for a minor applicant) â The certificate must be provided in original accompanied with a copy
- Letter of Consent from the Other Parent (for a minor applicant travelling with one parent) â A formal document from a parent, translated in a French language and notarized, stating he/she has no objection about his child travelling
- Letter of Consent from the Both Parents (for a minor applicant travelling with a third person) â A formal document from both parents, translated in a French language and notarized, stating they have no objection about his child travelling.
- Copies of Valid Schengen Visas (of accompanying parent, parents or third person of a minor).
- Medical Report from A Doctor In Charge Of Treatment in the Country of Residence of The Applicant.
- Confirmed Hotel Reservation or Confirmed Accommodation in the Medical Clinic (for accompanying persons of the applicant).
- A certificate from the national medical authority for the incapacity of the country to offer the appropriate medical treatment for the applicantâs condition.
- Registration Certificate of the patient in the national list for organs and cornea transplant issued by the medical and surgical team performing the transplant (In case of transplant).
Service Providers In Thailand
Health Insurance
Hotels in Thailand
Hospital
AirLines
Pacific Prime
Simplifying Health Insurance
Pacific Prime is a leading health insurance advisory company in Thailand. It acts as an intermediary provider of both local & international health insurance solutions aimed at individuals & families. Pacific Prime works with locally-compliant health insurance companies around the globe, providing clients with a wide range of options suited to their needs.
Bupa Health Insurance
Bupa is an international health insurance & healthcare provision group with offices in over 33 million customers worldwide, including Thailand. They provide private health insurance solutions for individuals, families & businesses.
Bupa has consistently ranked as one of the worldâs top insurance firms, and was named Best Individual International Healthcare Provider at the Health Insurance & Protection Awards in 2019 â in addition to winning the FT Business Offshore Excellence Award in 2000 among other accolades.
With offices around the world, Bupa enjoys a global footprint â with offices in the UK; Denmark; UAE; Dubai; Hong Kong; the Dominican Republic; Bolivia & Brazil among others.
Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok
The Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, is a 5-star luxury hotel in the Silom district of
Bangkok. It has 802 rooms including 72 suites in two wings, Shangri-La and
Krungthep â and features a 10, 000 square meter fitness center & globally- renowned health spa.
Located on the banks of the historic Chao Phraya River, Shangri-La provides a scenic, captivating view of Thailandâs capital city. The hotel, which is adjacent to the Saphan Taksin station of the Skytrain, Bangkokâs elevated metro system â also offers fully-serviced apartments for guests who wish to arrange a longer-term stay.
Centra by Centara Phu Pano Resort (Krabi)
Centra by Centara Phu Pano Resort Krabi is part of the Centara Hotel group. It is a 4-star luxury resort is found amidst lush resort area of Krabi, one of Thailandâs most popular tourist destinations. The resort contains 158 rooms and family-friendly residences with bunk beds for children. The rooms are suitable for both couples and families â each equipped with its own balcony and ample living space (24-48 sqm.).
Wi-Fi is free of charge. In addition to a large pool, thereâs also a well-equipped
fitness center, and fine dining restaurant. Activities around Krabi include underwater explorations in the Andaman Sea, cycling across the Krabi countryside to Khlong Tomâs Emerald Pool, rock-climbing in Railay Bay, and island-hopping, all of which can be arranged via the tour desk.
Krabi International Airport is approximately 35 minutes away.
Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort (Ko phi Phi Don)
Located approximately 4 hours from the tourist hub of Phuket, Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort is located Lo Ba Goa Bay. Situated on 70 acres of coconut palm plantations, the facility has 189 traditional Thai bungalows for accommodation, with 12 exclusive private villas.
Surrounded by the turquoise-blue waters of the Andaman Sea& set on a pristine beach, Phi Phi Island is a strikingly beautiful location. It is a premium location targeting those with flexible budgets & a hunger for a calm, tranquil tourist setting.
Krabi International Airport is approximately a 40-minute drive away.
Bangkok General Hospital
Bangkok Hospital was founded in 1972 as one of the first private hospitals in Thailand. Over the past 50 years, it has established itself as one of the most respected medical facilities in the country. In addition to dedicated facilities for oncology & cardiology, Bangkok Hospital provides a full range of treatment â with specialists in all major fields of healthcare.
The institution is distinguished for its specialized tertiary care. They are internationally certified by Joint Commission International, one of the most respected accredited agencies in the world.
BNH Hospital Thailand
Founded in 1898, BNH was one of the first private hospitals established in the Kingdom of Siam, as Thailand was formerly known. Since then, the facility has evolved into one of the premier medical service providers in the country. BNH offers high quality treatment of international standards, with a staff complement that includes specialists in all major fields.Â
The hospital has become a popular treatment center for both local & international patients. Located on Convent Road, the facility occupies 2 acres on Convent Road, Bangkok â close to the main business district of the city. It is easily accessible by road, the Sky Train & the Subway.
Bumrungrad International Hospital
Bumrungrad International is a Joint Commission International (JCC)-accredited, multi-specialty hospital located in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. Founded in 1980, it is one of the largest private hospitals in Southeast Asia, with 580 beds and over 30 specialty centers.
Bumrungrad International offers state-of-the-art diagnostic, therapeutic and intensive care facilities in a one- stop medical centre. Bumrungrad International serves 1.1 million patients annually, including over 520,000 international patients.Â
Bumrungrad is Southeast Asiaâs largest private hospital â and as a regional hub for specialty medicine, it is one of the worldâs most popular medical tourist destinations.
Asia Atlantic Airlines
Thai AirAsia is a low-cost airline which operates both domestic & international flights. Launched in 2004, the airline is a joint venture between Malaysiaâs AirAsia & Thailandâs Asia Aviation. It services flights from Bangkok & from other cities within Thailand. With a fleet size of 62 aircraft, Thai AirAsia operates out of Don Mueang International & Phuket International as its primary hubs, with Hat Yai International Krabi International, Suvarnabhumi & U-Tapao International airports as secondary hubs.
Thai AirAsia is a low-cost airline which operates both domestic & international flights. Launched in 2004, the airline is a joint venture between Malaysiaâs AirAsia & Thailandâs Asia Aviation. It services flights from Bangkok & from other cities within Thailand. With a fleet size of 62 aircraft, Thai AirAsia operates out of Don Mueang International & Phuket International as its primary hubs, with Hat Yai International Krabi International, Suvarnabhumi & U-Tapao International airports as secondary hubs.
