Medical Tourism in Thailand
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Thailand is a Leader in the Medical Tourism Industry
With health care being extremely expensive or too long a wait to receive, many foreigners are flocking to Thailand for medical procedures at a fraction of the cost. This lens takes a look at some of the hospitals and procedures offered in Thailand as well as additional medical tourism information.
The photo is taken in the luxurious lobby of Bumrungrad International Hospital, perhaps the most popular hospital for foreign patients.
The photo is taken in the luxurious lobby of Bumrungrad International Hospital, perhaps the most popular hospital for foreign patients.
What You'll Find in This Lens:
- Why Thailand
- Popular Procedures Medical Tourists Undergo in Thailand
- Private Bangkok Hospitals
- Dental Hospitals & Clinics
- Eye Hospitals in Bangkok
- Books about Medical Tourism
- Recent headlines about medical tourism
- Websites About Medical Tourism within Thailand
- Flights to Bangkok
- Share your thoughts.
- Love This Lens?
Why Thailand
Bangkok is a Health Tourism Hub
Over the last few years Thailand has become a hub for medical tourists from places such as the US, Europe and the more expensive Asian countries such as Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Thailand has been chosen because the hospital facilities have become world class but low cost and the Thai hospitality is unsurpassed. In 2006 Thailand welcomed more than 1.2 million medical tourists and the medical tourism industry has grown at a 20 - 30% per year rate.
The push for medical tourism in Thailand is part of a long-term government strategy in cooperation with private hospitals to establish the country as the 'health tourism hub of Asia'. Jointly spearheaded by the Ministries of Public Health and Commerce with the internationally accredited hospitals, Thailand's government has invested heavily on first world medical care at developing world prices.
The training and education doctors receive in Thailand is equal to or surpasses that offered elsewhere in the region. Many of these doctors have also been abroad to complete specialist training, particularly to the USA and Europe, and are equally well-qualified as their peers in the West. Private hospitals have invested heavily in state of the art, up-to-date equipment and maintenance standards are quite high.
Tourists come from countries where either medical costs are exorbitant or if they come from countries with nationalized health care, they have very long wait times and in either case, western countries tend to have very low service levels in hospitals. In Thailand, service and hospitality is world renowned. Attentive and helpful medical staff are always on hand to make you feel comfortable in an intimidating, unfamiliar environment.
Once you've decided that coming to Bangkok for medical care is for you, research needs to be done on your part about the procedure you wish to have performed and about the facility you're considering. There is no authoritative information out there yet about holiday surgery and recovery, the quality of treatments both good and bad, in Thai hospitals. However, most private Thai hospitals have ISO safety certification and are members of the respected Private Hospitals Association. The Thai Ministry of Health has introduced its own quality standards, legislation and regulation to build consumer confidence.
However, there is no malpractice protection and sometimes very little post operative support in Thailand. Therefore you need to speak at length with your doctor in your home country about what you want and if you can get follow-up care at a later time. You should also consult the hospital or clinic you wish to go to with your more detailed questions and concerns. All have staff with foreign language skills who can assist you and many have special departments just for foreign patients.
Bottom line is this: Surgery and other medical procedures are quite a serious matter. You need to research thoroughly and ask many questions before making a decision.
Popular Procedures Medical Tourists Undergo in Thailand
Elective or prohibitively expensive in their home countries
- Cardiac bypass surgery
- Gastric bypass
-
Knee replacement
Hip replacement -
Liposuction
Tummy tuck
Breast augmentation -
Rhinoplasty (nose job)
Facelift
Eyelift - Sex reassignment surgery
-
Non invasive cosmetic dermatology such as:
Botox injections
Restalin injections
Photofacials
Microdermabrasions and Chemical peels - LASIK eye surgery
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Dental implants
Veneers
Bridges
Laser teeth whitening - Fertility treatment: IVF
Private Bangkok Hospitals
International hospitals foreign patients come to for medical care
Bangkok's private hospitals are multilingual and many times offer special packages and rates for certain procedures. What's more, when you step inside, it's not the cold, sterile environment you'd expect, but more like a plush hotel lobby. You receive specialized attention from a friendly and knowledgeable staff of nurses and you feel genuinely cared for, not just a number in the system to work through. Below is the list of the top private Bangkok hospitals and their websites. - Bumrungrad International Hospital
- Bumrungrad International is an internationally accredited, multi-specialty hospital located in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. Founded in 1980, today it is the largest private hospital in Southeast Asia, with 554 beds and over 30 specialty centers. Bumrungrad offers state-of-the-art diagnostic, therapeutic and intensive care facilities in a one-stop medical center.
- Samitivej Hospital
- Samitivej hospitals are a group of international class hospitals located in Bangkok, Thailand. We provide quality tertiary care, from cosmetic surgery to major operations such as open heart surgery and organ transplantations.
- Bangkok International Hospital
- Bangkok Hospital Medical Center (BMC) is one of the most technologically sophisticated hospitals in the world today. Located in Bangkok, Thailand, BMC is an expansive state-of-the-art medical campus providing comprehensive medical care through multidisciplinary teams of highly trained specialists. With its four hospitals and broad range of specialized clinics, BMC is equipped with all of the diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. The center has received Joint Commission International accreditation and is known throughout the world for delivering world-class, award-winning healthcare.
- Bangkok Nursing Home Hospital (BNH Hospital)
- BNH Hospital provides the highest quality medical service with specialists and general practitioner doctors completely involved with their patients, from consultation and diagnosis, through to planning and executing treatment, following-up o results, and in surgical cases, post operative card. The concept of 'the Family Doctor' is still highly valued at the BNH Hospital
Dental Hospitals & Clinics
Foreign patients come to get their teeth fixed
Along with the great reputation Thailand has for doctors and medical procedures, dentists also share this reputation. The country's dentists are considered among the finest in the region, rivaled only by that of Singapore.The most serious procedure I personally had done was having my two lower wisdom teeth pulled. I went to a local dental clinic and the cost was just over 4,000 baht, or just over $100US at that time, and it was more 'expensive' because my teeth were fully grown in and the dentist really had to work at it to get them out.
For Americans, this is a huge savings compared to getting it done in the US and for far more serious procedures, such as getting dental implants, the savings can be substantial.
If you need dental implants, veneers, bridges, crowns, tooth whitening oral surgery or other cosmetic dentistry performed, the dental hospitals listed below have international standards and clients from all over the globe.
- Bangkok International Dental Center
- Bangkok International Dental Center (BIDC) and Bangkok Dental Group (BDG) takes pride in offering exceptional dental care centered around the comfort and specific needs of our patients. Our dental clinic adheres by the code of professionalism and individualizing each of our patients' treatments. We believe in taking the time to educate patients about their options and helping them to set realistic goals.
To date, our dental clinics have seen over 10,000 overseas foreign patients. Bangkok International Dental Center (BIDC) is ISO 9001:2008 certified. Its clinics specializes in dental implants, cosmetic dentistry and orthodontic treatments. - Thanakit International Dental Center
- Our dental services and treatments include dental implants with 3-D Dental CT Scan, laser, plasma, and Zoom! tooth whitening, cosmetic dentistry, dental or smile makeover, porcelain & ceramic veneers, crowns & bridges, root canal treatment, gum treatment, oral & maxillofacial surgery, wisdom tooth extraction, orthodontics, braces, Invisalign, digital X-rays and imaging system, and dental check-up and consultation.
- Bangkok Dental Spa
- Bangkok Dental Spa is the internationally recognized leader in the dental industry in Asia, especially in the field of dental cosmetic and implant surgery. We have earned a world-wide reputation for our skilled patient care through an integration of state-of-the-art dentistry with calming therapies of a luxury spa.
Eye Hospitals in Bangkok
LASIK eye surgery is a popular procedure for foreign patients
If you need a check-up or have other eye-related health issues such as glaucoma, the ophthalmologists at Bumrungrad and Bangkok International Hospitals have good reputations. But the consensus for best eye hospital from expats is Rutnin Eye Hospital. It has certified surgeons in every subspecialty including the cornea, excimer laser surgery, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, pediatric ophthalmology and vitreo-retina surgery.Lasik eye surgery is another procedure many foreign patients want to have. Wearing a pair of glasses that always slips down your nose from the constant perspiration is not comfortable. For something as vital as your sight, you want to go to only the best and don't scrimp for elective eye surgery. You will be getting a good deal compared to your home country as it is. Patients, both expat and medical tourists, who have had Lasik done have recommended with both Rutnin-Gimbel Lasik Centre and TRSC International Lasik Center.
- Rutnin Eye Hospital
- Rutnin Eye Hospital is Thailand's only hospital specializing solely in Ophthalmology. At present the hospital comprises 29 Board Certified surgeons in every sub-specialty of the eye including the cornea, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, vitreo-retina, oculoplastics, pediatric ophthalmology and excimer laser refractive surgery.
- Rutnin Gimbel Lasik Centre
- (Very Slow Connection)
Rutnin Eye Hospital, a well-known eye institute founded in 1964, is among the first private hospitals in Thailand to perform eye refractive surgery with the Excimer laser in 1992. Gimbel Eye Centre, Calgary, Canada, is world renowned. Also founded in 1964, it started performing laser refractive surgery in 1990. Rutnin-Gimbel LASIK Centre is a joint venture of these two institutes, each with over 40 years of experience in the practice of Ophthalmology and years of expertise in laser refractive surgery. - TRSC International Lasik Center
- Founded in 1997, TRSC is the largest stand-alone LASIK facility in Asia specializing in the surgical correction of vision problems (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism) using LASIK as well as PRK, ICL, PRL, and cataract surgery.
Books about Medical Tourism
Recent headlines about medical tourism
- Is Medical Tourism Recession-Proof? Study Says Yes
- Among important medical tourism markets cited in the report are: Panama, Brazil, Costa Rica, Thailand, India, Malaysia and Singapore. South Africa, Argentina, Cuba, Jamaica, Hungary, Latvia, Estonia, Dubai and Jordan are as emerging as destinations for ...
- Medical Tourism: Oklahoma Woman Travels To India For Inexpensive - NewsOn6.com ...
- ... Oklahomans jet setting to exotic locations such as Turkey, Mexico and Thailand - not for a vacation, but for surgery. An Oklahoma woman saved tens of thousands of dollars -- and possibly her life -- through the booming industry of medical tourism.
- Century Properties boosts tourism portfolio
- There are about 30-member hospitals, clinics, wellness center and resorts, that comprise the Philippine Medical Tourism industry. Medical tourism is also popular in countries like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and India. A 2008 McKinsey and Co.
- Global Specialty Tourism Sector is Poised for Steady Growth, According to New ...
- Increasing health awareness levels, low medical costs, less waiting time are driving medical tourism, with a significant portion of the tourists flow directed towards developing nations such as India, Brazil and Thailand, among others.
Websites About Medical Tourism within Thailand
To Aid in Your Research
- Medical Tourism Corporation - Thailand Medical Tourism
- "Medical Tourism is Thailand can get you huge discounts of medical treatments. Cost of medcial care treatments in Thailand is 40-50% less as compared to US and UK. Contact us now for more information on medical tourism and health care in Thailand.
- Affordable Cosmetic Surgery and Plastic Surgery Abroad
- Affordable cosmetic surgery like breast implants, tummy tuck, liposuction, face lift, and rhinoplasty are available by qualified plastic surgeons in Thailand. The first medical tourism company focusing on quality plastic surgery abroad was Metamorphosis Medical Retreats.
- Thailand Medical Tourism Health Services Agent :: Mondial Oasis :: Bangkok, Thailand
- Affordable healthcare you can trust. Thailand is one of the world's most loved tourist destinations. A number of Thailand's leading hospitals are JCI accredited, the highest recognized international standard in Healthcare. Mondial Assistance has more than 35 years experience in the Medical Assistance business and is the world's largest Assistance Company. We have a thorough understanding of the standard of healthcare in Thailand and can provide you with a professional, unbiased opinion of the options that best suit your needs.
Flights to Bangkok
Cheap flights are one of the big draws to medical tourist destinations
Share your thoughts.
Expats or Medical Tourists, what do you think?
submit
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sarahrk
Dec 15, 2011 @ 1:25 pm | delete
- I would hate to take this kind of risk with my health
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Shawn
Jan 16, 2011 @ 7:48 am | delete
- Very thorough on the Thai medical tourism that literally includes almost every aspect on this issue. You are welcome to read more about the more broader issue of the medical tourism industry in out new blog: http://www.ticketmed.com/medical-tourism-blog
Thanks for this great info regarding Thailand, I found it helpful.
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WilliamsHood
Dec 1, 2010 @ 6:38 am | delete
- Medical tourism carries some risks that locally-provided medical care does not.
Thailand healthcare tourism
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Malisa
Jul 20, 2010 @ 11:06 am | delete
- I decided to go abroad for my surgery and found the Internet an amazing source of information for finding out about the procedure and then choosing the surgeon and facility. You Tube has many videos and I found a great website who deals with everything including all the travel and treatment arrangements. I was picked up at the airport and treated to a 5 star hospital bed followed by a 5 star hotel. The website I used was
Orthopaedics Abroad Breast Surgery
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the777group
Jul 7, 2010 @ 12:09 am | delete
- Ho Amyji, this is the second of your Thai lenses that I've lensrolled for my funny Thai Ads lens.
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by Amyji
Amyji
I have an avid interest in health issues, especially when people have to go abroad for affordable health care. I was pregnant and gave birth in Bangko... more »
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