A growing number of tourists to Thailand are combining holidays with health care. In 2004, 600,000 foreign patients sought treatment in Bangkok, Thailand, a figure that is expected to grow by 66 percent in 2006 with approximately one million foreign patients travelling to Bangkok, Thailand for medical treatment and health services.

With world class surgeons, highly esteemed research professors, and the latest technology, Thailand’s medical services add a new dimension to its long tradition of hospitality to foreign visitors.

The Thai medical profession is probably one of the most advanced in the region. Successive governments have invested in ensuring the education and training Thai doctors receive is parallel to that offered elsewhere in the region. Many doctors undertake specialist training abroad, particularly the United States and Europe and are at least equally as well qualified as physicians in the west – often more so. Many large private hospitals are also staffed with translators to assist foreigners in communicating with medical professionals.

The Thai Government has made major investments in equipment and infrastructure, and Thai hospitals are recognized for their high management standards. Health management groups ensure that service standards are comparable in regional hospitals as well. All this expertise and proficiency makes Thailand’s hospitals a secure option for those seeking medical treatment.

Foreigners have access to a range of medical services, such as general diagnosis and treatment, physical check-ups, and dental and eye care. A variety of cosmetic surgery options are also available, as is cosmetic dentistry (laser teeth whitening, etc.) and laser sight correction (LASIK, etc.).

Pricing Guidelines

By Western standards, Thai hospitals offer very competitive prices for health care services. Costs for medical services in Bangkok, Thailand can be 50–80 percent less than similar procedures in North America . Please refer to the table below for the pricing guidelines of medical services in Bangkok, Thailand: