A Backpacker’s Guide to Thailand; Health Care

There are, out there, some poor people, not well travelled, who believe the extent of Thai health care consists of a few wandering apothecaries riding bareback on elephants!

Nothing could be further from the truth; Thailand has some excellent health care facilities and hospitals that would put some 5 star hotels in the shade. In fact, Thailand is renowned as a top world medical destination, with a number of, what are known as International Hospitals. Although most of them are centred in Bangkok all the major cities in have at least one.

By western standards they are also very good value. I read somewhere, before the Pound plummeted, that one could fly 1st class London- Bangkok, have a replacement hip operation and convalesce in a 5 star hotel cheaper than having the operation done privately in the UK.

There is also a requirement that doctors, nurses and hospital reception staff should have some knowledge of the English language, which helps!

Here’s an example of procedure based on an experience I had a few years ago. While having lunch, the girlfriend of an English acquaintance called me asking me to go to his hotel room because “he isn’t goodâ€. What an understatement! He was lying on the bed, his face as white as a sheet and his left arm as blue as the Anderman Sea. I asked hotel reception to call an ambulance, which arrived after about 15 minutes. Two paramedics quickly loaded him, and off we sped to the Bangkok Hospital in Patthaya, where he was whisked away for examination. It didn’t take them long to diagnose a blood clot, but that there would be a period of hospitalization and medication before they could remove it. Total cost; nearly 200,000 Baht, (about 4000 pdsg), for a 13 day stay.

But here’s the crunch! It was my responsibility to register him at the hospital. Name, nationality, address in Thailand, passport and health insurance policy. Gaining access to health care in Thailand is similar to checking into a hotel; they want to be sure that you can meet the bill. No guarantee of payment, no treatment!

It matters not whether you go to an International Hospital or a normal Thai hospital, the same procedure prevails. Thai hospitals offer excellent treatment, but unless you can speak Thai it’s going to be an uphill struggle from the start. It’s bad enough having to seek health care without having communication problems to complicate matters.

My advice is:

a)    arrange medical assurance which guarantees medical charges

b)   a policy which offers assistance for liaising with doctors and hospital staff

c)    includes arrangement of emergency repatriation with escort if necessary

d)   is willing to give help and advice to those travelling with you.

Doctors, dentists and pharmacies.

I can’t say that I have a great deal of faith in Thai GPs. Non of those I’ve consulted spoke English and I would leave the surgery thinking that he was more interested in selling me something, anything, rather than making me feel better. Maybe I’ve just been unlucky.

Pharmacists, on the other hand try to be helpful and, in my experience, have been excellent. Most of them have some English. Many medications for which you would require a doctor’s prescription in the UK are available over the counter in Thai pharmacies.

Dentists are two a penny in Thailand, but there are vastly different levels of hygiene. The only advice I can give is to take a look through the window and sum up whether the place and the staff look spick and span. If not, walk round the corner and take a look at another one.

Here’s hoping you have a trouble-free and carefree backpacking experience in The Land of Smiles.

Good backpacking.

About the Author

A fun and informative blog for backpackers in Thailand.

http://thailand-my-thailand.blogspot.com/

Daniel Hannan – Universal Health Care in the UK

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