Thailand's healthcare system ranked among best in the world

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Image: Reuters, file photo

 

Thailand's health care system has been ranked among the best in the world, according to CEO WORLD magazine's Health Care Index.

 

The Health Care Index, which ranks 89 countries according to factors that contribute to overall health, ranked Thailand's health care system in 13th place with an overall score of 59.52.

 

Thailand was ranked higher than countries such as Norway (15th), New Zealand (16th), Germany (17th), Switzerland (18th) and the United States (30th).

 

Thailand's score also ranked its healthcare system the best in ASEAN, followed by Singapore (24th), Malaysia (34th), the Philippines (38th), Indonesia (52nd), and Vietnam (66th). 

 

Of the 89 countries surveyed, South Korea’s healthcare comes in 1st place in the ranking scoring 78.72 out of 100 on the Health Care Index. At the opposite end of the spectrum, with a score of 33.42, Venezuela top the list of the countries with the worst health care systems for 2021.

 

According to CEO World, the Health Care Index is a statistical analysis of the overall quality of the health care system, including health care infrastructure; health care professionals (doctors, nursing staff, and other health workers) competencies; cost (USD p.a.per capita); quality medicine availability, and government readiness.

 

It also takes into consideration other factors including, environmental, access to clean water, sanitation, government readiness on imposing penalties on risks such as tobacco use, and obesity.

 

The ranking looks at 89 countries around the world on five different health variables. 

 

 

 

 

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[ezzra]

2 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

ranked among the best in the world

Yeah right among the best in the world.. good one to start the day a joke...

[Thailand]

That's OK then.

[Pravda]

How many Thai people have regular checkups like mammograms, colonoscopy, blood tests and other preventive procedures that are pretty much normal and free in civilized countries?

 

Or simply, how about that covid vaccine?

 

 

[SoilSpoil]

Quite some government hospitals I've been to (Chiang Rai for example) have a rather medieval feeling to them with stretchers with dying people in the hallways, and whole families camping in tents outside, waiting for the bad news moment. This is just my own observation, mind you. Healthcare is only topnotch here, if you can afford it. 

 

How about the Burmese labourers in Samut Sakon, who had Covid? Barbed wired factories. 

[geovalin]

6th in 2019

 

[Misterwhisper]

I think the magazine title in which this article appeared, CEO World, should give a hint. There is no denying that patients with the financial means and first-class health insurance can receive excellent medical treatment here and are courted like kings. But.... what about the vast majority of citizens, the so-called unwashed masses? I very much doubt they'd blow into the same horn as CEO World.

 

Receiving a few paracetamols or dispensed-like-candies antibiotics in a village medical center, or cueing up for countless hours in overcrowded public hospitals just to get a simple x-ray or change of wound dressing is perhaps not exactly what these people would laud as "among the best in the world." Not that CEO World editors bothered to do any research into that, did they?

[StayinThailand2much]

45 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thailand's health care system has been ranked among the best in the world  (...)

In other news: "Earth is actually a flat disc."

[sandyf]

31 minutes ago, Pravda said:

How many Thai people have regular checkups like mammograms, colonoscopy, blood tests and other preventive procedures that are pretty much normal and free in civilized countries?

 

Or simply, how about that covid vaccine?

 

 

A lot more than you or others would like to think. I use the government hospital at Bang Saen and other than the queuing it cannot be faulted. Better treatment than I ever received in the UK. 

I have just returned from the UK and you cannot see a doctor unless it is an emergency. The NHS is in crisis and the government are having to intervene. It is delusional for anyone to think that healthcare system in the UK is free, those that pay tax are paying for it, myself being one of them.

I have a routine blood test at the hospital every 6 months and I can assure you there is no lack of locals queuing up.

The Cancer Hospital at Chonburi does a low cost healthcare package, it is by appointment with about a 6 week waiting list.

 

As for the covid vaccine, a problem created by selfish western governments.

[Doctor Tom]

A misleading title.  In Bangkok, at some expensive major hospitals, if you can afford it, which the vast majority of Thais cannot, then it probably is, If its rural health care, a choice for millions here,  no chance, its appallingly bad. Mind you, I will add, as a Brit, that the NHS is also appallingly bad and lets' down the majority of those who need treatment and  even many of those that  get it.   No point having a free service if you can't  access it and its poor when you do. 

[jacknorman]

They probably believe in it

 

[RJRS1301]

I would like to see how the rankings were carried out, who the assessors were, what was the expertise, how long was the assessment carried out over, and did it include government and private facilities.

Did they do depersonalised client audits for medical mishaps, hospital acquired infections, misdiagnosis. if so how many files were audited and were they randomised?

Was infection control audited? Training and registrations ,and professional development assessed?

Without knowing the parameters and disciplines covered, it is a questionable ranking. 

 

[asiasurfer]

I think, they are taking about a health care system, only if your are rich enough to afford it. So in these terms, it is good news for Thailand's health care tourism industry. 

 

I would like to see an index of in which health care system, the sexiest nurses are working. Might make sense in terms of tourism... ????

[jollyhangmon]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thailand was ranked higher than countries such as Norway (15th), New Zealand (16th), Germany (17th), Switzerland (18th) and the United States (30th).

 

Huh ...??! 

Yeah, sure, I believe it ... or maybe just schizoid dreams of grandeur, again ...?

 

Never mind, always good for a laff and at least that's good for yer health as well ...

 

[Silencer]

Google "best health care in the world", CEO World is the high water mark for Thailand, many other lists have it quite a bit lower. Top tier countries also much different than CEO World rankings. I will say that many private hospitals offer excellent care.

[KhunLA]

I only have experience with 2 countries.  Both excellent, 1 affordable, 1 unaffordable (actually cost more if you have health insurance).

 

One reason I chose Thailand to retire, and not the USA.  

[Guderian]

Thailand - the hub of dodgy and misleading polls, lol.

[bbko]

My wife and luk khrueng son are registered under the 30 baht scheme and get excellent care at the local clinic for minor illnesses and other than a longer wait at the government hospital for non-emergency care they get proper treatment.

 

No way in the world would big companies and bought politicians allow something like the 30 baht scheme in my country/USA.

[timberpond]

If it's best health care facility, we have to investigate further. 

But it's talking about best health care system! No further investigation necessary...

[vandeventer]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Yeah right among the best in the world.. good one to start the day a joke...

I thought the bars and the Pubs were closed?

[Henryford]

UK NHS 10th that's a joke. It can take weeks just to see a GP then maybe months to get treated. I can walk into a hospital here with no appointment and get seen and maybe even treated the same day. OK you pay but then i pay for the NHS through taxes.

[bikerlou47]

This is one of the biggest jokes I have ever seen relating to this country.

 

I have has several encounters with doctors in this country every time it has proved to be pointless. Healthcare in this country is terrible.

[hellohello123]

If you're ranked 13th based on self assessing, you're truly doing it wrong!

[Pravda]

3 hours ago, sandyf said:

<snip>

 

I admit I know nothing about UK healthcare, but I know plenty about Canadian healthcare. The doctors and hospitals will do everything in their power to save a life regardless of cost. In Thailand, they won't even give you painkillers if you're dying of cancer unless you pay. 

 

I have a good insurance here, but there is no way in hell I will fight with them here when I'm old if something serious comes up. They will always refuse to pay and make excuses. 

 

My ex-wife's friend died of cancer in her early 30's here. She had insurance because she worked in the same company as my wife. A very big German international company connected to BTS project. The company is great, but Thai insurance apparently isn't as they didn't pay for treatment. What to say? 

 

 

[hellohello123]

I'm the world's 4th best tyrannosaurus  dentist

[meechai]

The private hospitals are very nice & prices although creeping up to match the west are still lower at this time

I actually find the private hospitals cleaner than their western counterparts & the staff surely more polite & gentle/caring

 

BUT........While great for testing etc anything major should have a second opinion & even a third out of Thailand if possible

 

I hate to say this but in my own experience Thai hospitals are like all other Thai businesses...They see a westerner & they do

attempt to take advantage. I was actually told I need an operation asap that would have cost 450k baht

I got a second opinion from a highly recommended Thai specialist ...who basically just read the report from the well known Bangkok Hospital & agreed period.

 

I flew back to the USA & they laughed at me when I explained. To this day 5 years later I still have not had that operation or any ill effects from not having it.

 

So beware...I was really sorry that happened because I always thought after years of living in Thailand, speaking, writing & reading Thai that there were certain things I could count on....meaning medical examinations/ doctors but I was wrong, & it really was a kick in the teeth...broke my heart

 

 

[Saanim]

7 minutes ago, bikerlou47 said:

I have has several encounters with doctors in this country every time it has proved to be pointless.

Such experience can be found in any country. Depends on how did you {or your wife) handle that.

I can say just opposite. 

[Rimmer]

An inflammatory post and reply removed also a troll meme

[Mickmouse1]

Very good news for those thinking to migrste and settle in Siam 55.

How about the cost for majority of thai people? Does the ordinary thai enjoy these facilities for free?

[bkkbarnstormer]

Presumably what they actually meant as “Thailand’s international private hospitals in Bangkok ranked amongst the best in the world”

and they didn’t check out some of the provincial facilities