5 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Health care in Thailand is becoming increasingly expensive for foreigners.

 

For most expats, apart from Americans, health care "back home" (apart from dentists) may be cheaper than in Thailand, especially for the elderly, retirees or those receiving government social security/welfare benefits.

 

For example, as a retiree in Australia, the maximum I would pay for filling a medical prescription would be about Baht 160.

a typical cleaning at the dentist in the USA was  $150   as oppossed to 600Baht here ( less than $20)

22 minutes ago, geisha said:

Yes, I cannot be a full time * expat*due to the fact of the extreme costs at private hospitals and that insurance companies will not insure against any pre existing illnesses. I have first class free health insurance in France and I’m not giving that up .

My uncle who is very well off has abandoned the care homes offers in Thailand for the same reason , health costs if….. and also the new tax system which would involve declaring an expensive care home , visas  etc etc.

He says he knows what he would pay at home, but not in Thailand.

Same reason we are returning home in a few years time - medical expenses here are much higher now than 15 years ago and getting higher every year. 

 

36 minutes ago, Mburo said:

I read this story three years ago. What happened ?

It was found the very few International visitors were interested in guided tours of Bumrumgrad.😀

5 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

What, do they just recycle this article every couple of months?

 

They have a basket  like this 

and on each ball has another Hub/scheme idea and assorted buzz words

next drawing tomorrow !

Some treatments are still cheaper in Thailand than in a Western European country. However, they are working hard to undermine even that added value. The only real advantage left is that there are hardly any waiting times.
 

I don't trust Thai doctors for major issues. Twice I've had a Thai doctor misdiagnose me (once for cataracts, another for enlarged prostate) strictly for the sake of profit.

 

The DENTISTS are top drawer and a fraction of the cost compared to their US counterparts.

6 hours ago, hanbla said:

Thailand is not a third world country 

Not in some things, but some other things it is!

Had bilateral knee replacement (both knees) in Bangkok Hospital, Udon Thani a couple of months ago. Cost was 405,000 baht. ~$12000 us dollars. Not a bad deal. Top notch treatment. Only problem was a slight language barrier which my Thai wife took care of.👍

If they are they better get some of the hospitals to lower their prices. Our local one here in Pattaya almost DOUBLED the cost of our health checks this year.

 

People need to check prices before coming out here only to find out they aren't saving much if any money.

Nothing special about medical services in Thailand... If you are thai expect substandard care. If you are a foreigner expect to pay (substantially) more for the same substandard care. With the exception of dental and some plastic surgeries, you can do better elsewhere.

Cut the 25% Tariffs on foreign patents would be a start.

With the prices some hospitals charge all it would take is for all the other hospitals to up their prices in line and problems solved! (Shhhhhhhh - hush my mouth!)

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Bumrungrad International Hospital | File photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Thailand is diving into medical and wellness tourism to tackle slow economic growth amid global uncertainties. With a focus on medical tourism, manufacturing, and eldercare, the nation aims to boost its economy, according to Messe Düsseldorf Asia, a global trade organiser.

 

These sectors are set to expand the domestic market by 5.5 to 7% annually, while exports are expected to rise by 6.5 to 7.5% each year. See Lay Eng, from Messe Düsseldorf Asia, emphasises Thailand's strategic position in Southeast Asia for medical innovations, benefiting from government support and international cooperation.

 

ASEAN is emerging as a hotspot for medical and wellness tourism, with Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore at the forefront. These nations attract visitors by offering affordable, high-quality treatments and holistic care.

 

In 2024, Thailand's medical tourism market was valued at over 15.2 billion Thai Baht, projected to grow by 15% annually, potentially reaching 45.6 billion Thai Baht by 2035.

 

The domestic medical device market is expected to grow by 7% yearly, with exports increasing by 7.5%. Thailand stands as a major exporter in ASEAN, especially in consumables and diagnostic equipment.

 

Messe Düsseldorf Asia is gearing up for the 2025 Medical Fair Thailand, starting 10 September at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre. The event will showcase cutting-edge medical technologies and foster business interactions.

 

The National Innovation Agency is boosting medical tech development among local businesses, directing 70% of financial support to startups and 30% to small and medium enterprises, says Krithpaka Boonfueng, the agency's executive director.

 

Despite local advancements, Thailand imports over 2.1 trillion Thai Baht in medical devices annually, notes Termsak Sirikirin from the National Metal and Materials Technology Centre. This dependence stems from limited investment in research and development and support systems.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-23

 

 

I'm not sure if this is working.

Europeans are going for dental issues to Turkey, Czech Rep or Hungary, for hair issues to Turkey, and cosmetic surgery within EU.

So I can't see any reason why I should go for a hernia or appendix problem to Thailand and pay by myself, whereas in my home country it's free?

 I find the public hospitals here to be extremely fair, with their pricing. Even a visit to Bangkok Hospital, to see an orthopedic specialist, get some x-rays, and an exam costs me $60. At a private clinic in the US, probably $300-400. A visit to the emergency room of a hospital in the US, costs $2,000 and up. For an hour visit. In a public hospital here, that same visit is about 600 baht. They are charging so little to the Thai people, due to universal health care. And that is a very good thing for the people. They have to make up for it, to some extent with us. What is the issue with that? I am quite happy with the medical care here, and the associated costs. No complaints from me.

 

A good friend of mine got in a bad motorcycle accident some time ago. He almost lost his leg. He got his first of 11 operations at Bangkok Hospital Samui. It costs him over a million baht. They wanted to do a second procedure. They quoted him 1.4 million baht. He decided to transfer to Bangkok. He was quoted 460,000 baht for the same procedure, at a top private hospital there. The surgeon told him that he worked at a public hospital too, and could do the same operation there, for alot less money. He told him he would get him a quote. In the interim, my friend called a buddy in San Diego, who is an orthopedic surgeon. Since my friend is a retired chiropractor, who knew all the terminology, and explained what he needed, and asked for the best price. His friend called him back, and quoted him $960,000, with cash discounts! The local surgeon got back to him, and told him he could do it for 46,000 baht. He transferred, and they did all the rest of his procedures. So, 1.4 million at Bangkok Hospital, 460,000 at the other private hospital in Bangkok (I think it was Vejthani Hospital), and 46,000 at the public hospital, with an excellent surgeon. VS. 32,000,000 baht in the US. Again, no complaints from this peanut gallery.

11 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Better to look to other countries as it's western prices here now 

 Worse than that.

 

For an Interventional Radiology procedure Siriraj quoted me twice the going rate of Western Hospitals. Also it is an outpatient procedure for which they wanted a 3 days admission, with a family member present for the duration.

 

I showed them the middle finger. Perth or maybe Vietnam or Malaysia may be the alternative.

 

Cigna issued a warning about Bumrungrad related to unusually high charges, my plan is based on Swiss prices.

9 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

 Worse than that.

 

For an Interventional Radiology procedure Siriraj quoted me twice the going rate of Western Hospitals. Also it is an outpatient procedure for which they wanted a 3 days admission, with a family member present for the duration.

 

I showed them the middle finger. Perth or maybe Vietnam or Malaysia may be the alternative.

 

Cigna issued a warning about Bumrungrad related to unusually high charges, my plan is based on Swiss prices.

Try India, no it's not a joke, many good hospitals, resorts for medical tourism, good English, much cheaper, 2+ hours away

Desperate it as desperate does. Thailand and Thai people think they are so special they arr not capable of understanding they have killed the retirement desire due to the utterly ridiculous immigration criteria and tourism as well. On the few occasions I went to Med Park in Bangkok the only thing i found special were the prices, special expensive for Farangs.
So many factors have ruined Thailand. I left for Cambodia 5 months ago. It is much better in every way. Just spent 3 days back in Bangkok and it has gotten even worse price wise not very many tourists about and Pattaya is little more than an over priced dump. Thailand bought it upon itself. If a farang goes for medical treatment they are going to get rinsed. A third world country charging 1st world prices 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

How naive is this with all the articles in the Thai media about private hospitals persistently raising prices an average of 15% a year for years now, compared to inflation in the 2-3% range?  A lot of Thai doctors are totally incompetent too and feel very little sense of accountability because hospitals always deny responsibility and harass patients who try to sue them. I have had a number of ailments that were  totally misdiagnosed in a Thai hospital that is part of the largest listed group of hospitals.  In one case a Thai doctor faffed about for two years giving me all sorts of expensive tests but still couldn't diagnose the problem.  Finally I went to see a UK specialist on Harley Street who identified the problem in five minutes in his office without any special equipment.  He operated the next week and fixed the problem which hasn't troubled me again in 15 years.  

 

They just imagine that because Thailand has been successful in medical tourism in the past, they are entitled to have the same success indefinitely into the future regardless of changing conditions in Thailand and abroad.  Thais have no idea why foreigners come to Thailand or why they stop coming.  

 

I go to see Thai doctors because i live in Thailand but I can't imagine why anyone would fly across the world to see them.

21 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

 Worse than that.

 

For an Interventional Radiology procedure Siriraj quoted me twice the going rate of Western Hospitals. Also it is an outpatient procedure for which they wanted a 3 days admission, with a family member present for the duration.

 

I showed them the middle finger. Perth or maybe Vietnam or Malaysia may be the alternative.

 

Cigna issued a warning about Bumrungrad related to unusually high charges, my plan is based on Swiss prices.

 

 

It's very annoying that they insist on a family member present all the time in your hospital room.  I had an eye operation at Rutnin and they insisted on that, even though for my previous two eye ops they didn't.  Mrs Dog was pregnant at the time and I obviously couldn't ask her to do the nursing job in the hospital.  I said I was fine the previous two times and had no one to stay with me.  So they made me pay for someone to stay in my room.  They offered a nurse or someone unqualified at half the price which was the offer I took.  That was a big mistake as It turned about to be one of the cleaners who had just come off an obviously heavy work shift because she stank like a pole cat.  I offered her to use the bathroom to take a shower but she declined - probably thought I was being forward, even though she looked like the back end of a bus.  So every time I woke up with the pain in my eye I was greeted by a foul stench from the sofa.  When I paid the bill I was just given a scrap of paper as a receipt for the overnight female companion, so I couldn't claim it from my insurance.

11 hours ago, Jone500 said:

I guess Americans might see life insurance in their own country as useless if they can get cheap healthcare in a third world country.

 

I compared my US insurer as the price is super high IMHO with CIGNA local - their prices here are even higher than my US insurer but the CIGNA while being worldwide EXCEPT for US, while my US insurer covers worldwide treatment and is still cheaper for me only so you can only imagine what the CIGNA family costs !  Don't get old I guess is the only answer as to avoid the costs of either treatment alone or through insurance.  I thought that being health concious, no booze, no smoking legal or illegal, eating a great diet, exercising regular - no claims ever on my health insurer as never ill, so end up paying top prices to pay for all those folks getting fat, wasted, etc.  Doesn't seem to reward folks that do take care of themselves - what a racket these companies have.  I can see the hand writing on the wall - pretty soon the US govt will drop their share of their sponsored health insurance companies too and pass it on to the workers - so that the rich can get richer and just drive everyone else except for the rich into the poorhoutse.   At least here, treatment is at least adequate and cheap in comparison.  For most treatment I have in the past just paid for whatever here but now I definitely pass it on to the insurance company.  If trends continue, I may opt to a savings account for health issues and at what I pay now for coverage, it would grow quite quickly to be adequate. iMHO anyway.

2 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

 

 

It's very annoying that they insist on a family member present all the time in your hospital room.  I had an eye operation at Rutnin and they insisted on that, even for my previous two eye ops they didn't.  Mrs Dog was pregnant at the time and I obviously couldn't ask her to do the nursing job in the hospital.  I said I was fine the previous two times and had no one to stay with me.  So they made me pay for someone to stay in my room.  They offered a nurse or someone unqualified at half the price which was the offer I took.  It turned about to be one of the cleaners who had just come off an obviously heavy work shift because she stank like a pole cat.  I offered her to use the bathroom to take a shower but she declined - probably thought I was being forward, even though she looked like the back end of a bus.  So every time I woke up with the pain in my eye I was greeted by a foul stench from the sofa.    

Yep, so much for medical tourism...

Thailand , a country that refuses to provide proper care to its citizens , pensions, unemployment benefit, free or cheap medication , care for diabetes , minimum wages , long hours, fat cat Hisos, and so on ... now making a fortune from providing private health care at private clinics and hospitals with western private care prices to match. 

16 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Try India, no it's not a joke, many good hospitals, resorts for medical tourism, good English, much cheaper, 2+ hours away

I can't get over the fact that everyone who goes to India spend at least one day in the loo wondering which end to aim at the the toilet first...

 

I think from here Perth or KL are good option. By now Singapore is probably above western prices.too.

I remember Thailand was looking to increase the volume of people coming here with all different types of schemes I remember was the Indians then it was the ultrarich then it was this group of people that was that group of people now they’re back to the medical Tourist which are far better countries to go to For these treatments TIT

13 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Better to look to other countries as it's western prices here now 

I agree.  About 15-20 yrs ago, the prices/service were incredible.  Now private hospitals have become  like everything else seems to be in Thailand.  One wants millions of people, big profits, but cannot catch up with the service mind, care and politeness.  Now one is a number and being ushered here and there, nurses are overworked and rushed.  Appointments are generally 10 mins.  Then you’re ushered to the payment dept, wait 30 mins at least and leave with a bucket full of drugs.  It’s become an assembly line, totally impersonal and when you come home you realise that half of the drugs pushed on to you, you won’t use anyway.

Wait... haven't they tried/mention/floated this before...so what happened.

Seems they run out of ideas and rehash old ones.

...Every Day...Or Twice A Day... (?)

...Tripping Over Themselves To Make Yet Another Pronouncement...

8 hours ago, Dogmatix said:

I go to see Thai doctors because i live in Thailand but I can't imagine why anyone would fly across the world to see them.

- US prices

- insufficient medical infrastructure in the middle east,  in Burma, Laos and Cambodia (Surin hospitals treat lots of Cambodians, Overbrook has Laotians, Bumrungrad has Arabs and Burmese)

- unorthodox treatments (e.g. stem cells) not offered in rich countries,  or not covered by insurance

How much are they betting ?

Thailand is fine for elective, pre-scheduled, short-term procedures at elite facilities—if you can afford them. It’s not a good system for chronic conditions, emergencies outside of Bangkok, or affordable long-term care. Even at Bumrungard it's more a hard sell to get you to buy "packages", and the prices there keep going up. Thailand will eventually screw the pooch on any advantage they once had as greed firmly sets in (takes over). Mexico, India and Turkiye and better value for money.