19 hours ago, CharlieH said:

A man in Ratchaburi went to San Camillo Hospital with chest pain that felt, in his own words, nothing like the tendon pain his medical file said he'd had before. The doctor on duty diagnosed anxiety and sent him home a few hours later.

That afternoon, Panupong Meesuk collapsed and died at home, and an autopsy found two blocked coronary arteries. His wife shared the story online, and it moved from a local case to national news within days, with millions of views and follow-up coverage from Thai outlets on hospital care quality.

The Social Security Office later pieced together what had happened during the visit: Panupong was referred to an orthopaedic specialist because his file showed a history of tendinitis, then shuffled between departments while his family tried to explain that this felt different, that it reached into his chest and wouldn't ease. The hospital suspended the doctor involved.

So, would you trust a Thai hospital with a serious diagnosis? Probably the wrong question. What actually matters is whether you'd know which kind of hospital, and which kind of doctor, you were standing in front of on the day it counted.

The case for public hospitals

Public hospitals in Thailand are cheap or free if you're on the Social Security Scheme, and some of the largest ones have genuinely strong reputations for serious illness. Chulalongkorn, Rajavithi, and Police Hospital are the names Thai doctors themselves point to for severe cases, not the smaller district hospitals further down the referral chain.

Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital is Thailand's first JCI-accredited public hospital. It's proof, on its own, that "public can't meet international standards" isn't a safe assumption everywhere. The trade-off is volume: some of these hospitals see patients queuing from four in the morning for a same-day slot, and a routine consultation can eat an entire day before anyone's looked at a scan.

Where trust breaks down for a serious diagnosis

In a separate case in Nakhon Ratchasima, the family of a four-year-old girl asked the Ministry of Public Health to investigate whether a misdiagnosis at Phra Thongkham Hospital contributed to her death, after she was first sent home with what doctors described as a seasonal flu. 

A foundation supporting the family said it had received information on roughly ten suspected cases of diagnostic or treatment error at the same hospital, and the ministry agreed to set up a committee to investigate.

What connects these two cases is narrower than "misdiagnosis happens." Both started with an early, low-stakes read - tendinitis in one, flu in the other - and that read got carried forward through every handoff instead of getting re-checked. 

A serious diagnosis is rarely one decision made by one doctor. It's a first read, a referral, maybe a second opinion, a department that inherits someone else's notes instead of your actual symptoms.

If a doctor told you your chest pain was anxiety, would you know enough to push for an ECG anyway? It's a harder question than it sounds when the person telling you otherwise is the specialist in the room.

Social Security adds its own version of the same problem, and this applies to foreign employees on a work permit just as much as Thai nationals; the law treats the two identically. A smaller hospital has to refer a complicated case up the chain before treatment can properly start, and that takes time you may not have if the problem is getting worse. 

You choose your designated hospital when you register, but you can only switch it once a year, in a window between mid-December and the end of March. Outside that window, you're stuck with whatever you picked, and a crisis doesn't wait for open enrolment. Where English isn't spoken fluently on the ward, a symptom described imprecisely tends to get triaged imprecisely too.

It's fair to point the same scrutiny the other way. Private hospitals aren't a guaranteed safer bet either. It isn't unusual for a private facility to refer a patient to a major government hospital when a case needs equipment or expertise the private side doesn't keep on-site.

Also: Are you actually covered at private hospitals in Thailand, or just insured?

The private alternative, and its price tag

Thailand has more JCI-accredited hospitals than any other country in Southeast Asia; Bumrungrad International, Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej Sukhumvit, BNH, and MedPark all carry it, alongside in-house specialists and diagnostic equipment most public hospitals can't match.

The honest downside is cost. A full diagnostic workup for something serious - imaging, specialist consultations, a biopsy - can run into hundreds of thousands of baht before a treatment plan even exists. Without insurance, that's the number that sends people straight back to the hospital they were trying to avoid in the first place.

Where Cigna fits in this decision

Cigna Global's coverage does something more specific than pay the bill here. Its Medical Second Opinion Service gets you specialists outside the hospital that gave you the original diagnosis, so you're not stuck relying on hope that the first read was right. 

Getting a second opinion shouldn't depend on whether you can afford to ask for one.

Cigna's core plans scale with how much of this you want covered:

• Close Care℠ covers up to US$500,000 a year (roughly 17 million baht), across Thailand and your home country, and is the more budget-conscious option for expats who mostly stay local. 

• Silver goes up to US$1 million with fuller diagnostics and hospitalisation. 

• Gold reaches US$2 million and adds routine maternity and specialist treatment. 

• Platinum removes the ceiling almost entirely, for those who want access to premium providers like Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospital without a second thought about cost.

If the diagnosis turns out to be right and serious, Cigna's Complex Case Management assigns a dedicated nurse to manage the condition for as long as the policy runs, instead of leaving you to coordinate specialists and follow-ups alone. 

And for the moment right after a diagnosis lands, when getting a second opinion is exactly the thing people skip because it means paying twice, Cigna's direct billing network means seeing another specialist doesn't require settling a bill upfront and hoping for reimbursement later. You go, Cigna settles it with the hospital.

Get a free quote from Cigna Global today.

None of this replaces good judgment about where you seek care first. It just changes what happens once you're sitting in a consultation room and the diagnosis on the table doesn't sit right with you.

Have you had a diagnosis in Thailand that turned out to be wrong, or had to rely on a second opinion for your diagnosis? Tell us in the comments.

*Hospital and case details reflect reporting as of August 2026 and are subject to change as investigations conclude.

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article seems to be divided between reporting the issue and talking up insurance.

Not sure... and this study does not support to trust them.

A Thai study on medical care in Bangkok noticed that both private and public hospitals prescribe unnecessary and potentially harmful medicine and perform technical investigations on patients that aren’t even needed: “All [Thai] doctors, but particularly those in private hospitals, prescribed unnecessary and potentially harmful technical investigations and drugs.”

1 hour ago, Dan O said:

article seems to be divided between reporting the issue and talking up insurance.

Health Insurance is a VERY American obsession.
Every youtube video on living in TH / SEA contains questions about health insurance from Americans.
Not saying they're the only nationality to hold insurance but it seems to be THE number one concern for many Americans - an obsession or verging on one

20 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I would never trust any doc or hospital, here, TH, or USA, and haven't, always getting a 2nd opinion, and or, done my own research. Research all meds before taking, if you need, or if having contradiction the doc doesn't know about. I've found more than a few over the years.

At a certain age, it's common sense to know and understand the human body, especially your own.

I woke up 3.7 yrs ago with classic blood vessel blockage symptoms. As they started checking off all the boxes, I was showered and off to the ER, with a stop for some aspirin.

Self diagnosed and averted any real damage perfectly. To the point, no longer an emergency, and transported 100km & 1.5 hrs away for stent placement, at the speed limit, even with a stop ... WTF

Anyone 60+ yrs old that doesn't know these symptoms ... oh well

... slight or intense heartburn (didn't have)

... chest pain of discomfort (didn't have)

... discomfort / numbness in right and or left arm ... had 1st

... shortness of breath ... had 2nd

... profused sweating, even in cold shower ... had 3rd and away

... do stop and pick up 325mg of aspirin, or better, have on hand, dosage dependent on severity of symptoms. If a blockage, it thins the blood for easier passage.

HINDSIGHT: everyone should have a finger Oxy meter, and never hurts to start checking your BP at home when doc tells you it's high all the time. Yea, time for a diet and some exercise. Time to pay attention to all your numbers, and adjust where necessary.

While at it, do know how to spot a stroke, even a small one ...

... if you stumble and fall, and don't remember actually tripping over something

... if you drop something out of your hand and didn't realize it till it hit the floor

... check your facial muscles, bite your lip/cheek, left & right

... blink, left and right

... head to a mirror, check again

... any suspiscion, head to hospital ASAP, first hour is most important to avoid major damage.

2 of the easiest to self diagnose, and avert serious damage if given some meds ASAP: blood thinning, vessel relaxing, along with clot busting meds.

Brilliant advice, LA, and I'm glad they saved ya.

A lot of medical care disappeared when there was no money in family phycicians who knew a little bit about everything.

Now, you get sent to specialist after specialist, none of whom consider whole body medicine.

Personally, I think specialisation is the problem. For those, you just need referrals.

More importantly, why are we getting ads on AN, tricking is into thinking their genuine articles. I realise AN needs money to operate but advertising should be in block capitals before the title, just like AI!

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is very difficult to find a good doctor in Thailand, surely is you have Social Security. In Government hospitals the queues are too long and the doctors don't have time. Besides as everywhere around the world Social Security is not the best option, but your own helath insurance is a problem too. Existing sicknesses are most of the time not covered. My doctor for my prostate has 3 minutes every time when I visit him. Just new doxazosin and a bloodcheck and that is it. He only wants to do a surgery to remove it, but I am not in for that. I found out that there now medication that will really let the prostate shrink and will improve my flow. I buy the medication myself without asking the doctor and it works well.. The medication is expensive I am aware but he could have suggested it to try and let me pay for it.

On another time I had chest pain too. I went to the hospital to emergency room and because it was busy I waited almost 2 hours before a doctor could come to check. But the pain faded and I left without seeing any doctor. So I am not surprised for this case in Ratchaburi, but more worried that when serious things happens there is no competent health care.

Every foreigner complains about the wait times. In reality, it's only marginally longer than Bumrungrad. As far as docs not having time because of long patient queues, that has not been my experience in over 30 years. Have your questions prepared and you be the one to sit there until he/she answers.

You're likely going to a govt hosp where you're covered by SSO. I would always pick the govt hosp with the best reputation.

10 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

The problem with insurers is they don't do extensive checks to ensure the potential customer is covered 100%, they prefer it vague so they can deny the claim later on.

As for any hospital, get a second opinion, maybe a third, a good chance they are all different

You're talking about Cigna, right?

3 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

You're talking about Cigna, right?

Pretty much all insurers in Thailand, who does extensive tests so they guarantee claims paid?

5 hours ago, wavodavo said:

In Australia we use a term ..F. A. S .T. = For anyone who thinks they may be having a stroke to check the symptons....F = face dropped....A = arms can't be raised ..S = speech slurred or confused ... T = time...time is critical if you have these symptons This is printed on a fridge magnet F.A S.T....I had a mild stroke 2 years ago and referred to it and rang the ambulance and got sraight to hospital. This info is very handy for all of us oldies because you never know when a stroke is coming.

That is what I used. Now it’s B. E. F. A. S. T.

It just ads loss of balance and eye changes. My partner has had 3 strokes in the past 5 years so I know it really helps to remember this. Once I see any confusion and mouth droopy I ask them to say something and I know immediately if it’s all jumbled up. Never had arm drop so it’s good to know all of the signs. Then get them to the hospital quickly. I drove the last 2 times, but the doctor now says call an ambulance because they have the equipment to try to save them, but they also said to not keep my hopes up high if there’s a 4th. I’ll still give it my all.

5 hours ago, atpeace said:

A simple blood glucose monitor IMO is a tool that will accurately predict your future health. Lab work and scans are great but a simple glucose monitor is much more powerful. If your metabolic health (insulin flexibility ) is good then the odds of living a satisfying healthy life are dramatically increased. Today's population is a metabolic MESS and diabetes is now one of the top killers and just 50 years ago was a minor concern. Prior to 1950, getting killed by lightning was more probable than death by diabetes complications.

I have been called a prick. But those finger pricks are far worse than giving blood or any blood test. Spring-loaded little buggers sneak up on ya! Are urine test strips not sufficient.

3 hours ago, jas007 said:

-Cirrhosis.

-Stroke

-Heart attack

-Coronary artery disease

-Diabetes

-Parkinson's

-Cancer

Thats my health bucket list, have ticked off 3!!

3 hours ago, sgtsabai said:

@atpeace, sorry for being unclear, the symptoms were there long before I went to hospital for check. I am an American patriot, not MAGA, Marine SGT-Vietnam jailed by the Nixon regime for speaking truth to the power and I will continue to do so until my death. I swore an oath the the Constitution and politics is for another subject. Please no more politics on this subject while I do believe politics has badly effected our VA.

Yes, I am appalled at the way the US govt treats our veterans. They can spen $1.5 trillion on war and 1/5th that on veterans. How many homeless veterans do you see with signs begging at intersections?

I'd be interested in knowing why and how and where you were arrested. Me, too. (#MeToo!)

Vaccines are an issue and some of them can indeed prevent death, e.g., pneumococcal, tetanus, rabies Covid vax is almost a relic these days and I doubt they have stock of the strain going round at the moment.

One thing that has not been mentioned here in genetic susceptibility. For example, my wife’s maternal aunt died of breast cancer. We’re diligent about mammograms and ultrasound though we can seem to find breast thermography here. Any leads, gang?

Get those annual physicals. Go to a major centre. Don’t do it out in the sticks. Waddya expect?

In both Bangkok & Chiang Mai, there are teaching hospitals. You may get a resident on a one-year rotation but, remember, the information is fresh in their mind. If there are anomalies, they will refer you to one of their professors.  

I have Cigna International. I'd never heard about the Second Opinon service. Or is that just the local Thai Cigna (so the second opinion is another Thai doctor)?

I've posted about this in the Health and Wellness section a couple of times, so will just say don't assume the ICJ accredited hospital has the best doctor available for your particular condition or ailment. What matters is the knowledge of the attending doctor, not the hospital. I tend to opt for those that have spent some time learning their craft overseas - but even that is not a guarantee. In general, while I have found a few Thai doctors that I trust and return to (and only 2-3 are in the ICJ hospitals), most others have seemed less than impressive (ICJ and elsewhere) and even downright unaware of some of things that I know to be medical fact and best-practice.

22 hours ago, atpeace said:

I would never let this happen and why others do is beyond me. Take control of your own health and know your risks. I know my arteries aren't blocked because I have heart scans and other lab work. You don't just wake up one day with the types issues described in this article or other killers like diabetes. It happens over decades and is usually easy to fix if you catch it in the beginning regardless of genetics.

Most abuse their bodies and know nothing of what damage it is causing if any. Easy to find out in most cases and extremely cheap here in Thailand.

I agree with you. The opening post is from an Insurance company. They couldn't possibly be trying to push you into buying a medical coverage from them could they?

I wanted to do a little comparison and searched for data as I need decide soon where to go for treatment (maybe a surgery).

So I start saying that diagnostic error is a global problem, not unique to Thailand. I have 2 close friends who went to private clinics in Europe and both of them had cancer and was not diagnosed. Unfortunately for both of them when the cancer was found it was too late.

For US: ~5.7% of ED visits involve a diagnostic error. Serious harms (death or permanent disability) estimated at ~795,000 per year across all settings. For heart attacks specifically, missed diagnosis rates around 2%. Overall, most people experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime.

Europe / OECD: Similar rates. Diagnostic errors estimated at up to 15% of diagnoses (inaccurate, delayed or wrong). Hospital-based error rates comparable to North America. Roughly 11% of adverse events in places like the Netherlands linked to diagnostic failure.

Thailand: Limited national statistics. One large private hospital network study found diagnostic errors in ~3% of lab-related incidents (mostly pre-analytical), with very few causing wrong diagnoses. High-profile individual cases (like the Ratchaburi chest-pain death) get heavy media attention, but systematic national data is sparse. Public hospitals face volume pressure and referral delays; top private/JCI hospitals perform closer to international standards.

So when can safely say that missed or delayed serious diagnoses happen in US, Europe, and Thailand.

Rates are in the same ballpark for major conditions (not so sure about US but I'll assume).

The difference is more about hospital quality tier (major public or JCI private vs smaller facilities) and patient advocacy (pushing for second opinions, ECGs, etc.) than nationality of the system.

13 minutes ago, FinChin67 said:

So I start saying that diagnostic error is a global problem, not unique to Thailand

Right in another thread I posted that by one WHO estimate, MISdiagnosis rate in developing economies is 100% higher than misdiagnoses in developed economies.

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

More importantly, why are we getting ads on AN, tricking is into thinking their genuine articles. I realise AN needs money to operate but advertising should be in block capitals before the title, just like AI!

Yea, I got caught out more than a few times, and got an appropiate finger wag, not noticing it's a 'sponsored' thread. Not always noted at the bottom of the OP.

I screw up a lot, when just replying to the titles. I actually pass over most threads started by staff, makes for a quick read, as always 2 of ever thread.

14 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I found out that there now medication that will really let the prostate shrink and will improve my flow. I buy the medication myself without asking the doctor and it works well

What is the name of that new prostate medication, please?

if i'm seriously ill i'm going to a hospital back home, for one thing it's free, plus, i fully understand the language and culture. don't mess around with your health.

36 minutes ago, BangkokHank said:

What is the name of that new prostate medication, please?

It is not new . It is finasteride 5mg takes 6 months to have effect. International known as Proscar, but here in Thailand have the same but cheaper Stercia 5mg.

7 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Flu, measles, tuberculosis, pertussis, diphtheria and mumps have nothing to do with food and clean water. They are airborne.

Just let it go. Covid and vaccines are just a bore to almost everyone with the exception of those that miss the Covid era and following the science.

The focus should be on fixing people metabolic health so the next Covid doesn't kill millions of unhealthy people that can barely survive a bad cold.

4 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I have been called a prick. But those finger pricks are far worse than giving blood or any blood test. Spring-loaded little buggers sneak up on ya! Are urine test strips not sufficient.

I don't mind them in the least. Self inflicted pain rarely bother me but when some else control the pain I hate it. Enthusiastic Thai massages for example . My wife hates them so I get that it is no fun for many.

Absolutely. I have dealt with Thai hospitals that have dealt with serious conditions that I've had, and it's always come out smelling like roses. I would pick a good Thai Hospital over an American hospital any day of the week.

1 hour ago, atpeace said:

The focus should be on fixing people metabolic health

This is a valid point.

6 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I have Cigna International. I'd never heard about the Second Opinon service. Or is that just the local Thai Cigna (so the second opinion is another Thai doctor)?

I only mentioned Cigna because this post pretending to be an article is corporate-sponsored! Think Cigna will pay for a second opinion (and probably not even for the first)? Dream on!

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is not new . It is finasteride 5mg takes 6 months to have effect. International known as Proscar, but here in Thailand have the same but cheaper Stercia 5mg.

Stercia B300-500/box of 30 5mg. Proscar $163-183 in USA!

3 hours ago, it is what it is said:

if i'm seriously ill i'm going to a hospital back home, for one thing it's free, plus, i fully understand the language and culture. don't mess around with your health.

If you're well enough to drag yourself onto a plane! Chances are, that won't happen! Sorry.

4 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

If you're well enough to drag yourself onto a plane! Chances are, that won't happen! Sorry.

And chances are that after years in Thailand, he will have a long waiting time before NHS even want to see him.