I'm British and lived in Italy before moving to Thailand . In Britain or Italy , having a good doctor is very helpful to getting the best medical services , I have been fortunate in both countries . In Thailand I'm fortunate to have health insurance that covers everything . I have had a heart attack 6 years ago and three keyhole operations at a government hospital , I had the good fortune to spend a week in intensive care , where the nursing is second to none . Prior to discharge I spent a night in a passage outside an intensely overcrowded regular ward , where desperate family members were doing the basic nursing . My regular doctor at the hospital is the same one who does the rounds in the intensive care unit , I am prescribe the very best medicines . With the danger of COVID-19 I am advised to stay away from the hospital , where outpatients is very crowded . I haven't seen my doctor since January 2021 , the hospital mails me my medicines COD at next appointment time . For minor ailments I can walk into our village hospital any time , the doctors and nurses are excellent , it has a laboratory , XRay , Pharmacy and emergency room . I hear from friends in Britain having to wait 5 days for a local doctor appointment , patients unable to have operations until months ahead .
When I first came to Thailand I didn't have insurance and paid for my medicines that were not too expensive and to last three months . My recollection of Britain is that doctors can be very casual and under prescribe .