Medical Tourism in Thailand: Features, Benefits & Tips

Thailand has recently evolved as one of Asia's most prominent medical tourism destinations. Since 2000, this country has seen rapid growth in the number of medical tourists. In addition, people from across the globe visit Thailand for treatment because of its advanced medical equipment and efficient medical team.

Do you wish to find out more about medical tourism in Thailand? Keep reading this article for a complete overview.

Medical tourism is a term used to denote the idea of travelling for medical treatments and procedures. It was originally generated from the idea of patients travelling to developed nations from underdeveloped areas for better medical treatment. However, this term is now more diverse, with various forms and ideas in tourism.

Instead of focusing on quality, there are qualitative and quantitative shifts in patient tourism and mobility. People nowadays often travel from richer countries to lesser developed ones to access affordable medical treatment. It has further gained significance with the wave of globalisation, as every detail about a country is now readily available

Thailand has gained popularity for its affordable yet advanced medical treatments and services. It has over 1000 hospitals, one of the largest private hospitals in Asia. Moreover, it has some of the first Asian hospitals to receive ISO 9001 certification and JCI accreditation.

The success of health tourism in Thailand is mainly seen in private hospitals, which earn 70% higher revenue than public ones. Some of the most famous hospitals here are the Bangkok Hospital Group, Bumrungrad International Hospital, and Samitivej Hospitals. The main USP here is the affordable treatment cost despite the advanced medical infrastructure.

Medical tourism is essential for a variety of reasons. These are as follows:

• It offers affordable medical treatment and medication compared to the homeland for many patients.
• Patients can ensure optimum care and safety with complicated procedures like fertility treatment or cosmetic treatment in countries that excel in these.
• Middle-class patients from developed nations can access an upper-middle-class medical service standard through medical tourism.
• Medical tourism helps patients discover a range of options in terms of price and quality based on their medical requirements.

The categories of medical tourism can help you identify the kind of tourism you need for your medical treatments:

• Inbound tourism, for instance, refers to patients travelling from a foreign country to their homeland for medical treatment.
• On the other hand, they move from their homeland to a foreign country for medical services in an outbound category.
• The final category is domestic tourism, where patients move from one part of their homeland to another for medical assistance.

Now, you might be wondering about some of Thailand's popular features of wellness tourism. Nearly 30% of the patients in the private hospitals of Thailand are foreigners, which reveal the growth in medical tourism here. The below factors will determine the highlights of services accessible to patients in Thailand.

1. Medical Cost

This is one of the most popular features, as Thailand offers an affordable price range for different medical and cosmetic procedures. Here is the price list for these treatments and procedures, which will help you to make the final decision.

2. Quality Care

Thailand is in the top five countries globally for having the largest JCI-accredited hospitals. There are about 30 hospitals here that specifically cater to the requirements of medical tourists. Even though public facilities are more affordable, medical tourists prefer private hospitals for lower waiting times.

The doctors, physicians and nursing staff members are known for their superior qualifications and professional training according to western standards. Thailand’s Medical Council, a counterpart to the American Medical Association (AMA), is responsible for handling these. Most of the hospitals offer 5-star amnesties to the patients during their stay.

3. Advanced Health Infrastructure & Facilities

The Thai Government has invested in improving the quality of health infrastructure in Thailand. Moreover, the healthcare facilities are also top-notch. Here are some facts to show how this country has maintained care quality:

• 5-Star Services: Most of the private hospitals in Thailand offer 5-star services to patients. The amenities include free Wi-Fi, a decorated living room, facilities to stay with a family member, lounges with free drinks, translator services, etc. These make it easier for patients to stay in a hospital and seek medical treatment.
• Advanced Medical Equipment: The hospitals are equipped with the latest and highly technological medical tools and equipment. The world-class operation theatres, machinery, and highly skilled paramedics ensure quality care. In addition, the hospitals use high-end tools like In vitro diagnostic devices (IVD), Electro-diagnostic devices, Ultrasound and X-ray devices, etc.
• Research and Development: Thailand has also gained popularity for its efforts towards medical R&D. This has enabled the healthcare workforce to offer life-saving medical treatment to patients suffering from rare chronic diseases. Thailand is evolving as a hub for clinical trials, allowing doctors to experiment with innovative medical treatments and improving the reach of medical science.
• Innovative Treatments and Procedures: People often travel to Thailand to get access to its innovative and unique medical procedures. For instance, some of the hospitals in Thailand offer Novalis-shaped Beam Surgery. It is one of the most advanced and effective treatments for cancer. Another innovative procedure is the OPCAB, which is used to conduct a less invasive open heart surgery.
• Sports Injury Rehabilitation: Sports injuries often take a toll on the quality of life and independence. Thailand offers one of the best rehabilitation services for sports injuries. Its efficient sports medicine doctors have been certified by FIFA.
• Impressive Tourism Quality: Another factor that increases the value of Thailand as a popular medical tourism destination is its popularity as a regular tourist spot. It is a paradise for travellers who look for stunning beaches and mesmerising natural beauty. Moreover, its rich culture and delicious cuisine attract tourists from all across the world.

As a result, this country has convenient facilities for entertaining and accommodating people who come from different parts of the world. This makes it easier for foreigners to ensure a comfortable stay in Thailand while seeking medical assistance here. Moreover, the hotel rates are affordable, and Thai citizens are super friendly towards tourists.

While Thai hospitals offer all kinds of medical services and procedures, tourists in this country mainly prefer the following.

• Medical Check-up Programs: The check-up packages are superior in most hospitals in Thailand. They are recommended for patients of any age suffering from any condition. They are also super affordable.
• Cardiac Procedures: Cardiovascular diseases have become a significant concern in most parts of the world. The hospitals in Thailand, such as Bangkok Heart Hospital, are known for offering effective cardiac procedures with high-end equipment and impressive success rates. Among others, you can consider angioplasty, heart bypass, and heart valve replacement surgeries here.
• Orthopaedic Surgeries: These surgeries are also popular here. The Thai healthcare industry has an excellent team of orthopaedic surgeons working in collaboration with Computer Assisted Surgery (CAS) Micro Invasive Surgery (MAS). Hip and knee replacement surgeries are quite popular here.
• Infertility Treatment: Thai hospitals also offer high-end infertility treatment to patients. You can get access to procedures like ICSI, IVF, IUI and PGD at an affordable range in these hospitals.
• Dental Procedures: Dental clinics and hospitals are also known for their diversity of options and high-quality services. The comparatively low price range and well-equipped services have generated popularity here.
• Cosmetic Surgeries: These are the most commonly preferred procedures of medical tourists in Thailand. The expenses are super low compared to western standards. Despite that, the services have maintained high quality.

The history of medical science in Thailand stems from the animistic traditions of the Mon and Khmer people. Around 1900, the Thai government was still supporting and promoting traditional medicines. As the Seventh National Economic and Social Plan for 1992-1996 opined, the government tried to integrate Thai traditional medicine, herbal medicine, and traditional massaging into modern healthcare facilities.

If you are planning health tourism in Thailand, knowing about the cities and districts here that offer the best clinical services will be beneficial. You can consider the following list to assist you in your quest.

• Bangkok: It is an ideal city to stay in if you are looking for the best healthcare services in Thailand. There are about 38 hospitals here, with excellent medical teams and high-end clinical tools. Moreover, they are trained to deal with international patients.
• Phitsanulok: This district has one of the biggest Thai hospitals, Buddhachinaraj Phitsanulok Hospital. There are multiple hotels around this hospital for your convenient stay.
• Hat Yai: Located in Songkhla Province, Hat Yai is another city with good medical services in Thailand. You will find some of the biggest and most prominent Thai hospitals here with world-class services. 
• Nonthaburi: This is the final city where you can expect world-class medical services in Thailand. It is the home to Nonthavej Hospital, which provides top-notch clinical services in exchange for an affordable price.

If you are still doubting it, here are some impressive advantages of medical travel to Thailand to ease your choices.

• Affordable Healthcare: One of the main highlights of Thai healthcare is its reasonable pricing. As discussed earlier, the price range of these services is almost 20% less than that in most western countries. This makes it one of the best places for medical tourism, mainly if you are coming from western countries.
• Efficient Clinical Staff: The healthcare teams are extremely qualified and well-trained to handle different requirements. They are also highly experienced, which makes them capable of attempting a diverse range of procedures or even trying something innovative. It is evident as most critical surgeries have high success rates in Thai hospitals.
• Shorter Waiting Time: The waiting period is much shorter as compared to other countries. In addition, if you send in your health records in advance, the hospitals in Bangkok will provide reports on the same day of the examination. This makes it easier for patients who are travelling from severe conditions to access healthcare services quickly.

You might feel that medical tourism is flawless and a positive thing for most people to try. While this is true to a great extent, one should also consider its problems for a balanced overview.

• There is a possibility of poor quality of care and surgery in a foreign country. You can always make the mistake of choosing the wrong healthcare organisation.
• Staying and adjusting to a new country and its culture is also challenging for patients when they move out for medical treatment.
• Patients will have to travel back to their homeland after the medical procedure. It is a strenuous process and can cause health complications.
• Accommodation in a new country can also be expensive in most cases, causing some complications.

Generally, doctors do not recommend travelling immediately after undergoing a serious surgical procedure. However, it depends on the kind of medical treatment, current health condition, the distance of travel, and similar other factors. Therefore, it will be better to make this decision after discussing it with your doctor and seeking his/her advice regarding the same.

Here are some of the tips that you can follow while conducting medical tourism in Thailand.

• Conduct Research into the Hospitals: The first step is to conduct thorough research regarding the hospitals in Thailand. It would help if you considered the reviews and official websites to evaluate these hospitals' current operations and service quality. This research will help you choose the right hospital based on your requirements.
• Analyse the Medical Tourist Packages: There are some medical tourist packages that you check out in Thailand. These packages will help you avoid some hectic activities regarding making bookings or choosing your healthcare providers separately. However, make sure to choose an authentic package to avoid making financial losses.
• Contact Hospitals Directly: It will be beneficial to contact the hospitals directly instead of going through third parties. You will find their contact details on their official websites. This way, you can directly enquire about your required services.
• Choose a Place and Complete your Bookings: Once you have chosen a hospital, you might have to make bookings for a hotel and accommodation in one of the cities in Thailand. Usually, there are multiple good hotels around the prominent hospitals in Thailand. Try to choose a hotel that is closer to the hospital.
• Purchase Travel/Health Insurance: Travel or health insurance might be helpful if you are considering medical tourism. It will help you handle some of the expenses and get overall guidance in a foreign country.

Therefore, medical tourism in Thailand has been gaining prominence recently. It has successfully attracted patients with its high-quality services at an affordable price range. It can be beneficial to ensure good care quality at a pocket-friendly rate. You can try out the tips mentioned here to start your medical tourism to this country.