Medical tourism has become something of a booming industry in Thailand.
By the end of 2017, medical tourism was bringing in over $2 billion annually to Thailand. This is a huge sum when you consider that overall tourism revenue only amounts to around $40 billion per year. The majority of this money comes from medical tourists traveling to Thailand for treatment or examinations, as well as those who go on vacation with the intent of getting some much-needed rest and relaxation while they’re there.
The reason for this is simple enough: Thai hospitals are renowned for their quality of service and the quality of their staff, from the practitioners to the nurses to the cleaners.
The reason for this is simple enough: Thai hospitals are renowned for their quality of service and the quality of their staff, from the practitioners to the nurses to the cleaners. The patient is provided with everything they need and more. The rooms are comfortable and clean, with everything possible being taken care of by a dedicated team of professionals who know just how important it is to be proactive rather than reactive in their approach. You don’t get that feeling when you’re in an American hospital—it’s almost like they’re doing you a favor by treating you at all!
It is also very lucrative business, bringing in millions every year.
It is also very lucrative business, bringing in millions every year. It’s estimated that around 400,000 patients from over 100 countries traveled to Thailand for medical tourism in 2015 alone.
The amount of money people save on medical treatment abroad can be significant. For example, someone going through a knee replacement surgery in the US may have to pay $50K or more per procedure (depending on their insurance coverage). In Thailand however, that same patient would only pay about $15K-$20K for the operation and post-op care combined. That’s a savings of up to 75%!
Generally speaking, it can be a great alternative to Western medicine: as well as being cheaper, especially when compared with US or European prices, it can also be argued that Eastern medicine has a much more holistic approach than that taken by its Western counterparts.
Generally speaking, it can be a great alternative to Western medicine: as well as being cheaper, especially when compared with US or European prices, it can also be argued that Eastern medicine has a much more holistic approach than that taken by its Western counterparts. Thai doctors tend to treat the person rather than just the illness and are highly trained in their field. They will also often prescribe treatments based on cultural beliefs; for example, massage is not simply used for relaxation but may also be prescribed to help alleviate pain or stiffness.
Thai hospitals are modern and clean, with many having all the latest technology at their disposal – something which cannot always be said about those in other countries!
While there may be medical tourists who travel to Thailand specifically for its medical care, it should be noted that not all medical tourists are there specifically for medical reasons — many simply want to combine a holiday with some dental work or what have you.
While there may be medical tourists who travel to Thailand specifically for its medical care, it should be noted that not all medical tourists are there specifically for medical reasons — many simply want to combine a holiday with some dental work or what have you. This is the main reason that Thailand is so great for medical tourism: You can go on holiday and do something you would never do at home.
Thailand’s most popular destinations include Phuket, Bangkok and Pattaya.
Of course, while Thailand has a very good reputation when it comes to health care, it should be noted that there are still some ways in which its system differs from those of Western countries.
If you choose to have your procedure done in Thailand, it’s important to remember that these differences should be taken into account. Thai culture is very different from Western culture and can affect the way patients interact with their doctors. This can have both positive and negative effects on medical tourism in Thailand.
Thai hospitals tend to be as clean as those found in Western countries—in fact, they’re often cleaner than hospitals back home because there are fewer germs present in Southeast Asia. However, Thai patients are usually taught not to complain about their ailments or pain levels while they’re being treated; being private about health issues is considered a sign of strength amongst Thais (and many other Asian cultures). This may mean that you’ll find yourself alone when it comes time for treatment—while this doesn’t pose an immediate danger to your well-being, it could cause issues if you’re having serious problems during surgery or need someone nearby who can speak English well enough so that they can translate what’s going on between doctor and patient.
One thing to note is that generally speaking (though this will change slightly depending on which hospital you go to), Thai hospitals do not require much paperwork from prospective patients — rather than submit pages of forms and documents about the patient’s condition and what have you, all it generally takes to get treatment is an X-ray or some other form of fast proof of the patient’s condition.
One thing to note is that generally speaking (though this will change slightly depending on which hospital you go to), Thai hospitals do not require much paperwork from prospective patients — rather than submit pages of forms and documents about the patient’s condition and what have you, all it generally takes to get treatment is an X-ray or some other form of fast proof of the patient’s condition.
The Thai system is much more efficient than the western system. As a result, many people find themselves being able to afford much better care here than they could back home. On top of this, there are many doctors who speak English very well, so if you’re worried about communicating with your doctor during your stay at one of these hospitals, don’t worry!
