Bangkok, Thailand – Medical

Medical and Dental work in Bangkok can save you several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the type of work and procedures that you have done and which country you live in. Places really vary in price from the high end hospitals to the clinics you see scattered all over Bangkok.

Note that some drugs you normally would need a prescription for in “western” countries are available without a prescription from Thai Pharmacies.
 

DENTAL WORK
Dental & Medical work in general is quite reasonably priced in Bangkok and the standards are quite good. We have heard of Europeans and we know Americans who traveled to Thailand specifically for the purpose of medical needs and dental work. Here are a few we have either personally used or have been recommended to us.

Bangkok International Dental Center – has two locations in Bangkok. We’ve used the one near the Fortune Town Center just down from the closes Metro Stop (Petchaburi) at 157 Ratchadapesik Rd. We’ve had a number of dental problems taken care of here. They are fairly reasonably priced, efficient and English is spoken by all the dentists and hygienists. This is a large dental clinic with multiple floors and a number of dentists on staff. The offices are immaculately maintained and cleanliness is very very good here. Free Internet stations are available on the first floor while you wait.

As with any dental clinic be clear on what you need, and be clear on what they are providing you. This clinic will charge you 1000 baht to automatically clean your teeth – if you feel you do not need a teeth cleaning be very clear that you do not want this service. It is recommended you make an appointment here at least a few days in advance as they do fill up rather quickly. Visit: www.bangkokdentalcenter.com or Phone: (0) 2 692-4433 or email: contact@bangkokdentalcenter.com

Bangkok Smile – operates several clinics in Bangkok – their two main ones are located right next to Skytrain stops (Ploenchit and Sukhumvit). These are small clinics, affordably priced and are very popular with International tourists. Appointments are necessary, but you can often stop in and make same day appointments. Visit: www.bangkoksmiledental.com

President Park Dental Care – a dentist highly recommended to us is Dr. Phira Sithiamnuai who earned his degree at Tufts in Boston, USA. He spent 10 years practicing in the States so he is fully bilingual between English and Thai. His office is located at Sukhumvit 24 and his PHONE NUMBER is: +662 661-1156-8 or you can email him at: info@presidentparkdentalcare.com or visit his website: www.presidentparkdentalcare.com Dr. Sithiamnuai is very popular so it is recommended you make an appointment at least several weeks in advance.

There are many small Dental clinics in Bangkok – some speak English some do not.

 

HOSPITALS
BNH Hospital (exit Sala Daeng Skytrain) is a modern well-known hospital with an excellent reputation and often used by expats or tourists who get into medical trouble while vacations. This is Thailand’s first private hospital and dates from 1898. Certainly looks a lot different today then its earlier location. Those born here before the late 1990’s will remember its original name, the Bangkok Nursing Home. The current site dates from 1996 and was rebranded a few years later as BNH Hospital.

They do excellent dental and other medical work but they are not cheap. Dental clinic is to the right hand side when you enter the building. You know you are at a fancy hospital when there is a doorman to greet you! For more information visit: www.bnhhospital.com

Bumrungrad International Hospital was founded in 1980 and is located at 33 Soi Sukhumvit 3 – the closest Skytrain stop is Ploen Chit (about a 15 minute walk passing under the busy Chalerm Maha Nakhon Toll Expressway – with some outdoor vendors on the old railroad tracks). This is one of Southeast Asia’s largest private hospitals – and caters to both locals and tourist and expats. Known for being a hospital leader in medical tourism and a major medical tourism destination, the hospital attracts clients from around the world.

The hospital is 12 stories with underground parking. A fully operation medical heliport is on site. Wifi covers the entire hospital. Two main buildings are on site – the Main Care Facility and the Outpatient Clinic Facility. Both are sizable buildings.

Bumrungrad (meaning to care for or nurture the population) sees over 1 million patients each year – of which nearly half are from overseas (over 190 countries). The numbers are astounding – the hospital employs nearly 5,000 people in addition to more then 900 nurses and approximately 1,200 doctors and dentists. The hospital houses nearly 600 in patient beds. Like many hospitals they have their own specialties in medicine – including bone marrow transplant, radiation therapy and a Spine Institute. You are in good hands at this hospital.

For more information, visit: www.bumrungrad.com

 

King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital is a major public hospital with the Chulalongkorn University also located on site. Located within walking distance of the Sala Daeng Skytrain stop and also Lumpini Park. This hospital is operated by the Thai Red Cross society and opened in 1914. It is one of the largest hospitals in the country and one of the best public hospitals.

The hospital provides over 1400 beds (the private rooms are quite sizable with a small pull out couch and blankets for family members) with basic and bland food served. However note that a sizable food court is located on the property and offers a wide variety of Thai food and drink.

Chulalonkorn Memorial offers numerous medical services and specialized surgery with separate medical centers dedicated to Cardiac medicine, Glaucoma & eye related disceases, a Laser Center, the Craniofacial Center a Breast Cancer center. Website in Thai: www.chulalongkornhospital.go.th/kcmh

 

Rajavithi Hospital is over 60 years old. A sizable hospital that built a brand new 27-story building within a short walk of Victory Monument (after watching this construction over the past few years, it opened in 2018). Services over 1,200 beds seeing approximately 40,000 in-patients and a million out-patients a year. Over 200 medical doctors, 800 professional nurses and more then 4,000 other staff keep the hospital running. Today is one of the largest hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health management and ownership.

Rajavithi began serving women only but today services all patients. The hospital is also used as a training center for those from a number of surrounding South East Asian countries as well as select countries in West Africa.

Known for treating a number of diseases and treatments including Cardiovascular Discease, organ transplants and various cancers.

Serves both the local, expat and tourists who run into medical emergencies. Website is avaiable both in Thai and in English. Visit: www.rajavithi.go.th

 

Siriraj Hospital is both the oldest and largest hospital in all of Thailand having founded in 1888 by King Chulalongkorn. Located on the ‘other’ side of the river – across from the core historical center of Bangkok. Features over 2,000 in patient beds and sees over 1 million outpatients each year.

Also home to the Siriraj Medical School. And perhaps the most intriguing place on the hospital grounds is the Siriraj Medical Museum containing six different exhibits spread among separate buildings – featuring a number of eclectic exhibits including dissections of Thai serial killers, preserved internal human organs and a variety of forensic pathology exhibits.

This hospital is also where the late King Bhumibol resided for several years and is where he died in 2016. Visit: www.si.mahidol.ac.th
 

Yanhee International Hospital. A sea of smiling women lined up sporting blue uniforms greets visitors at the customer service counter upon entering this hospital. Named after the nearby power plant, this hospital began as a small clinic in 1984. Visitors over the years have seen this hospital expand remarkably. Today it is a 15-story building with 400 beds, 150 doctors and 800 nurses. And in a unique offering, some of the nurses get around the hospital on roller blades!

Long known for its cosmetic and beautification services, plastic surgery is a big deal here – with advertisements lining the inside of the elevators. But this hospital also offers an Intensive Care Unit, emergency rooms, baby deliver rooms including a nursery and a diagnostic laboratory. Popular for medical tourism with visitors coming from around the world. As a result, the diversity of languages spoken by various employees or translators is numerous.

Located at 454 Charan Sanitwong Rd near the recently built out Skytrain – a drive here with little traffic from Victory Monument will take about 30 minutes. With traffic – an hour or more.
 

OPTICAL
People often come to Thailand for optical work and or to purchase glasses or contacts. As in many western countries including the United States you need to see a Dr and then he/she needs to write you a prescription for Eye Glasses or Contacts. That is not the case in Thailand.

You walk into any of the clinics, see the eye doctor, they check your eyes and then recommend eye glasses or contacts which you can purchase right there. The cost of these is also substantially cheaper than in Western countries.

One of the primary optical stores in Thailand is called Top Charoen and they have branches all over Thailand including Bangkok. Their website in Thai is: www.topcharoen.co.th

Lek Optical is located within an extremely close walk of the Phloen Chit BTS Skytrain in the Mahatun Plaza shopping area – a horseshoe shaped small shopping districts with both restaurants and personal service need shops. Lek Optical focuses primarily on higher end glasses and brand name frames (an excellent selection). The service is exceptional. They care about their customers and their needs.

Stop by here when looking for a higher end piece of eye glasses. They also offer eye examinations and contact lenses. For updates, visit their Facebook page here.