Being a tropical country, Thailand has its fair share of exotic tropical diseases. Malaria is generally not a problem in any of the major tourist destinations, but is endemic in rural areas along the borders with Cambodia (including Ko Chang in Trat Province), Laos, and Myanmar. As is the case throughout Southeast Asia, dengue fever can be encountered just about anywhere, including the most modern cities. The only prevention is avoiding mosquito bites. Wear long pants and long sleeves at dusk in mosquito areas and use repellent (available at any corner shop or pharmacy).
Food hygiene levels in Thailand are reasonably high, and it's generally safe to eat at street markets and to drink any water offered to you in restaurants. Using common sense — e.g., avoiding the vendor who leaves raw meat sitting in the sun with flies buzzing around — and following the precautions listed in our article on travellers' diarrhea is still advisable.
Tap water is usually not drinkable in Thailand outside of Bangkok. In many places in Bangkok however, particularly in new buildings, drinking tap water is perfectly safe. However, if you don't want to chance it, buying a bottle of water is the obvious solution. Bottled water (น้ำเปล่า naam plao) is cheap and ubiquitous at 5–20 baht a bottle depending on its size and brand, and drinking water served in restaurants is always at least boiled (น้ำต้ม naam tom). Ice (น้ำแข็ง naam khaeng) in Thailand usually comes packaged straight from the factory and is safe; there is only reason to worry if you are served hand-cut ice. You can buy a large package of ice in most 7-Elevens for 7 baht, too. Diarrhoeal diseases, however, are uncommon, and cholera or any severe disease is extremely rare and virtually unknown outside of the Myanmar border.
Mainly in residential areas, machines selling water into your own bottle (1 baht/L, or 50 satang (0.5 baht/L) if paid more than 5 baht) are often available, located in some (Thai mostly) hotels, local shops, or just on the street near one. This is a clean (the water is cleaned and UV-treated on the spot) and extremely cheap option, also, this way you'll avoid making unnecessary plastic waste from empty bottles.
The sun is harsher than at higher latitudes. A couple of hours in the sun with unprotected skin will result in redness and a painful night even on a cloudy day.
Thailand has a high rate of HIV. The estimated adult (15-49) HIV prevalence was 1% of residents in 2021, which is double the global average and more than 10 times the rate in countries like Australia. Other sexually transmitted diseases are common, especially among sex workers. Condoms are sold in all convenience stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, etc. Avoid injection drug use.
There's a pharmacy on every block in Thailand and most are happy to sell you anything you want without a prescription. However, this is illegal, and police have been known to bust tourists occasionally for possessing medicines without a prescription, even innocuous stuff like asthma medication.
Thailand is a popular destination for medical tourism, and is particularly well-known for sex reassignment surgery. Public hospitals in Bangkok are usually of an acceptable standard and have English-speaking doctors available, though they tend to be understaffed and overcrowded and consequently, waiting times are long. However, the top private hospitals, on the other hand, are among the best in the world, and while vastly more expensive than public hospitals, are still very much affordable by Western standards. Hospitals are staffed by both foreign and Thai doctors, trained either in Europe or the United States.
Access to health services varies across Thailand. The Chiang Mai, Samui and Pattaya regions also have comprehensive emergency, routine and long-term care.
In tourist areas, most doctors speak English. Access to a doctor is usually quick and the prices are reasonable by Western standards. Prices vary and should be checked locally. Please note that there is often a separate charge for each test and procedure, as well as for the medicine. Most doctors specialise in a particular field. It may not be easy to find a general practitioner. The quality of healthcare and availability of English-speaking medical staff can fall sharply once you leave Bangkok and head into the smaller cities and rural areas. In non-tourist areas, only basic health care is available.
Most major cities in Thailand have at least one private hospital that is used by Western expatriates, and while they are more expensive than public hospitals, they provide a higher standard of care with English-speaking doctors and nurses, and are still reasonably priced by Western standards.
Good quality private hospitals include Samitivej Hospital in Bangkok, Bangkok Hospital (member of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services), Phyathai Hospital (several branches in Bangkok), Bumrungrad International Hospital.
In the Pattaya area, good quality health services are available at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Pattaya Memorial Hospital, and in Chiang Mai, at least Chiangmai Ram Hospital provides quality care.
In Phuket, international-standard treatment is provided by at least Bangkok Hospital and Phuket Provincial Hospital.
The Bangkok Hospital chain is generally of a high standard, with hospitals throughout the country (in addition to Pattaya and Phuket, for example in Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Koh Samui and Rayong).
In larger towns and cities, it is common for doctors working in the hospitals to have an after-hours consultation in a small private clinic. In these clinics, you can usually get treatment quickly and easily. Treatment in a small clinic is also often cheaper than in a large private hospital.
If you are travelling to Thailand, you should definitely take out comprehensive travel insurance. Repatriation in case of illness is expensive and difficult to arrange without private travel insurance. Treatment is often not started until a pre-payment is made or until the insurance company has confirmed that it will pay for the treatment. In hospitals, payment is often made in cash. Private and state hospitals usually accept credit cards. Insurance documents (insurance card) should always be carried with you when you travel.
Dental services in Thailand are generally of a good standard. For example, there are many good large dental hospitals and clinics in Bangkok. Dental care is also usually available in the regular hospitals, both private and public. There is usually a queue on the general side. Dental care is also available at very different levels and prices. In Bangkok, high quality dental clinics include BIDH (Bangkok International Dental Hospital) and BIDC (Bangkok International Dental Clinic).
It is worth noting that Thailand is still in the process of developing ambulance services. An emergency call will result in the dispatch of a regional rescue unit, which may operate under the auspices of a voluntary organisation. Larger hospitals, both public and private, sometimes have ambulances where emergency treatment can be started immediately. However, ambulances are rare, especially in Bangkok, due to traffic congestion. Motorists and motorcyclists do not always give way to ambulances, which also delays their arrival.
When an emergency situation meets the criteria set by the National Institute for Emergency Medicine, the service is free of charge. If you are registered with a hospital, you should save the emergency numbers for that hospital.
If you think you may need emergency treatment for an underlying medical condition during your stay in Thailand, it is recommended that you stay in the vicinity of a hospital. This will allow you to receive treatment in good time if necessary.
The standard of pharmacies varies. There is usually a pharmacy attached to hospitals, where you should buy your medicines when you visit your doctor. The range of medicines varies depending on the level of the hospital and the pharmacy. Often there are both expensive originator products and cheaper generic products. Some, especially the originals, can be very expensive in Thailand. Access to medicines is more precarious in remote areas.
Please note that doctors in Thailand may prescribe more medicines to treat an illness than would be prescribed in the West. Even for minor ailments, unnecessary medicines may be prescribed. If you are receiving a large amount of medication or suspect that your condition does not require medical treatment, it is advisable to be critical of your medication. You should also seek the opinion of another doctor if necessary.
If you are bringing medicines into or out of Thailand, you should check the list of banned medicines on the Thai Embassy website, for example. For medicines subject to authorisation, take an English-language prescription with you. It is advisable to check with the Thai health authorities, who may need to ask for prior written permission to import the medicine.
The "burning season" across central and northern Thailand occurs every January-April, where farmers burn off the remnants of their crops in the dry season. Dry air and forest fires also contribute to cause significant air pollution, especially in Northern Thailand. If you have respiratory trouble, reconsider travelling in Northern Thailand during these months. N95 masks can help, and air quality around Thailand can be monitored on the Air4Thai website.