English-Speaking Healthcare in Thailand
One of the biggest concerns for expats moving to Thailand is healthcare and language barriers. The good news? Thailand's private international hospitals have some of the best English-speaking doctors in Asia, many trained in the US, UK, or Australia.
This guide will help you find excellent English-speaking doctors and navigate Thailand's medical system with confidence.
Where to Find English-Speaking Doctors
International Private Hospitals (Best Option)
The easiest and most reliable way to access English-speaking medical care is through international private hospitals:
- All doctors speak English fluently
- Staff and nurses have working English
- All forms/documents available in English
- International standards of care
- Familiar process for Western patients
What About Public Hospitals?
Public hospitals vary widely:
- Major public hospitals (Siriraj, Chulalongkorn, Ramathibodi): Excellent care, some doctors speak English, but limited English from staff. Long wait times.
- District/provincial hospitals: Minimal English, basic facilities. Not recommended unless emergency.
Recommendation: Unless you speak Thai or are on a tight budget, stick to private international hospitals.
Top International Hospitals with English-Speaking Doctors
Bangkok
Bumrungrad International Hospital
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 3 (BTS Nana)
- English Level: Excellent (20+ languages spoken)
- Doctor Training: Many US/UK-trained specialists
- Best For: Complex procedures, international patients, specialists
- Website: bumrungrad.com
- Phone: +66 2 066 8888
Bumrungrad feels more like a luxury hotel than a hospital. It's Thailand's most famous international hospital, treating 1.2 million patients annually from 190+ countries. You'll have zero language issues here.
Bangkok Hospital
Multiple locations across Bangkok
- English Level: Excellent
- Doctor Training: Mix of Thai-trained and Western-trained
- Best For: General care, emergencies, good value
- Website: bangkokhospital.com
- Phone: +66 2 310 3000
Part of the largest private hospital group in Southeast Asia. Multiple Bangkok locations make it convenient. Good balance of quality and cost.
Samitivej Hospital
Locations: Sukhumvit, Srinakarin, Thonburi
- English Level: Excellent
- Doctor Training: Many Western-trained, especially pediatricians
- Best For: Family medicine, pediatrics, maternity
- Website: samitivejhospitals.com
- Phone: +66 2 711 8000
Very popular with expat families. Known for excellent pediatric care and attentive, personalized service.
BNH Hospital
Location: Silom
- English Level: Excellent (originally founded for British expats in 1898)
- Doctor Training: High quality, many long-term doctors
- Best For: Personalized care, expat-focused
- Website: bnhhospital.com
- Phone: +66 2 686 2700
Thailand's oldest private hospital, established for the British expat community. Smaller and more intimate than mega-hospitals. Excellent doctor quality and continuity of care.
Chiang Mai
Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai
- English Level: Excellent
- Best For: Most comprehensive care in North Thailand
- Phone: +66 52 089 888
Chiang Mai RAM Hospital
- English Level: Very good
- Best For: Good alternative to Bangkok Hospital, slightly less expensive
- Phone: +66 52 224 851
Phuket
Bangkok Hospital Phuket
- English Level: Excellent
- Best For: Comprehensive care for island residents/tourists
- Phone: +66 76 254 421
Phuket International Hospital
- English Level: Excellent
- Best For: Tourist-focused, emergency care
- Phone: +66 76 249 400
Pattaya
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya
- English Level: Excellent
- Best For: Best hospital on Eastern Seaboard
- Phone: +66 38 259 999
Specialist Clinics with English-Speaking Doctors
General Practice / Family Medicine
WellMed Clinic
Multiple Bangkok locations
- British/Western-trained GPs
- Walk-in appointments
- Good for routine care, prescriptions
- Costs: ฿1,500-2,500 per visit
MedConsult Clinic
Sukhumvit and Silom
- Australian-run clinic
- English-speaking GPs
- Good for expat families
- Costs: ฿1,800-3,000 per visit
Dental
Bangkok Dental Hospital
- Full-service dental hospital
- All dentists speak English
- Specializes in cosmetic and complex dental work
Thantakit Dental Center
- Popular with medical tourists
- English-speaking staff
- Competitive pricing
Mental Health
Therapists and Counselors:
- MindSpace Bangkok - English-speaking psychologists
- The Cabin Chiang Mai - Addiction treatment, English-speaking
- Bangkok Psychology Clinic - Individual and couples therapy
Psychiatrists:
Major hospitals (Bumrungrad, Samitivej, Bangkok Hospital) have English-speaking psychiatrists on staff.
How to Find the Right Doctor
Hospital Doctor Search Tools
Most international hospitals have "Find a Doctor" search on their websites:
- Search by specialty
- View doctor profiles (training, experience, languages)
- See patient reviews (sometimes)
- Book appointments online
Example: Finding a cardiologist at Bumrungrad
- Go to bumrungrad.com
- Click "Find a Doctor"
- Select specialty: "Cardiology"
- Filter by language: "English"
- Review doctor profiles (where they trained, years of experience)
- Book appointment online or call
What to Look for in Doctor Profiles
- Training location: US/UK/Australian-trained often have excellent English and understand Western patient expectations
- Board certification: Look for specialist certification (e.g., American Board of Internal Medicine)
- Years of experience: 10+ years is ideal
- Sub-specialties: If you need specific care, find a true specialist
- Languages: Confirm "English" is listed
Getting Recommendations
Word-of-mouth is valuable:
- Expat Facebook groups: "Expats in Bangkok," "Thailand Expats," etc. Ask for doctor recommendations
- Embassy websites: Some embassies maintain lists of English-speaking doctors
- Your insurance provider: Can recommend doctors in their network
- Other expats: Ask friends, coworkers, neighbors
Booking Appointments
How to Book
Option 1: Walk-in
- Just show up (especially for GPs, minor issues)
- Wait times vary: 15 min - 2 hours
- Not recommended for specialists
Option 2: Phone
- Call hospital/clinic
- Ask for international patient services (if available)
- English-speaking staff will book appointment
Option 3: Online
- Most major hospitals have online booking
- Select doctor, date, time
- Receive confirmation email/SMS
Option 4: Hospital App
- Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej all have apps
- Book appointments, view records, pay bills
Appointment Wait Times
- GPs: Same day or next day
- Specialists: 1-7 days (sometimes same day)
- Highly-rated specialists: Up to 2-3 weeks
Much faster than Western countries where specialist appointments can take months.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
First Visit Process
- Registration: Bring passport, fill out forms (English available)
- Payment/Insurance: Pay deposit or show insurance card
- Waiting: Comfortable lounge, usually 10-30 min
- Vitals: Nurse takes blood pressure, temperature, etc.
- Doctor consultation: 20-40 minutes (much longer than Western countries!)
- Tests: Blood work, imaging, etc. often done same day
- Prescriptions: Filled at hospital pharmacy immediately
- Payment: Pay remaining balance before leaving
Language During Appointments
At international hospitals, you can expect:
- Doctors: Fluent English, medical terminology
- Nurses: Working English, may struggle with complex conversations
- Support staff: Basic English
- Forms/documents: Available in English
If you encounter language barriers, ask for an interpreter (available at major hospitals) or request a different staff member.
Costs for English-Speaking Doctors
Consultation Fees
- GP at clinic: ฿800-2,000 ($25-60)
- GP at hospital: ฿1,500-3,000 ($45-90)
- Specialist: ฿2,000-5,000 ($60-150)
- Top specialist: ฿3,500-7,000 ($105-210)
English-speaking doctors don't necessarily cost more--these are standard private hospital rates.
Does Insurance Cover English-Speaking Doctors?
Yes! If your insurance covers private hospitals, it covers English-speaking doctors there. No extra charge.
Building a Healthcare Team
Find a Primary Care Doctor (GP)
Most important step:
- Find a GP you like and trust
- Use for routine care, minor illnesses
- They'll refer you to specialists when needed
- Coordinate your overall care
- Develop long-term relationship
Add Specialists as Needed
As you live in Thailand, you'll build a team:
- GP for general care
- Dentist for dental checkups
- Eye doctor for vision
- Specialists for any chronic conditions
Keep Medical Records
Thai hospitals will keep records, but also maintain your own:
- Request copies of test results, imaging, diagnoses
- Keep in cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive)
- Helpful if you change hospitals or return home
- All records available in English at international hospitals
Tips for Communicating with Thai Doctors
Be Direct About Your Concerns
Thai culture values politeness, which can make communication indirect. Some doctors may:
- Soften bad news
- Be less direct about prognosis
- Avoid saying "no" directly
What you can do:
- Ask direct questions: "What exactly is wrong?" "What's the worst-case scenario?"
- Request full explanations
- Ask them to be frank with you
Ask Questions
Don't be shy:
- "Why do I need this test?"
- "What are the alternatives?"
- "What are the risks?"
- "How much will this cost?"
Doctors expect questions from Western patients and won't be offended.
Request Second Opinions
For serious diagnoses or surgery recommendations:
- Completely acceptable to get second opinion
- Can see another doctor at same hospital or different hospital
- Doctors won't take offense
Bring a List
Prepare before appointments:
- List of symptoms
- Current medications
- Questions you want answered
- Medical history (especially if first visit)
Emergency Situations
What to Do in Emergency
- Call your preferred hospital directly: They'll send English-speaking ambulance
- OR call 1669: National EMS (limited English)
- OR take taxi to hospital ER: Often faster than ambulance in Bangkok traffic
Emergency Rooms with English-Speaking Staff
All international hospitals listed above have 24/7 emergency departments with English-speaking doctors and nurses.
Save these numbers:
- Bumrungrad ER: +66 2 066 8888
- Bangkok Hospital ER: +66 2 310 3000
- Samitivej ER: +66 2 711 8000
- BNH ER: +66 2 686 2700
Common Concerns Addressed
"Will I be able to communicate complex medical issues?"
Yes. Doctors at international hospitals are fluent in medical English and accustomed to foreign patients. They can discuss complex diagnoses, treatment options, and procedures in detail.
"What if the doctor doesn't understand my accent?"
Doctors are used to various English accents (American, British, Australian, Indian, etc.). If there's confusion, they'll ask you to clarify or rephrase.
"Can I get my prescriptions in English?"
Yes. Prescription labels at international hospitals include English. Pharmacists can explain medications in English.
"Will medical records be in English?"
Yes. International hospitals provide all records, test results, and discharge summaries in English.
Need Help Navigating Thai Healthcare?
Finding the right doctors, scheduling appointments, understanding insurance, and navigating a new healthcare system can be overwhelming. Our relocation services include:
- Recommendations for English-speaking doctors and hospitals
- Accompanying you to first appointments (if desired)
- Coordinating with insurance companies
- Translating medical documents (if needed)
- Setting up your medical records in Thailand
Book a free consultation to discuss your healthcare needs in Thailand.