Emergency Room Visit in Thailand – What I learned

I was in Thailand for about two weeks and every thing was going great! That is, until I realized that I had forgotten more than a two-week supply of medication. I only had a few pills left. I started to panic and knew I needed to get those medications right away before I ran out. I called a Tuk-Tuk and had them take me to the Chiang Mai hospital.  I didn’t know what to expect and was nervous that the price was going to be astronomical. I went to the nurses’ desk, checked in, and waited a mere 15 minutes before they brought me back. The English-speaking nurse took me back into their admission area, and collected my medical history. She knew all my conditions – which is amazing because I have an extremely rare autoimmune disease. She then brought me back to see the doctor.

The doctor was handsome and spoke English fluently. He immediately sent my prescriptions to the pharmacy within the hospital electronically. No problem whatsoever. I then went to the pharmacy and picked up my medications in another 15 minutes. The total cost to see the doctor was only $50.00!

The Thais adopted a new medical system based on the Singaporean healthcare model, which is one of the best in the world. They implemented the system about 10 years ago from the writing of this article. So far, according to many of the Thais I have spoken to, the system is working well; They have a two-tiered system: one public and the other private. You can use your public benefits, but if you would like more personalized care, you can purchase an additional private insurance policy.

I was super impressed with the professionalism, efficiency, and low cost. Coming from the United States and previously working in the healthcare sector, it was refreshing to see healthcare implemented in such an effective manner without politics involved. Perhaps one day the United States will model their healthcare system after more successful healthcare systems around the world. Everyone should have access to at least basic healthcare, and it’s a shame that it’s 2024 and the United States still finds it acceptable that people die from lack of access to cancer medicines, and other life-saving treatments. Hopefully, we can learn from other countries and healthcare systems and improve our broken system.

Learn more about Staying Healthy When Traveling:

How to Pack a Medical Travel Kit

Checking Your Destination for Disease-Free Travel 

The Importance of Travel Medicine Doctors

Cute, but Dangerous -Staying Away from Stray Animals 

Malaria: A Travel’s Guide to Staying Safe 

My Thailand Emergency Room Experience