Bangkok is one of Asia’s leading medical-tourism hubs, with a network of internationally accredited private hospitals such as Bumrungrad, Samitivej, MedPark and Bangkok Hospital. Most cluster in central districts along the Sukhumvit and Sathorn corridors, and proximity to a top private hospital is a recognised driver of neighbourhood desirability and property demand.
Bangkok is full of top quality private hospitals that many Thai citizens and foreigners prefer over public hospitals for their added convenience and specializations. This article by PropertySights Real Estate will detail eight private hospitals in the capital, their specialties, and what makes them stand out as premium healthcare options.
Advantages of Private Hospitals in Bangkok
Healthcare access is a key part of settling in — see our guide to living in Bangkok and our full guide to the regions of Bangkok to find a neighbourhood close to the right hospital.
The main advantages of private hospitals in Bangkok is that they staff top specialists in their medical fields with cutting-edge medical technology at their fingertips.
There are 1,356 hospitals in Thailand and 370 of these are private. Data from ttb analytics found that 80% of private hospital revenue is generated in Bangkok and that overall private hospital profits in Thailand grew 7.7% yearly from 2017 to 2021. These profits occurred despite down years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those COVID years were particularly hard for private hospitals in Krung Thep Maha Nhakhon because it limited travel. World Health Organization data from 2010 estimated that there were 167,000 medical tourists, 64.8% of whom were from eastern Mediterranean or Asian countries. With the pandemic in the past, most private hospitals are back to this norm.
The City of Angels attracts so many medical tourists in part because it has the highest number of internationally accredited hospitals in Southeast Asia. The fact that Bangkok is an incredible destination with a cozy climate is just one more reason for them to make the trip.
Within the private hospitals themselves, you can expect a larger and better-serviced room than at a public hospital, doctors that are at the top of their specialized fields, state-of-the-art medical technology, and superior service from the staff.
Bangkok’s Top 8 Private Hospitals
Within Bangkok there are 8 private hospitals that stand out above the rest. Each one is known for their expert staff and is stocked with the latest medical tools and machinery.
These hospitals are globally recognized, earning Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation from the United States-based non-profit. Such affiliations help to put foreigners at ease, making Bangkok an attractive place to buy property.
Bangkok Hospital
Bangkok Hospital is known for cardiology, oncology, and orthopedics. Newsweek listed it as Thailand’s top hospital in 2020 and added it to the top 100 best hospitals worldwide based on recommendations, patient experiences, and patient outcomes.
Those scores are well earned as Bangkok Hospital goes the extra mile to provide exceptional service. It staffs medical experts in nearly every field, interpreters fluent in 26 different languages, offers limousine service to the airports, and even visa extension services. This means that foreign patients are in the best care possible.
Bangkok Hospital is at the center of a group of several hospitals including Bangkok Heart Hospital, Bangkok Cancer Hospital Wattanosoth, Bangkok International Hospital, and Chiva Hospital Transitional Care. It has 35 different specialty departments serving 373 beds. The hospital is packed with state of the art technology including surgical robot assistants, PET/CT scanner, intelligent operating rooms, chemotherapy, robotic arm x-ray, and more.
Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital
Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital (SiPH) is another highly ranked private Thai hospital known for medical research and innovation. It’s associated with the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital at Mahidol University, the oldest and largest medical training facility in Thailand.
SiPH is a multidisciplinary hospital, like Bangkok Hospital, with a total of 22 different western medicine specialty departments as well as an Ayurveda medicine clinic. SiPH also hosts a range of tasty cafes and restaurants like Starbucks, Hakata ramen, and French bakeries.
There are 345 beds in SiPH and modern surgical and diagnostic devices to take care of almost any condition.
Bumrungrad International Hospital
Bumrungrad International Hospital has 61 different specialty departments across the hospital, priding itself on its medical technology, innovative patient services, and the latest cancer therapies from the USA and Europe. It also boasts quality amenities like a food court, expatriate center with interpretation services, and even shopping options.
In 2002, Bumrungrad became the first Asian hospital to earn JCI accreditation. It also topped Newsweek’s list of Thai hospitals in 2023 and made the top 250 list globally.
Bumrungrad International Hospital has 580 beds and state of the art technology that includes a robotic surgery department, precision cancer treatment, and CardioInsight (a non-invasive cardiac rhythm detection device).
Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital
Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital has won awards and recognition for its child care departments from organizations like the WHO and UNICEF. It’s also a popular stop for medical tourists and has a Japanese Medical Center dedicated to Japanese nationals.
As a tertiary hospital, Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital has more than a dozen other departments filled with specialists aside from its pediatrics and neonatology units. It has 275 beds in total, 87 diagnostic rooms, more than 400 specialists, and is a part of the larger Samitivej Group which includes six other hospitals.
Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital is full of modern medical tools like robotic surgery, imaging devices, and laboratories.
Medpark Hospital
Medpark Hospital is a relatively new multidisciplinary facility in Bangkok that prides itself on staffing specialists in many fields that can tackle complex medical issues. It opened in 2020 and quickly gained recognition, cracking Newsweek’s top 10 Thai hospitals in 2022.
Building designers had greenery in mind as they added calming gardens to the 5th and 10th floors of the hospital. There are 550 beds, 300 examination rooms, specialists from more than 30 different fields, and medical technology including PET, MRI, and CT imaging, radiation therapy, and a hybrid operating theater.
Praram 9 Hospital
Praram 9 Hospital has been operating since 1992 and specializes in kidney disease and transplants. It has several other departments within the hospital and serves international patients with staff capable in languages including English, Japanese, Mandarin, Khmer, and Arabic.
Praram 9 has 204 beds and is always staying ahead of the technology curve with tools like a 640-slice CT scanner, 4D ultrasound, and laparoscopic surgery.
Yanhee General Hospital
Yanhee General Hospital is best known as a plastic surgery facility with 72% of its international patients checking in for cosmetic reasons. The hospital also has general medicine, alternative medicine, and dental services.
Of the cosmetic surgeries performed, 20% are breast augmentations, 16% are facelifts, 9% are tummy tucks, and 9% are nose reshapings. Yanhee General Hospital is also a world-famous destination for sex reassignment procedures.
Altogether there are 400 beds and 155 medical specialists throughout the 15-floor facility.
BNH Hospital
BNH Hospital was one of the first private hospitals established in Bangkok. In 2022, it celebrated its 125th anniversary.
Originally, British Ambassador George Grenville established BNH hospital as a nursing home for expatriates. It’s now a multidisciplinary hospital with 120 beds and 27 departments and is especially known for its expertise in pediatrics, gynecology, and maternity.
What Is the Difference Between Private Hospitals and Public Hospitals?
The main difference between private hospitals and public hospitals is that wait times for access to medical devices, consultations, and surgeries in private hospitals are shorter. On the other hand, the benefits of these services mean that private hospitals are more expensive.
Thailand moved toward a universal healthcare system in 2002, giving Thai citizens access to free healthcare at public hospitals. The problem is that wait times for ER visits, use of imaging machines, specialized treatments, and surgeries has increased. This has led many to turn to private hospitals which are more costly, but faster.
Another benefit of private hospitals over public ones is that they tend to attract top specialists in a variety of medical fields. Many of these hospitals are tertiary, meaning that they can handle a high number of patients with almost any problem given the range of disciplines their doctors specialize in.
In a private hospital, the departments you’re likely to find include larger units like internal medicine, cardiology, dermatology, emergency medicine, osteology, urology, psychiatry, neurology, otolaryngology, and pediatric medicine. Within those units and in separate niche departments you’ll find gastrologists, allergists, plastic surgeons, infectious disease specialists, sleep specialists, and radiologists.
For expats living in the Land of Smiles or those visiting, one of the most important reasons to consider a private hospital is their foreign friendly service. Because many of these hospitals rely on medical tourism they go the extra mile to make those patients feel welcome, offering interpreters and quality bed-side service.
