Checking a clinic in Thailand before you book
Thailand has a large private clinic sector and most of it is well run. A few simple checks, done before you pay a deposit, will tell you whether the clinic and its doctors are properly licensed.
The clinic licence
Private clinics in Thailand are licensed under the Sanatorium Act of 1998, administered by the Department of Health Service Support at the Ministry of Public Health. A licensed clinic must display its licence, which names the clinic, its licensed operator and the doctor responsible for it. If you cannot see it in the waiting area, ask to. A clinic that hesitates is telling you something.
The doctor's registration
Every doctor practising in Thailand must be registered with the Medical Council of Thailand. The council's website has a search tool where you can enter a doctor's name and see whether they hold a current licence. Specialist training, for example in neurology or plastic surgery, is recorded through the relevant Royal College. Ask the clinic for the full name of the doctor who will treat you, in Thai and English, so that you can search for it.
Physiotherapists have their own licensing body, the Physical Therapy Council. The same principle applies: get the name, check the register.
Fees and packages
Clinics often sell treatment in packages. Before you buy one, ask what happens if you stop part way through, whether unused sessions can be refunded, and whether the price includes follow-up visits. Get the quote in writing with the clinic's name on it.
Consent and aftercare
For any procedure, you should receive a consent form that explains the risks and what to do if something goes wrong. If the form is only in Thai and you do not read Thai, ask for a translation or bring someone who can read it. For surgical procedures, ask who you contact out of hours in the first week afterwards and which hospital the clinic uses if a complication needs admission.
Insurance
Health insurance rarely covers cosmetic treatment. Physiotherapy and specialist outpatient visits may be covered, but often only with a referral or up to an annual limit. Check your policy wording before the first appointment rather than after the bill. Our insurance guide lists what to check in a health policy.