Healthcare in Phuket

Emergencies

Call 1669 for an ambulance; Vachira Phuket notes that ambulances are dispatched through the national 1669 line. The Tourist Police answer 1155 around the clock with interpreters, and 191 reaches the police. Private hospitals have their own ambulances: Bangkok Hospital Phuket lists a 24-hour Emergency and Trauma Center with a mobile intensive care unit, reached through its main line, +66 76 254 425, at extensions 1060–1062.

For diving injuries such as decompression sickness, Vachira Phuket runs an Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine centre that takes referrals from across southern Thailand. Tell the emergency operator if the patient has been diving.

Getting to hospital, including from the islands

Most visitors stay on the west coast, while the larger hospitals are in Phuket Town. From Patong the road crosses a steep hill, and from the southern beaches or the north of the island the journey can take longer than expected, especially in high season traffic or heavy rain. Patong Hospital and Thalang Hospital provide nearer emergency care and can stabilise and transfer patients.

From the smaller islands off Phuket and in Phang Nga Bay, evacuation usually means a boat to the mainland and then an ambulance, which can take hours and depends on the sea. Divers and boat-trip passengers should check what medical cover their operator carries. Road accidents, especially on motorbikes, are a common cause of injury: the World Health Organization reports that motorcyclists accounted for most road deaths in Thailand in 2021.

Language and international patient services

Bangkok Hospital Phuket says its coordinators support international patients in 16 languages, including Russian, German, Arabic and the Scandinavian languages, and arranges direct billing with insurers and assistance companies. Public hospitals see many foreign patients but publish less in English; Vachira Phuket's website is mainly in Thai, so ask about English-speaking staff when you arrive.

Costs and insurance

Private hospital care in Phuket costs considerably more than public care, and an admission after an accident can become expensive quickly. Hospitals ask for a guarantee of payment before treatment, so keep your policy number and your insurer's assistance line with you. Many travel policies exclude injuries while riding a motorbike without the right licence or a helmet, or while diving below a set depth; check the wording before you travel rather than after an accident.

Pharmacies and minor care

Pharmacies are plentiful in the resort areas and in Phuket Town, and walk-in clinics near the beaches treat minor injuries, infections and sunburn. For anything more than a minor problem, a hospital outpatient department is usually the better choice. The UK government advises against buying medicines sold on the street, which may be fake or stolen.