Health & Medical Care in Pattaya - First Time in Pattaya

Pattaya has excellent private hospitals with English-speaking staff and modern facilities. This guide covers emergency numbers, hospital options, clinics, pharmacies, and common travel health issues.

Emergency Contacts

Emergency	Number	Notes
Medical Emergency	1669	National ambulance service
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya	+66 38 259 999	24/7 emergency, private ambulance
Pattaya International Hospital	+66 38 428 374	24/7 emergency
Pattaya Memorial Hospital	+66 38 429 442	24/7 emergency

Pro tip: For serious emergencies, calling a private hospital directly often gets faster ambulance response than the national 1669 line.

Hospitals in Pattaya

Bangkok Hospital Pattaya (Best Quality)

Top choice for serious medical care and emergencies.

Address: 301 Moo 6, Sukhumvit Road, North Pattaya
Phone: +66 38 259 999
Features: JCI accredited, 24/7 emergency, direct billing with insurers

Typical costs: Consult 1,000-2,000 THB, ER 3,000-10,000 THB.

Pattaya International Hospital (Good Value)

Solid care at lower prices than Bangkok Hospital.

Address: Soi 4, Pattaya 2nd Road
Phone: +66 38 428 374
Best for: General medical issues, minor injuries

Pattaya Memorial Hospital (Budget-Friendly)

Address: Central Pattaya Road
Phone: +66 38 429 442
Best for: Budget travelers, minor ailments

Other Options

Pattaya City Hospital: Soi Buakhao • +66 38 420 562
Jomtien Hospital: Jomtien Beach Road • +66 38 232 100

Clinics for Minor Issues

Clinic Type	Good For	Cost
Pharmacy clinic	Simple issues, medications	Free consult
Walk-in clinics	Minor illness, injuries	300-800 THB
Private doctor clinics	General health, checkups	500-1,500 THB
Dental clinics	All dental work	500-5,000 THB

Where to find: Malls (Central Festival, Terminal 21), Beach Road, 2nd Road, and near major hotels.

Pharmacies

Major chains

Boots: Mall locations, English-speaking staff
Watson's: Malls, some English
Fascino: Common, basic English

Prescription notes

Available without prescription: Pain relievers, antihistamines, basic antibiotics
Requires prescription: Strong painkillers, sleeping pills, controlled meds

Tip: Bring copies of prescriptions for regular meds.

Food & Water Safety

Don't drink tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink. Use bottled or filtered water, even for brushing teeth.

Ice safety

Generally safe: Clear, hollow tube-shaped ice
Be cautious: Crushed or irregular ice from street vendors
When in doubt: Order without ice

Street food rule

Do: Choose busy stalls and freshly cooked food
Don't: Eat food that has been sitting out
Safest picks: Grilled meats, made-to-order noodles, peeled fruit

Common Tourist Health Issues

Traveler's diarrhea

Prevention: Bottled water, clean food, wash hands
Treatment: Oral rehydration salts, bland food
See a doctor if: Symptoms last 3+ days, blood in stool, high fever

Heat-related illness

Prevention: 2+ liters of water daily, avoid midday sun
Heat exhaustion: Heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea
Heat stroke: Hot red skin, confusion — seek help immediately

Sunburn

Prevention: SPF 30+ sunscreen, reapply every 2 hours
Treatment: Aloe vera gel, extra hydration

Mosquito-borne illness

Dengue risk: Higher during May-Oct rainy season
Prevention: DEET repellent, long sleeves at dusk
Note: Malaria risk in Pattaya is negligible

Travel Insurance

Get travel insurance before you arrive. Medical care is affordable, but accidents happen.

Medical coverage: At least $100,000 USD
Emergency evacuation: Included
24/7 hotline: Available in English
Direct billing: Preferred to avoid large out-of-pocket costs

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are required to enter Thailand.

Recommended: Routine vaccines, Hepatitis A/B, Typhoid
Plan ahead: See your doctor 4-6 weeks before travel

Dental Care

Procedure	Approximate Cost
Checkup and cleaning	500-1,000 THB
Filling	500-2,000 THB
Crown	8,000-15,000 THB
Root canal	5,000-15,000 THB
Extraction	500-2,000 THB
Teeth whitening	3,000-10,000 THB