Internal Medicine in Bangkok

Internal medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of internal diseases in adults. It covers a wide variety of conditions that affect the internal organs of the body, including the heart, liver and gastrointestinal tract, lungs, kidneys, and urinary tract, spinal column, brain, nerves, muscles, and joints. Physicians who specialize in internal medicine are called internists or internal medicine physicians. They treat adults of all ages and are usually the first point of treatment. Internists are skilled in the management of patients who have multi-system disease processes. There are numerous subspecialties, including endocrinology, cardiology, infectious diseases, hematology, pulmonary disease, gastroenterology, rheumatology, oncology, and immunology.

Since internal medicine is a broad field, the work of internists varies a lot. For example, they could work with a patient who has diabetes and another patient with an ear infection. Some of the most common conditions that are diagnosed and treated by internists are as follows:

• Asthma
• Acute respiratory infections
• Diabetes
• Chest pain
• Bronchitis
• Fatigue
• Hypertension
• Influenza
• High blood cholesterol and triglycerides
• Menopause
• Hypothyroidism
• Sinus infections
• Osteoarthritis
• Migraine
• Pneumonia
• Osteoporosis.

Internists mainly focused on the diagnosis and treatment with medications. The following are some common procedures they perform:

• Chronic disease management
• Breathing treatments and medications
• General health procedures, such as immunization and annual physical exam
• Medication administration, such as antibiotic injections and intravenous fluid for dehydration
• Minor procedures, such as stitches, stitch or staple removal, wart removal
• Pre-operative and post-operative care
• Injury-related procedures, such as immobilizing sprains
• Healthy lifestyle counseling
• Family planning prescriptions and treatments, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), oral contraceptives, and hormone patches and shots
• Nutrition and weight counseling, such as ways to avoid malnutrition and maintain a normal weight.

How Long Should I Stay in Bangkok?                   

Your length of stay depends on the procedure you underwent and the illness or disease you have. Plan to stay in Bangkok for at least 2 to 7 days. Before you are allowed to travel home, your doctor may schedule a follow-up appointment where your doctor evaluates how your body is responding to treatments. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Since internal medicine covers a wide range of conditions, the recovery time can vary a lot. The recovery period depends on the type of treatment, specific condition, and overall health. Most of the time, you will be allowed to resume normal activities (usually with certain restrictions) once you do not feel any symptoms that interfere with your ability to perform your daily tasks. However, make sure to talk to your doctor first before you decide to return to work and go back to your normal routine. Your doctor will likely give you a detailed recovery timeline. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your doctor will give you a specific aftercare instruction that is designed for your specific condition. Make sure to follow all the instructions closely to avoid complications and to have a quick recovery time. If your doctor prescribes medicine, ensure to take it as directed. With chronic disease management, you will be given tips for self-management, and you may need to see your internist regularly.

What's the Success Rate?

The continuous advancement of internal medicine and medical technology, as well as the extensive knowledge and experience of internists, have made internal medicine procedures highly successful and safe. All medical procedure carries some types of risks, but the risks of internal medicine procedures are typically minimal. For example, a medication used for breathing treatment may cause headaches, nervousness, shakiness, irritability, and heart palpitations.

Are there Alternatives?

The alternative depends on the specific disease or illness you have. In most cases, seeing an internist is the first point of treatment. Your internist may then refer you to or work with the relevant specialists.

Internal Medicine in and around Bangkok

About Bangkok

Bangkok is the Capital city of Thailand and is ranked as one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations. The city holds a magical spell over its visitors and is full of beautifully decorated Buddhist temples, Royal palaces, museums, restaurants, and nightlife. Recently, the city has become the gateway to a large number of medical tourists. According to a BBC report, more than 80% of all medical tourists travel to Thailand, aiming to get the best medical attention, of which Bangkok and Singapore remain the most popular destinations for expats. The trend is increasing by 10% to 15% per year and has been a strong economic driver for the country, next to the tourism industry.

Medical tourism in Bangkok is highly rated within the industry for many reasons, including:

Cost-Efficient Treatments
Experienced Medical Professionals
Top-Tier Facilities
Advanced Technology
Quality Dental Care: Short Waiting Times
Comfortable Recovery:

Popular areas in Bangkok

For starters, Bangkok is a well-developed city. There are plenty of places to stay; shop and explore and deciding where you want to stay can be a difficult decision.

One way to choose the place you will likely stay is to prioritize your activities. For example, if you want to shop then Sukhumvit may be the right district. This 18-kilometer long road is the commercial center and some of the best shopping malls and retail markets are dotted along this road.

The Siam district would be a great place to stay as the more popular and trendy shopping centers can be found here with a great selection of restaurants. There are various other attractions too, the Siam Ocean World, Kidzania, Erawan Shrine, Madame Tussauds, and the BACC, Bangkok's biggest art gallery, and cultural center.

Other popular tourist locations are Sukhumvit, Pratunam, Silom, Chinatown, Khaosan and the famous Bangkok Riverside.

Weather and climate in Bangkok

Bangkok endures a tropical monsoon climate, it is hot and humid for the vast majority of the year with temperatures reaching thirty degrees centigrade. The best weather for visiting tourists in Bangkok is experienced between December and February as the temperature is much cooler and

There are three seasons in Bangkok –

• The hot season that stretches from March to June

• The Monsoon or the rainy season, which starts in July and lasts until October

• The cool season is generally late November and ends late February.

Getting around in Bangkok

There are two airports that serve Bangkok. All the international flights land at Suvarnabhumi International Airport and almost all of the domestic carriers, operate from Don Mueang Airport.

It takes sixty minutes to travel between the two airports and you must check with the airlines which airport your carrier is operating out of. You must also remember to check in for your flight at least two hours in advance to avoid the last minute rush.

Within the city, sky-trains and the underground MRT trains are the best ways to avoid heavy traffic. Taxis and tuk-tuks can also be used for shorter journeys around the city. Most taxis have meters, and you should avoid any that don't to protect yourself from scams. Ask your hotel to help you call for a cab, as they often have relationships with trustworthy companies. For a scenic view of the city, try hopping on a riverboat down the Chao Phraya River.

Tourist Visas in Bangkok

If you wish to visit Bangkok, you will have to go to your nearest Thai embassy to get a visa. The Thai government has a bilateral trade agreement with various countries. It allows citizens of 64 countries to enter without any visa. They can stay for a maximum period of thirty days before having to leave the country.

The latest price for a tourist visa to Thailand depends on the type of visa you apply for and your nationality.

For citizens of most countries, the following visa fees apply:

• Single-entry visa: 2,000 THB (approximately $65 USD)
• Multiple-entry visa: 4,000 THB (approximately $130 USD)

You can pay the visa fee in Thai baht (THB) at the Thai embassy or consulate where you apply for your visa.

To apply, you’ll need to visit a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Required documents typically include:

• A valid passport with at least six months remaining before expiration
• A completed visa application form
• One recent passport-sized (4 x 6 cm) photographs
• Round-trip air ticket or e-ticket (paid in full)
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover your expenses (at least 10,000 THB per person or 20,000 THB per family)
• Proof of Hotel or private accommodation booking

Be sure to apply at least four weeks before your travel date. You can make your application online at the Thai E-Visa official website https://thaievisa.go.th/.

Additional Information

1. The local currency is the Thai Baht. Before you travel to Bangkok, it is advisable that you arrive with local currency. Your currency is exchangeable at most banks in Bangkok and at exchange bureaus. You will have to look out for specialized signboards that read “Bureau De Change”. 1 US Dollar is roughly 34.5559 THB as 2023. Exchange of foreign currency at the airport is also possible and it may not be at the best rate possible.

2. Bangkok banks and retail outlets accept all types of credit and debit cards. There are ATMs in most of the popular places for the convenience of tourists. Hotels and restaurants also accept credit and debit cards. Tipping is mandatory at ten percent of the value of the goods and services.

3. Thai is the official language of the country. Nevertheless, a majority of the population will speak and understand English. 

4. Buddhism is the official religion of the city and yet nowhere else in the world will you find a sterling example of cultural diversity. A massive 94 percent of the city’s population practices Buddhism and the remaining six percent follow the other world religions such as Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity.

5. There are a lot of festivals and holidays celebrated in Bangkok. The Gregorian and the Chinese New Year are the major festivals. A host of Buddhist festivals such as the Makha Bucha Day and the Visakha Bucha Day are also celebrated. Important dates in relation to the royal family are also prominent as the people celebrate the coronation day of the Monarch.