Guide · checked 28 October 2026

Hurt in Thailand: what to do first

Who to call, what to say to the hospital and your insurer, and which papers to keep so the claim gets paid.

The short answer

For a real emergency, call 1669 for an ambulance. Then call your insurer's 24/7 assistance line, before or at admission, so it can send the hospital a guarantee of payment. Bring your passport and a card for a deposit. Before you leave, get a medical report in English, an itemised bill and every receipt.

This is general information, not medical advice. If you're unsure how bad an injury is, get it seen.

Numbers to save now

1669Ambulance and medical emergencies
1155Tourist police, 24 hours, English spoken
191Police

Big private hospitals also run their own ambulances. Bangkok Hospital's group line is 1719 (from Thai phones only) and Bumrungrad's is 1378. Put your insurer's 24/7 number next to these. Our emergency card puts them all on your lock screen.

The first hour

  1. Stop and get it checked. Don't finish the round on a suspected fracture or head knock. Your trainer usually knows the nearest clinic and hospital.
  2. Call 1669 for anything serious. That means being knocked out, a suspected neck or spine injury, heavy bleeding or trouble breathing. Otherwise a taxi or Grab to the ER is often faster.
  3. Call your insurer's assistance line. Say where you are, what happened and which hospital you're going to. Ask if it has a direct-billing deal with that hospital. Note the case number and the name of the person you spoke to.
  4. At the hospital, show your passport and policy. Ask the international or insurance desk to contact your insurer for a guarantee of payment.
  5. Expect a deposit. If the guarantee hasn't arrived, the hospital will ask you to pay. Use a card and keep the receipt.
  6. Tell the truth about how it happened. Say it was Muay Thai training, sparring or a fight. A record that doesn't match your claim can cause problems later.

Guarantee of payment vs paying and claiming

Guarantee of payment (direct billing): your insurer tells the hospital in writing that it will pay. You pay only your excess and anything not covered. Bangkok Hospital Phuket says to check with your insurer that your policy covers your stay and that a direct-billing agreement exists, and warns these agreements can be suspended or cancelled.

Pay and claim: you pay the bill, then send the papers to your insurer. This is normal for clinic visits and outpatient care. Bumrungrad says that if it has no contract with your insurer, you pay and claim from the insurer yourself.

Deposits: the UK government says all Thai hospitals need a guarantee of payment before treating patients. Bumrungrad asks for a deposit before admission. It contacts your insurer when you're admitted, and if no guarantee letter arrives within 48 hours, you pay a full deposit. It may ask for more as costs rise. An ER visit at a private hospital costs about $60 to $240 before scans or surgery. See injury costs in Thailand.

Clinic or hospital ER?

InjuryUsually
Small cut, eyebrow splitClinic, for cleaning and stitches. Go to an ER if it won't stop bleeding or it's near the eye.
Sprained ankle, shin or foot knockClinic if you can put weight on it. ER for an X-ray if you can't, or it looks out of shape.
Suspected broken hand, wrist or noseHospital, for an X-ray and a specialist.
Knee twist with a pop, swelling or giving wayHospital orthopaedics, which may order an MRI.
Rib pain with shortness of breathER.
Any head knock with the warning signs belowER straight away.

Public hospitals cost less, but they charge foreigners a higher price tier, and the UK government says they don't always meet UK standards, especially outside Bangkok. Big private hospitals have international desks that deal with insurers every day. For the hospitals near the main gym areas, see Phuket and Bangkok.

Concussion warning signs

The NHS says to get emergency help after a head injury if the person:

  • was knocked out and hasn't woken up, or can't stay awake
  • has a fit (seizure)
  • has problems with vision or hearing
  • has clear fluid coming from the ears or nose, or is bleeding from the ears
  • has new numbness or weakness anywhere in the body
  • has problems walking, balancing, understanding, speaking or writing
  • has a black eye without being hit in the eye
  • is behaving differently, for example more irritable or distracted

Even a mild concussion means no contact sport for at least 3 weeks, the NHS says. Don't spar until a doctor clears you.

Papers to get before you leave the hospital

  • Medical report in English, with the diagnosis, the treatment and how it happened
  • Itemised bill with every line listed, not just a total
  • Receipts for everything, including the pharmacy and the taxi
  • Copies of scans: X-ray, CT or MRI images and reports
  • A referral for physio, if you'll need it
  • A police report, if you were hurt in an assault or a road accident. Ask your insurer if it needs one. The tourist police (1155) can help.
Open the claim checklist

Flying home with an injury

Ask the treating doctor for a fit-to-fly letter that gives the injury date and, if you have a cast, the date it went on. The UK Civil Aviation Authority says many airlines restrict flying for 24 hours after a cast is fitted on flights under 2 hours, and 48 hours on longer flights. Some airlines also want their own medical form. With a broken arm or leg you can't sit in an exit row.

If your insurer is arranging the flight home, let its medical team decide. It may need to approve the flight before it pays. Check your plan includes a medical flight home in the insurance finder.

Sources