Children's Hospitals and Paediatric Clinics in Thailand

Paediatrician or general practitioner

In many countries a family doctor or general practitioner sees children first and refers them on. In Thailand, private hospitals usually let parents book a paediatrician directly, and most children's centres are staffed by paediatricians rather than general doctors. For a child with a long-term condition, such as asthma, epilepsy or a heart problem, ask whether a subspecialist in that field works at the hospital, or only visits on certain days.

A doctor's licence and recorded specialty can be checked on the Medical Council of Thailand's public lookup. If a hospital says a doctor is a paediatric subspecialist, it is reasonable to ask where they trained in that subspecialty.

Choosing a hospital for children

Look past the outpatient centre to what happens when a child is seriously ill. Some hospitals run a separate paediatric emergency room with paediatricians on site all night; others see children in the main emergency department and call a paediatrician in. Both can work well, but you should know which you are choosing. Ask in particular:

• Whether a paediatrician is on site in the emergency department overnight, or on call from home
• Whether the hospital has a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and from what age the PICU takes children
• Where children who need more than the hospital can offer are transferred, and how
• Whether well children coming for vaccines wait apart from sick children
• How late the children's centre is open, and whether evening clinics can give routine vaccines

Vaccination schedules in Thailand and at home

Thailand's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is run by the Ministry of Public Health and fully funded by the government. WHO, which reviewed the programme with the ministry in September 2025, describes it as providing 13 vaccine antigens for children, pregnant women and adults. Thai hospitals generally offer two groups of vaccines: the core vaccines in the national programme, and optional ones recommended by Thai paediatric bodies, such as rotavirus, pneumococcal and flu vaccines. Some private hospitals publish both lists on their children's pages.

Schedules differ between countries in the vaccines included, the ages at which doses are given and the brands used. The UK, for example, publishes its routine schedule on GOV.UK and updates it often. If you will return home, or move on, bring your home country's schedule to the first appointment and ask the paediatrician to plan doses so your child is not missing any, or getting extras, when you leave. Ask too about vaccines common in Thailand but not at home, such as Japanese encephalitis.

Well-child checks and development

Well-child visits are usually timed alongside vaccinations in the first two years, and cover growth, feeding, hearing, vision and development. Many hospitals offer development screening for babies and preschool children, and some sell check-up packages for school-age children. Before buying a package, ask what each test is for and whether the paediatrician thinks your child needs it; a longer list of tests is not necessarily better.

If a check raises a concern about speech, motor skills or behaviour, ask whether the hospital has developmental paediatricians and therapists on site, how long the wait is, and whether reports can be written in English for a school or for doctors at home.

Language and communication

Children cannot always describe symptoms, so clear communication between parents and staff matters more than usual. Ask whether the paediatrician will see you in your language, whether interpreters are available at night and at weekends, and whether there is a charge. Make sure dosing instructions for any medicine are written down in a language you can read, with the strength of the liquid stated, because children's doses depend on weight.

Insurance for children

There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Thailand and the UK, and the UK government advises British residents to hold health insurance to cover treatment costs. Check whether your policy covers routine care such as vaccines and well-child visits, or only illness and hospital stays. Ask too whether a newborn is added to a parent's policy automatically, whether there is a waiting period, and whether conditions present from birth are covered.

Vaccine packages from private hospitals are often excluded from insurance, may exclude doctor's and hospital fees, and may be non-refundable. Before an admission, ask the hospital whether it can bill your insurer directly or will ask for a deposit.

What to keep in your child's medical file

Families who travel or move between countries often lose track of what has been done where. GOV.UK publishes guidance for health professionals on vaccinating people whose immunisation history is uncertain or incomplete, which may mean repeating doses if records are missing. Keep a single folder, paper or digital, with:

• The vaccination record, with dates, vaccine names and batch numbers, in English
• Birth summary, including gestation, birth weight and any neonatal care
• Growth charts and well-child check results
• A list of conditions, allergies and current medicines with doses
• Discharge summaries and specialist letters
• Insurance details and your paediatrician's contact information