Short answer: for medical help in Khao Lak (hospitals, clinics, pharmacies), call 1669 in a medical emergency. For everyday problems, private clinics and pharmacies in the resort area can help, and Khao Lak has a private medical centre that says it is open 24 hours. The nearest government hospital is in Takua Pa, about 30 kilometres north, and the large hospitals and recompression chambers for divers are on Phuket.
We put this guide together because it is the page we would want if we were on holiday and someone suddenly felt unwell. It covers who to call, where to go, how private and government hospitals differ, pharmacies, travel insurance and dive emergencies. Opening hours and services change, so always check a facility’s own website before you go. Save this page now, while you feel well.
In an emergency: call 1669
1669 is Thailand’s national medical emergency number for an ambulance. Call it for chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke, a serious injury, severe bleeding, a seizure, someone who is unconscious, or a person pulled from the water who isn’t breathing normally.
- Ask for help with Thai. Call handlers may not always speak fluent English. If you are in a hotel, ask reception to make the call or stay on the line with you.
- Know where you are. Give the name of your hotel or villa and the nearest landmark on Phet Kasem Road, the main road through Khao Lak. A map pin on your phone helps.
- Have documents ready. Take your passport, your travel insurance details and a list of any medication the patient takes.
- Tourist Police: 1155. This is for help as a visitor, such as theft, a lost passport or a dispute, not for medical care. Don’t call it instead of 1669.
If the situation is urgent and you have transport, going directly to the nearest emergency department can sometimes be quicker than waiting. Never drive yourself if you feel faint, have chest pain or have been drinking.
Hospitals and clinics in and near Khao Lak
The facilities below are ones we have checked against their own websites. We have no connection with any of them. We list them so you know your options, not as a recommendation, and we don’t include phone numbers because they change. Use the links to find current contact details.
In Khao Lak
- Bangkok Medical Center Khao Lak – a private medical centre in Khuk Khak. Its website says it is open 24 hours a day and lists emergency care, a doctor on call, laboratory tests, X-ray and CT scanning.
- Dr Chusak Clinic – a long-established private GP-style clinic on Phet Kasem Road in Khuk Khak. Its website lists general consultations, wound care, vaccinations and in-house lab tests, with English-speaking staff and evening clinic hours. Check the site for current times.
You will also see other private clinics along the main road. For a cut that needs cleaning, an ear infection after swimming, a stomach bug or a prescription you have run out of, a clinic is usually the quickest place to start.
In Takua Pa
- Takua Pa Hospital – the government general hospital for the district, run by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health. It is on Phet Kasem Road in Takua Pa, roughly 30 kilometres north of central Khao Lak.
On Phuket
For serious illness, specialist care or a stay in hospital, many visitors are transferred to one of the larger hospitals on Phuket, south of Khao Lak.
- Bangkok Hospital Phuket – a large private hospital in Phuket Town. Its website says its emergency and trauma centre is open 24/7.
- Bangkok Hospital Siriroj – a private hospital on Phuket, formerly known as Phuket International Hospital. Its website describes 24-hour emergency care.
- Vachira Phuket Hospital – the main government hospital for Phuket province, in Phuket Town.
Private or government hospital?
Thailand has both private and government (public) hospitals, and they work quite differently for visitors.
- Private hospitals and clinics are generally used to treating foreign visitors. Waiting times are usually shorter and English is more widely spoken, but treatment is expensive and you will normally be asked to pay, or show insurance cover, before or during treatment.
- Government hospitals cost less and handle a large number of patients, including emergencies. They can be busy, waits can be long and fewer staff may speak English. Foreign visitors still pay for treatment.
The UK government’s health advice for Thailand notes that hospitals require confirmation that you can pay before they treat you, and that private hospitals are expensive. That is why the insurance tips below matter. In a true emergency, go to the nearest emergency department and sort out the paperwork afterwards.
Pharmacies in Khao Lak
Pharmacies are easy to find in the busier parts of Khao Lak, especially along Phet Kasem Road. Look for a green cross or the Thai word for pharmacy on the sign. Pharmacists can advise on minor problems such as sunburn, insect bites, mild diarrhoea, a sore throat or a small cut, and they sell oral rehydration salts, plasters and antiseptic.
- Bring enough of your regular medication for the whole trip, in its original packaging, with a copy of your prescription.
- Know the generic (chemical) name of your medicines, as brand names often differ in Thailand.
- Some medicines that need a prescription at home are sold over the counter here. That doesn’t make them right for you. If you are unsure, see a doctor first.
- Buy medicine from proper pharmacies, not street stalls. The UK government warns that medication sold on the street may be counterfeit.
Travel insurance tips
Good travel insurance is the single most useful thing you can sort out before you fly. A few checks make a big difference:
- Buy it before you travel and declare any existing medical conditions, so a claim isn’t refused later.
- Check activity cover. Scuba diving, often only to a certain depth or certification level, and riding a scooter are excluded by some policies or only covered with a valid licence and a helmet.
- Save the insurer’s emergency assistance line in your phone and keep your policy number with your passport.
- Call your insurer early if you are admitted to hospital. They can often arrange payment directly with the hospital and advise on transfers.
- Keep every receipt and ask for a medical report, even for a small clinic visit.
Dive emergencies
Khao Lak is the main base for Similan and Surin dive trips, so it is worth knowing what happens if something goes wrong. Decompression sickness can cause joint pain, numbness or tingling, unusual tiredness, dizziness, a rash, confusion or difficulty breathing, sometimes hours after a dive. Don’t wait to see if it passes.
- Tell your dive crew straight away. Dive boats are expected to carry emergency oxygen and to know the local emergency plan.
- Call 1669 if symptoms are severe or you are already back on land.
- Contact DAN. Divers Alert Network runs 24-hour diving emergency hotlines with access to diving doctors. Find the right number for your region on DAN’s contact page and save it before your trip.
The recompression chambers serving this coast are on Phuket. The hyperbaric chamber facility at Bangkok Hospital Siriroj says it treats divers with decompression sickness and provides a 24-hour emergency service. The SSS Chamber Network also runs a recompression facility on Phuket. Your dive centre, DAN or your insurer will normally coordinate transfer. A drip in your hotel room is never a substitute for oxygen and specialist assessment after a dive.
Common holiday problems and where to start
- Stomach bug or food poisoning – most settle with fluids and rest. Our guide to food poisoning in Khao Lak explains what to do and the warning signs.
- Sunburn and heat – a pharmacy for mild sunburn; a doctor for blistering, fever, confusion or fainting.
- Cuts and coral scrapes – clean them well. See a clinic if a wound is deep, dirty or getting red, hot and swollen.
- Fever – mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue occur in Thailand, so see a doctor about a high temperature rather than waiting it out.
- Animal bites or scratches – wash the wound with soap and water and see a doctor the same day, as you may need rabies treatment.
Where an IV drip service fits
We are not a hospital or an emergency service. What we offer is non-emergency hydration and wellness drips at your hotel, villa or home, given by a registered nurse who screens your health first and stays with you throughout, using sterile, single-use equipment. It can suit someone who is dehydrated after a mild stomach upset, a hangover or a long day in the heat, and who would rather not sit in a waiting room.
If the nurse’s screening suggests you need a doctor, they will tell you and won’t start a drip. You can read how we screen and when we say no on our IV drip safety page.
When to see a doctor
Call 1669 or go to hospital straight away for chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden weakness or confusion, a severe allergic reaction, a serious injury, heavy bleeding, a seizure or any symptoms after diving. See a doctor or clinic soon for a high fever, vomiting or diarrhoea that won’t settle, blood in vomit or stool, severe pain, a wound that looks infected, or any illness if you are pregnant, elderly, have a heart or kidney condition or take regular medication.
FAQs
Is there a hospital in Khao Lak?
Khao Lak has private clinics and a private medical centre that says it is open around the clock. The nearest government hospital is Takua Pa Hospital, about 30 kilometres north. For major or specialist care, patients are often transferred to the larger hospitals on Phuket.
Can I find an English-speaking doctor in Khao Lak?
Yes. Private clinics and medical centres in Khao Lak are used to foreign patients, and English is widely spoken there. Your hotel reception can also help you find a doctor and explain things in Thai.
Will I have to pay upfront?
Often, yes, or at least show that you can pay. Contact your travel insurer as early as possible, as many insurers can arrange payment directly with the hospital.
Is there a pharmacy near my hotel?
Probably. Pharmacies are common along Phet Kasem Road through Bang Niang, Nang Thong and Khuk Khak. Ask your hotel for the nearest one, and check opening hours for late evenings.
Can a nurse come to my hotel instead of going to hospital?
Only for non-emergency needs such as mild dehydration. A nurse visit is not a replacement for a doctor or hospital. If you are seriously unwell, call 1669.
Need non-emergency hydration at your hotel?
If you are dehydrated but not seriously unwell, a registered nurse can come to you. Read about our safety standards and health screening first, then message us to check today’s availability. For anything urgent, call 1669.
- WhatsApp +66 00 000 0000
- LINE @ivdripkhaolak
- Call +66 00 000 0000
- Email hello@ivdripkhaolak.com
- Hours Daily 08:00 – 22:00
Photo by Erik Karits on Pexels