First of all, are they qualified? All doctors in Thailand need to be certified by the Thai Medical Council to practice medicine. To become certified, doctors must complete six years of study and one year of internship, where they practice in a government hospital, before they graduate as a General Practitioner or more commonly named, a GP. If they graduate, they'll be given a license number and a certificate issued by the Thai Medical Council.

Generally GPs must then pay back to the government over a three year, or longer, term when they work in the government health system. In reality, some GPs elect not to do this and pay a specified sum back to the government to be excluded from this requirement. Currently the amount is around 400,000 Baht per year, so if a doctor wants to go immediately into private practice after graduating, without working for the government, it will cost him or her – or the hospital they're hoping to work for – over 1,200,000 Baht

General Practitioners can then become specialists, such as an Orthopedic Surgeon, Gynaecologist or a Pediatrician. This involves extra study and takes a minimum of three years. Once complete, the surgeon or pediatrician passes the final examination of the relevant Thailand Royal College and is issued another certificate to practice in their speciality. Some Thai doctors do their specialist training overseas, for example in America, where they can also become American Board Certified. In reality this means that they've passed the requirements to practice in their field within America.

Most foreigners in Phuket will either go to one of the hospitals or to a private clinic if they become sick or injured. Hospitals have an advantage over clinics through the large number of doctors that are employed, giving you, the patient, more access to specialists. At the local clinic, the doctor may have only completed initial training, and may have little knowledge about other specialist areas. If you're being treated by a doctor, ask what qualifications they have. Better still, ask to see their certificates.

Getting recommendations from friends or others on the island is also good advice, and possibly the best way to screen out some doctors who do not treat foreign patients to the level expected. Interestingly, foreigners have very different attitudes towards doctors than the Thais do. Being a doctor in Thailand is an esteemed profession, and many Thais look up to doctors as being ‘superior’. They generally accept what the doctor recommends for them, without questioning or requesting reasons why. Generally foreigners demand more from their doctor, ask more questions and are more informed about their illnesses. In fact, sometimes patients know more about their illness than their doctor! Some Thai doctors will not explain their diagnosis or give adequate information about the treatment they are prescribing. This is because they're not used to it, and their Thai patients do not require it. Foreigners do, and if your doctor does not give you an adequate explanation or take the time to satisfy your needs, select one that does. With so many doctors on the island there's a range of choices available and finding one that answers all your questions is essential.

Many foreigners have developed a rapport with their doctor to the extent that after-hours telephone numbers are exchanged and the doctor is available for house calls and telephone consultations. Having this type of a relationship with your doctor and taking an active role in your health care can help you get the best care possible from your doctor. One way to do this is to improve your relationship with your doctor. Don't be afraid to speak up. It's important for you to let your doctor know if you don’t understand something. If you don’t ask questions, your doctor will think you understand everything he or she has told you. If you feel that your doctor is over-prescribing medications, a common practice in Thailand, then complain.

In summary, I recommend looking for a doctor who is rated to give quality care, has trained and is certified to meet your needs, takes steps to prevent illness, for example encouraging you to stop smoking or lose weight, and can treat you at the hospital or clinic of your choice. In addition, they encourage you to ask questions, they listen to you, explain thing clearly and − as you are the customer − they treat you with respect.

Peter Davison is the Manager International Services
at Phuket International Hospital.
Tel: +66 (0)76 249400. Email: info@phuketinternationalhospital.com.