When help is needed immediately
Official numbers are 1669 for emergency medical assistance, 191 for police and 1155 for Tourist Police. Give the exact location, landmark, callback number and what happened, then follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Do not delay requesting help while disputing insurance authorisation. An emergency hotline is not a promise that all subsequent treatment for a foreigner is free.
Once the immediate situation is stable
Ask the hospital for a discharge summary, medication instructions with generic names, test results and an itemised bill. Check passport spelling and dates. Share relevant records with the next clinician rather than sending the entire archive to an unknown intermediary. Separate a billing issue from insurance coverage and keep written requests. NIEMS provides a separate complaints route for emergency medical services.
Next steps
- Save 1669, 191 and 1155 offline.
- Prepare your address in Thai and an emergency contact.
- After treatment, obtain the summary, prescriptions and bills.
- Share medical information only with necessary recipients.