Bangkok Hospital Samui
Bophut / ChawengThe island's leading private hospital — JCI-accredited, only MRI on Samui, coordinates medical evacuation from Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Multilingual, direct insurance billing.
In an emergency
Medical emergency in Koh Samui
If a life is in danger, call 1669 for an ambulance now. This guide explains who to call, when to go to a hospital ER, and when a clinic or home-visit doctor is the right call instead.
Emergency numbers on Koh Samui
These lines are free to call, 24 hours a day, from any phone in Thailand.
1669Ambulance / EMS
Thailand's national emergency medical service. Free, 24/7. Ask for an English speaker if you need one — say your location clearly first.
Call 16691155Tourist Police
English-speaking help for tourists — accidents, crime, lost documents and getting you to the right service.
Call 1155Hospital ER or clinic? An honest guide
Getting this right saves time when it matters. Use it as guidance, not a diagnosis — if you're ever unsure, treat it as an emergency and call 1669.
Call 1669 or go straight to a hospital ER if:
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness — possible heart attack
- Signs of stroke: face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech (act FAST)
- Severe difficulty breathing or choking
- Heavy bleeding that won't stop
- Unconsciousness, collapse or a seizure
- A serious allergic reaction (swelling, throat tightness) — anaphylaxis
- A major road or water accident, or a serious head injury
- Sudden severe abdominal pain, or a high fever with confusion
A clinic or home visit is usually enough for:
- Minor cuts, grazes and scooter-accident wounds needing cleaning or stitches
- Fever, flu, stomach upset and traveller's illnesses
- Infections — skin, ear, urinary, throat
- Sprains, minor burns and jellyfish or insect stings
- Dehydration and hangovers needing an IV drip
- Prescriptions, refills and non-urgent aches and pains
Nearest hospital emergency rooms
Koh Samui's 24-hour hospital ERs, for serious illness, injury and admissions. For the outer islands, Bangkok Hospital Samui coordinates medical evacuation from Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Thai International Hospital
Chaweng / Bophut24/7 emergency room, 28 beds, AACI-accredited, direct billing with Thai and international insurers.
Bandon International Hospital
BophutThe island's first private hospital — 24/7 emergency and general care.
Samui International Hospital
North Chaweng Beach RoadLong-established private hospital, open 24 hours, central to the Chaweng tourist area.
Koh Samui Hospital (Government)
NathonThe public MOPH hospital. Lower cost, can be busier — bring your passport and insurance details.
How Samui Home Clinic can help
For urgent but non-life-threatening problems — a scooter graze, a nasty cut, a high fever, an infection, a bad hangover, a sprained ankle — we're often the faster, calmer, less expensive option. We come to your hotel, or you walk into any of our three clinics, and we send you on to hospital ourselves if you need more than we can safely give.
We are not an emergency service. If your symptoms are severe or getting worse fast, call 1669 or go to a hospital ER — don't wait for us.
Emergency questions
Emergencies on Samui — your questions
Call 1669 — Thailand's national emergency medical service. It's free, works 24/7 from any phone, and covers all of Koh Samui. Say your location clearly first, then your emergency, and ask for an English speaker if you need one.
Yes, 1669 is free to call. English is not guaranteed on every call, so speak slowly and give your location first (hotel name, area, nearest landmark). If language is a problem, call 1155 (Tourist Police) who can help translate and coordinate.
For anything life-threatening — chest pain, stroke signs, heavy bleeding, breathing trouble, a bad accident — call 1669 or Bangkok Hospital Samui's private ambulance on 077-429-500. For less serious problems, a taxi or a home-visit doctor is often faster than waiting.
Most travel policies cover emergency treatment on Koh Samui, and the private hospitals have direct-billing departments. Keep your policy number and insurer's emergency line to hand, and tell the hospital you have travel insurance on arrival. Our clinic can also help you with the paperwork for a claim.
For urgent but non-life-threatening problems — cuts and scooter wounds, fever, infections, dehydration, sprains — we can treat you at your hotel or in the clinic, usually faster and cheaper than a hospital ER. If you need more than we can safely provide, we send you straight on to hospital. For anything severe, call 1669 first.
Call 1155, the Tourist Police — an English-speaking line dedicated to helping visitors with accidents, crime and getting to the right medical service. For a medical emergency, still call 1669 for the ambulance first.
Put your health in safe hands
Book a doctor to your home or hotel, or visit one of our three Koh Samui branches. English-speaking doctors, seven days a week.
Book a home visit