What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Koh Phangan?
Emergency number
191
Ambulance: 1669.
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: phanganist.com, kohphanganhospitalclinic.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Save 1155 (Tourist Police) as your first-call number on Koh Phangan — operators speak English 24/7, whereas the general 191 line may not.
- Koh Phangan is a small island: for serious injuries or complex illnesses, patients are often transferred to larger hospitals on Koh Samui or in Bangkok, so factor this into evacuation-capable travel insurance.
- Response times for ambulances can be slower than on the mainland due to the island's size and traffic near Full Moon Party events — if you're mobile, a taxi/Grab-style ride direct to a private hospital like First Western can sometimes be faster than waiting.
- The Thailand Tourist Police app lets you request help without needing to speak Thai or even have a local SIM card, which is handy for short-term visitors.
- There is no hospital on Koh Phangan with an internationally recognized 'Level 1/2/3 trauma center' rating — for major trauma, expect stabilization locally followed by boat or helicopter evacuation to Koh Samui or the mainland.
- Motorbike accidents are by far the most common reason nomads end up in these ERs; wear a helmet and avoid riding at night or after drinking.
- Private hospitals (First Western, Bandon, Phangan International) offer far more capability (CT, ICU, surgery) than the government hospital, but expect to pay upfront unless your travel insurer has a direct billing arrangement — confirm this before you need it.
- The government hospital in Thong Sala is the cheapest option for minor issues (cuts, stitches, basic care) but has limited capacity, especially during the Full Moon Party when its emergency department gets overwhelmed.
- Save the Thai names/addresses of these hospitals in your phone in Thai script, as not all taxi or ambulance dispatch staff speak English fluently.
Ambulance Medical
- Description
- 1669 connects to the national medical emergency dispatch service. On Koh Phangan specifically, 1554 is used for the local Ambulance and Rescue service, which operates 24/7 and transports patients to Koh Phangan Government Hospital or other island facilities.
Numbers
- 1669
- 1554
Recommended Safety Apps
Thailand Tourist Police App (Also Referred to As 'I Lert U')
- Publisher
- Royal Thai Police / Tourist Police Bureau
- Description
- Official Tourist Police application allowing tourists to contact police, report incidents, and receive safety/disaster notifications without needing to speak Thai; useful for travelers without a local SIM.
Local Koh Phangan Contacts
Koh Phangan Government Hospital (Thongsala)
- Number
- 077-377-254
- Note
- Main public hospital with 24-hour emergency care.
First Western Hospital (Private)
- Number
- 077 377 474
- Note
- Private hospital popular with tourists/expats; 24-hour ambulance, doctors, X-ray, CT, MRI, ICU, and English/German/Dutch-speaking staff.
Phangan Rescue Centre
- Number
- 077 377 118
- Note
- Local rescue/ambulance coordination contact historically listed alongside the main emergency numbers.
Hospitals
Koh Phangan Hospital (Government Hospital)
- Type
- Public / government hospital
- Hours
- Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays; emergency department accepts walk-ins at all times
- Address
- Thong Sala, Ko Pha-ngan, Surat Thani 84280 (between Wok Tum and Srithanu on the Thong Sala side of the island)
- Trauma Level Designation
- No formal trauma-level designation. This is the island's only government hospital and is a common first stop for motorbike-accident casualties, but it has basic emergency capabilities only — serious or complex trauma cases are stabilized here and then transferred to larger hospitals on Koh Samui or in Surat Thani by speedboat or helicopter.
- Notes
- Cheaper than private options; can do basic X-rays and stitching, but lacks large-scale surgical/ICU facilities.
Private Hospital
- Name
- First Western Hospital (also operating as Thai International Hospital Koh Phangan)
- Hours
- 24-hour emergency and ambulance service
- Address
- Thongsala area, Koh Phangan, Surat Thani (main road near Thongsala)
- Trauma Level Designation
- No official trauma-center rating exists on the island, but this is generally regarded locally as the most capable private facility for serious trauma before any evacuation is needed, with two operating rooms, an ICU, X-ray, CT, and MRI on site.
- Notes
- English/German/Dutch/French-speaking multilingual staff; direct insurance billing in most cases; offers house-calls and patient repatriation arrangements.
Bandon International Hospital – Koh Phangan (Baan Tai Branch)
- Type
- Private hospital (part of the Bandon Hospital network based on Koh Samui)
- Hours
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Address
- Main road, Baan Tai, Koh Phangan (near the Ban Tai 7-Eleven, opposite Luna Cafe)
- Trauma Level Designation
- No formal trauma-level rating; described as an acute-care general medical center with an emergency room, 9-bed inpatient capacity, X-ray, and an on-site lab that can process about 80% of tests locally, sending more complex samples to the main Bandon Hospital on Koh Samui.
- Notes
- Opened in 2015; can treat gastro cases, dengue, wounds, and mild head injuries; more serious surgical cases are typically referred to Koh Samui.
Phangan International Hospital (Bangkok Hospital Samui Network)
- Type
- Private hospital
- Hours
- Not explicitly published; operates as an emergency and specialist care facility under the Bangkok Hospital group
- Address
- 1/17 Moo 1, Baan Tai, Koh Phangan, Surat Thani 84280
- Trauma Level Designation
- No published trauma-level designation. Positioned as an outpost of the wider Bangkok Hospital Samui network, offering emergency medicine and diagnostics, with escalation to the main Bangkok Hospital Samui campus for higher-level trauma or surgical care.
- Notes
- Useful for insurance holders under the Bangkok Hospital group who want continuity of care if evacuated to Samui.
Facilities
First Western Hospital
- Phone
- +66 77 375 163
- Type
- Private International Hospital
- Features
- 24-hour ambulance, doctor and medical staff, X-Ray, CT, MRI, operating rooms, ICU, on-site laboratory, English-speaking and Western staff, insurance department handles direct claims
- Location
- Haad Rin
- Notes
- Most popular choice for tourists and expats. Can arrange medical evacuation to Samui or Bangkok if needed.
Thai International Hospital (Formerly Bandon International)
- Type
- Private International Hospital
- Features
- 24-hour emergency services, 9-bed capacity, multilingual European staff fluent in English and German, dedicated insurance department, X-Ray, CT, operating rooms, ICU
- Location
- Bantai
- Notes
- Newer facility with high professional standards and modern technology. Direct insurance claims in 90% of cases.
Ocean Medical Clinic
- Phone
- +66 92 397 6636
- Type
- Private Clinic
- Features
- Primary health care, doctor consultation, examination, bandaging, vaccination, minor injuries and infectious disease treatment
- Location
- Haad Rin
- Notes
- Accessible for tourists in Haad Rin area.
Koh Phangan Hospital (Government Hospital)
- Phone
- +66 77 377 034
- Type
- Public Hospital
- Features
- Basic care, X-Ray machine, basic diagnostic services, emergency care
- Location
- Between Wok Tum and Srithanu
- Notes
- Cheapest option but may have longer wait times. Good for minor issues. Foreigners must pay for services.
Healthcare Costs
- Note
- Private hospitals are significantly more expensive than government facilities. Travel insurance with minimum 3,500,000 THB coverage recommended.
Sample Prices
Ambulance Call (Without Doctor)
- Ambulance Call (Without Doctor)
- THB 2,000
Doctor Consultation
- Doctor Consultation
- THB 1,200
Ultrasound
- Ultrasound
- THB 2,000
Pharmacies
- Overview
- Pharmacies are widely available throughout Koh Phangan. Many carry over-the-counter medications and basic supplies without prescription requirements. Delivery services now available island-wide.
- Language Support
- Many pharmacies have English-speaking staff; pharmacy names and instructions typically in Thai so translation services helpful for non-Thai speakers.
- Medication Availability
- Wide range of prescription and over-the-counter medications available. Formal doctor's prescription not always required but useful for specific medications. Pharmacies often stock higher prices than supermarkets; some items like basic medications, sunscreen, and first aid supplies available at 7-Eleven and larger supermarkets.
Locations And Services
Phangan Pharmacy
- Phone
- +66 81 271 2500
- Type
- Standard pharmacy
- Location
- Thong Sala area
- Services
- Pharmacist consultation, medication sales
The Chemist Pharmacy
- Phone
- +66 86 974 4256
- Type
- Standard pharmacy
- Location
- 50/14-15 Moo 1 Thong Sala
- Services
- Medication, supplements, medical equipment, pharmacist guidance
Vayana Pharmacy Delivery (24/7)
- Type
- Delivery service
- Hours
- 24/7
- Services
- Prescription handling, OTC medications, supplements, delivery to any location on island, Thai-to-English translation of instructions, sources medications from multiple pharmacies or Koh Samui if needed
- Note
- Most deliveries within 2-3 hours. No prescription required for OTC medications.
Fire
- Number
- 199
- Description
- National Thai Fire Service emergency number.
Tourist Police
- Number
- 1155
- Alt Number
- 077 377 114 (Koh Phangan Tourist Police office)
- Description
- 24-hour English-speaking hotline specifically for tourists, covering theft, scams, disputes, accidents, and lost passports. This is generally the most useful first call for a foreign visitor since operators speak English.
Universal Emergency
- Number
- 191
- Description
- General police emergency number for Thailand, which also functions as the main call center that can dispatch police, fire, or ambulance as needed. Operators may not always speak English.
Koh Phangan has several hospitals and clinics with basic to advanced facilities. Private hospitals serve international patients with English-speaking staff, while government hospitals are cheaper but may have longer wait times. Serious injuries should be treated at private facilities; wounds heal slower on the island due to humidity and infection risk is elevated.
Emergency Contacts
- Tourist Police
- 1155
- Ambulance Rescue
- 1554
- Medical Emergency
- 1669
Medical Evacuation
For serious conditions, evacuation to Koh Samui or Bangkok is arranged by hospitals.
Off Island Escalation Note
For major trauma (severe fractures, head injuries, major blood loss), Koh Phangan facilities generally stabilize and then transfer patients by speedboat or helicopter to larger hospitals on Koh Samui (e.g. Bandon International Hospital or Bangkok Hospital Samui) or to Surat Thani/Bangkok, since no facility on Koh Phangan itself has a full surgical trauma center.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Koh Phangan
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.