Emergencies in Koh Tao

Good to Know

• If you dial the general 191 number and the operator doesn't speak English, hang up and call the Tourist Police on 1155 instead — they're the reliably English-speaking option and can coordinate with local police or medical services for you.
• On Koh Tao specifically, motorbike accidents are by far the most common reason locals and visitors end up calling emergency services — ride carefully, especially on the island's steep, sometimes gravel-covered back roads.
• For anything beyond what Koh Tao's government hospital or private clinics can treat, expect a speedboat transfer to Koh Samui or the mainland — make sure your travel insurance covers medical evacuation.
• Save the Koh Tao Rescue numbers and the local Chalok police station number in your phone on arrival rather than relying only on the national 191/1155 lines, since local responders know the island's geography.
• Koh Tao's only government hospital has a basic 24-hour emergency room, but it is a small-island facility — for anything beyond initial stabilization (major trauma, surgery, serious diving injuries) expect transfer to Koh Samui or the mainland.
• If you dive, carry dedicated diving accident/evacuation insurance (e.g. DAN) — speedboat or helicopter evacuation and hyperbaric treatment are expensive and chamber availability directly on Koh Tao is inconsistently reported.
• Bring your passport — Thai hospitals and clinics require ID/passport for registration, even in emergencies once you're stable enough to provide it.
• Private clinics (Ocean Medical Clinic, Thai Inter Medical Clinic) are faster and more comfortable than the government hospital but will require upfront cash payment or insurance details; the government hospital is cheaper but busier.