The Bangkok Hospital Group is one of Thailand’s largest and most capable private healthcare networks, operating 58 hospitals nationwide with more than 8,700 beds and specialist centres covering the full spectrum of medical care.

For Australian Defence Force veterans living in Thailand, these hospitals can provide treatment for any DVA-accepted condition, without the need to pay upfront, because each site has an established International Services Department experienced in managing DVA approvals and billing processes.  This removes the financial risk veterans often face when DVA tells them to “pay and claim later”, a process that sometimes results in rejected reimbursements.

Bangkok Hospital facilities offer comprehensive services, including:

• Emergency and ICU
   
• Orthopaedics and Neuro-Spine
   
• Mental health services, including new wards opening in  2026
   
• Cardiology, stroke care, rehabilitation, sleep clinics, oncology, and more
   

This ensures veterans can receive diagnosis and ongoing treatment for any accepted condition, from chronic pain to mental health, injuries, neurological disorders, and post-surgical care.

Each site has dedicated international patient teams who:

• Understand DVA processes
   
• Submit treatment approvals directly to DVA
   
• Guarantee billing without requiring veterans to pay upfront
   
• Provide translators and interpreters (27 languages, page 16)
   

Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai alone holds multiple international accreditations, including:

• Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation
   
• CAMTS Global Aeromedical Accreditation (2023–2025) (page 17)
   

This places the network on par with high-end Western private hospital standards.

Hospitals are located in every major population centre, ensuring support for veterans regardless of where they live.

Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Hua Hin have been personally visited during an ADFV-OHS engagement activity, confirming facilities, capability, and willingness to work with DVA-approved veterans.

Visit your nearest Bangkok Hospital (Pattaya, Chiang Mai, or Hua Hin) and provide:

• Passport
   
• Thai address
   
• Basic medical history (if available)
   

This allows the hospital to set up your patient file.

Veterans must supply a copy of their Accepted Conditions List from the MyGov/DVA portal.

This document gives the hospital the authority to:

• Link your conditions to the treatment plan
   
• Submit approval requests to DVA
   
• Guarantee direct billing rather than reimbursement
   

Bangkok Hospital submits all required information to DVA before treatment. This removes the risk of:

• Paying upfront
   
• Delayed reimbursements
   
• DVA later refusing payment
   

This pre-approval model is already in successful use across multiple visited sites. 

Once approved, treatment proceeds normally.  You continue follow-up care through Bangkok Hospital as required under your accepted conditions.

Bangkok Hospital can support treatment for virtually all accepted DVA conditions, including but not limited to:

• PTSD and mental health conditions
   
• Chronic pain, back and spine conditions
   
• Orthopaedic injuries (knee, shoulder, hip)
   
• Hearing loss / tinnitus
   
• Cardiovascular conditions
   
• Diabetes and endocrine disorders
   
• Cancer treatment and monitoring
   
• Neurological conditions (stroke, migraines, neuropathy)
   

The hospital system is broad enough to cover both acute issues and long-term management.

Not true when using Bangkok Hospital.  The hospital manages direct billing after obtaining prior approval.

Many veterans said the same during ADFV-OHS outreach visits.  The capability already exists; it simply hasn’t been clearly communicated by DVA.

If the hospital has received pre-approval, payment is guaranteed, and the veteran carries no financial risk.