Hospital interpreter in Bangkok: when you need one and what it costs
Hospital interpreter · Bangkok · RU · EN · TH
Got sick in Bangkok, or facing tests, surgery or dental treatment? At the hospital you need to really understand the diagnosis, the prescriptions and the bill, not just nod at unfamiliar words. Here is when you need a hospital interpreter, how one differs from the hospital's own interpreter, and what it costs.
I'm Mike Boldyrev. I have lived in Bangkok for 14 years, interpret between Thai, Russian and English, and accompany foreigners to doctors. I am an interpreter, not a doctor: I give no medical advice, and you choose your treatment together with your doctor.
- 6,490 ฿doctor's appointment, up to 4 hours
- 1,690 ฿call to the clinic: booking, rescheduling, bill
- 1669ambulance in Thailand: call right away
- RU · EN · THMon–Fri, 09:00–19:00
When you need a hospital interpreter
- Consultation and diagnosis. Tell the doctor what hurts and since when, which medicines you take, and understand what the doctor says.
- Tests and examinations. Preparing for tests, MRI and ultrasound, going through the results with the doctor.
- Surgery and hospital stay. Consent to surgery, questions about risks and recovery, talking to the nurses on the ward.
- Dentistry. Treatment plan, cost estimate, stages and timing, so you never agree to something you did not understand.
- Discharge and medicines. How to take the medicines, what to avoid, when to come for the next appointment.
- Bill and insurance. Talking to the cashier and the hospital's insurance desk, questions about the bill and documents for your insurer.
The hospital has its own interpreters. Why another one?
Large private hospitals in Bangkok usually have an international department with interpreters for English and some other languages. That helps, but they handle several patients at once, are not always available at the moment you need them, and they work for the hospital. Small clinics, many dental clinics and public hospitals usually have no interpreters of their own.
I come only for you: I interpret every word the doctor says, ask the questions you forgot to ask, write down the prescriptions and explain the next steps after the appointment. Even if you speak English, a personal interpreter helps: doctors in Thailand speak English at very different levels, and the nurses and cashier often speak only Thai.
How to choose an interpreter in Thailand →
How I work
- Message me. The name of the hospital or clinic, the date and time of the appointment, which doctor and why you are going.
- I confirm. We agree on the time and the exact price before work starts. Payment: 100% before the appointment.
- We prepare. Send any previous medical reports and your list of medicines. We will put together questions for the doctor. Up to 30 minutes of preparation is free.
- At the appointment. I interpret your conversation with the doctor, the nurses and the cashier and write down the prescriptions.
- Afterwards. I explain what to do next and, if needed, call the clinic to reschedule, check the bill or confirm the next visit.
From experience. In summer 2026, a client named Daniil found me through an interpreter platform and asked for help at a dental hospital in Bangkok. I interpreted his appointment and then handled the contact with the clinic myself: the next visit, the deposit, questions about the treatment plan. The first booking turned into regular work: all summer I helped him at the clinic and with other matters in Bangkok.
If you need urgent help
If life is at risk, call an ambulance on 1669 right away; do not wait for an interpreter. Ask hotel staff or passers-by to help you call. Once you have been admitted, message me: if I am free, I will come. By phone I can help with practical matters: registration, the insurance desk, the bill.
Hospital interpreter prices
up to 30 minutes: booking, rescheduling, bill
up to 4 hours at the hospital
up to 8 hours: surgery, check-up
All prices include 7% VAT.
Time starts when we meet at the hospital; waiting for the appointment counts as working time. For longer treatment, a package of 5 half days for 29,900 ฿ or 5 full days for 52,900 ฿ is better value. Written translation of medical documents: 1,090 ฿ per page.
Important: I am an interpreter, not a doctor. I do not diagnose, recommend medicines or choose a clinic or treatment for you; you make those decisions with your doctor. Everything I hear at the appointment stays between us.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hospital interpreter cost in Bangkok?
A doctor's appointment of up to 4 hours is 6,490 ฿, a full day of up to 8 hours is 11,900 ฿, and a call to the clinic of up to 30 minutes is 1,690 ฿. The price is the same as for a bank or the police. 7% VAT included.
Do Bangkok hospitals have staff who speak my language?
Large private hospitals usually have English-speaking international staff, and some also have coordinators for other languages, including Russian, but not every hospital and not on every shift. Check with the hospital in advance. Small clinics and dental practices usually have none.
Can you interpret a conversation with the doctor by phone or video?
I interpret consultations, check-ups and surgery only in person, right next to you: on video it is easy to miss something important. By phone I help with practical matters: booking, rescheduling, checking the bill. A call of up to 30 minutes is 1,690 ฿.
Can you help with insurance?
I interpret your conversation with the hospital's insurance desk and help you understand which documents are needed. Whether the treatment is covered is decided by the insurance company.
Do you translate medical documents?
Yes: medical reports, discharge summaries, test results, 1,090 ฿ per page. If the document is needed for official purposes, we can do a certified translation from 3,190 ฿.
Do you go with clients to hospitals in Pattaya and Phuket?
Yes, as a trip from Bangkok: a full day minimum plus travel. Practical matters with the clinic can be handled by phone.
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Need a hospital interpreter? Send the clinic name and date
Send the hospital, the date and time of the appointment and briefly why you are going. I will confirm whether I am free and give you the exact price.