Medically reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician, Takecare Clinic Phuket. Last reviewed: September 2026.
Some long-stay visitors and retirees use a quieter week in Phuket to catch up on health checks they have been putting off at home. I prefer check-ups built around a person’s age, family history and risks rather than long standard packages, because targeted tests are more useful and easier to act on.
The people who ask us for a check-up in Phuket are rarely short-stay tourists. More often they are retirees wintering on the island, remote workers several months into a stay, or visitors who realise their annual review at home is overdue and the island has given them the time to deal with it. A common pattern is someone whose blood pressure has crept up since arrival, helped along by salty street food, evening drinks and broken sleep in the heat. We treat a check-up as a conversation about your actual risks, not a fixed menu of tests, because the most useful screen is the one that answers questions relevant to you.
Who gains most from a check-up here
A check-up suits adults over 40 who have not had one in the last few years, anyone with a family history of heart disease, stroke, diabetes or early cancer, smokers and ex-smokers, and people taking long-term medicines that need monitoring. It also suits expats and long-stay visitors who have no regular doctor in Thailand. It is the wrong visit if you feel ill today. A fever, for example, needs a focused dengue test in Phuket and assessment rather than a screening panel, and the check-up can wait until you are well.
What the doctor actually does
History and risk review
We start with your medical and family history, medicines, alcohol, smoking, sleep, exercise and diet, and any symptoms you have been ignoring. Previous results from home are very helpful, because a trend over years says more than a single reading. This conversation decides which tests are worth doing.
Examination and measurements
The doctor measures blood pressure, weight, height, body mass index (weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared) and waist circumference, then examines the heart, lungs, abdomen and any area you are worried about. A simple urine dipstick checks for protein, blood and sugar.
Targeted tests
Typical blood tests in Phuket for a check-up are a full blood count, fasting glucose or HbA1c, a lipid profile, kidney and liver function, and uric acid. Thyroid function, hepatitis B, HIV or other tests are added when your history points to them. Fasting for about 8 to 12 hours before the visit makes the glucose and lipid results easier to interpret.
The numbers we check against
These are the headline guideline thresholds. Your own targets may be stricter if you have diabetes, kidney disease or a previous heart problem.
| Measure | Healthy range | Needs attention | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinic blood pressure | Below 120/80 mmHg | 140/90 or above (UK); 130/80 or above (US) | Main modifiable cause of stroke and heart attack |
| Body mass index | 18.5 to 24.9 | 25 or above; 23 or above for Asian heritage | Diabetes and heart risk start at lower weights in Asian populations |
| Fasting glucose | Below 5.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) | 5.6 to 6.9 prediabetes; 7.0 (126 mg/dL) or above diabetes | Early change is reversible |
| HbA1c | Below 42 mmol/mol (6.0%) | 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) or above suggests diabetes | Reflects the past 2 to 3 months, no fasting needed |
| Kidney function (eGFR) | 60 or above with no protein in the urine | Below 60 for 3 months or more | Guides medicine doses and blood pressure targets |
| Uric acid | Below about 6.8 mg/dL | Persistently above this level | Crystals can form, raising gout risk |
Cholesterol is judged differently: rather than one cut-off, the doctor combines LDL cholesterol with your age, blood pressure, smoking and diabetes status to estimate 10-year cardiovascular risk. A raised uric acid with joint pain is a separate conversation, covered on our gout treatment page.
Tests we usually advise against
Some check-up packages sold to travellers include tumour markers such as CEA, CA-125 or AFP in healthy people. These markers are useful for monitoring a known cancer, but as a screening test they miss many early cancers and flag many people who are healthy, leading to anxious follow-up scans. PSA for prostate cancer is the exception worth discussing: guidelines suggest men aged 55 to 69 make an informed choice about it with a doctor. Whole-body scans in people without symptoms carry similar problems. We explain the trade-offs honestly rather than adding tests to fill a list.
When to see a doctor
A check-up is planned care. Do not wait for one if something is wrong now: chest discomfort on exertion, new breathlessness, blood in the stool or urine, a new lump, unexplained weight loss, persistent heartburn or difficulty swallowing, or a change in a mole all deserve their own prompt appointment. A blood pressure reading above 180/120 with headache, visual change or chest pain is an emergency.
Prevention and early detection
Much of prevention happens outside the blood results. Cancer screening follows national programmes and differs by country, so we help you work out what you are due for. As a guide, UK cervical screening runs from 25 to 64 every 3 to 5 years; breast screening by mammogram is offered every 3 years from 50 to 71 in the UK and every 2 years from 40 to 74 under US guidance; and bowel screening starts at 50 in the UK and 45 in the US. Lung screening with low-dose CT is advised in the US for people aged 50 to 80 with a heavy smoking history. If you want any of these done while in Phuket, we arrange a hospital referral.
A check-up is also the natural moment to review immunisations. US guidance advises a tetanus and diphtheria booster every 10 years and the recombinant shingles vaccine from 50 (the UK offers it from 65), while flu and pneumococcal vaccines matter more with age. Our page on vaccinations in Phuket covers what can be given on the same day.
Arranging your check-up with us
Takecare Clinic is open 24/7 at three locations, with English-speaking doctors and an on-site laboratory. For a fasting check-up, early morning suits most people. Walk in to our Bangtao (Cherngtalay) clinic, the Kata-Karon clinic or the Patong clinic, or message us on WhatsApp first so we can confirm fasting, likely tests and the price before your visit. You can also call +66 81 718 9080.
For those who prefer privacy or have limited mobility, a doctor hotel visit in Phuket covers the history, examination, blood pressure and blood samples at your villa or hotel, with a results consultation afterwards. Travel insurance rarely pays for routine screening, although some international health plans do; we provide receipts, an itemised invoice and a medical report either way, and direct billing with most travel insurers where cover applies.
Related services and treatments
If a new symptom rather than screening is on your mind, our walk-in doctor in Phuket service is quicker and more focused. You can see the full list of consultations and tests under all our medical services.
Summary
A worthwhile health check-up in Phuket is built around your history and risks: examination, blood pressure, body measurements, urine and a sensible set of blood tests, with results the same day and a written plan. Skip tests that screen poorly, such as tumour markers in healthy people, and use the visit to catch up on cancer screening and vaccines. Book early in your stay so any follow-up happens here, and take every report home to your own doctor.
“Bring your previous results if you have them. Comparing this year’s numbers with past ones tells me far more than a single test on its own.”
Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician, Takecare Clinic Phuket
Frequently asked questions
Will my insurance pay for a check-up done in Phuket?
Travel insurance is designed for sudden illness and injury, so it rarely pays for routine screening. Some international health plans for expats include an annual check-up, so read your policy or ask your insurer. We confirm the price on WhatsApp before your visit, and provide receipts, an itemised invoice and a medical report for any claim. Direct billing is available with most travel insurers.
How long does the whole check-up take, including results?
The consultation, examination and sample collection usually take under an hour. Common blood results come back the same day from our on-site laboratory, often within a few hours, and the doctor then goes through them with you in person or at a follow-up visit. Some less common tests take longer, and we tell you the expected time when they are ordered.
Can I walk in on the day, or should I book ahead?
You can walk in at any of our three clinics at any hour, and most people are seen within minutes. Because fasting improves glucose and cholesterol results, the smoothest plan is to arrive in the morning before eating. A quick WhatsApp message beforehand lets us confirm what to prepare and which tests suit your situation.
Can the doctor do my check-up at the villa?
Yes, much of it. On a hotel or villa visit the doctor takes your history, examines you, measures blood pressure and body measurements, and collects blood and urine samples to bring back to the laboratory. Results are reviewed afterwards. Anything that needs clinic equipment, or a hospital service such as a mammogram, is arranged separately.
Are tumour marker tests worth adding to my check-up?
For most healthy people, no. Tumour markers such as CEA, CA-125 and AFP help monitor a cancer that has already been diagnosed, but they miss many early cancers and give false alarms in people who are well. PSA is different and worth a discussion for men aged 55 to 69. Proper screening programmes, such as mammograms and bowel tests, are more reliable.
What should I bring to make the check-up more useful?
Bring your medicines or photos of the labels, any previous blood results or letters, and a note of close relatives’ heart disease, diabetes or cancer and the ages they were diagnosed. Wear a top with sleeves that roll up easily. If you check your blood pressure at home, bring those readings too, because they help separate true high blood pressure from nerves in a clinic room.
Sources
The NHS describes the NHS Health Check for adults aged 40 to 74 and what it measures. The World Health Organization fact sheet on hypertension explains why blood pressure is the priority check. The WHO fact sheet on diabetes covers diagnosis and prevention.
health check-up, medical check-up, preventive health screening, annual physical, blood pressure, hypertension, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting glucose, HbA1c, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, lipid profile, LDL cholesterol, eGFR, uric acid, urine dipstick, PSA, tumour markers, cervical screening, mammography, bowel screening, low-dose CT, cardiovascular risk, NHS Health Check, WHO, USPSTF, Bangtao, Cherngtalay, Kata, Karon, Patong, Takecare Clinic Phuket, Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan
This page is general health information and not a substitute for a medical consultation.