Gastroscopy prices in Bangkok (2026)
Gastroscopy cost at Bangkok private hospitals (outpatient, including sedation and report):
- ▸Gastroscopy only (no sedation): ฿3,500 – ฿6,000
- ▸Gastroscopy with sedation: ฿4,500 – ฿9,000
- ▸Gastroscopy + biopsy (if ulcer/H.pylori suspected): ฿5,500 – ฿12,000
- ▸Combined gastroscopy + colonoscopy ('top and tail'): ฿12,000 – ฿25,000
- ▸H. Pylori urea breath test (non-endoscopic alternative): ฿800 – ฿2,000
- ▸H. Pylori rapid test (blood, stool, or biopsy): ฿500 – ฿2,500
What is a gastroscopy — and who needs one?
A gastroscopy examines the oesophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) using a flexible camera on a tube:
- ▸Diagnostic uses: persistent heartburn/GERD, difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, nausea, upper abdominal pain, suspected stomach ulcer or H. pylori infection
- ▸Screening uses: Japan and Korea have high rates of stomach cancer (among the highest in the world) — annual or biennial gastroscopy screening is routine in these countries from age 40–50
- ▸Not required routinely in Western countries: US/UK guidelines recommend gastroscopy only for symptoms, not routine screening for average-risk individuals
- ▸Tourist add-on: many Japanese and Korean medical tourists in Bangkok add gastroscopy to their health check-up package — Bangkok hospitals process the same day, Japanese hospitals often have 6–12 month waits
Gastroscopy preparation in Bangkok
Preparation for a gastroscopy is simpler than colonoscopy:
- ▸Fasting: 6–8 hours before the procedure; water allowed up to 2 hours before
- ▸Sedation: conscious sedation (midazolam ± fentanyl) makes the procedure comfortable; you may have mild awareness
- ▸Throat spray: local anaesthetic throat spray is typically given even with sedation to suppress the gag reflex
- ▸Duration: procedure takes 10–20 minutes; recovery from sedation 30–60 minutes
- ▸After the procedure: minor throat discomfort is normal; eat soft foods for the first 24 hours; no driving after sedation
Gastroscopy vs barium swallow — why Bangkok is better
Japanese Ningen Dock traditionally uses a barium swallow (バリウム検査) rather than direct gastroscopy. Bangkok hospitals use direct gastroscopy as standard:
- ▸Accuracy: direct gastroscopy is significantly more sensitive than barium swallow for detecting early gastric cancer, ulcers, and polyps
- ▸Biopsy: gastroscopy allows immediate biopsy of suspicious lesions; barium swallow cannot
- ▸H. pylori: biopsy during gastroscopy allows direct detection (CLO test); barium swallow cannot detect H. pylori
- ▸Patient experience: barium swallow requires drinking a thick chalky liquid and lying at angles; modern sedation makes gastroscopy comfortable
- ▸Price: Bangkok gastroscopy (฿4,500–฿9,000) is comparable to Japanese barium swallow cost (¥5,000–฿20,000) and offers superior clinical value