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Epidaurus · Treatment Guide · Mental Health & Addiction

Going abroad for —

Psychiatric Care Quality

Residential psychiatric treatment facility quality

The country comparison

Which countries are best for psychiatric care quality

The destinations ranked high→low under this lens — each with the reasoning behind its score, the cited evidence one click down, and its full report. The verdict is free; the report is the depth.

19 / 19 Countries ranked

Researched and assessed by the Epidaurus editorial pipeline against our published scale. A country below the rule is not yet assessed enough — never ranked last.

  1. 1 United States US 4.0/5 Good The United States demonstrates strong psychiatric care quality with over 600 surveyed facilities, rigorous ABPN-accredited psychiatrist training, and comprehensive evidence-based treatment protocols. However, the pool... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • 668 psychiatric hospitals as of 2020 with 600+ surveyed by Joint Commission for Medicare/Medicaid participation, establishing rigorous accreditation standards
    • Psychiatrists require 4-year ACGME-accredited residency programs with ABPN certification assessing clinical competence and ethical understanding
    • Pooled 30-day psychiatric readmission rate of 16% (95% CI: 13%-20%) with individual facilities ranging 11-36%, and mean of 20%
    • Evidence-based therapeutic interventions (ACT, DBT, CBT) standardized across accredited facilities with mandatory IPFQR quality reporting since FY 2013
    • California mandates 1:6 nurse-to-patient ratios in acute psychiatric units, but ratios vary by state (Texas historically 1:8-1:15) with nine states reporting no state hospital accreditation

    Read the full United States report →

  2. 2 Spain ES 4.0/5 Good Spain demonstrates good psychiatric care quality with Quirónsalud's JCI Enterprise accreditation across four hospitals, formal 4-year MIR residency training for all psychiatrists, and standardized evidence-based proto... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 8 cited points
    • Quirónsalud JCI Enterprise Gold Accreditation across 4 hospitals (first globally) plus Hospital Clínic Barcelona ERN/CSUR accreditations—meets Score 4 threshold of 5-9 internationally accredited facilities
    • 100% of active psychiatrists complete formal 4-year MIR residency with EU specialist directive recognition; 5,964 active psychiatrists nationally (2021)
    • Formal 2-year EIR mental health nursing specialty with 310 positions in 2024, supporting structured multidisciplinary teams
    • Evidence-based protocols (CBT, EMDR, DBT) standardized across major facilities; CIBERSAM links 23 research groups to clinical practice
    • Dedicated international patient services: 45% surge in medical tourism in 2024; multilingual staff; international insurance (BUPA Global, Cigna International) acceptance
    • Psychiatrist-to-population ratio of 11 per 100,000 significantly below EU average of 18-22; no explicit mandated patient-to-staff ratios documented
    • Mechanical restraint used without verbal de-escalation in 40% of cases (PMC 2023); 2025 human rights analysis documented systemic deficiencies and routine coercive practices
    • Average length of stay 53.1 days (longest in EU tracked by Eurostat)—exceeds international benchmarks

    Read the full Spain report →

  3. 3 United Kingdom GB 4.0/5 Good The United Kingdom demonstrates excellent clinical training standards through the internationally recognized MRCPsych certification system, mandatory evidence-based protocols via NICE guidelines, and low readmission r... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 6 cited points
    • UK psychiatrists must pass the MRCPsych examination through 6+ years of structured specialty training, accepted as a prestigious benchmark globally
    • NICE guidelines are mandatory statutory reference standards for all psychiatric treatment protocols across England and Wales
    • Readmission rates below 5% within 30 days (2022–23 data), well below the 15% threshold for Score 5
    • Nightingale Hospital London provides explicit international patient services with 30+ years of experience, 40+ consultant psychiatrists, 100+ therapists, and 4.62/5 patient satisfaction rating (565 reviews)
    • CQC independently inspects and rates all mental health services; new Mental Health Act 2025 introduces advance choice documents, nominated persons, expanded tribunal access, and raises detention thresholds
    • UK has zero JCI-accredited psychiatric facilities and uses acuity-based assessment for staffing rather than mandated psychiatrist-to-patient ratios

    Read the full United Kingdom report →

  4. 4 United Arab Emirates AE 3.5/5 Moderate The UAE operates high-quality, JCI-accredited psychiatric facilities with evidence-based treatment protocols and strong international patient services, anchored by Al Amal's Maudsley partnership providing UK NHS-equiv... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 7 cited points
    • Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital holds JCI accreditation as the first dedicated psychiatric hospital in the Middle East with 272 beds; ACPN operates JCI Gold Seal accredited facilities across six UAE locations
    • Evidence-based treatment modalities (CBT, DBT, EMDR, psychodynamic therapy, family therapy) are standard across major facilities; Al Amal offers specialized programs for child/adolescent, adult, geriatric, forensic, addiction, and learning disability services
    • Severe bed scarcity of 0.9 psychiatric beds per 100,000 population, classified by WHO as a 'severe shortage' (minimum threshold 30 per 100,000), creating practical access limitations for international patients
    • Published psychiatric outcome statistics—readmission rates, average lengths of stay, complication rates—are not systematically available in the public domain, limiting independent quality verification
    • Psychiatrist density of 1.65 per 100,000 population (2017 baseline) is nearly ten times below US ratio; documented 'dearth of UAE-trained psychiatrists' with heavy reliance on expatriate clinicians
    • Federal Law No. 10 of 2023 establishes comprehensive patient rights framework with mandatory informed consent, Patients' Rights Committees in each emirate, and criminal penalties for mistreatment
    • American Wellness Center operates dedicated medical tourism program with 24/7 multilingual coordinators (15 languages), visa assistance, and travel logistics; Maudsley Health provides direct referral pathway to specialist UK Maudsley clinicians for complex cases

    Read the full United Arab Emirates report →

  5. 5 Germany DE 3.5/5 Moderate Germany operates excellent, evidence-based psychiatric infrastructure anchored in S3-level DGPPN guidelines and supported by rigorous psychiatrist training and strong legal protections. However, readmission rates of 2... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • DGPPN S3-level guidelines (highest evidence standard) legally mandated for schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder; quality indicators mandated by law (§137a SGB V)
    • All psychiatrists complete 5-year Facharzt residency with mandatory psychotherapy integration; EU-recognized across all 28 member states
    • Readmission rates of 36.3% (affective disorders), 27–28.3% (other conditions) exceed Score 4's 15–25% threshold but fit Score 3's 25–35% range
    • Multiple facilities explicitly serve international patients (Schoen Clinic Bad Bramstedt, LIMES, P3 Klinik, Charité International Patients Department with multilingual coordinators), but psychiatric sector has 'fewer dedicated international-patient coordinators' than other specialties; most public hospitals lack English pathways
    • Strong legal protections via Patient Rights Act; judicial oversight of any restraint exceeding 30 minutes; transparent quality monitoring via 2024 Hospital Transparency Act

    Read the full Germany report →

  6. 6 Israel IL 3.5/5 Moderate Israel demonstrates good clinical quality with evidence-based protocols, specialized programs (trauma, eating disorders, treatment-resistant depression), and robust patient rights protections. However, limited interna... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • Only 1-2 internationally accredited dedicated psychiatric hospitals (Abarbanel JCI-accredited; Sheba JCI-accredited at institutional level), but 20+ nationally accredited mental hospitals and 12 psychiatric wards in general hospitals
    • 30-day psychiatric readmission rate of 21% (up to 25% at some facilities), exceeding the 15% international benchmark for high-performing systems
    • All psychiatrists required to complete formal residency and Ministry of Health specialist certification; 2024 launch of specialist psychiatric nurse practitioner programs
    • Evidence-based protocols (CBT, DBT, biopsychosocial model) standard at major centers; Israel participates in multinational schizophrenia research and operates a national psychiatric case register since 1950s
    • Specialized programs in eating disorders, psychotrauma (Metiv/ICTP recognized internationally), treatment-resistant depression, and geriatric psychiatry; IsraClinic provides structured international patient programs with GHA and TEMOS accreditation

    Read the full Israel report →

  7. 7 India IN 3.5/5 Moderate India presents a mixed landscape with world-class premier institutions like NIMHANS offering international accreditation and specialized multidisciplinary care, but significant systemic limitations prevent a higher sc... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 7 cited points
    • India has only a few dedicated NABH-accredited psychiatric facilities (NIMHANS, Nirvan, Athena) among 54 JCI hospitals, falling short of the 5-9 internationally accredited threshold for Score 4
    • 77% national average psychiatrist deficit with 0.3 psychiatrists per 100,000 population creates accessibility concerns despite structured training programs producing 357 MD and 129 DPM graduates annually
    • No published readmission rates or systematic outcome data despite some facilities reporting positive results (Sukoon Health: 83% client improvement), preventing outcome verification required for Score 4
    • Mental Health Care Act 2017 established progressive patient rights framework but implementation is weak, appearing as 'non-starter in most parts of India' after 5 years, with regulatory boards not established
    • Treatment gap of 70-92% for different mental disorders indicates significant infrastructure limitations affecting service availability for international patients
    • International patient services well-developed at NIMHANS with buddy system and language interpreters; specialized programs available (geriatric psychiatry, OCD, addiction, child/adolescent), but quality highly variable across facilities
    • Nursing staffing norms remain outdated and not evidence-based, lacking mandated ratios that Score 4 requires

    Read the full India report →

  8. 8 Poland PL 3.5/5 Moderate Poland exhibits moderate psychiatric care quality with strong foundational elements but infrastructure gaps limiting medical tourism access. IPIN's ISQua accreditation and WHO Collaborating Centre status represent cre... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • IPIN holds ISQua accreditation, ISO 9001:2015-10 certification, and WHO Collaborating Centre status with 564 beds; Kocborowo holds CMJ national accreditation; no JCI-accredited psychiatric facilities in Poland
    • All psychiatrists complete mandatory 5-year residency aligned with EU UEMS standards; psychiatric nursing specialization governed by statute (2011 Act on Professions of Nurse and Midwife)
    • Evidence-based protocols (CBT, psychodynamic therapy, ECT, TMS, art/music therapy) deployed in IPIN and MindHealth but implementation quality acknowledged as 'uneven across the country's network of mostly older inpatient facilities'
    • Mazowiecki Szpital MindHealth offers 24 English-language inpatient beds with structured 14-day diagnostic and 30-day addiction programs; no dedicated national psychiatric medical tourism infrastructure or coordinators
    • National psychiatric-specific readmission and outcome data not systematically published; 1994 Mental Health Act and 2008 Patient Rights Act with independent Ombudsman provide patient protections; chronic underfunding at 3.7% of health budget versus WHO 5–10% recommendation

    Read the full Poland report →

  9. 9 Singapore SG 3.5/5 Moderate Singapore operates one world-class JCI-accredited psychiatric facility (IMH) with ANCC Distinction nursing accreditation and ACGME-International residency training, delivering evidence-based care with documented outco... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • IMH is first psychiatric hospital in Asia with JCI accreditation (2005, reaccredited 2008, 2011) and first psychiatric institution globally with ANCC Accreditation with Distinction for nursing education
    • EPIP achieves 71.1% symptomatic remission and 84.9% functional recovery (GAF>61) at two-year follow-up with 5/5 fidelity ratings on 20 program elements in 2026 international assessment
    • ACGME-International accredited 5-year psychiatric residency program with 8 subspecialty fellowships available at IMH
    • Robust regulatory framework: Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008 with mandated patient rights statements in patient's own language; Healthcare Services Act 2020 with MOH infrastructure inspections
    • Psychiatrist workforce shortage: 5.1 per 100,000 population versus OECD benchmark of ~15/100,000; documented psychiatrist caseloads of 40-46 patients per 0.2 FTE equating to 200+ patients per full-time equivalent

    Read the full Singapore report →

  10. 10 Thailand TH 3.0/5 Moderate Thailand offers moderate psychiatric care quality for medical tourists through JCI-accredited private hospitals with internationally-trained staff and evidence-based protocols like CBT and recovery models. However, th... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • Multiple JCI-accredited hospitals (62 medical facilities; 11 BDMS hospitals with JCI) offer psychiatric services with evidence-based protocols including CBT and recovery models
    • Severe psychiatrist shortage at 1.3 per 100,000 people (nearly 10 times below global average of 13), with staffing ratios in mental hospitals of 0.01 psychiatrists per bed
    • Extremely limited residential psychiatric capacity for international patients, with major private facilities offering only 7-15 inpatient beds
    • High readmission rate for schizophrenia at 53.8%, exceeding typical benchmarks and indicating quality concerns despite some successful family intervention programs
    • Mental Health Act 2008 (amended 2019) provides regulatory framework and patient rights protections; international private hospitals offer multilingual staff and dedicated International Patient Centers

    Read the full Thailand report →

  11. 11 South Korea KR 3.0/5 Moderate South Korea has 2 internationally accredited psychiatric facilities and formal 4-year psychiatric residency training for all psychiatrists, meeting basic Score 3 infrastructure requirements. However, critical outcome ... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • Only 2 internationally accredited psychiatric facilities identified (Gangnam Severance with JCI, Seoul National University with ISQUA), meeting Score 3 minimum of 1-4 but below Score 4's 5-9 requirement
    • All psychiatrists complete mandatory 4-year residency with board certification, but mental health professional density (30.6 per 100K) is substantially below OECD average (97.1 per 100K)
    • Average psychiatric hospitalization of 116-166 days is 3-4 times the OECD average, reflecting outdated institutional model rather than modern community-based care
    • Readmission rates are explicitly higher than other OECD countries; inpatient suicides account for 17.8% of all suicides nationally, indicating serious safety protocol gaps
    • No dedicated psychiatric medical tourism infrastructure; language support limited to major urban centers; cultural and therapeutic approaches differ substantially from Western models

    Read the full South Korea report →

  12. 12 Malaysia MY 3.0/5 Moderate Malaysia possesses solid foundational elements including 9 JCI-accredited hospitals with psychiatric services, comprehensive psychiatrist training requirements (4-year Master's in Psychological Medicine), and a robust... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 7 cited points
    • 9 JCI-accredited hospitals including SJMC, Sunway MC (triple-accredited JCI/ACHS/MSQH), ParkCity MC, Gleneagles KL, and Pantai KL; MSQH has accredited 123 hospitals nationally
    • All registered psychiatrists complete mandatory 4-year Masters in Psychological Medicine from accredited Malaysian universities with MMC/NSR registration and CPD requirements
    • Evidence-based treatment protocols established (CBT, IPT, mindfulness, TMS at Gleneagles KL) with MOH-recommended CBT-pharmacotherapy for depression/bipolar disorder; DBT availability limited
    • The Wave Clinic offers specialist 12+ week residential psychiatric care explicitly targeting international patients (70%+ from UK/USA) with ACCPH, ACPP, EMDRIA, IAEDP memberships
    • Critical psychiatrist shortage: ~500 psychiatrists for 32 million population (1.4 per 100,000) vs WHO benchmark of 1 per 10,000; no mandated staffing ratios documented
    • National outcome data not systematically published; readmission rates, length-of-stay benchmarks, and adverse event tracking not consolidated in publicly accessible form
    • Mental Health Act 2001 with 2010 Regulations and 2023 amendments provide regulatory framework with Board of Visitors oversight, patient rights statements, and appeal pathways

    Read the full Malaysia report →

  13. 13 Turkey TR 3.0/5 Moderate Turkey operates 1-2 JCI-accredited psychiatric facilities with evidence-based treatment protocols and strong international patient support infrastructure, but faces critical regulatory gaps with the Mental Health Law ... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 6 cited points
    • Only 1-2 JCI-accredited psychiatric facilities specifically identified (NP Istanbul Brain Hospital with 99% re-accreditation; most of the 46-50+ JCI facilities are general hospitals, not psychiatric-specific)
    • 2.13 psychiatrists per 100,000 population compared to European average, with workforce shortage concentrating specialists in major cities
    • Mental Health Law pending in Parliament since 2019, creating regulatory gaps in patient rights protections and standardized care procedures
    • 35% of physicians in medical tourism hospitals trained in Western countries, within the lower-moderate range for international training
    • Mix of evidence-based and traditional treatment approaches at leading facilities (NP Istanbul, Moodist) with innovative programs (addiction, eating disorders, internet addiction) but limited outcome tracking
    • Strong international patient services with 24/7 multilingual support, case management systems, and airport coordination, but concerns about historical treatment practices (2005 MDRI report) and negative patient reviews regarding unnecessary procedures

    Read the full Turkey report →

  14. 14 Colombia CO 3.0/5 Moderate Colombia has a moderate psychiatric care infrastructure with a strong legislative foundation (Law 1616) and robust training infrastructure (20+ universities, 1,613 psychiatrists). Three nationally accredited facilitie... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • Three ICONTEC-accredited psychiatric facilities (Hospital Psiquiátrico del Valle, Hospital Mental de Antioquia with 370 beds, and Clínica Montserrat with 116+ beds) but zero JCI-accredited psychiatric hospitals
    • 1,613 psychiatrists trained through 3–4 year residency programs at 20+ universities; robust training infrastructure but no explicit percentage with international credentials stated
    • Evidence-based treatment protocols (CBT, DBT, ECT, pharmacotherapy) available at accredited facilities; however, outcome tracking and readmission rates are not publicly reported by Colombian psychiatric facilities
    • Only Clínica Pinares actively markets psychiatric services to international patients with English support and international insurance acceptance; language barriers and limited infrastructure for international coordination exist outside major cities
    • Comprehensive patient rights protections under Law 1616; however, specialized complaint and recourse mechanisms for psychiatric patients remain underdeveloped with significant delays

    Read the full Colombia report →

  15. 15 Brazil BR 2.5/5 Moderate Brazil demonstrates some genuine strengths in psychiatric care quality—well-trained psychiatrists through a rigorous 9-year residency pathway, one nationally accredited facility (IPq/HCFMUSP) offering specialized inpa... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 7 cited points
    • No JCI-accredited standalone psychiatric facility; only 1 nationally accredited (IPq); ~8% of all Brazilian hospitals have any accreditation
    • All psychiatrists require 9-year training (6-year medical degree + 3-year mandatory residency) with ABP specialist board certification
    • PNASH quality oversight program for psychiatric hospitals not consistently maintained in recent years, creating regulatory gap
    • No dedicated psychiatric medical tourism program or facilitator network identified; international patient services limited to consultations and short-stay at 2 major private hospitals
    • In-hospital psychiatric mortality 0.9/1,000 admissions (competitive), but 11-year follow-up mortality ratio 2.90 (concerning); no systematic readmission rate data provided
    • Language barriers documented as serious safety issue; UK government explicitly warns healthcare workers outside major centers speak no English
    • Severe geographic inequality: Southeast averages 5 psychiatrists/100,000 vs. Northeast <1/100,000; quality improvements limited outside São Paulo/Rio

    Read the full Brazil report →

  16. 16 Japan JP 2.5/5 Moderate Japan has two JCI-accredited psychiatric facilities and above-average psychiatrist density (13 per 100,000 population vs. OECD average of 9), with rigorous JSPN board certification standards. However, critical structu... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 7 cited points
    • Only 2 JCI-accredited psychiatric facilities with international patient services (Fujita Health University Hospital and St. Luke's International Hospital)
    • Critical staffing limitation: legal minimum 1:48 psychiatrist-to-patient ratio in standard units vs. score 3 requirement of 1:8, documented as unexceptionally high exemption from 1958
    • Evidence-based care severely underutilized: only 6.2% of psychiatric clinics implementing CBT despite national health insurance coverage since 2010
    • One-year psychiatric readmission rate of 35%, at the upper threshold of score 3 (25-35%) and concurrent with score 2 (35%+)
    • Patient safety concerns: average physical restraint duration of 96 days per episode, documented by UN human rights monitoring; average inpatient length of stay 266 days vs. international medical tourism norm of 14-28 days
    • Psychiatric nursing severely underdeveloped: only 25 Certified Nurse Specialists documented in 2005 across 1,667 inpatient facilities
    • International patient services concentrated at Fujita and Matsuzawa; NCNP requires advance fees and patient-arranged interpreters; limited coordinated follow-up pathways

    Read the full Japan report →

  17. 17 Jordan JO 2.0/5 Poor Jordan lacks internationally accredited psychiatric facilities (zero JCI/NABH) and has only one teaching-accredited private hospital (Al-Rashid) without clinical facility accreditation. Critical staffing shortages—par... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 6 cited points
    • Zero JCI or NABH accredited psychiatric facilities; HCAC lists no dedicated psychiatric hospitals among accredited organizations
    • Only 13 psychiatric nurses nationwide (0.13 per 100,000) vs. regional benchmark of 3.3 per 100,000; approximately 87 psychiatrists for 10+ million population
    • Documented serious human rights violations at NCMH forensic ward including indefinite detention, prison-like conditions, and physical mistreatment; 2023 ARIJ investigation and corroborating video evidence
    • No publicly available outcome data on readmission rates, adverse events, or length of stay; treatment gap estimated at 94% for all severity levels
    • Psychiatric care is not marketed as a medical tourism specialty; no dedicated infrastructure for international patients; minimal coordination beyond Al-Rashid Hospital's ad-hoc European Health SPC partnership
    • Lack of standalone mental health act despite UN Convention ratification; Public Health Law No. 47 (2008) provides insufficient protection framework

    Read the full Jordan report →

  18. 18 Mexico MX 2.0/5 Poor Mexico lacks dedicated psychiatric residential facilities for international medical tourists, with only 3 facilities identified as offering psychiatry procedures and none providing specialized residential programs. Cr... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • Only 3 facilities identified by medical tourism facilitators as offering psychiatric procedures, with no dedicated residential psychiatric programs for international patients
    • 0.12 psychiatric nurses per 100,000 inhabitants—critical staffing shortage described as one of the lowest in the Americas
    • No independent judicial review of involuntary psychiatric commitments; decisions left to complete discretion of institution staff
    • 87.4% of people with mild mental disorders do not receive necessary treatment, indicating massive service delivery gap
    • Only 2% of health budget allocated to mental health; geographic concentration with 76% of psychiatric resources in Mexico City area

    Read the full Mexico report →

  19. 19 Hungary HU 2.0/5 Poor Hungary presents a weak psychiatric care destination with zero JCI accreditation, no residential facilities serving international medical tourists, and documented serious patient safety concerns. While Semmelweis Univ... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • Zero JCI-accredited psychiatric facilities in Hungary; domestic BELLA accreditation (2014–2015) covers general hospitals but not psychiatric quality metrics
    • No residential inpatient psychiatric facilities dedicated to international medical tourists; only outpatient English-language services available in Budapest
    • Quality assurance reported as 'nonexistent' in 2024 analysis; 10,000–15,000 involuntary commitments annually and documented history of severe abuses (caged beds, patient deaths during restraint)
    • Psychiatric workforce: 12.16 psychiatrists and 10.85 mental health nurses per 100,000 inhabitants, described as insufficient; 5-year residency has documented supervision failures and regional inconsistencies
    • Mental health allocated only 5.1% of national health budget; psychotherapy underfunded at under €380,000/year; only Semmelweis University consistently implements evidence-based protocols

    Read the full Hungary report →

Reading the field

What separates a good programme from a dangerous one

Every country above is graded against this published scale — the same 1–5 rubric for psychiatric care quality, top to bottom. How we score →

  1. 5/5 Excellent

    - 10+ internationally accredited psychiatric facilities accepting medical tourists - Comprehensive psychiatric residency programs and 80%+ internationally trained psychiatrists - Mandated 1:4 or better psychiatrist-to-patient ratios with specialized psychiatric nursing requirements - Evidence-based treatment protocols standardized across facilities with documented outcome tracking - Readmission rates below 15% and average length of stay within international benchmarks - Specialized programs for multiple psychiatric conditions with dedicated international patient services - Robust regulatory framework with patient rights protections and quality monitoring systems

  2. 4/5 Good

    - 5-9 internationally accredited psychiatric facilities or 15+ nationally accredited facilities - 60-79% of psychiatrists with international training or recognized local residency programs - Mandated 1:6 psychiatrist-to-patient ratios with some psychiatric nursing specialization requirements - Evidence-based protocols implemented in most facilities with some outcome measurement - Readmission rates 15-25% with documented quality improvement initiatives - Some specialized programs available with basic international patient coordination services - Clear regulatory standards with patient protection frameworks

  3. 3/5 Moderate

    - 1-4 internationally accredited facilities or 8-14 nationally accredited facilities - 40-59% of psychiatrists with formal psychiatric training beyond general medical degree - Basic staffing requirements with 1:8 psychiatrist-to-patient ratios - Mix of evidence-based and traditional treatment approaches with limited outcome tracking - Readmission rates 25-35% or data not systematically collected - Limited specialized programs with minimal international patient services - Basic regulatory framework with some patient protections

  4. 2/5 Poor

    - Few or no internationally accredited facilities, limited national accreditation - 20-39% of psychiatrists with specialized psychiatric training - Minimal staffing requirements or ratios not consistently maintained - Primarily traditional treatment approaches with limited evidence-based protocols - High readmission rates (35%+) or concerning safety incidents - Very limited specialized programming and no dedicated international services - Weak regulatory oversight with minimal patient protections

  5. 1/5 Very Poor / Unavailable

    - No accredited psychiatric facilities or accreditation information unavailable - Majority of "psychiatrists" lack specialized psychiatric training - Inadequate staffing levels compromising patient safety - Outdated treatment approaches with concerning practices - High rates of adverse events or patient safety concerns - No specialized programs and hostility toward international patients - Minimal or no regulatory oversight of psychiatric facilities

The reports

The full country reports under this lens

Each destination we have assessed has a full, cited report — the detailed analysis behind its score. The verdict is free; the report is the depth.

Clinics & providers

The clinics our research names

Named hospitals, clinics and centres cited across these findings — each carrying the specialties our reports record. Follow one to the reports behind it.

References

The sources behind these assessments

The distinct sources cited across these published reports — every finding carries its own citations; this is the union, each linking back to the reports that lean on it.

  1. Untitled source www.snuh.org/global/en/find/findDeptView.do?dp_code=NP&hsp_cd=1 Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in South Korea
  2. Untitled source abpn.org/become-certified/general-requirements Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in United States, Psychiatric Care Quality in Thailand
  3. Untitled source abpn.org/become-certified/taking-a-specialty-exam/psychiatry Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in United States
  4. Untitled source abpn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/General-Public-FAQ.pdf Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in United States
  5. Untitled source airomedical.com/hospitals/field=psychiatry-mental-health/country=south-korea Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in South Korea
  6. Untitled source allnurses.com/ratios-acute-psych-t560397 Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in United States
  7. Untitled source appa-psy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Regulation-in-Korea-Dr-Kee.pdf Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in South Korea
  8. Untitled source aseannow.com/topic/527215-psychologist-whats-required-to-practice-here Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in Thailand
  9. Untitled source aseannow.com/topic/619241-licensing-for-a-clinical-psychologist Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in Thailand
  10. Untitled source aspe.hhs.gov/reports/development-quality-measures-inpatient-psychiatric-facilities-final-report-0 Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in United States
  11. Untitled source bajarehab.com/mental-health-treatment-in-mexico Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in Mexico
  12. Untitled source beekeeperhouse.com Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in Thailand
  13. Untitled source blog.southofseoul.net/understanding-types-of-mental-health-services-in-korea Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in South Korea
  14. Untitled source bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-021-06391-7 Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in Thailand
  15. Untitled source bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-016-0804-y Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in South Korea
  16. Untitled source bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-023-05290-x Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in Thailand, Psychiatric Care Quality in India, Psychiatric Care Quality in South Korea
  17. Untitled source ccat-th.org/en/about/membership Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in Thailand
  18. Untitled source cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/mental-health/mental-health-atlas-2024-country-profiles/united-arab-emirates.pdf Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in United Arab Emirates
  19. Untitled source cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/mental-health/who-aims-country-reports/korea_who_aims_report.pdf Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in South Korea
  20. Untitled source centromedicoabc.com/en Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in Mexico
  21. Untitled source certificationinindia.com/nabh-national-accreditation-board-for-hospitals-healthcare Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in India
  22. Untitled source consortium-psy.com/jour/article/view/194 Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in Thailand
  23. Untitled source consortium-psy.com/jour/article/view/86 Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in Mexico
  24. Untitled source counsellingthailand.com/psychologist-in-thailand Cited in Psychiatric Care Quality in Thailand

Explore the source archive →

In plain language

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Where to go from here · Psychiatric Care Quality

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