Vachira Hospital

[Old Croc]

An Australian tourist is a current patient in this hospital with horrific injuries from a scooter accident. Her bills are mounting and her insurance company has declined her claim.

The case is being discussed in the News forum and I don't want this topic to be about insurance issues.

What concerns me is the statements in Australian media that the hospital will hold her hostage until her account is settled and that the place is crawling with dogs, cats and rats. I have never been inside Vachira, I frequent the private hospital down the road.

My question of people familiar with this public hospital is, are the claims of unfettered livestock wandering the wards correct or just some sort of beatup to assist the Fund me page?  

Also, the claim that you have to pay in full before being allowed to leave seems to be at odds with this thread and the linked article from April this year.

Comments?

 

[LivinginKata]

It's over crowded, in my opinion not so clean, open visiting hours, entire family stays with patient, even seen them sleeping under the patients bed. Never seen any animals in my thankfully very few visits to see friend patients. Lots of communal eating going on by take in food. My one word - Bedlam. Oh and I could see on my visits how uncaring the nurses were. Shocking. 

[colinneil]

20 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

It's over crowded, in my opinion not so clean, open visiting hours, entire family stays with patient, even seen them sleeping under the patients bed. Never seen any animals in my thankfully very few visits to see friend patients. Lots of communal eating going on by take in food. My one word - Bedlam. Oh and I could see on my visits how uncaring the nurses were. Shocking. 

Even seen them sleeping under patients bed, so what that is the norm in government hospitals here.

My wife did it for months, sleeping under my bed, nowhere else for her to sleep.

 

[Coconut Kidd]

Agree with comments above and I have seen dogs on the bottom floor only.

[sebastion]

It's a dump but you get what you pay for.
Go to the BDMS monopoly of hospitals and the same procedures are 5 or even 10 fold in price.

I despise the BDMS group. It's a monopoly.

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[LivinginKata]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Even seen them sleeping under patients bed, so what that is the norm in government hospitals here.

My wife did it for months, sleeping under my bed, nowhere else for her to sleep.

 

 

Yes, I well know it's the normal in every Thai gov hospital. I was just giving the OP a fuller picture. My sister-in-law and kids slept under husband's bed for 3 weeks in Surat Thani.

[Old Croc]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm aware family often sleep near their loved ones when in hospitals in Thailand. My lady slept in my room the first time I was admitted here, but my single room did have a couch in it.

I was more concerned about the statement  made to Australian media  by the lady in Vachira describing dogs, cats and rats wandering around the wards. 

Is this a likely event, or part of an attempt to elicit sympathy for her fund me page?

 

[Old Croc]

6 hours ago, sebastion said:

It's a dump but you get what you pay for.
Go to the BDMS monopoly of hospitals and the same procedures are 5 or even 10 fold in price.

I despise the BDMS group. It's a monopoly.
 

Yes BDMS has bought up all the competition in Phuket so your choice of hospital is either them or a govt one (I know very little about the mission hospital or what category it would fit in to).

[stevenl]

6 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

Yes BDMS has bought up all the competition in Phuket so your choice of hospital is either them or a govt one (I know very little about the mission hospital or what category it would fit in to).

Mission is independent, and dibuk is part of BDMS but very reasonably priced, sometimes even cheap, and also Siriroj is part of the group but seems to have not raised the prices since the takeover.

 

Almost forgot your OP, I have been to Vachira quite a few times, and do not believe the claims made.

Edited November 11, 2017 by stevenl

[Old Croc]

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

Mission is independent, and dibuk is part of BDMS but very reasonably priced, sometimes even cheap, and also Siriroj is part of the group but seems to have not raised the prices since the takeover.

The trouble with Dibuk is it has limited services in many fields. They just refer patients on to their big brother.

Anyone know who will be running the Chalong hospital when finished and what limitations they may have on treatments?

[schlog]

Been in Vachira also many times and also do not believe the claims being made.

 

Dibuk is only for minor sickness. Was there 2 weeks ago. As they saw i was on the way to Valhalla they transfered me to BPH.

BPH was perfect as every time when i was patient there. A great doctor saved mr. schlog by a quick action. Wife also had to stay with me 24/7 because of being high risk patient. Insurance wasn't happy that i burned 1 million in 7 days but hey got new life so who cares.

 

BTW Mission is good for cheap and quick blood checks.

[pagallim]

1 hour ago, Old Croc said:

The trouble with Dibuk is it has limited services in many fields. They just refer patients on to their big brother.

Anyone know who will be running the Chalong hospital when finished and what limitations they may have on treatments?

I believe that Chalong will be an extension of the Government hospital facilities, i.e. with Vachira having the core facilities, and with the satellites such as Patong and Thalang (and at some time Chalong) feeding them the more serious cases.

 

Dibuk serves a need for low level but requiring hospitalisation needs.   As an example, I spent a week in there a year ago with Dengue.   They have a good lab facility, but limited though capable A&E and life threatening surgical capability.   Thats where their 2 sister facilities (Bangkok/International) come in.

 

Any facility in the south of the island is welcome, as increasingly the time to get to one of the 'core' hospitals becomes ever greater, and these foundation ambulances are very limited in their capability.

[DrDave]

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

Yes BDMS has bought up all the competition in Phuket so your choice of hospital is either them or a govt one (I know very little about the mission hospital or what category it would fit in to).

Mission is a no-frills private hospital. Certainly a step up from the government hospitals, but nowhere near the level of service, amenities (and price) of the BDMS hospitals.

Our grandson was born there, and the prenatal department seemed to be very popular with both Thais and foreigners.

[sebastion]

One thing that people don't know is the BDMS doctors actually work at Mission and Vachira as well.
You'll see the same doctors in all the hospitals.
They have to do government work to pay their government scholarships off.


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[stevenl]

19 minutes ago, sebastion said:

One thing that people don't know is the BDMS doctors actually work at Mission and Vachira as well.
You'll see the same doctors in all the hospitals.
They have to do government work to pay their government scholarships off.


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I think it is quite well known that doctors working at BDMS and other private hospitals also work at Vachira and other government hospitals.

 

I'm not sure though that BDMS doctors also work at Mission, since both Mission and BDMS are private.

[sebastion]

I think it is quite well known that doctors working at BDMS and other private hospitals also work at Vachira and other government hospitals.
 
I'm not sure though that BDMS doctors also work at Mission, since both Mission and BDMS are private.

They work at the private hospitals for money. The work they do at Vachira and Mission is to repay their study costs back to the government.
I used to see a doctor at Bangkok Phuket hospital and he even said to go to Mission and see him at a fraction of the cost.
He was even against the overcharging.

My friends gave birth there recently and he asked for an itemised bill. Daily changing of the sheets was 2000 baht. Such a rip off.


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[stevenl]

1 minute ago, sebastion said:

They work at the private hospitals for money. The work they do at Vachira and Mission is to repay their study costs back to the government.
I used to see a doctor at Bangkok Phuket hospital and he even said to go to Mission and see him at a fraction of the cost.
He was even against the overcharging.

My friends gave birth there recently and he asked for an itemised bill. Daily changing of the sheets was 2000 baht. Such a rip off.


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Yes and no. They work at government hospitals to repay their government bills for study. But Mission is not a government hospital, their work their has nothing to do with repaying.

 

You simply had a doctor who works at 2 private hospitals.

[Old Croc]

2 hours ago, sebastion said:

They work at the private hospitals for money. The work they do at Vachira and Mission is to repay their study costs back to the government.
I used to see a doctor at Bangkok Phuket hospital and he even said to go to Mission and see him at a fraction of the cost.
He was even against the overcharging.

My friends gave birth there recently and he asked for an itemised bill. Daily changing of the sheets was 2000 baht. Such a rip off.
 

Maybe things are different in maternity regarding sheets, but in my stays at BPH my private rooms cost about the same as a cheap guest house. Meals and nursing charges cost about the same again. (Special membership discounts applied) I have never been charged separately for sheets.

The big charges were medications, physicians and lab and imaging testing.

They do charge you for every needle, bandaid and dressing , but all in all I find that hospital very cheap considering I'm self insured.

I have no interest, nor am financially strapped enough, to consider staying in a Govt hospital ward with some of the horrors (for me) described above.

I pay 1000 baht a time for visits to my doctors .

Edited November 12, 2017 by Old Croc

[dick dasterdly]

4 hours ago, sebastion said:

They work at the private hospitals for money. The work they do at Vachira and Mission is to repay their study costs back to the government.
I used to see a doctor at Bangkok Phuket hospital and he even said to go to Mission and see him at a fraction of the cost.
He was even against the overcharging.

My friends gave birth there recently and he asked for an itemised bill. Daily changing of the sheets was 2000 baht. Such a rip off.


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My ex came down with serious health issues and went to Phuket Int. (IIRC).

 

He had to stay for a while and had minimal insurance, so his doctor pointed out that he also worked at Vachira - and the cost would be FAR cheaper.

 

Long, story short - he moved to Vachira and none of his 'complaints' involved any rats etc. roaming around.

[Psimbo]

Media hype plop stirring to boost headlines. From what I understand the German Doc there is one of the best on the island. The amount of broken bones they must deal with it would be my choice if I ever needed it. A guy I know had a bad leg break and they put in screws and an external bar. On return to the UK the doc there said they had done an excellent job.

 

As for 'livestock running amok' part of the ground floor is open and I would expect the occasional dog or cat to run through. Its not as if there are cows being milked in the emergency room.

 

The only people getting milked are the ones headed to the upmarket hosp group. As a matter of course I use Mission, unless its a serious eye issue, then its the BH, as they have the kit to fix stuff. Misson refers people to Vachira or other places if specialist stuff is needed and you are billed at source.

 

My ENT guy at Mission also has a private practice- he does mornings there and afternoons at his place in town. I may be incorrect but Vachira may have private as well as ward rooms. Even in BH its common for people to sleep in the room with family- it's encouraged to an extent.

 

For those using the BH there is a Privilege Card available free online (covers all three locations) which allows for 50% discount on rooms and 15% discount on prescriptions, amongst other stuff if you are paying your own way.

 

 

Edited November 12, 2017 by Psimbo

[Valentine]

On my infrequent visits to Vachira it can seem like bedlam until you contact the right person to take care of your needs. This is not so obvious at times but last time there after spending a lengthy time on the 2nd floor (this is where I was supposed to see doctor) waving my papers around & getting nowhere I finally was forwarded to a desk near the downstairs reception where the lady was most helpful. Wait times can be long unless you have an appointment for a specialist or procedure.

 

If ever bitten by a snake Vachira should be the place to go as they are the only hospital that have the full range of anti venom.

[madmax2]

23 hours ago, sebastion said:

They work at the private hospitals for money. The work they do at Vachira and Mission is to repay their study costs back to the government.
I used to see a doctor at Bangkok Phuket hospital and he even said to go to Mission and see him at a fraction of the cost.
He was even against the overcharging.

My friends gave birth there recently and he asked for an itemised bill. Daily changing of the sheets was 2000 baht. Such a rip off.


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Since when do they charge for sheets to be changed, if you are talking abut a daily room charge that is very reasonable compared to prices charged in western countries

[schlog]

For guys who can't get insurance because of health conditions or age, this membership is a good possibility.

 

https://m.bangkokpattayahospital.com/en/patient-services/chivawattana-membership-card-en.html

 

Free check ups, discounts on medis/ doctor/room......

 

For couples they have every years promo periode to apply. Buy 1 get 2 memberships.

[Old Croc]

2 hours ago, schlog said:

For guys who can't get insurance because of health conditions or age, this membership is a good possibility.

 

https://m.bangkokpattayahospital.com/en/patient-services/chivawattana-membership-card-en.html

 

Free check ups, discounts on medis/ doctor/room......

 

For couples they have every years promo periode to apply. Buy 1 get 2 memberships.

I have the Platinum card.

[xylophone]

On 11/11/2017 at 1:26 PM, sebastion said:

I despise the BDMS group. It's a monopoly.

Let's say that I'm not actually a fan of theirs (Bangkok Phuket hospital) because they do charge exorbitant prices for the medicines and one of the doctors I have seen there, in particular, should be hung, drawn and quartered for his absolute incompetence.

 

In addition I acquired a very dangerous bug from a hospital procedure, E. coli extended spectrum beta lactamase, which basically means it's resistant to just about all normal antibiotics and there were only four which could be used against this and they could only be administered intravenously, and I was lucky that one of them worked.

 

If I have to have another procedure of any description then I will use Phuket International, hoping that the bug is not resident in that place.

[LivinginKata]

3 hours ago, xylophone said:

Let's say that I'm not actually a fan of theirs (Bangkok Phuket hospital) because they do charge exorbitant prices for the medicines and one of the doctors I have seen there, in particular, should be hung, drawn and quartered for his absolute incompetence.

 

In addition I acquired a very dangerous bug from a hospital procedure, E. coli extended spectrum beta lactamase, which basically means it's resistant to just about all normal antibiotics and there were only four which could be used against this and they could only be administered intravenously, and I was lucky that one of them worked.

 

If I have to have another procedure of any description then I will use Phuket International, hoping that the bug is not resident in that place.

 

International now the same group as BDMS. I see their fees much in line with Bangkok Phuket.  Like now there is a 120 baht reception fee (to look out your hospital file)  and every liitle item/service is charged . Before 600 baht doctor fee, now 1,000 baht. To be honest that's still a reasonable doctor fee.  Couple of months back I saw a skin doctor in the International as I had a bad case of body spots/rashes. This guy was worse than useless, big pharamacy  bill - cost 3,200 baht. Waste of time. No improvement. Went down to the small clinic in Phuket Town. Long long queue, doctor was a fountain of knowledge, 680  baht including cream/pills. Worked a treat.

 

For years I consulted at the International with a blood doctor ( rheumatologist). His fee was 600 baht. Found that he had a clinic down the road from me (Karon Clinic) - see him now for 200 baht a consulation. Ok - he's only there on a limited basis. But  I can work with that.

 

After just bashing the International I can say that it's all negotiable. Couple of weeks back I had a full ultrasound, chest x-ray, complete blood works,  doctor consulation before and after tests. I made it clear that I did not their 'plan' price but wanted a 'local' price. They scurried off  to accounting, came back with a hand written price of 6,200 baht on a slip of paper. I thought was a great deal for the 3 hours I spent there undergoing tests.  

 

 

[KarenBravo]

Whenever I use BPH, I always tell the consultant that I want a prescription because I will buy the drugs elsewhere.

They're not happy, but, they do it. Also ask what each drug is for. Amazing the uneccessary stuff they fob you off with (mild painkillers, anti-nausea etc).

BDMS is in the business of selling drugs at inflated prices.

Edited November 13, 2017 by KarenBravo

[xylophone]

16 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

Whenever I use BPH, I always tell the consultant that I want a prescription because I will buy the drugs elsewhere.

They're not happy, but, they do it. Also ask what each drug is for. Amazing the uneccessary stuff they fob you off with (mild painkillers, anti-nausea etc).

BDMS is in the business of selling drugs at inflated prices.

I do likewise with the drugs and then buy them at Supercheap, however the intravenous antibiotic I needed could not be bought elsewhere and cost me over 50,000 baht for 14 days treatment and because it was on an outpatient basis my insurance didn't cover it!!!

 

Still, was pleased to get rid of that dangerous bug.

[Old Croc]

Interesting link here, disputing the filthy animal ridden hospital as portrayed by the Liddles.

https://www.thephuketnews.com/opinion-a-tourist-defence-of-vachira-phuket-hospital-vs-stacey-liddle-64675.php#YP6BAwfqG7bLxG3x.97

[Old Croc]

I take about 10 different medications daily and most are bought at Supercheap. A couple are only available at the hospital and prices are high.

To Lik, a blood doctor is a hematologist not a rheumatologist.

I also recently had a chest xray and ultrasound examination at BPH. Costs for these two items came to 2,625, the doctors fee was 1,000.

At the same time I also had extensive blood work done, but this was probably not comparable to the tests you may have had. They came to 5,200. Lab work is expensive at BPH.