Annual Health Checkup Providers in Bangkok---USA Expat

[concernedbug2145]

Hello everybody:

 

Not sure which forum to post this!  Need some guidance from Expats to find a local medical provider in Bangkok for a Comprehensive Annual health check-up.

 

(i) Retired USA Expat, 50-60 years age,

(ii) 1st Annual Check up in Thailand

(iii) Bangkok area

(iv) Speak very little Thai, so English services required.

 

Thank you in advance.

[Spaniel]

Google Bumrugrad Hospital.     They offer several health check up choices.     All the hospitals in Bangkok offer some kind of plan.    Bumrugrad is probably one of the more expensive hospitals but they offer great service and facilities.    I had a check up there last month for which I paid B10,600.

[simoh1490]

Almost every private hospital in Thailand offers health check packages, just google hospitals in Bangkok and look at individual web sites for package details, Bumrungrad will be the most expensive - expect to pay around THB 12k/15k for something fairly  comprehensive

[concernedbug2145]

48 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

Almost every private hospital in Thailand offers health check packages, just google hospitals in Bangkok and look at individual web sites for package details, Bumrungrad will be the most expensive - expect to pay around THB 12k/15k for something fairly  comprehensive

Thank you very much. Your guidance is appreciated.

 

Googled Bumrungrad, https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/health-check-up-center-bangkok-thailand-jci-best/check-up-packages

Their Comprehensive for 40+ is listed as B 22,790

 

Reading various google reviews/comments from Expats, I get the impression that Bumrungrad hospital is a top-notch facility.

[simoh1490]

Bumrungrad can be very good, I've had health exams and cardiac work done there many years ago. But today I know more about the Thai system and I don't use tourist hospitals such as Big B, instead, I use smaller private hospitals and I make sure I research the doctors' qualifications beforehand - there is a list of medical specialists pinned in the Chiang Mai Forum for this purpose. Rather than use hospitals such as Bumrungrad I can now use a variety of resources to get my health exam - I use CMU Outreach in Chiang Mai for my bloodwork and a small private hospital for any scans I require, I then use a local family doctor to provide guidance and interpret the results. All in all my health exam costs me about 5,500 baht, compared to the 22k you've seen advertised at Bumrungrad and they're both exactly the same thing.

 

You should understand perhaps that the health check programs here are often used as a selling tool, it's a means of getting people in the door so don't be surprised if further tests are required/sold. As for Bumrugrad itself: it's a very nice western style hospital with all the whistles and bells, there's even a floor dedicated to fast food, just to keep the patients happy and these can be ordered from for delivery to the patient's room! If you've done an MBA course you may recall that one golden rule is to be suspicious of companies with marble foyers and fountains in the lobby, enuff said!

 

Finally, if you want a really good health exam I would recommend you look into St Louis Hospital in Bangkok where the standards are very high and the costs much lower.

[concernedbug2145]

1 hour ago, simoh1490 said:

Bumrungrad can be very good, I've had health exams and cardiac work done there many years ago. But today I know more about the Thai system and I don't use tourist hospitals such as Big B, instead, I use smaller private hospitals and I make sure I research the doctors' qualifications beforehand - there is a list of medical specialists pinned in the Chiang Mai Forum for this purpose. Rather than use hospitals such as Bumrungrad I can now use a variety of resources to get my health exam - I use CMU Outreach in Chiang Mai for my bloodwork and a small private hospital for any scans I require, I then use a local family doctor to provide guidance and interpret the results. All in all my health exam costs me about 5,500 baht, compared to the 22k you've seen advertised at Bumrungrad and they're both exactly the same thing.

 

You should understand perhaps that the health check programs here are often used as a selling tool, it's a means of getting people in the door so don't be surprised if further tests are required/sold. As for Bumrugrad itself: it's a very nice western style hospital with all the whistles and bells, there's even a floor dedicated to fast food, just to keep the patients happy and these can be ordered from for delivery to the patient's room! If you've done an MBA course you may recall that one golden rule is to be suspicious of companies with marble foyers and fountains in the lobby, enuff said!

 

Finally, if you want a really good health exam I would recommend you look into St Louis Hospital in Bangkok where the standards are very high and the costs much lower.

3

Thank you so much for your in-depth analysis. Appreciate your sharing knowledge gained via real-life experiences. Wow B5500 sounds amazing compared to B22790!

I will certainly do further research on St.Louis Hospital.

Touche! your comment about MBA/lesson learned:)
Random coincidence:), that besides my Engineering degree, I do have an MBA! 
Thank you again.

[metisdead]

Quote

Not sure which forum to post this!

 

While you have received some good answers so far, I'll move this over to the Health forum for some more advice. 

[Sheryl]

St Louis is a good choice. I'm heading there for a check up myself. But the higher end packages inclusive of stress test will run you more like 10-15 k. Still a very good price.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[concernedbug2145]

1 hour ago, metisdead said:

 

While you have received some good answers so far, I'll move this over to the Health forum for some more advice. 

Thank you for your guidance. It is appreciated.

[concernedbug2145]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

St Louis is a good choice. I'm heading there for a check up myself. But the higher end packages inclusive of stress test will run you more like 10-15 k. Still a very good price.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Thank you for your comments. Yes, I am looking for a comprehensive package inclusive of a stress test. And for sure B10-15 k is still sounds better than the B22,790 from Bumrungrad :)

 

Found this link for St. Louis http://www.saintlouis.or.th/promotion/show/checkup2018 Its shows a current promotion rate of B13,300, Program # 4, Comprehensive for Male 50+ that includes the Excercise stress test.

[Pib]

Just for comparison the wife and I have used Thonburi 2 Hospital (a private hospital) in western Bangkok (sometimes referred to as the Thonburi side of Bangkok) for around 10 years now.   There is also a larger Thonburi 1 Hospital  (really just named Thonburi Hospital and the main hospital for the Thonburi Hospital Group) also in another part of western side of Bangkok close to the river but I've never used it....but I expect their prices are identical to the Thonburi 2 Hospital.  

 

Cost of what they call their VIP Program 5 Health Checkup for men over 50 is Bt6,850 and a Stroke Stress Test is Bt2,585.   See webpages below.  Some of the blood tests in the stress test are duplicates from the  Health Checkup package.  

 

Some Thonburi 2 Hospital webpage/package/prices

http://www.thonburi2hospital.com/index.php

http://www.thonburi2hospital.com/program-detail.php?id=5

http://www.thonburi2hospital.com/package-detail.php?id=31

 

Thonburi 1 Hospital webpage

http://thonburihospital.com/2015_new/

 

Private hospitals in central, high rise Bangkok are generally going to be more expensive than those in other areas of Bangkok since the central Bangkok hospitals really don't have any better doctors or facilities, but they have higher pricing ability due to much more access to medical tourists, regular tourists, foreigners, etc., in their area.  In fact, you will find many doctors at private hospitals generally work at several different private and govt hospitals during the week; many do not work at just one hospital...they rotate around.

 

Edited February 18, 2018 by Pib

[concernedbug2145]

1 hour ago, Pib said:

Just for comparison the wife and I have used Thonburi 2 Hospital (a private hospital) in western Bangkok (sometimes referred to as the Thonburi side of Bangkok) for around 10 years now.   There is also a larger Thonburi 1 Hospital  (really just named Thonburi Hospital and the main hospital for the Thonburi Hospital Group) also in another part of western side of Bangkok close to the river but I've never used it....but I expect their prices are identical to the Thonburi 2 Hospital.  

 

Cost of what they call their VIP Program 5 Health Checkup for men over 50 is Bt6,850 and a Stroke Stress Test is Bt2,585.   See webpages below.  Some of the blood tests in the stress test are duplicates from the  Health Checkup package.  

 

Some Thonburi 2 Hospital webpage/package/prices

http://www.thonburi2hospital.com/index.php

http://www.thonburi2hospital.com/program-detail.php?id=5

http://www.thonburi2hospital.com/package-detail.php?id=31

 

Thonburi 1 Hospital webpage

http://thonburihospital.com/2015_new/

 

Private hospitals in central, high rise Bangkok are generally going to be more expensive than those in other areas of Bangkok since the central Bangkok hospitals really don't have any better doctors or facilities, but they have higher pricing ability due to much more access to medical tourists, regular tourists, foreigners, etc., in their area.  In fact, you will find many doctors at private hospitals generally work at several different private and govt hospitals during the week; many do not work at just one hospital...they rotate around.

 

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Your comments and analysis are appreciated.

 Grateful to you + all the members who have responded to my post with valuable suggestions/guidance. 

Thanks to you all, my overwhelm about getting a good quality comprehensive health check-up in Bangkok is fast diminishing. You all have given me enough information to make good, informed decision. Most appreciated.

Thank you again and last but not least, happy to be a member of this forum, where people actually care and are willing to help out a fellow member. God Bless you all.  

Edited February 18, 2018 by concernedbug2145

[phkauf]

Last year I went to Samitivej Sukhumvit and found it very good. Efficient at getting through the process (very little wait time between checks) and an English speaking staff that was knowledgeable and courteous. The hospital tends to have a large Japanese client base, so that is probably a good sign for quality.

Having said that, this year I think i might go to St. Louis since its cheaper and closer and I've heard good things (mostly from Sheryl on these boards).

As for the test packages, I'd suggest ignoring the "age bracket tests" and get one which gets you a basic run of tests. If you are asymptomatic there really is not need for an Exercise Stress Test or many of the additional tests they put in the Over 50 packages. Often these just lead to false positives and more additional costly tests.

[Sheryl]

There are indeed some unnecessary components in the packages but I have to disagree re stress test. The whole point is to identify coronary artery disease before it becomes symptomatic...especially since the first symptom is sometimes keeling over dead.

 

It is not necessary to have one every year but men from say age 40 (earlier if known risk factors) and woman starting after menopause shoukd have one every 2-3 years or so.

 

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

 

 

[concernedbug2145]

3 hours ago, phkauf said:

Last year I went to Samitivej Sukhumvit and found it very good. Efficient at getting through the process (very little wait time between checks) and an English speaking staff that was knowledgeable and courteous. The hospital tends to have a large Japanese client base, so that is probably a good sign for quality.

Having said that, this year I think i might go to St. Louis since its cheaper and closer and I've heard good things (mostly from Sheryl on these boards).

As for the test packages, I'd suggest ignoring the "age bracket tests" and get one which gets you a basic run of tests. If you are asymptomatic there really is not need for an Exercise Stress Test or many of the additional tests they put in the Over 50 packages. Often these just lead to false positives and more additional costly tests.

Thank you for your comments. Duly noted. Appreciate you sharing your experiences/observations.

Have a great day :)

[concernedbug2145]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

There are indeed some unnecessary components in the packages but I have to disagree re stress test. The whole point is to identify coronary artery disease before it becomes symptomatic...especially since the first symptom is sometimes keeling over dead.

 

It is not necessary to have one every year but men from say age 40 (earlier if known risk factors) and woman starting after menopause shoukd have one every 2-3 years or so.

 

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the comments. As I have had the stress test done in all my previous health checkups (after crossing 45), I certainly will do that here in Bangkok.