100 private hospitals agree to reveal their prices for medicines, treatment

By THE NATION

 

File photo

 

IN A move to tackle the issue of overpriced medicines and treatment, the Commerce Industry has garnered cooperation from 100 private hospitals nationwide to reveal the prices they charge for 1,000 medicines and some key medical treatments.

 

These prices will be displayed on the hospitals’ own websites as well as a central website. 

 

This information, which will allow consumers to compare prices, will be released on April 13 as a Songkran gift to the public, said Prayoth Benyasut, deputy chief of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT).

 

He said DIT had no authority to have private hospitals to lower their prices, adding that private medical facilities procured medicines and equipment at a higher cost, unlike state hospitals, which can buy supplies in bulk.

 

The decision to reveal prices stems from a recent meeting DIT had with the Private Hospital Association, whose members agreed in principle to help solve the problem of overpricing. 

 

It is hoped that once this information is out in the open, private hospitals will be less likely to overcharge patients, he said. 

 

The Public Health Ministry’s Health Service Support Department will hold further discussions with private hospitals about the prices of which items should be revealed and present this conclusion at a Commerce Ministry-hosted meeting on January 15. 

 

However, Saree Ongsomwang, secretary-general of the Foundation for Consumers, said revealing the price of medicines online will not necessarily tackle the issue of overpricing. She also said that the department’s claim of having no power to control prices as private hospitals had higher costs was not convincing at all. 

 

“Nowadays, many private hospitals have come together to form groups and some even have their own pharmaceutical companies, so controls can be put in place such as prohibiting private hospitals from charging more than twice as much as pharmacies for medicines.

 

Some private hospitals charge 60 to 400 times more for some medicines. For instance, a vitamin B-complex shot, which costs just Bt1.5 at a state hospital can cost up to Bt600 at a private hospital, or a 50mg painkiller shot which costs Bt6.5 at a state hospital becomes Bt450 at a private hospital,” she said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30360200

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-12

always always always hated how common procedures are not listed with prices as just about every other service is.  Granted there is some variation among people that may affect the costs, but disgusting how some medical places especially in the USA don't tell one much in advance.  They presume and know the patient needs the treatment so gouge them

Will this include the surcharges that they seem to apply for foreigners ?

I love the '' nurses fee''of 300bt for checking my height ,weight and blood pressure ,saddly those cute nurses see about 20bt of that .

Edited December 11, 20187 yr by mok199

Some time ago i had to see an eye doctor at one the biggest private hospital in Bkk, so he sent me on a checkup round on about 6 of his swanky instruments, 15 minutes and 7,000 baht later i was sent home with some eye drops, went to see him 2 weeks later and again he wanted to send me for another round on those machines, i said No, no need for it...he didn't like that and wasn't happy but checked me anyway and with some more eye drops i got better, the point is, i wasn't told what is going to take place and what the cost will be and not everybody can afford such cost if not told ahead...

40 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Some time ago i had to see an eye doctor at one the biggest private hospital in Bkk, so he sent me on a checkup round on about 6 of his swanky instruments, 15 minutes and 7,000 baht later i was sent home with some eye drops, went to see him 2 weeks later and again he wanted to send me for another round on those machines, i said No, no need for it...he didn't like that and wasn't happy but checked me anyway and with some more eye drops i got better, the point is, i wasn't told what is going to take place and what the cost will be and not everybody can afford such cost if not told ahead...

I had the same procedure at an eye clinic recently. The clinic is newly built and well staffed. I was ushered around and spent nearly an hour there, testing this and that. Finally the optician used an instrument to look inside my eyes.

Made an appointment for next week.

 

When the bill came I got a big surprise ....only 700 baht.

 

It really depends on where you go.

 

I needed surgery at a Bangkok hospital and was quoted a rather large sum (I think it was about 600K), so I tried another hospital and was quoted 200K, which I said yes. Later the first hospital called me and when I spoke Thai to them (as I did in the hospital) her remark was "Oh you live in Thailand... we can give you a discount" Later the amount was reduced by about 50%. I forget the actual figures now as it was a few years ago.

 

Disgusting practice. I have never returned to that Bangkokian Hospital

No one is asking the real question so far...

 

Will they have Thai price and Falang price?

 

My money is on the chances that they will have dual pricing...

51 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Some time ago i had to see an eye doctor at one the biggest private hospital in Bkk, so he sent me on a checkup round on about 6 of his swanky instruments, 15 minutes and 7,000 baht later i was sent home with some eye drops, went to see him 2 weeks later and again he wanted to send me for another round on those machines, i said No, no need for it...he didn't like that and wasn't happy but checked me anyway and with some more eye drops i got better, the point is, i wasn't told what is going to take place and what the cost will be and not everybody can afford such cost if not told ahead...

If the hospital has American accreditation he has to tell you in advance the cost.  That is one of the rules of American accreditation.  Find out if the hospital has a foreign accreditation and complain.  I did this for one hospital, not sure of the consequence of the complaint, but whenever they try to get around giving the cost of a service with "cannot tell - depends on what has to be done" I refer them to their accreditation requirement to disclose cost of procedures before the procedure and they have to tell me.

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Some time ago i had to see an eye doctor at one the biggest private hospital in Bkk, so he sent me on a checkup round on about 6 of his swanky instruments, 15 minutes and 7,000 baht later i was sent home with some eye drops, went to see him 2 weeks later and again he wanted to send me for another round on those machines, i said No, no need for it...he didn't like that and wasn't happy but checked me anyway and with some more eye drops i got better, the point is, i wasn't told what is going to take place and what the cost will be and not everybody can afford such cost if not told ahead...

I do not want to sound alarmist but be very careful. Ten years ago I went to Bumrungrad for a simple headache that had been around for a few days. I was sent to a neurologist who diagnosed early onset Alzheimer's and sent me for an MRI at a cost of 30,000 baht. In addition he prescribed several drugs - Stilnox, Tranxeme which is used to treat anxiety, acute alcohol withdrawal, and seizures and a number of other drugs that I cannot remember which were extremely expensive. Obviously it was not Alzheimer's because I am able to write this story. 

I also had laser surgery on my eyes at Bumrungrad for acute angle glaucoma about 6 years ago. Upon returning home to Australia I was told by an eye specialist that the surgeon had done the operation the easy way, into the lower hemisphere of my eyes instead of the upper and therefore I now suffer with glare very badly. I then had to attend the hospital for checks - at first weekly, then monthly for a long time and finally every 3 months. That too was very expensive 3000 baht per visit.My Australian doctor told me that was a blatant rip-off because once laser surgery is performed no more than one check-up is necessary. A second eye specialist has since told me that I have never had glaucoma at all. 

1 hour ago, mok199 said:

I love the '' nurses fee''of 300bt for checking my height ,weight and blood pressure ,saddly those cute nurses see about 20bt of that .

and on public holidays get the same rate of pay.

Mmm a well known hospital ( private) pharmacy charges 70 baht for a medicine pill, same pill at my local pharmacy 2 baht. Always shop at local pharmacies.

2 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

always always always hated how common procedures are not listed with prices as just about every other service is.  Granted there is some variation among people that may affect the costs, but disgusting how some medical places especially in the USA don't tell one much in advance.  They presume and know the patient needs the treatment so gouge them

Why is it that hospitals or a hospital consortium are saying that a small pharmacy can buy medicines for less than they can?   In Australia, hospitals charge far less for a medical item than a pharmacy does.   This is because hospltals purchase thru a central Supply and Tender facility.   

Hospitals in Thailand charge at least 30% more than a local pharmacy.

Will both in THAI PRICE and FARANG PRICE be posted? 

There are always 2 prices in private hospitals.

Stop moaning and shop around - Private Hospitals are businesses like any other, would you walk in and buy a car without checking the price first ?

If for any reason you do not have insurance then you can use the Government hospitals at a very low cost

17 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Stop moaning and shop around - Private Hospitals are businesses like any other, would you walk in and buy a car without checking the price first ?

I agree with you, and I do not go to the Private hospitals. Sirirat in Bkk and Sirikit in Sattahip are way more affordable and the doctors actually moonlight in the big international hospitals. They only thing different, IMHO is you have to have patience and be willing to wait.

Cataract surgery at Sirikit=30 000bht

Cataract at Bkk Rayong=over 90 000bht

2 hours ago, LazySlipper said:

No one is asking the real question so far...

 

Will they have Thai price and Falang price?

 

My money is on the chances that they will have dual pricing...

My money is on they will never publish fees that apply to foreigners. 

2 hours ago, LazySlipper said:

No one is asking the real question so far...

 

Will they have Thai price and Falang price?

 

My money is on the chances that they will have dual pricing...

They do. My ex was Thai and my current partner is not. They both went to Lanna Hospital in Chiangmai for their feminine check-ups and what not and the prices were drastically different.

 

Our last visit (never going back there for various reasons) they tried to charge her 3000b for a 250b item. We declined, they gave us an attitude, the doctor came out and stated to hassle her, and it turned into an ordeal. Of course in the end we didn’t pay for the meds.

 

Similar situation at RAM hospital when they flat out lied and told us it was illegal to buy any medicine outside of the hospital and that the pharmacies were illegal and full of fake medicine.  I laughed in their face and told them in Thai that they were liars and cheaters. As usual, that didn’t go well but we paid for their sub par service only and left.

 

Going to the hospital here is a gamble. Sometimes it’s ok, sometimes it’s a total rip-off or a disaster due to incompetent staff / doctors.

 

”Thailand is so cheap!” They say. You get what you pay for.

2 hours ago, Trentham said:

I do not want to sound alarmist but be very careful. Ten years ago I went to Bumrungrad for a simple headache that had been around for a few days. I was sent to a neurologist who diagnosed early onset Alzheimer's and sent me for an MRI at a cost of 30,000 baht. In addition he prescribed several drugs - Stilnox, Tranxeme which is used to treat anxiety, acute alcohol withdrawal, and seizures and a number of other drugs that I cannot remember which were extremely expensive. Obviously it was not Alzheimer's because I am able to write this story. 

 

I also had laser surgery on my eyes at Bumrungrad for acute angle glaucoma about 6 years ago. Upon returning home to Australia I was told by an eye specialist that the surgeon had done the operation the easy way, into the lower hemisphere of my eyes instead of the upper and therefore I now suffer with glare very badly. I then had to attend the hospital for checks - at first weekly, then monthly for a long time and finally every 3 months. That too was very expensive 3000 baht per visit.My Australian doctor told me that was a blatant rip-off because once laser surgery is performed no more than one check-up is necessary. A second eye specialist has since told me that I have never had glaucoma at all. 

 

Mis-diagnosis is a common story in Thailand. Anything serious get yourself to India. Half the cost and modern state of the art private hospitals with European/US trained doctors.

IMHO...the best method is to be selective about the meds they prescribe , buy only what you are sure you need ,and best case scenario ''buy your meds from a pharmacy''..if you need blood tests ,Pattaya has many clinics that do blood work at a fraction of the hospitals cost..Thailand is in serious need of a good '' natural health food and supplement store''...I get mine on line at ''I HERB''..

Bol hospital in Phuket said they needed to regulate my heart and I would have to go into ICU because if something goes wrong they have a fibulater machine and emergency staff there.all they were doing was prescribing me digoxin beta blockers.these quacks are fully trained to exaggerate your problem and milk you like a prize cow.another time I broke 2 annkles a finger and had concussion.after a couple of days I come around and woke up to a 250.000b bill which would of been 25,000b at a general hospital.total scamming practices are the norm here.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

This information, which will allow consumers to compare prices, will be released on April 13 as a Songkran gift to the public,

In Thailand 'transparency' is a gift. 
That speaks volumes now doesn't it?

I have a cataract and glaucoma , thankfully neither is a problem as the glaucoma was found early , I use The Queen Sirikit hospital in Satahip(navy hospital) the eye drops there cost 758 baht for one month ,in farcino 1500 baht ,in Bangkok Pattaya 2500 baht , I was at Queen Sirikit a few weeks a go had another barrage of tests ,cost me 900 baht ,privatly a few years ago 5000 baht .

anyone wonder why i use Queen Sirikit?

We have only BKK Hospital in my town....it is a rip off. I have some experience in medicine and can tell you the unnecessary procedures, tests and the outrageous prices for medicines are....well, outrageous.

3 hours ago, JoePai said:

Stop moaning and shop around - Private Hospitals are businesses like any other, would you walk in and buy a car without checking the price first ?

If for any reason you do not have insurance then you can use the Government hospitals at a very low cost

that's very true and many of the doctors who work in private hospitals also work in government hospitals. Over the years I have made friends with doctors in some of the leading private hospitals and they have told me to come and see them in a government hospital where they charge  far less for their consultation and many of the tests and procedures. 

I usually asked one of my Thai friends which is the best doctor at a hospital and they can always find out for me.

8 hours ago, ezzra said:

Some time ago i had to see an eye doctor at one the biggest private hospital in Bkk, so he sent me on a checkup round on about 6 of his swanky instruments, 15 minutes and 7,000 baht later i was sent home with some eye drops, went to see him 2 weeks later and again he wanted to send me for another round on those machines, i said No, no need for it...he didn't like that and wasn't happy but checked me anyway and with some more eye drops i got better, the point is, i wasn't told what is going to take place and what the cost will be and not everybody can afford such cost if not told ahead...

 

Yes.  I bet you were pretty unhappy about that. Sadly, many Thai professionals are a bit hazy on the whole 'informing' thing. The pooyay got used to not being questioned and not having to tell people what they're paying for. Went from there really. Doctors and dentists are the worst, with accountants and lawyers running a very close second. And yet, I've seen some improvement in both recently, sp perhaps there's light at the end of that tunnel which isn't an oncoming train.

 

I've used it once or twice and it's a heavy blunt instrument, but if all else fails, explain to the offending pooyay that if he (or she) doesn't inform and explain, then you won't be paying.

 

Having said that, I have found that the female professional is way easier to deal with in Thailand. The males are usually a waste of time - not all but many.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 12, 20187 yr by HalfLight

8 hours ago, ezzra said:

Some time ago i had to see an eye doctor at one the biggest private hospital in Bkk, so he sent me on a checkup round on about 6 of his swanky instruments, 15 minutes and 7,000 baht later i was sent home with some eye drops, went to see him 2 weeks later and again he wanted to send me for another round on those machines, i said No, no need for it...he didn't like that and wasn't happy but checked me anyway and with some more eye drops i got better, the point is, i wasn't told what is going to take place and what the cost will be and not everybody can afford such cost if not told ahead...

 

Yes.  I bet you were unhappy about that. Sadly, many Thai professionals are a bit hazy on the whole 'informing' concept. The pooyay got used to not being questioned and not having to tell people what they're paying for. Went from there really. Doctors and dentists are the worst, with accountants and lawyers running a very close second. And yet, I've seen some improvement in both recently, sp perhaps there's light at the end of that tunnel which isn't an oncoming train.

 

I've used it once or twice and it's a heavy blunt instrument, but if all else fails, explain to the offending pooyay that if he (or she) doesn't inform and explain, then you won't be paying.

 

Having said that, I have found that the female professional is way easier to deal with in Thailand. The males are usually a waste of time - not all but many.

 

I went to Samitivej on Srinakarin a few times - won't be doing that again. Vipharam is way better and a lot cheaper - less price gouging.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 12, 20187 yr by HalfLight

11 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

always always always hated how common procedures are not listed with prices as just about every other service is.  Granted there is some variation among people that may affect the costs, but disgusting how some medical places especially in the USA don't tell one much in advance.  They presume and know the patient needs the treatment so gouge them

200% agree

8 hours ago, krystian said:

Will both in THAI PRICE and FARANG PRICE be posted? 

There are always 2 prices in private hospitals.

And another price for if your insurance is paying or you personally.

9 hours ago, LazySlipper said:

No one is asking the real question so far...

 

Will they have Thai price and Falang price?

 

My money is on the chances that they will have dual pricing...

Point taken.

 

Another point, all of this has been covered several times before with the Thai health ministry ordering hospitals to list their prices of procedures and medicines etc.

 

So how come its back in the news with the ministry now gaining from the hospitals an agreement that they will now list their prices.

 

What's the next news on this. I'm guessing that nothing has or will happen about listing the prices and 3 years from now another round of the same and again nothing will happen.

 

However a twist,  in the last 12 months or so the doctors at the hospital we visit here always mention the prices of things before anything happens.

 

 

 

7 hours ago, dcnx said:

They do. My ex was Thai and my current partner is not. They both went to Lanna Hospital in Chiangmai for their feminine check-ups and what not and the prices were drastically different.

 

Our last visit (never going back there for various reasons) they tried to charge her 3000b for a 250b item. We declined, they gave us an attitude, the doctor came out and stated to hassle her, and it turned into an ordeal. Of course in the end we didn’t pay for the meds.

 

Similar situation at RAM hospital when they flat out lied and told us it was illegal to buy any medicine outside of the hospital and that the pharmacies were illegal and full of fake medicine.  I laughed in their face and told them in Thai that they were liars and cheaters. As usual, that didn’t go well but we paid for their sub par service only and left.

 

Going to the hospital here is a gamble. Sometimes it’s ok, sometimes it’s a total rip-off or a disaster due to incompetent staff / doctors.

 

”Thailand is so cheap!” They say. You get what you pay for.

 

Well done you. The only way they'll stop cheating is if people like you and me make them feel bad when they do it. Sooner or later, even a Thai will understand that  feeling good by being honest beats the hell out of feeling demeaned and crooked when you get caught cheating.