Rising cost of medical and dental care in Phuket - Discussion

[schlog]

1 hour ago, LivinginKata said:

 

I enquired about the ExPat card while I was in today. Only discounts pharmacy and room rates. No discount for doctor and medical services. Not much use to me as would be zero discount on the bill. I buy the meds at outside pharmacies. My health insurance pays for all inpatient costs.

 

I kick up such a fuss about the rising costs that I got today eye check follow up at no charge. Back again next week for further follow up.

 

Looking for a new eye clinic in Phuket. Any recommendations ..... 

 

 

My insurance also covers only inpatient. 

I need 1 med which i could get only at hospitals and for this the card is good. It saves me about 10k per year.

[bojo]

43 minutes ago, Naamblar2014 said:

So there is the answer.  Thailand is far too expensive.  More expensive than Australia.  No need to compare minimum wages of both countries for a fair comparison.  Thailand are flat out more expensive.. Don't even bother considering that a person in Thailand earns 300baht minimum,  but a bill could be 100,000 baht.  Come on it really is ridiculous Now. Even being charged 5500 baht for an eye check and some drops... Seriously,  like some people earn in a month.

5500b for an eye check up and drops. Good gracious..! Specsavers in UK last year was free eye test, quite involved actually, took 20 mins. OK they wanna make a sale, other places £5 at most....

And so more expensive than UK currently too........

[Splitter]

I recently got a quote from Rutnin for cataract job .. total 170,000 Baht for both eyes. The most expensive place in the world(Aust) only costs AUD$5,000 = 115,000 Baht. They have definitely woken up to what they can get away with charging Farang.

[LivinginKata]

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

I have that card but it means very little as regards "discounts" and just last week I had to visit the dermatologist at Bkk Phuket hosp and the consultation fee/appt was 1500 baht!!

 

I asked if they had made a mistake as it was nowhere near that amount previously and they said that was the price!

 

Not only that they charged me the 200 baht for the BP test (at least that's what I think it's for)

<snip>

 

My eye doctor (same man each year) year 2019 - 1,850 Baht, Year 2018 - 1,500 baht, year 2017 - 1,450  Baht. Quite the price hike this year.

 

About 320 Baht charge for BP check and vision test and eye ball pressure. 200 baht for record recovery - a joke cos it's all on computer file.  Ain't no paper records anymore,

[LivinginKata]

1 hour ago, bojo said:

5500b for an eye check up and drops. Good gracious..! Specsavers in UK last year was free eye test, quite involved actually, took 20 mins. OK they wanna make a sale, other places £5 at most....

And so more expensive than UK currently too........

 

Can't really compare with just an eye test. Also full eye scan and photo bombing inside of eye. 2,200 baht which I am happy to pay each year and this price had not increased over last 3 years. I have inflammation  problem, lost 80% sight in one eye already. I must take care of one good eye. I suppose it's worth any charge to keep sight. But I know when I am being ripped off.  But at the end of the days it's only eye drops prescribed plus meds prescribed by my rheumatologist I am told the best in Phuket. Used to see him in PI, now see him in his small clinic - 200 Baht fee plus 1,000 Baht for blood tests. A real bargain. Thai price.

[NamKangMan]

16 hours ago, hansgruber said:

They have a monopoly now. The BDMS group owns the lot. 

It's either government hospital or BDMS group hospitals on Phuket. 

 

Prices weren't so bad until they acquired the Samkong hospital. 

 

So, medical is now following the land transport business model.  ????

 

What's next?  Water, electric, fuel, education etc?

 

The day will come, if we're not already there, when expats on Phuket will need to leave the island for reasonably affordable medical and dental care, much in the same way western tourists now detour Phuket for their holiday. 

 

Edited January 17, 2019 by NamKangMan

[LivinginKata]

16 hours ago, hansgruber said:

They have a monopoly now. The BDMS group owns the lot. 

It's either government hospital or BDMS group hospitals on Phuket. 

 

Prices weren't so bad until they acquired the Samkong hospital. 

 

Still the Mission private hospital. Only time before they gobble that up.

 

Not sure what you mean Samkong hospital. That's original BKK hospital. Assume you mean Phuket International on bypass. I assume that Dibuk was built by BDMS. 

 

[LivinginKata]

Update - had email and phone call from BKK PKT saying that my next visit next week will be no charge and my doctor fee there after will be 1,250 Baht until end of 2020. Wow ... so it pays to make a fuss. But I don't need all this hassle.

[The Old Bull]

On 1/15/2019 at 7:23 PM, baansgr said:

Dental implants have never been 20,000 in 14 years I know of., cheapest always at least 38k and that was years ago, have been almost 50k cheapest rising to 80k for US or Euro for 7-8 years.

Dental care in Thailand is abysmal, all they want to do is extract and implants. The dentist here in Pattaya wanted to extract 8 teeth and with implants was over half a million Baht plus. Went to the Phillipines, extracted 3 and repaired the rest for around 4,500 Baht..

14 years ago implants were 20,000 in Udon Thani over 30,000in Bangkok.

[Psimbo]

I go to Mission for most stuff- with the Kindle I can handle what some refer to as the 'Zoo'. Parking can depend on when you get there but I've never managed not to get a space. Total cost for seeing the Doc and 4 months meds for something last week was B948- I wouldn't get through the door of the International for that. it can be a bit chaotic in there - it's just a case of picking what time you go in. I have noticed prices creeping up everywhere over the past 12 months- my bill for the same thing last Jan was B772.

 

I will do my annual physical at Mission next week and including extra tests that I want it will be under 4k. This includes a dental inspection (and a meal).  Interestingly enough they claimed I needed 3 fillings last year. I later saw my dentist of many years at the entrance to the Int and he said there was no need to have them re-done. IIRC he is about B800-1k for a check and clean depending on how filthy ones mouth is.

 

I suffered a detached retina a few years back and the only place that could deal with it was Bkk Int. They have wanted me to go back for follow-up checks for 4 or 5 years now. One thing I won't mess with is my eyes. Its at the point now that with an all clear for a number of years i see no point in the annual checkup which is around 5k IIRC. If I am fine again next month I will bin it in the future.

 

PI used to do Lasik but I guess they didn't have the custom and binned it a couple of years after I had mine done in 2011.

 

Mission is a 7th Day Adventist Hospital so unlikely to be swept under the umbrella of the international group,

Edited January 17, 2019 by Psimbo

[The Old Bull]

Mashed up my hand a couple of years ago went to a village clinic . I can't remember what I showed them , I think yellow house book.  They put a few stitches in and had me come back every day for a fresh sterile dressing. I think I went back about ten times. Total cost just over ฿1000.

Usually a nurse did the job but a doctor did look at it a couple of times.

[Psimbo]

Edit: As i can't do it above a couple of other bits. If I have something minor I have no issues with Patong  Hospital- they have stitched me up a few times from Hash injuries.

 

If I had a serious break i would go to Vachira and see the german Doc. a guy shattered his leg in four places on the hash a couple of years back and he went there. Dr German put in screws and an external bar, can't remember how much it cost. guy went back to the UK and the surgeon there said he couldn't have done a better job himself. Bearing in mind he deals with motorbike accident victims every day he has the experience. he recently did a friends knee replacement as well.

 

He deals with what is needed- BIH will go platinum route and do all sorts of unnecessary treatment, especially if they can ramp it up up the insurance. Very quick to put plates, screws and bars into simple fractures when a cast would do. They once wanted to charge me 120k for an op- turns out Ihad tennis elbow. brufen and tubigrip fixed the problem in a week.

 

So in order of seriousness for me:

Patong

Mission

Vachira

BIH

 

[DrDave]

On 1/17/2019 at 7:10 AM, Rawairat said:

Agree the prices have gone up and keep rising now BPH own most of the private hospitals. Recent skin cancer op I had was very expensive, 3 cuts and a biopsy on each total B100,000. I was quoted B20,000 when I asked back in Australia plus whatever the biopsy would cost there, don’t think it would come to B80,000?

There is the travel costs but I am going to do it on my annual trip in future.

These charges seem to be a bit high.

I had the same procedure done today at BNH in Bangkok (part of the BDMS group - same corporation as BPH). Consultation was 1,000 baht, surgical procedure was 5,500 (both for the doctor) and the biopsy lab work was 2,500. Lots of miscellaneous charges, with the total coming to 14,000 baht for a single cut.

[Psimbo]

2 hours ago, DrDave said:

These charges seem to be a bit high.

I had the same procedure done today at BNH in Bangkok (part of the BDMS group - same corporation as BPH). Consultation was 1,000 baht, surgical procedure was 5,500 (both for the doctor) and the biopsy lab work was 2,500. Lots of miscellaneous charges, with the total coming to 14,000 baht for a single cut.

I think they tend to milk things here as they have a virtual monopoly compared to bangkok.

 

Just as a matter of interest did you pay your own way or use insurance- that can make a significant difference as well. No wonder premiums are so high.

[DrDave]

32 minutes ago, Psimbo said:

I think they tend to milk things here as they have a virtual monopoly compared to bangkok.

 

Just as a matter of interest did you pay your own way or use insurance- that can make a significant difference as well. No wonder premiums are so high.

I paid cash. The nurse asked if I was paying or using insurance before the estimate of charges was prepared prior to any work being done.

 

[stevenl]

I went to dr. Pat at Siriroj/Phuket International dermatology yesterday for a first time consult. He gave all kinds of information, answered all questions asked, gave some medicine suggestions to buy at a local pharmacy, and charge was 750 baht.

Very fair and what seems to be honest and good advice.

[LivinginKata]

8 minutes ago, stevenl said:

I went to dr. Pat at Siriroj/Phuket International dermatology yesterday for a first time consult. He gave all kinds of information, answered all questions asked, gave some medicine suggestions to buy at a local pharmacy, and charge was 750 baht.

Very fair and what seems to be honest and good advice.

 

You got a good deal. Same hospital I paid 1,200 baht for doctor an another 2,000 + baht on creams. Never went back. 

[schlog]

Been today in BPH. There was no increase in doctor fee or medication. Usual 1200 Baht doctor fee like the last years.

 

Maybe they revoked the price increase because of to many expat complains.

BTW i never saw it packed like today.

[Old Croc]

15 hours ago, schlog said:

Been today in BPH. There was no increase in doctor fee or medication. Usual 1200 Baht doctor fee like the last years.

 

Maybe they revoked the price increase because of to many expat complains.

BTW i never saw it packed like today.

I was also at BPH yesterday and observed a candidate for the Dick of the Week award.

There are 3 traffic lanes outside the main entrance, the inside one is used for patient pick up and drop off. The second takes the overflow of local drivers who have trouble making the maneuver to blend into the first one. The 3rd, outside, lane is for through traffic and access to the emergency entrance.

Enter the hero, a farang, in his brand new Range Rover, requiring valet parking and unwilling to spend the short time for the traffic in the inner lanes to clear. He parked in the outside lane just as an ambulance arrived with what must have been a full emergency patient inside. (They rarely use lights and sirens when 50 meters from emergency)

The ambulance stopped an inch from his bumper and blasted every light, siren and horn at this character. The little parking man with the whistle nearly blew out a lung shrilling at him while also gesticulating wildly at the arrogant idiot. After many long seconds he finally got the message and moved on to circle back around. The inside lanes had cleared in that short time and he was able to park in a suitable area before striding inside like he owned the hospital. (Perhaps he does!)

 

(I hope it wasn't you Schlog ) ????

 

Incidentally, my doctors bill yesterday was only 800 baht,

with a further 200 baht for the nurses to do the compulsory, and totally unnecessary, temperature, oxygen, BP tests and weigh- in.

Probably my cheapest ever visit there.

Edited March 27, 2019 by Old Croc

[schlog]

1 hour ago, Old Croc said:

I was also at BPH yesterday and observed a candidate for the Dick of the Week award.

There are 3 traffic lanes outside the main entrance, the inside one is used for patient pick up and drop off. The second takes the overflow of local drivers who have trouble making the maneuver to blend into the first one. The 3rd, outside, lane is for through traffic and access to the emergency entrance.

Enter the hero, a farang, in his brand new Range Rover, requiring valet parking and unwilling to spend the short time for the traffic in the inner lanes to clear. He parked in the outside lane just as an ambulance arrived with what must have been a full emergency patient inside. (They rarely use lights and sirens when 50 meters from emergency)

The ambulance stopped an inch from his bumper and blasted every light, siren and horn at this character. The little parking man with the whistle nearly blew out a lung shrilling at him while also gesticulating wildly at the arrogant idiot. After many long seconds he finally got the message and moved on to circle back around. The inside lanes had cleared in that short time and he was able to park in a suitable area before striding inside like he owned the hospital. (Perhaps he does!)

 

(I hope it wasn't you Schlog ) ????

 

Incidentally, my doctors bill yesterday was only 800 baht,

with a further 200 baht for the nurses to do the compulsory, and totally unnecessary, temperature, oxygen, BP tests and weigh- in.

Probably my cheapest ever visit there.

Nope it wasn't me. I was the guy on the old wave passing you on the left against traffic direction lol.

[madmitch]

6 hours ago, Old Croc said:

I was also at BPH yesterday and observed a candidate for the Dick of the Week award.

There are 3 traffic lanes outside the main entrance, the inside one is used for patient pick up and drop off. The second takes the overflow of local drivers who have trouble making the maneuver to blend into the first one. The 3rd, outside, lane is for through traffic and access to the emergency entrance.

Enter the hero, a farang, in his brand new Range Rover, requiring valet parking and unwilling to spend the short time for the traffic in the inner lanes to clear. He parked in the outside lane just as an ambulance arrived with what must have been a full emergency patient inside. (They rarely use lights and sirens when 50 meters from emergency)

The ambulance stopped an inch from his bumper and blasted every light, siren and horn at this character. The little parking man with the whistle nearly blew out a lung shrilling at him while also gesticulating wildly at the arrogant idiot. After many long seconds he finally got the message and moved on to circle back around. The inside lanes had cleared in that short time and he was able to park in a suitable area before striding inside like he owned the hospital. (Perhaps he does!)

 

(I hope it wasn't you Schlog ) ????

 

Incidentally, my doctors bill yesterday was only 800 baht,

with a further 200 baht for the nurses to do the compulsory, and totally unnecessary, temperature, oxygen, BP tests and weigh- in.

Probably my cheapest ever visit there.

I paid the same for a doctor fee last week.