Private hospitals overcharging: 30-300 percent

[webfact]

Private hospitals overcharging: 30-300 percent

By The Thaiger

 

 

More than half the private hospitals operating in Thailand are overcharging for medical services and prescription drugs. Of the private hospitals alleged to be overcharging, the rates have been calculated to be 30% up to 300% over the actual production cost.

 

The Director General of the Internal Trade Department claims that 295 of the 353 private hospitals have submitted their production costs, and charges for medicines and services to a working group two days ago. 58 hospitals are yet to submit their information to the panel. They were required to do so by April 4 under the 1999 Prices of Goods and Services Act.

 

The DG says the panel studied the production costs of 10,146 items covering medicines, medical supplies and medical services and compares them with appropriate cost structures available from a variety of sources, including importers, wholesalers, big drugstores, manufacturers, the Office of Insurance Commission, the Thai Life Assurance Association, the Thai General Insurance Association and the Comptroller-General’s department.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/private-hospitals-overcharging-30-300-percent

 

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2019-04-16

[Thaiwrath]

"Hospitals accused of over-pricing will be asked to lower their charges."

 

I would think that in other, civilised countries, it would be worded 'TOLD TO', as opposed to 'asked to'. I am sure if the pricing structure is submitted with a certain goodwill gesture (money), no action will be taken against the culprits, and it will be business as usual. 

[MrMuddle]

The Hospital I used to use, St Louis, Bangkok, started to have separate billing for Thais and foreigners. The foreigners prices for everything, went through the roof. How on earth do they get away with it ?

[mania]

The scary part will be when they show when it is uncovered how many unnecessary operations are sold

Edited April 15, 2019 by mania

[faraday]

Ok, 300% does seem ambitious, but private hospitals are businesses.

 

Edited April 15, 2019 by faraday

[UKresonant]

Yes, I was trying to get two (out of a recommended course of three) outpatient appointments arranged in Bangkok as more convenient. Though I was happy they got back, I was quoted 84k baht/visit for the drug alone, I understand, for comparison, the Hospital in the UK will likely be getting the same Drug for approx <30k baht/visit. 

 

Do they get massive tax on imported drugs?????

 

P.s. The absolute stopper was being unable to arrange medical complication insurance, "not resident of Thailand, can't get cover" (Within a different response, than those who quoted the drug price).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[baansgr]

1 hour ago, MrMuddle said:

The Hospital I used to use, St Louis, Bangkok, started to have separate billing for Thais and foreigners. The foreigners prices for everything, went through the roof. How on earth do they get away with it ?

National Parks etc have a 1,000% mark up for foreigners which is sanctioned by the government, so no recourse for the hospitol

[Sealbash]

The Hospital I used to use, St Louis, Bangkok, started to have separate billing for Thais and foreigners. The foreigners prices for everything, went through the roof. How on earth do they get away with it ?

These are private hospitals. In business to earn profit. They are not charitable or government run. They will charge what the market can bear. If they price themselves out of the market, they will not make profit due to reduced clientele. If Airbus or Burger King would sell their products at a price the market could not bear, they would soon be out of business. There are alternatives available to any of these products if the purchaser chooses a more economical route.


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[Snow Leopard]

1 hour ago, MrMuddle said:

The Hospital I used to use, St Louis, Bangkok, started to have separate billing for Thais and foreigners. The foreigners prices for everything, went through the roof. How on earth do they get away with it ?

It looks like this is a Thai issue as well not just Farangs getting gouged. 

[jerojero]

If people are willing to pay and keep going there, the hospital will keep overcharging.

The Hospital I used to use, St Louis, Bangkok, started to have separate billing for Thais and foreigners. The foreigners prices for everything, went through the roof. How on earth do they get away with it ?

[sahibji]

3 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

"Hospitals accused of over-pricing will be asked to lower their charges."

 

I would think that in other, civilised countries, it would be worded 'TOLD TO', as opposed to 'asked to'. I am sure if the pricing structure is submitted with a certain goodwill gesture (money), no action will be taken against the culprits, and it will be business as usual. 

more than the wording i would like to see ENFORCEMENT.

[samsensam]

2 hours ago, MrMuddle said:

The Hospital I used to use, St Louis, Bangkok, started to have separate billing for Thais and foreigners. The foreigners prices for everything, went through the roof. How on earth do they get away with it ?

 

easy to get away with it, some countries have laws to prevent discrimination on grounds of race, disability, gender, etc. i'm no expert but it appears thailand does not, and even if it did it's questionable whether such laws would be effectively enforced by the authorities.

 

i suggest medical insurance, let the insurance companies sort it out.

[Destiny1990]

Their investigation doesn’t seem to focus on the double pricing for foreigners on top of the overpricing for all.

[GAZZPA]

Just now, faraday said:

Ok, 300% does seem ambitious, but private hospitals are businesses.

 

but they must operate fairly. if you get taken to one for urgent medical help and they charge you so much you lose your shirt hoe can tat be right?

[GAZZPA]

Just now, Sealbash said:

These are private hospitals. In business to earn profit. They are not charitable or government run. They will charge what the market can bear. If they price themselves out of the market, they will not make profit due to reduced clientele. If Airbus or Burger King would sell their products at a price the market could not bear, they would soon be out of business. There are alternatives available to any of these products if the purchaser chooses a more economical route.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Terrible examples. Can hardly compare buying a burger to getting medical help. For example if BK charged you 1000 baht for a burger you simply would not go. Nobody is hurt and it does not effect anyone. But if you go a hospital for treatment and the market value of you treatment is 100k but when you bill it is 300k how is that right? Hospitals, private or not should be subject to regulation. If they charge what they like and you ignore it because the insurance pays it what will happen to foreign insurance in Thailand? This is a very important point.

[rgrdns]

Hmm....not only private hospitals?!

[Sealbash]

Terrible examples. Can hardly compare buying a burger to getting medical help. For example if BK charged you 1000 baht for a burger you simply would not go. Nobody is hurt and it does not effect anyone. But if you go a hospital for treatment and the market value of you treatment is 100k but when you bill it is 300k how is that right? Hospitals, private or not should be subject to regulation. If they charge what they like and you ignore it because the insurance pays it what will happen to foreign insurance in Thailand? This is a very important point.

You are correct about the insurance. And if the chosen private hospital charges are excessive, the insurance company ( also in business to show a profit) will remove that hospital from its list of approved vendors. Again resulting in allowing the free market to determine costs. As mentioned, if a customer does not agree with private hospital prices, they can always go to a government run establishment.


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[sailblue]

1 hour ago, baansgr said:

National Parks etc have a 1,000% mark up for foreigners which is sanctioned by the government, so no recourse for the hospital

In Sydney local residents get certain minor privileges over non-locals like parking. schools will charge foreigners verses free for residents. Nothing like Thailands huge markup but reflecting the assumed income of the tourist.

 

[flashysite]

Lets rob sick people. They are easy targets, pay up or suffer you miserable sick people.

 

Sincerely,

Bangkok Christian Hospital at Silom rd.

 

It wasn’t always like this, but nowadays this is best practice. Perscribing imported expensive drugs.

Edited April 16, 2019 by flashysite

[Borzandy]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Private hospitals overcharging: 30-300 percent

The rule in Thailand is to overcharge all the farangs.

[robblok]

4 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

"Hospitals accused of over-pricing will be asked to lower their charges."

 

I would think that in other, civilised countries, it would be worded 'TOLD TO', as opposed to 'asked to'. I am sure if the pricing structure is submitted with a certain goodwill gesture (money), no action will be taken against the culprits, and it will be business as usual. 

In other countries PRIVATE hospitals would be asked to lower prices ? I think not, public hospitals maybe but not sure they can control private ones as long as there are public hospitals available too.

[robblok]

33 minutes ago, GAZZPA said:

Terrible examples. Can hardly compare buying a burger to getting medical help. For example if BK charged you 1000 baht for a burger you simply would not go. Nobody is hurt and it does not effect anyone. But if you go a hospital for treatment and the market value of you treatment is 100k but when you bill it is 300k how is that right? Hospitals, private or not should be subject to regulation. If they charge what they like and you ignore it because the insurance pays it what will happen to foreign insurance in Thailand? This is a very important point.

Your argument would make sense if there were no alternatives. However there are public hospitals. Private hospitals are a business. I dont like it anymore then you do.

[meinphuket]

If you have to pay for the hospital services yourself, take your prescription first to your own or any other pharmacy to be filled. Whatever they can't or won't fill get it from the hospital, and cross off whatever you already bought. 

[DPKANKAN]

2 hours ago, faraday said:

Ok, 300% does seem ambitious, but private hospitals are businesses.

 

I have had them charged for my wifes dying 28 year old sister;- 3,000 baht for one prescription I bought for 550 at the local pharmacy. ????????????????????????

[scorecard]

4 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

"Hospitals accused of over-pricing will be asked to lower their charges."

 

I would think that in other, civilised countries, it would be worded 'TOLD TO', as opposed to 'asked to'. I am sure if the pricing structure is submitted with a certain goodwill gesture (money), no action will be taken against the culprits, and it will be business as usual. 

Ordered to

Create lists of mandated maximum service charges

Create a maximum % mark up for all medicines etc.

 

Enshrine all of the above in gazetted Thai laws

It's obvious asked to is a waste of breath and will achieve nothing.  

 

 

[thailand49]

I read in the Bangkok Post there is a law against this sometimes back, even heard the late HM, once did a speech published in the Post that spoke of the due charges and it gives Thailand a black eye but none of this has stopped the country from doing it.

 

Like everything here that isn't supposed to be done it is and as long as there is no enforcement the problem will continue.

 

I think everyone here understands it is a business but hospital have laws they must follow and most important have taken an oath to help people at times yes tough act to follow. Those who seem to mightly stand taking this position don't follow the same conviction if they were being charged 300 percent for a simple meal or buying your favorite beer.

Yes, it is business yet none of these people running their business were to be charged 300% for a service, a car, a house, a shirt whatever?  would jump through the roof.

Edited April 16, 2019 by thailand49

[inThailand]

I guess that 10% discount they gave me wasn't so generous after all? 

[WeekendRaider]

not only overcharging but don’t do as good a job as folks think. the specialists you can find for example at the Siphat Clinic at Suandok in Chiangmai are well practiced and excellent and are not always the same doctors you get at the private hospitals. I can testify but won’t to my own experiences where both sides of this were all too evident.

 

busy doctors are good doctors is what I like to tell myself.

 

I also suspect that Thai health coverage is more generous when you go to the public hospital because our no. 1 choice for health cover here... the one that changed it’s name last year... paid more than I expected on my latest surgery.

 

of course Maharat is an exception, quite so, for all hospitals in excellence... although quite overcapacity... already.

Edited April 16, 2019 by WeekendRaider

[dutchweller]

I tried once to refuse to buy the Drugs from the hospital and just took the list of drugs to a chemist.

Security were call and I was basically forced to buy from them.

I did manage to buy the absolute minimum of each drug

Total dug cost was 3-4000 from the hospital

Then I went to a chemist after it had run out. same drugs 400 for the lot

Same hospital were trying to get me to pay 150k for a very very minor out patient procedure and stay 4-5 nights for it..

Had it done back home in a doctors office for $100 within 20 minutes

 

So Thailand are showing their greed once again 

Its going to catch up with it soon slowly the world is getting to know the real reason Thai Smile...

 

 

[gwynt]

My wife, Thai, was rushed to hospital BKH, in a state of Collapse from an ongoing illness, after 8days in ICU at 55K per night, a total charge of 770K and little improvement we moved her to Thonburi hospital BKK where ICU is 5,500bt per night two major operations and first class Treatment for 6week she was well enough to return home. Total cost 480k, now who was overcharging?