Hospital Health Check

[orientfan]

Hi everyone,

It seems that every hospital here offers a series of packaged health check programs.
A lot of people report being 'upsold' to further tests etc. by (maybe) unscrupulous staff. One hopital in Pattaya is notorious for recommending 'extra' possibly unnecessary teatments.
Can anyone recommend a Bangkok hospital for a good, honest general health check up? Many thanks!

[jimmyyy]

Mission Hospital, make an appointment with Dr. Nick.  He is American and a honest great guy.

[orientfan]

Thank you. I've just sent an enquiry to Mission Hospital. Many thanks for the recommendation. What do other forum readers think?

[Sheryl]

At any hospital you need to do your own research first as to what tests you need. The problem is not only "up selling" i(which does not always occur). Rather it is that the packages are poorly designed and not at all geared to non-Asians.

 

If you ask the nurses for guidance they'll just steer you to the package designated for your age and sex but rarely will this be an ideal fit. It may both lack things you need and include things you don't.

 

Note that it is always possible to "add on" tests to a lower end package and it is often cheaper to do so than get a higher end package just for the sake of 1 or 2 things the lower end package lacks.

 

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

 

 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

It seems most, maybe all, private hospitals here have the mission to make as much money as possible. It's not about healing sick people. It's about getting lots of money from those people and make sure they come again and again.

My advice: Look around for reasonable priced check-up packages. There are many in many hospitals.

And then do exactly that package and nothing else. If anybody suggests additional test tell them you think about it and maybe come back later.

You will get detailed result in writing and they will mark all the things which are not 100% ok.

Then you can take these details and look them up i.e. on the internet or talk to other independent medical experts.

Just say no to anything what they want to sell you extra. 

[potless]

3 minutes ago, DonDoRondo said:

The most urgent result I had was an ultrasound of my torso showing a kidney stone.

Yada yada, tried to get it removed in CM, but ended up going back to the USA.

After an MRI there I was told there was no stone. 

It could be that you had already passed the stone.

[potless]

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

My advice: Look around for reasonable priced check-up packages. There are many in many hospitals

And look out for promotions. Simple blood tests can be done at local clinics for less than half the price of private hospitals.

[potless]

5 minutes ago, DonDoRondo said:

Absolutely not.  They said was 4 mm and a male ureter averages 5 mm.  Had a stone been passed I would have known.  I also had a repeat ultrasound just before leaving for the 

stated and the result was " stone unmoved ".

Hmm. It makes me think because I had an ultrasound a couple of years ago and a stone of around 5mm showed up. However I did sometimes have lower back pain and have had a stone in the past so had no reason to question it. Yes, passing a stone is like having a kick in the b****.

[Pilotman]

24 minutes ago, DonDoRondo said:

The first thing the urologist in the states told me was to not rely on an ultrasound and have an 

MRI done to confirm it.  In CM I also spent 77K baht for lithotripsy treatment for a nonexistent

problem.  It is said that passing a stone is the closest a man will come to experiencing 

childbirth pain.  

No mate, that's getting married you're thinking of. 

[potless]

16 minutes ago, DonDoRondo said:

It is said that passing a stone is the closest a man will come to experiencing 

childbirth pain.  

It aint fun for sure. Hope you never get to find out. Many years ago when I used to smoke illegal substance, I had an large attack of the munchies. I ate a huge amount of chocolate. By way of protest, my body reformed the chocolate into something resembling the size and shape of a cricket ball. Passing that is the nearest any man will get to understand childbirth.????

[potless]

3 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

No mate, that's getting married you're thinking of. 

Difference being the pain of giving birth eventually goes away.

[Pilotman]

1 minute ago, potless said:

Difference being the pain of giving birth eventually goes away.

Now that is true. 

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, potless said:

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

My advice: Look around for reasonable priced check-up packages. There are many in many hospitals

And look out for promotions. Simple blood tests can be done at local clinics for less than half the price of private hospitals.

Some time ago a friend needed a heart check-up. He was in Bumrungrad Hospital and told them about his heat pain and they did some tests. I waited for him and had time to read their information about heart check-up promotions. Later, after he paid, I told him about the promotion. He told me they less than what they promoted for him but charged more. It seems he should have asked for that package in advance...

[potless]

7 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Some time ago a friend needed a heart check-up. He was in Bumrungrad Hospital and told them about his heat pain and they did some tests. I waited for him and had time to read their information about heart check-up promotions. Later, after he paid, I told him about the promotion. He told me they less than what they promoted for him but charged more. It seems he should have asked for that package in advance...

Doesnt surprise me. Gotta be alert all the time.Best to ask at reception about any deals on offer. Chap I know used to get a set breakfast in a cafe on a daily basis but didnt want the sausage despite having told them a few times. So he orders the items separately minus the sausage and gets charged more money than the set menu despite getting less. Just thought I'd mention it. Hope your mate is okay.

[phkauf]

I had annuals at both Samitivej Sukhumvit and Bangkok Christian over the past few years. As Sheryl suggests just go with one of the basic plans and add on extra tests for what fits your situation. I found both hospitals were very good, efficient at moving me through the process and clear about what was going on. I think Samitivej was a little more polished, but both were absolutely fine. Neither one pushed any additional tests, even though they noted small things on the ultrasound (which is completely normal).

Bangkok Christian was much cheaper and no need to make an appointment at either one.

 

Oh and I disagree about the kidney stone pain - much worse than a kick in the ba!!s. By far the worst experience of my life. 

[snowballthecat]

2 hours ago, phkauf said:

I had annuals at both Samitivej Sukhumvit and Bangkok Christian over the past few years. As Sheryl suggests just go with one of the basic plans and add on extra tests for what fits your situation. I found both hospitals were very good, efficient at moving me through the process and clear about what was going on. I think Samitivej was a little more polished, but both were absolutely fine. Neither one pushed any additional tests, even though they noted small things on the ultrasound (which is completely normal).

Bangkok Christian was much cheaper and no need to make an appointment at either one.

 

Oh and I disagree about the kidney stone pain - much worse than a kick in the ba!!s. By far the worst experience of my life. 

 How much ,approximately, the check up in BKK Christian (basic plus the adds-on)?

 

[phkauf]

4 hours ago, snowballthecat said:

 How much ,approximately, the check up in BKK Christian (basic plus the adds-on)?

 

I recall BKK Christian was in the 3,000 range for a basic package (no ultrasound, yes chest x-ray). But this was the New Year's special rate. I think Samitivej would be at least 2 to 3,000 more for the same.

[JAS21]

Chulabhorn Research Institute do a blood test/poo/wee/x-ray/ekg/physical exam .. one year an attractive lady dr. did the finger job! and then later you talk to another Dr about the results ..... seem to remember last time it was about 2700, but guess it is more now. I think there is quite a waiting list.

[Cadbury]

Try the Central General Hospital, Anusawari, Bangkhen. Take a cab from BTS Mot Chit and tell the driver "Big C Bangkhen". Immediately you see the Big C do a u turn and the hospital is right there on the left virtually across the street on the same side.

I have been going there for years every three months for check ups. I go Saturday morning for the blood tests etc. and find the prices very reasonable. The duty doctor happens also to be a cardiologist which is a bonus. When you finish the consultation ask them where you pay. The staff are wonderful.

If you Google ....central general hospital bangkok ...you will find out all you need to know.

[orientfan]

I;m the OP. Samitivej Sukhumvit quoted B24,000 for a 'Men Over 50' check up which is a lot higher than many are quoting here!

[Sheryl]

58 minutes ago, orientfan said:

I;m the OP. Samitivej Sukhumvit quoted B24,000 for a 'Men Over 50' check up which is a lot higher than many are quoting here!

According to their website there is a promotion on that gives this for 17,500 baht, see

https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/en/promotions/checkup-svh/

 

You should always avoid requesting price quotes - for anything - via email to a Thai hospital. These get diverted to an International Dept which is geared towards medical tourists, not foreign residents, and may lock you into an elevated price.

 

Also note that what the package contains. The stress test alone is 3-5,000 baht at most hospitals and the Vit D level and T3/T4 levels are costly tests. (whether you need them or not is another matter). Many of the  prices mentioned above were for low end packages. and it would be comparing apples and oranges to compare them to this package.

[orientfan]

Thanks for that sensible answer. What is a 'stress test'?

[Blue bruce]

Do Thai public hospitals offer physcial check ups including blood work. If so when you go to the hospital what do you ask for ???? The last time i was in America i had blood work done and there were about 30 different tests. My Dr. went over the report with me. Is it the same here ???

[Sheryl]

21 hours ago, Blue bruce said:

Do Thai public hospitals offer physcial check ups including blood work. If so when you go to the hospital what do you ask for ???? The last time i was in America i had blood work done and there were about 30 different tests. My Dr. went over the report with me. Is it the same here ???

1. Some do. Most don't. The higher level facilities usually do, district and provincial hospitals usually not.

 

2. Not the same here by a long stretch. Hospitals have various packages but they are not well designed. You need to to do your own homework and know what you need. In many hospitals the quality the doctor interpretation is poor and perfunctory but it does vary.