Hua Hin: Cancer sufferer still fighting for justice - so that others won't be conned

[chrissables]

2 hours ago, Medway said:

I had cataract surgery at Bkk hospital Pattaya. On my follow ups with the surgeon I was charged 800 baht immediately I walked in the office....daylight robbery.

I was blinded by a doctor there, follow up surgeries to try and rectify it came to more than 800,000, now that was painful!

 

The guy has a private surgery now, be careful where you go for surgery!

 

International hospital in Bangkok 40,000 for a PET scan + 25% because "farang"

 

Princess hospital beside Don muang 20,000 total!

[chrissables]

28 minutes ago, Jonnapat said:

From April 2018 the government allowed public hospitals up to 50% 'Foreigner Surcharge'. This hospital has obviously chosen the maximum. 

At Siriraj hospital in Bangkok where I regularly need to attend the surchsrge is 25%.

Why do you use them if you know of the surcharge?

[chrissables]

1 hour ago, JimHuaHin said:

I have been going to Hua Hin Hospital for 6 years, and I have no complaints.

 

I generally use the 'express' service, and I pay extra for the service, as do ALL the Thai patients.

 

At times I have used the after hours OPD specialist service, and pay extra for the service, as do ALL Thai patients, including my Thai partner who is a nurse in another governent hospital.

 

After Christmas last year I was admitted as a patient in a private room due to a severe UTI infection requiring IV antiobiotics for 4 days - I paid the same fees as a Thai patient would have.

 

Most of the medical staff at Hua Hin Hospital are excellent - many doctors have thier own private after hours clinics, and several also work part-time in one of the two Hua Hin private hospitals.

 

Hua Hin Hospital provides a great service to the community; the Hospital is also several million Baht in debt, as are many many other Thai government hospitals.

 

Personally, I do not mind paying a few hundred Baht extra per visit to Hua Hin Hospital, as it helps the Hospital continue is great work in our community.

 

On the other hand, I do not accept being ripped off by the local motor cycle taxi, taxi and tuk tuk marfia.

I suspect with your wife being a nurse, she knows how to get treatment for you at the Thai price. 

[RJRS1301]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Could have gone the normal route of plaster and no plate. Just as effective and 1/10 the price.

Surgery and metal plate is a scam, most breaks don't need it, and the plate may cause problems later.

There may well have been a very valid reason for plate to be inserted, hard to make the statement with being the orthopaedic surgeon attending

[BritManToo]

6 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

There may well have been a very valid reason for plate to be inserted, hard to make the statement with being the orthopaedic surgeon attending

When my misses arraigned for the guy with the broken hip to go into hospital last week.

Suan Doc wanted 300k with plate.

Nakorn Ping wanted 30k just plaster.

 

 

When I was a kid nobody had plates, and we all recovered from broken bones.

Mostly the plate is about making money.

[sirwilly]

Would It not be a good idea to post a listing of hospitals that do not have  Dual Pricing ?  Then we we not be obliged to fall into this trap.

[mserror]

I go to Phitsanuvej Hospital, private, Phitsanulok.

 

Happy with the service and there seems to be only one price: one time my Thai wife had the same treatment and the price was the same.

[mngmn]

So looking forward to cheating Thais if I have the opportunity here in Australia.

[elektrified]

7 hours ago, aguy30 said:

Pattaya City Hospital has 2 prices. One for Thai and and a much higher one for foreigners.

I don't believe it. I hear this all the time but have never seen any proof.

 

In fact one time many years ago, my wife and I both had bad food poisoning. She needed to be treated first as my symptoms didn't develop until about 12 hours later as I ate the food later in the day. Both of us had to be taken to the same E.R., have blood, stool and other lab tests, get several medicines, etc.

 

When we recovered and looked over the bills, we thought it was most amusing that my bill (line for line same treatment, tests and meds) was about 230 Baht less than my wife who is Thai. I seem to recall the difference being the meds charged by the hospital pharmacy (same exact brands and quantities even). She was charged more!

[elektrified]

2 hours ago, Jonnapat said:

From April 2018 the government allowed public hospitals up to 50% 'Foreigner Surcharge'. This hospital has obviously chosen the maximum. 

At Siriraj hospital in Bangkok where I regularly need to attend the surchsrge is 25%.

Can you post proof of this?

[Thaidream]

2 minutes ago, elektrified said:

Can you post proof of this?

I read the same thing when it came out-  I aaplaud the OP fort standing on principle.  I hope the International media picks up the issue.  It is reprehensible to charge a non Thai a different price for medical care. Medical care is a human right.

[elektrified]

2 hours ago, Jonnapat said:

From April 2018 the government allowed public hospitals up to 50% 'Foreigner Surcharge'. This hospital has obviously chosen the maximum. 

At Siriraj hospital in Bangkok where I regularly need to attend the surchsrge is 25%.

Last year I was considering prostate treatment at Siriraj. When we were in Bangkok, I went there alone and got the quote for the treatment. The next day, my wife went alone asking the cost for a Thai friend. Guess what? The price was identical. (My wife and I often do this to see if there actually is a difference). In 12 years we have found no evidence of dual pricing.

[Thaidream]

31 minutes ago, elektrified said:

Last year I was considering prostate treatment at Siriraj. When we were in Bangkok, I went there alone and got the quote for the treatment. The next day, my wife went alone asking the cost for a Thai friend. Guess what? The price was identical. (My wife and I often do this to see if there actually is a difference). In 12 years we have found no evidence of dual pricing.

This is the way it should be but in most cases it is not. You are very luxky.  In Thailand- the cost of imported life saving medicine is taxed .  In some hospitals- the non Thai price is 25-50 percent over the Thai price.  This cannot be justified especially for medical care.

 

It is against the Thai Constitution and against the law. Medical care is a human right. Refuse to pay any surcharge.

[Gandtee]

5 hours ago, Medway said:

I had cataract surgery at Bkk hospital Pattaya. On my follow ups with the surgeon I was charged 800 baht immediately I walked in the office....daylight robbery.

What was the price for the surgery? One or two eyes?

[Muzarella]

In most countries with a tourist visa and without international health insurance dual pricing or just not service for non an emergency is the norm. I think that some foreigners in Thailand are asking too much consideration for not valid reasons.

[robblok]

4 hours ago, DxxD said:

Yeahh you really know the dutch people.. Health insurance is about 3000 - 3800 baht each month for the rest of our lives + we have to pay our own risk insurance money first wich is between 13000 - 31000 baht depending on how much you pay each month, EVERY YEAR. So yeahh the first 55000 baht (at least) is on your own account in the netherlands. And even then not everything is 100% paid for you.. Only thing when it's almost 'free' is when you get money from the government for health insurance if your own income is not that good (between € 0 and € 29.500).

 

This guy is just doing it because of the discrimination (reading he was a train engineer, he probaly has a decent pension), wich is illegal by Thai law btw.. And must not be the first time this kind of 'scams' have happened to him.. At some point (even for me) it's getting more and more annoying.

 

Ohh yeahh, if we live for more then 6 months outside of the Netherlands, the health insurance company will stop helping you. So big chance he doesn't have health insurance anymore if he lives full time in Thailand.

 

I hope that whenever he doesn't have the money he will start a gofundme page just like al cheap charlies from england do.

The guy is not English.. he is from Belgium... you know what we say about Belgian people ????

[70Px]

The article says nothing about his immigration status. Maybe that's why the foreign surcharge. 

 

You know why the EU enforce people to have health insurance when applying for a visa? Because you won't be able to afford it otherwise. 

[jobsworth]

6 hours ago, Medway said:

I had cataract surgery at Bkk hospital Pattaya. On my follow ups with the surgeon I was charged 800 baht immediately I walked in the office....daylight robbery.

i got charged 7000 THB at Bkk hospital Pattaya for some tests that went on for hours. usual sort of heart and lungs. i was then charged 2000  THB for an xray. all the time i was surrounded by Thai patients who did not look like they had any money. Then the one doctor wanted to do a CAT scan for another 12000 THB and i said enough, stop. i had no diagnosis.  Bkk hospital Pattaya used to be a great place where for under 2000 THB you could get fixed up including meds but no longer. there did not seem to be any foreigners there any more.

[hobz]

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Could have gone the normal route of plaster and no plate. Just as effective and 1/10 the price.

Surgery and metal plate is a scam, most breaks don't need it, and the plate may cause problems later.

Lol, my elbow was shattered in pieces, but yeah, maybe I should have called you to come let you glue it together and duct tape it.

 

But ok, I get the point, u can't even trust them with the actual medical decisions..

[dallen52]

It's been raised before and will no doubt be again. 

Yes we are soft targets.

And yes it's still much cheaper than back home for many.

 

But why the double standard prices are allowed to continue is beyond me..

Good Luck if you can get a refund. 

[dallen52]

I was required to put 50,000 baht cash down at Pattaya city hospital before I was admitted for an overnight stay. 

My partner had to go home and then exchange at TT in Buchao before I was given a bed in a ward.

Couldn't fault the treatment, as it was potentially touch and go.

The blood tests were numerous and plenty. Pancreatitus so they said.

The CT scans at 14,000 each seemed over the top for a public hospital. 

Bed room rate was 4400 a night privateroom and a place for my lady who stayed with me the three days. 

All up, 36,000 baht.

Oh, no insurance claim facility, so I had to claim it myself. 

 

Still Much cheaper than Pattaya private. 

 

We need a list of what's reasonable as a price to pay..

Would be good to see.

 

Not that there's anything you can do about the overcharging. 

[chickenslegs]

7 hours ago, easydoor said:

Knowing the Dutchmen (Hollanders) very well they always complain when they have to pay something. Being 'overcharged', as he calls, for 12.700THB in 2 years, at 100THB per treatment, is a real very big attack on his financial capacities. He better could stay in Holland where 'everything' is for free. Poor man what even has to rise goats to come to an income for his living. Maby he also have to start a crowfunding, very popular this days.

The man is not Crowdfunding or begging for help. He is taking a stance against unfairness.

 

You mock him for making his living by raising goats, but that is an honest occupation, even though it may not be a very profitable one.

 

12,700THB is a lot of money, if you've had to work hard for it.

[aguy30]

5 hours ago, elektrified said:

I don't believe it. I hear this all the time but have never seen any proof.

Here is proof

Look at their website for annual check up package

http://www.pattayacityhospital.go.th/th/promotion

http://www.pattayacityhospital.go.th/en/promotion

Thai price/price in English

1590/3840 1320/3300 5310/11500 3090/6960 5800/12700 4130/9360

 

[aguy30]

[Winky Wilson]

Many times it better to die of natural causes than go to a hospital. Being a medical patient should be hassle free.

[scubascuba3]

10 hours ago, elektrified said:

I don't believe it. I hear this all the time but have never seen any proof.

 

In fact one time many years ago, my wife and I both had bad food poisoning. She needed to be treated first as my symptoms didn't develop until about 12 hours later as I ate the food later in the day. Both of us had to be taken to the same E.R., have blood, stool and other lab tests, get several medicines, etc.

 

When we recovered and looked over the bills, we thought it was most amusing that my bill (line for line same treatment, tests and meds) was about 230 Baht less than my wife who is Thai. I seem to recall the difference being the meds charged by the hospital pharmacy (same exact brands and quantities even). She was charged more!

Pattaya City Hospital charged me 3,000 baht for the initial Rabies injection. Thai people tell me that was way too much. I avoid that hospital now, farang pricing is alive and well

[metisdead]

An inflammatory post has been removed. 

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

He must be careful. He is tending goats which is working and for which he wont get a WP. Next thing we read he gets deported. Before you make waves make certain you have a solid foundation. 

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Pattaya City Hospital charged me 3,000 baht for the initial Rabies injection. Thai people tell me that was way too much. I avoid that hospital now, farang pricing is alive and well

I paid 1,000 Baht for the same, just over ten years ago at Burapha University Hospital in Chonburi.

 

In the days when I had money to over-indulge, I had gout a couple of times.

I had an injection which relieved the pain almost instantly. That was at Aek Udon Hospital in Udon Thani and I was charged 1,200 Baht.

The second time it happened I went to the Military Hospital in Udon. I saw the carton the vial came in, and remembered it was the same name as the first injection I'd had. The price was 190 Baht.

[poohy]

Although i wish him well personally i would take the money and run

Anyway hes proving a point butt hes  Dutch and we all know they are the tightest folks in Europe