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

[Schtrick]

19 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

It's not just in the hospitals, it's everywhere, you need to have your wits about you because they will charge extra where they can.

 

The ones that do get away for it, fail to get return business from me.

Sure do need your wits about you everywhere you go and every thing you do. Its a different world and its 3rd world. Its embedded in their culture and yet most believe in Karma. Crazy !!!

[elektrified]

10 hours ago, dallen52 said:

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. 

CT scans and MRI's are expensive even in government hospitals. Some of the new high-resolution MRI scanners cost as much as 2.5 to 3 million USD.

[Thaidream]

2 hours ago, elektrified said:

CT scans and MRI's are expensive even in government hospitals. Some of the new high-resolution MRI scanners cost as much as 2.5 to 3 million USD.

Indeed-  the medical supplier charges prices way over the top and expects high profit.

 

Then , the Thai Government exacts excise tax to import the equipment and also taxing foreign life saving medicines.

 

Then you have hospitals and doctors charging foreigners over the top prices- simply because they are foreigners.

 

So many people making a profit off the suffering of others.  I will continue to say it- Healthcare is a human right. No one should be making any profit from it.  Until Governments stop the nonsense of taxing things like Healthcare; allowing private hospitals and doctors to make profit from suffering; letting insurance companies make  deals wit hospitals and charging patients  huge premiums- nothing will change.

 

Kudos to the Dutchman for standing up and saying I have a catastrphic diseas and you are not going to profit from it.  I don't care if he raises goats or whatever he does.  The cycle of for profit medical care must be stopped.

[Humpy]

 Pattaya - Bangkok hospital wanted Baht 145000 for a cancerous skin repair. I had the op in a Khon Kaen hospital for Baht 38000 with free check ups for nearly 2 years . Pays to shop around.

[cracker1]

Good on you mate !

[Chazar]

I went to Hua  Hin hospital a  week  ago, cut  leg with angle grinder had to have it stitched up, was  seen  immediately, stitched up and out in 30  minutes inc anti biotics and the normal paracetomol/ibuprofen.

Went yesterday to have the stitches out 2  minute  job, total cost 1100 baht, I gave the hospital another 2000 baht for "their fund" in appreciation of their great service, no queues no waiting staff were excellent. This is the govt hospital

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, Chazar said:

Went yesterday to have the stitches out 2  minute  job, total cost 1100 baht,

That's actually more than double the normal charge.

NakornPing government hospital charges 250bht for 8 stitches, then another 100 to take them out.

Thais including cleaning, pain jabs, and antibiotics to take home.

 

May I also point out, that's a pretty crappy job they've done on your leg.

[Chazar]

20 hours 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.

Good  to hear about HH  hospital, i left them a donation on my way out as their service was  excellent.

[Chazar]

On 7/20/2019 at 10:28 AM, mercman24 said:

i got charged a 100 baht, for the nurse going down

sounds  pretty  good  to  me  and in  nurse  uniform  as  well????

[Chazar]

20 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

That's actually more than double the normal charge.

NakornPing government hospital charges 250bht for 8 stitches, then another 100 to take them out.

Thais including cleaning, pain jabs, and antibiotics to take home.

 

May I also point out, that's a pretty crappy job they've done on your leg.

Im pretty sure im not close to Nakorn ping (Chiang Mai?), not bothered about the crappy  job as long as it was sewn up.

What does a  good  suturing  job  look  like? I  only ever had an ear stitched back on before when i was 10 in the UK?

[maingmoom]

On 7/20/2019 at 10:46 AM, aguy30 said:

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

I think the reason for two prices is that it is a government hospital, therefore Thai's get government treatment and farangs pay more. I had a knee replacement there last year, and it was much cheaper than I was quoted at other Pattaya hospitals. 

[the guest]

Great to see the patient is making a point. However, I doubt that views about foreigners will change. 

[Gandtee]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

That's actually more than double the normal charge.

NakornPing government hospital charges 250bht for 8 stitches, then another 100 to take them out.

Thais including cleaning, pain jabs, and antibiotics to take home.

 

May I also point out, that's a pretty crappy job they've done on your leg.

If you can reach them why not take them out yourself?

[Chazar]

1 hour ago, Gandtee said:

If you can reach them why not take them out yourself?

Had already paid when they were  put  in so no extra  to pay on the day of removal, still waiting to hear  why its a crappy  job?

[ChipButty]

On 7/20/2019 at 10:28 AM, mercman24 said:

 for the nurse going down 

I give 100 Baht for the nurse to go down on me

[Skallywag]

6 hours ago, Chazar said:

 cut  leg with angle grinder 

 

You have a work permit to use an angle grinder?  if so it has now been revoked - 5555  

[Dnyy]

Being ripped off everywhere while making live more and more difficult for you (foreigners) and people are still stupid enough to spend their lives/hard earned money here. Is that some kind of Stockholm syndrome?

[DJ54]

On 7/20/2019 at 10:28 AM, mercman24 said:

got charged a 100 baht, for the nurse going down the escalator with me to the ph

Next time don’t grab her hand telling her your afaid or heights... new hee

[Caine]

Ain’t they just nasty racist bastards 

[Traubert]

On 7/20/2019 at 7:39 PM, Thaidream said:

 Medical care is a human right.

Morally perhaps but not legally. It's not in the BoHR.

 

Everyone, everywhere pays for their medical care be it through taxes or at the door. Insurance doesn't come free either. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, ward cleaners, even car park attendants at the hospital all command a salary.

 

If I need fixing, the last thing I'll worry about is if the bloke in the next bed is paying less. What we're talking about here is essentially the translation and language skill set of the medical team that see to you. You are getting two services here. Only some of the medics will have both skill sets. Is it too much to ask that they get paid for both? They put the study time in, why cant they reap the rewards for all that study and dedication? You think your entire physiology has the same terms in Thai and English?

 

The degree of extra charge is a whole different subject but someone mentioned a Naval Hospital near U-Tapao. Why should that be set up for expats? Why is it inconceivable that they want more money for having to work in dual language?

 

It seems like another 'it's not like home' complaint. Well, it's not home.

[70Px]

So for all the uninformed out there, the reason why there's a separate price for foreigners (the same applies for places like national parks, universities, etc.) is because the entity receives some form of government budget. Now if you can deduct that government budget comes from taxes, you can probably understand why foreigners who pay zero taxes would be charged higher. 

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, 70Px said:

So for all the uninformed out there, the reason why there's a separate price for foreigners (the same applies for places like national parks, universities, etc.) is because the entity receives some form of government budget. Now if you can deduct that government budget comes from taxes, you can probably understand why foreigners who pay zero taxes would be charged higher. 

So why don't those foreigners who pay more tax than a lot of Thais don't get the same or better rates?

Plus, these are mainly private hospitals, so nothing to do with any government budget.

[Isaanbiker]

On 7/20/2019 at 2:06 PM, 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.

Not when you've got multiple fractures at your leg, arm, etc.

 

Money for a room, okay. But the plate should be paid by the Social security. 

[Cuba]

On 7/20/2019 at 2:12 PM, BritManToo said:

My misses just negotiated for an old Dutch guy in Chiang Mai with a broken hip.

Suan Dok aka Maharaj wanted a 30k cash deposit before he entered and estimated the total bill at around 300k (metal plates).

Nakorn Ping agreed to 30k total, paid direct by his Thai minimum m/c insurance (plaster cast).

Nice to hear this. Just goes to show how much they will try and screw people for in a desperate situation. Cu*ts.

[70Px]

10 hours ago, bluesofa said:

So why don't those foreigners who pay more tax than a lot of Thais don't get the same or better rates?

Plus, these are mainly private hospitals, so nothing to do with any government budget.

Are you just trolling? Anyway I'll take the bait. 

 

Is there any country where people who pays more taxes would receive discounts? Why would taxes exist in the first place then? 

 

From most the conversations going on I doubt its mostly private hospitals since the bill is only in thousands.... Even if so, there's a completely valid reason if you would care to open your mind. 

[justin case]

don't they teach English here in any school as a second language for everybody ?

 

are most medicine not in English (import) that nurses and Md's should be able to read and understand ?

 

nah... my neighbor is an engineer and he does not speak 2 words of English

 

[elektrified]

On 7/21/2019 at 11:42 AM, Thaidream said:

Indeed-  the medical supplier charges prices way over the top and expects high profit.

 

Then , the Thai Government exacts excise tax to import the equipment and also taxing foreign life saving medicines.

 

Then you have hospitals and doctors charging foreigners over the top prices- simply because they are foreigners.

 

So many people making a profit off the suffering of others.  I will continue to say it- Healthcare is a human right. No one should be making any profit from it.  Until Governments stop the nonsense of taxing things like Healthcare; allowing private hospitals and doctors to make profit from suffering; letting insurance companies make  deals wit hospitals and charging patients  huge premiums- nothing will change.

 

Kudos to the Dutchman for standing up and saying I have a catastrphic diseas and you are not going to profit from it.  I don't care if he raises goats or whatever he does.  The cycle of for profit medical care must be stopped.

Companies like GE, Philips and Siemens who manufacture the imaging machines are all public companies that sell their shares and profits are made. If you don't buy the machines from them then the technology would not be available. I would imagine Thailand has to pay a fair import duty to get the equipment as well. 

[bluesofa]

4 hours ago, 70Px said:

15 hours ago, bluesofa said:

So why don't those foreigners who pay more tax than a lot of Thais don't get the same or better rates?

Plus, these are mainly private hospitals, so nothing to do with any government budget.

Are you just trolling? Anyway I'll take the bait. 

 

Is there any country where people who pays more taxes would receive discounts? Why would taxes exist in the first place then? 

 

From most the conversations going on I doubt its mostly private hospitals since the bill is only in thousands.... Even if so, there's a completely valid reason if you would care to open your mind. 

I was taking your original point further logically. Why is that trolling:

"Now if you can deduct that government budget comes from taxes, you can probably understand why foreigners who pay zero taxes would be charged higher."

 

If a Thai pays no tax but pays one rate at hospital, why shouldn't a foreigner who perhaps pays a lot more tax pay the Thai rate, or even less?

When I worked and paid into the social security fund, I received free use of government hospitals.

 

I must have missed something as to why a private hospital outside of the system should charge foreigners more, apart from the fact they can get away with it.

 

What I don't know is if the private hospitals can claim back from the government some of the costs? If so, again they could also do that for a foreigner who has paid into the fund.

 

[Lee65]

Beware Hua Hin Hospital which tried to overcharge me nearly 5,000 baht.

 

Had in writing the name of the MRI I needed and the price.  Afterwards, when presented with the bill the price had doubled, the explanation was that they had done an additional MRI (that was unrelated and had never been mentioned prior, and that they had used a contrast agent, which had not been used).  I had to go back to the doctor who, to my amazement, treated this inflated bill as if were a normal thing.  I explained that we had never discussed this additional MRI and that it was unneeded anyway and I confirmed that the contrast agent had not been used.  A pause and it was removed from the bill.

 

It shocked me and I suspected it was standard procedure.  Just pad the bill and probably some patients will pay without question or fighting back.  Even worse, it was clear that the doctor had been in on the scam.

 

 

[Trollmann]

Good fighting spirit from this man. He fight for justice for all those that are foreigners in Thailand that are been victims of overcharging. Gen Prayut should look into this case too and maybe he will say something similar to that he said yesterday about another case of overcharging "It's time to tackle tourist scammers" Gen Prayut "who was irked by the news, told the operators through one of his aides: "If local operators keep taking advantage of tourists, the province's reputation, and even the country's, could suffer" Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1716067/its-time-to-tackle-tourist-scammers