How do doctors work here?

[whatevs]

Hi,

I'm brand new to Thailand and in the process of getting settled. I hope some kind people will be able to answer some of these questions.

If I am not pregnant do I need a seperate GP (general practitioner) and gynaecologist or does the GP do pap smears/breast checks etc?

Do I need a seperate paediatrician for my kids and a adult GP for me or do we all just sign up for one doctor?

When I go to the pharmacy they only seemed to offer me birth control pills called Yazz (this is the combined pill).  Do they sell mini pill varieties there or was I just unlucky?

Can I get Votrum (European blood pressure meds) here?

Should I get my kids innoculated against rabies?

 

Thank you in advance.

 

 

[Chrisdoc]

Hi,
I'm brand new to Thailand and in the process of getting settled. I hope some kind people will be able to answer some of these questions.
If I am not pregnant do I need a seperate GP (general practitioner) and gynaecologist or does the GP do pap smears/breast checks etc?
Do I need a seperate paediatrician for my kids and a adult GP for me or do we all just sign up for one doctor?
When I go to the pharmacy they only seemed to offer me birth control pills called Yazz (this is the combined pill).  Do they sell mini pill varieties there or was I just unlucky?
Can I get Votrum (European blood pressure meds) here?
Should I get my kids innoculated against rabies?
 
Thank you in advance.
 
 

I think if you go to a Thai public hospital they will advise you. There is also a specific woman's forum on Thai Visa. Maybe better off joining there.

Sent from my SM-J730F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[lopburi3]

There are very few GP in Thailand - you directly see specialists in hospital outpatient clinics setting.  That said first doctor will often, if asked, act as a primary doctor and send you to other specialists as needed.  There will be clinics for children.  

 

As for medications will let other replay but are you sure of spelling on BP medication?  Not Votum?

 

 

[whatevs]

4 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

There are very few GP in Thailand - you directly see specialists in hospital outpatient clinics setting.  That said first doctor will often, if asked, act as a primary doctor and send you to other specialists as needed.  There will be clinics for children.  

 

As for medications will let other replay but are you sure of spelling on BP medication?  Not Votum?

 

 

Thank you. Hospital outpatients it is then.  Seems strange to go to hospital for a checkup.

 

Yes it is Votum.  That's the brand name in Germany. It's called Benicar in the US and Olmesartan Medoxmil is the closest generic I believe.

[lopburi3]

9 minutes ago, whatevs said:

Olmesartan

4 years ago Olmetec was the only available drug and difficult to find - Sheryl recommended, if doctor agrees, change to Losartan as that is easily available and low priced versions here.

 

[scorecard]

Dr. Sheryl will probably pick up your post within a couple of hours and kindly share some points, she's an old hand at everything medical in Thailand (not sure she's actually old). She can usually give very specific answers to most things and she's well respected. 

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, whatevs said:

Thank you. Hospital outpatients it is then.  Seems strange to go to hospital for a checkup.

 

Yes it is Votum.  That's the brand name in Germany. It's called Benicar in the US and Olmesartan Medoxmil is the closest generic I believe.

Seems strange to go to hospital for a checkup.

 

Sure, and keep in mind there's a whole range of hospitals in terms of fees and some which charge totally outrageous fees.

 

Plenty of good quality government hospitals with very reasonable fees and not too bad waiting times and pretty much always one or several doctors who speak good English, and many have board certified specialists, usually someone at the reception /  registration desk speaking good English..

 

One reason why shopfront clinics are not so popular is the history of fake doctors. Fake dentists too. 

[KKr]

Hi. Welcome to Thailand.

I agree that it sounds odd to go to hospital for a common cold, but one should think of it as a community medical center with most specialisations on offer , several specialists available during the day and trauma 24 / 7.

Health checks are usually faster in the private patient section of the hospital.

 

Private storefront clinics are in the cases that I know of doctors and specialists from the hospitals. 

Relatively fast, and if you know what kind of specialist you need a good alternative.

 

As for government vs private vs charitable hospitals. My experience with private is mixed, was offered an operation for what a massagist fixed in 3 weeks, go figure.

Other private are ok, but more expensive.

Charitable in provinces seem to be very good in general.

Government, what I have seen so far, good but crowded.

 

[atyclb]

4 hours ago, whatevs said:

Thank you. Hospital outpatients it is then.  Seems strange to go to hospital for a checkup.

 

Yes it is Votum.  That's the brand name in Germany. It's called Benicar in the US and Olmesartan Medoxmil is the closest generic I believe.

 

 

there are lots of freestanding clinics, the equivalent to a doctors office

[malt25]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

Dr. Sheryl will probably pick up your post within a couple of hours and kindly share some points, she's an old hand at everything medical in Thailand (not sure she's actually old). She can usually give very specific answers to most things and she's well respected. 

You beat me to it.

[murraynz]

i recently obtained my blood pressure meds from my local pharmacy.at cosy beach.

my nz doctor supplied perscription..

3mths supply was very expensive...

[beavenlen]

2 hours ago, murraynz said:

i recently obtained my blood pressure meds from my local pharmacy.at cosy beach.

my nz doctor supplied perscription..

3mths supply was very expensive...

dont where you went for blood pressure meds mate but i have high blood pressure and my meds usually 10ml cost 25baht for strip of 10 .   three months would be about 225baht quite reasonable.

[whatevs]

4 minutes ago, beavenlen said:

dont where you went for blood pressure meds mate but i have high blood pressure and my meds usually 10ml cost 25baht for strip of 10 .   three months would be about 225baht quite reasonable.

So you get a prescription from the doc and then can you re-use the same prescription or do you have to keep going back and forth to the doctors every 6 months?

[digbeth]

7 minutes ago, whatevs said:

So you get a prescription from the doc and then can you re-use the same prescription or do you have to keep going back and forth to the doctors every 6 months?

 

There's no prescription/refill system used in Thailand, I mean your doctor can write which medicine you need for you to take to a pharmacy to get if you don't want to pay for it at the hospital's pharmacy which could be expensive if it's a private hospital.  If you had something from a hospital, you can try getting it from a pharmacy, if they have it they'll sell you.

 

For some restricted medicine you can get at hospitals only.

 

For Thais, if they have social security card (paying for it via work) or a 'gold' card (for every one) they would be registered at a hospital, government or even private and that'll be their 'local' GP, they are expect to go there for checkups and referrals, and don't have to pay anything unless it's emergency, then they can visit any hospital.

some hospitals do operate outreach clinics for their 'local' patients.

[BritManToo]

25 minutes ago, whatevs said:

So you get a prescription from the doc and then can you re-use the same prescription or do you have to keep going back and forth to the doctors every 6 months?

You can buy any drug you can name, direct from the pharmacy.

No need to ever see a doctor, unless you want to.

[rwill]

For minor things you can go straight to a pharmacy and tell them what is wrong or what drug you want.  There are no prescriptions here but some controlled medications can only be dispensed by a hospital.  To get medicine at a hospital you have to see a doctor there.  Government hospitals are cheap but have a more limited selection of drugs to dispense.  Private hospitals charge high prices for their medications.  If you can get it at a local pharmacy it will be cheaper. Lots of doctors that work at hospitals also run clinics on their own.  These are usually open in the evening after they are done working at the hospital.

[justin case]

9 hours ago, whatevs said:

Thank you. Hospital outpatients it is then.  Seems strange to go to hospital for a checkup.

 

Yes it is Votum.  That's the brand name in Germany. It's called Benicar in the US and Olmesartan Medoxmil is the closest generic I believe.

 

be smart and educate yourself on what YOU can do for your body when you get sick...

 

you don't need chemicals all the time and thailand is known to give antibiotics for a cold (not helping) to whatever.... they love to add useless and even dangerous pills to make you feel NOTHING...

 

what about cough medication that suppress a cough so badly you stop breathing ... just a side effect ...

 

but the cough will be gone

 

 

always read or look up side effects of whatever you get prescribed and then decide if it is worth the risk ...

 

 

rabies ?  well... you can get the vaccination (would not recommend).... guess why :  when a dog bites you, you will need a FRESH SET OF INJECTIONS / VACCINES for rabies ...  

 

you get it ?   if it would be ok to get a vaccine and to get bitten by a stray dog, than you would not need to have 3x painful injections again ...

 

you a bit all over ... you speak about birth control, followed by having kids, kind of opposite ...

 

use CONDOMS and don't poison your body with XENO-ESTROGENS ... cancers love to grow fast with estrogen overload... and there is nothing that raises estrogen more than those pills

 

but hey, up to you, I am just an alternative person that does believe in 1 medical stuff:  EMERGENCY ROOM ....  you have a car accident, a dog that bites, you got cut, by accident or a thief / robber  .... sure  ... ER and nothing else...

 

 

[Sheryl]

Before I respond can you please indicate where in Thailand you are? Makes a big difference.

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

[guru]

You can buy any drug you can name, direct from the pharmacy.
No need to ever see a doctor, unless you want to.

A hospital doctor used to give me tablets containing codeine to suppress a cough. Worked well for me especially to sleep at night. Couldn’t get them in any pharmacy I asked at because of the codeine content. Ended up having to go back to the hospital the next time I caught a cough.

[scorecard]

17 hours ago, KKr said:

Hi. Welcome to Thailand.

I agree that it sounds odd to go to hospital for a common cold, but one should think of it as a community medical center with most specialisations on offer , several specialists available during the day and trauma 24 / 7.

Health checks are usually faster in the private patient section of the hospital.

 

Private storefront clinics are in the cases that I know of doctors and specialists from the hospitals. 

Relatively fast, and if you know what kind of specialist you need a good alternative.

 

As for government vs private vs charitable hospitals. My experience with private is mixed, was offered an operation for what a massagist fixed in 3 weeks, go figure.

Other private are ok, but more expensive.

Charitable in provinces seem to be very good in general.

Government, what I have seen so far, good but crowded.

 

Charitable hospitals?

[DJ54]

14 hours ago, digbeth said:

hospital's pharmacy which could be expensive if it's a private hospital. 

If your local pharmacy can’t supply what you need because only

available at Hospital (controlled). My expierence at hospital was

expensive (12,000 2 months 6 different meds) and I asked are 

generic available and y s yh y are but will need to be ordered.

 

next visit I asked the Dr. if some of the 6 I take a day available 

at pharmacy and 5 were 1 can only get at hospital. Now all total 

about 1,000 baht a month. Some of the meds were a different 

name and the Dr. wrote down the names. 

[KKr]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

18 hours ago, KKr said:

 

 

Charitable hospitals?

Christian or other charity owned

( not charitable as in Free ???? )

[KKr]

11 hours ago, guru said:

.....

Couldn’t get them in any pharmacy I asked at because of the codeine content. Ended up having to go back to the hospital the next time I caught a cough.

put one/two teaspoons of salt in a cup of lukewarm water and gargle.

With medicines it takes a week to cure a cough but with this remedie just seven days.

[guru]

put one/two teaspoons of salt in a cup of lukewarm water and gargle.
With medicines it takes a week to cure a cough but with this remedie just seven days.

A week versus seven days? Same same but different?

I can see how salt water could work against a sore throat but not sure how it could work in suppressing a cough that’s originating from the bronchi.

The Codeine/Guaifenesin tablets that I’ve only found at hospitals works wonders for me.

I’ve read some literature online about how little evidence there is for codeine as a cough suppressant but I have found it very effective in suppressing my coughs and giving me a good night’s sleep.

[KKr]

39 minutes ago, guru said:

 

A week versus seven days? Same same but different?

I can see how salt water could work against a sore throat but not sure how it could work in suppressing a cough that’s originating from the bronchi.

The Codeine/Guaifenesin tablets that I’ve only found at hospitals works wonders for me.

I’ve read some literature online about how little evidence there is for codeine as a cough suppressant but I have found it very effective in suppressing my coughs and giving me a good night’s sleep.

 

if it works for you, great.
just quoting my old family doctors' advice from many years ago.
But indeed, he said that if it does not get better in a week, come back and I'll give you medicine. Guess I was lucky and did not have to make repeat visits.

[KKr]

Re: cost of medicine in big name Pharmacies and the-mom-and-pop shop around the corner.

The neighborhood pharmacist's looked for generics that the big names do not carry, and I saved over 50 %. (buy 12 months at a time, to make it worthwhile for them)

[whatevs]

On 8/1/2019 at 7:51 PM, justin case said:

 

be smart and educate yourself on what YOU can do for your body when you get sick...

 

you don't need chemicals all the time and thailand is known to give antibiotics for a cold (not helping) to whatever.... they love to add useless and even dangerous pills to make you feel NOTHING...

 

what about cough medication that suppress a cough so badly you stop breathing ... just a side effect ...

 

but the cough will be gone

 

 

always read or look up side effects of whatever you get prescribed and then decide if it is worth the risk ...

 

 

rabies ?  well... you can get the vaccination (would not recommend).... guess why :  when a dog bites you, you will need a FRESH SET OF INJECTIONS / VACCINES for rabies ...  

 

you get it ?   if it would be ok to get a vaccine and to get bitten by a stray dog, than you would not need to have 3x painful injections again ...

 

you a bit all over ... you speak about birth control, followed by having kids, kind of opposite ...

 

use CONDOMS and don't poison your body with XENO-ESTROGENS ... cancers love to grow fast with estrogen overload... and there is nothing that raises estrogen more than those pills

 

but hey, up to you, I am just an alternative person that does believe in 1 medical stuff:  EMERGENCY ROOM ....  you have a car accident, a dog that bites, you got cut, by accident or a thief / robber  .... sure  ... ER and nothing else...

 

 

You are very kind to reply with such comprehensive advice. 

 

 

 

 

[whatevs]

On 8/1/2019 at 9:35 PM, Sheryl said:

Before I respond can you please indicate where in Thailand you are? Makes a big difference.

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

Thank you i'll send you a direct message

[Sheryl]

Hospitals in Thailand have large outpatient clinics, on any given day most of the traffic through a Thai hospital is outpatients, many of them for very minor things . This system actually makes a lot of sense as it enables a large number of doctors to easily share the same laboratory and Xray services etc, provides them with offices and clerical and nursing support, all much simpler and efficient than having their own office or clinic.

 

In many areas, including Bangkok, there are virtually no stand alone doctor clinics or practices, in other places there are some but often dodgy at best. There are some exceptions, most notably Chiang Mai where for whatever reason, many of the most senior docs do have their own clinics.

 

The first resort for many people is a pharmacy since most drugs that need a prescription in the west do not require one in Thailand. Pharmacies can take your blood pressure etc and IF -- very big if - you find one with a real pharmacist behind the counter they are trained to advise on treatment of simple ailments. But be warned that more often than not the person behind a pharmacy counter here is not a real pharmacist and some have no training at all.

 

You do not need a referral to see a specialist here, you can go directly and medical care here is highly specialized.  The sort of GP system many people are used to from the west does nto really exist here.  The closest thing to a GP will be an internist but they are both much more limited in what they can do and less likely to function as a primary point of care coordinating referrals etc, than a western GP.  Internists will usually nto be comfortable doing a pap smear etc and you would go separately to a GYN for that. Likewise they will usually not treat children, have to go to a pediatrician for that.

 

You need to be much more proactive about your medial care here than back home - -cannot ,for example, assume that doctors will review your medical record even if you have been to see them before or another doctor at the same hospital. Always get copies of relevant lab tests and other reports and always take the initiative to inform a doctor of past results and relevant history.

 

I will send you a PM with advise specific to where you live.

 

 

[whatevs]

Thank you very much Sheryl