"Big Brother" Thailand ranks 6th in world for health services - beats Spain and France

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"Big Brother" Thailand ranks 6th in world for health services - beats Spain and France

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

Thailand's deputy public health minister has bigged up the country's medical services claiming that it has some of the best in the world. 

 

This was especially true in terms of personnel in the health sector, said Satit Pitutacha, referring to Thailand as the "BIg Brother" of health services in Asia. 

 

Satit was speaking at a health conference at the Ambassador City hotel in Jomtien. 

 

He revealed that the country was named as having the sixth best health services on earth, better than Spain and France in seventh and eighth respectively. 

 

This 2019 ranking was from a US magazine called CEOWORLD. 

 

Countries were ranked five criteria:  public health programs, efficiency of staff from doctors and nurses to other personnel, pricing, quality of drugs and government initiatives in the sector. 

 

Satit said that the Thai ranking was great to see and that the country was the "Phee Berm" (Big Brother) of health in Asia. 

 

There was a lot to be thankful about, especially in terms of the staff in health services in Thailand, he said. 

 

He conceded that mistakes are made but these must be kept to a minimum. 

 

Source: Manager Online

 

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[madmitch]

Here's a link to the article referred to

 

https://ceoworld.biz/2019/08/05/revealed-countries-with-the-best-health-care-systems-2019/

 

Basically a crappy online magazine which provides no basis for its findings. You can't even read the full table as the ads take up too much space! Their list from 2017 was probably written by someone else and looks totally different!

 

I wonder if the writer has ever visited a Thai public hospital?

[heybuz]

Foreign Correspondent for CEOWORLD magazine media. Policy Advisor, writer, professional restaurant recommender, and native New Yorker. I have approximate knowledge of many things.

VIEW ALL POSTS

Sophie Ireland the author, says it all I think.

[Tayaout]

One of the best in the world, I can believe. Better than France and Spain, nope. 

[PatOngo]

"Big Brother" is certainly active but not necessarily in health services!

[ZeVonderBearz]

And how much of the population have access to the fantastic health services in the country? 1%? 

[Ramdas]

I don’t believe for a sec that what they’ve stated is entirely true, for starting the lack of english language throughout both in the Thai hospitals wether private or not plus clinics.

They can’t possibly compare to the good health service in Europe or any other civilised country for that matter, even the public service is way better in taking care of the patients although you have to wait in line for it otherwise the private sector is available if you can afford it ????

[Moo 2]

Are they referring to Public or Private Hospitals? Once in a while my wife has to go to the local

public hospital for checkup and get medicine. If she does not arrive before 8 am her chance of

getting out before 3 pm is quite remote. At 7.30 am she is normally out by mid-day.

Is that what they mean by being number 6 in the world?! Absolut joke!

[onera1961]

9 minutes ago, Ramdas said:

They can’t possibly compare to the good health service in Europe or any other civilised country for that matter, even the public service is way better in taking care of the patients although you have to wait in line for it otherwise the private sector is available if you can afford it

I was hospitalized in Amsterdam and if it were in the USA, I would have sued the hospital for negligence. They demanded money on day one without a detailed itemized cost of each procedure and medicine. I had to fight with my US insurance for reimbursement. It took seven months for reimbursement and only reimbursed 50%. I was hospitalized in Bangkok Hospital and my insurance paid within 7-days for nice itemized bills for every baht charged). For each procedure they explained to me why it is needed and what happens if I don't do it or delay the procedure and no upfront demand for money. 

[mok199]

Good at taking your blood pressure ,weight and height at each visit with a cute nurse,after that it is downhill

[JamesBlond]

A lovely nurse once held my hand while I was having stitches put in. I call that good service.

 

[fruitman]

Thai hopital can sapee inli mai?? 

[justin case]

I'm sure they don't speak about government hospitals where you can wait half a day to be seen... if it is about big expensive private hospitals that charge more than a 5 star hotel, ok, then maybe, but excluding the cost...

[Bullie]

5 hours ago, onera1961 said:

I was hospitalized in Amsterdam and if it were in the USA, I would have sued the hospital for negligence. They demanded money on day one without a detailed itemized cost of each procedure and medicine. I had to fight with my US insurance for reimbursement. It took seven months for reimbursement and only reimbursed 50%. I was hospitalized in Bangkok Hospital and my insurance paid within 7-days for nice itemized bills for every baht charged). For each procedure they explained to me why it is needed and what happens if I don't do it or delay the procedure and no upfront demand for money. 

Dutch hospitals are about the best in the world, at about half or a third of the cost of a U.S. hospital. Coverage and payment are always very straightforward. If it concerns a life threathening situation you would be treated immediately, regardless.

I suspect a dodgy insurance that was not trusted by the Dutch hospital administration. An itemized hospital bill is ALWAYS provided upon request, for a small extra fee.

The fact that your US insurance only reimbursed 50 % speaks volumes.

[Trentham]

I have posted this in an earlier forum on medical treatment....................

 

I do not want to sound alarmist but be very careful. Ten years ago I went to Bumrungrad for a simple headache that had been around for a few days. I was sent to a neurologist who diagnosed early onset Alzheimer's and sent me for an MRI at a cost of 30,000 baht. In addition he prescribed several drugs - Stilnox, Tranxeme which is used to treat anxiety, acute alcohol withdrawal, and seizures and a number of other drugs that I cannot remember which were extremely expensive. Obviously it was not Alzheimer's because I am able to write this story. 

 

I also had laser surgery on my eyes at Bumrungrad for acute angle glaucoma about 6 years ago. Upon returning home to Australia I was told by an eye specialist that the surgeon had done the operation the easy way, into the lower hemisphere of my eyes instead of the upper and therefore I now suffer with glare very badly. I then had to attend the hospital for checks - at first weekly, then monthly for a long time and finally every 3 months. That too was very expensive 3000 baht per visit.My Australian doctor told me that was a blatant rip-off because once laser surgery is performed no more than one check-up is necessary. A second eye specialist has since told me that I have never had glaucoma at all. 

 

In addition, I once had very bad shoulder pain and went to BNH Hospital and was put onto a neck stretching machine every day for a month at several thousand baht each day. It was diagnosed as a pinched nerve in my neck. They tried to talk me into an operation on my neck costing  300,000 baht. Thank God I declined. I subsequently found out, upon another trip home that it was indeed an injured rotator cuff in my shoulder.

 

One time I was staying at Khao Luk and wanted to extend for 2 days. Air Asia would not allow me to change my ticket without a medical certificate. So, fit as a fiddle I went to the local hospital and told the doc I had a bad virus in my throat and a head cold. She examined me and told me I had acute pharyngitis. There was nothing wrong with me.

 

Also at BNH I had been treated for reflux for many months and in spite of presenting myself at the hospital at 1 or 2 AM several times with extreme pain in my abdomen nothing was ever done apart from giving me reflux pills and once, a pill to push up my rear for constipation which I did not have. In 2010 I returned home and went to my doctor for some reflux pills and he refused them and sent me for a CAT scan. It was cancer in my pancreas and I was immediately operated on and I am one of the 3% who survive that disease.

 

I can relate other less dramatic stories that have happened to me and also friends of mine in Thailand. It seems to me that medicine in Thailand is not a health service but an industry devoted to making money.

 

I do not doubt that Thailand has some good doctors but Bumrungrad in particular seems to be only interested in making money. PLEASE BE CAREFUL.

 

 

 

 

[dsj]

According to World Health Organization, Thailand is ranked 37th.

[animatic]

I lived in Europe a decade, specifically France, but also voyaged out and needed medical a couple of times.

 

I have lived in Thailand well over a decade, and while I do think well of the Thailand medical community, to even suggest it is better than France is ludicrous. But this is an appointed politician speaking, so salt shakers of salt grains must be taken.

 

That it is infinitely more affordable than USA is a given.

[Cadbury]

I have nothing but praise for the hospital I regularly visit in Bangkok. It is the Central General Hospital in Anusawari Bangkhen. 

 

[claffey]

6 hours ago, Ramdas said:

I don’t believe for a sec that what they’ve stated is entirely true, for starting the lack of english language throughout both in the Thai hospitals wether private or not plus clinics.

They can’t possibly compare to the good health service in Europe or any other civilised country for that matter, even the public service is way better in taking care of the patients although you have to wait in line for it otherwise the private sector is available if you can afford it ????

Actually, private hospitals like Bangkok Hospital, Bumrungrad, Phaya Thai etc are pretty amazing compared to hospitals with gigantic waiting lists in Europe. Many people die in Europe while waiting especially in cancer patients. Here, its straight to the specialist who will operate there and then if required.

 

Private Hospitals are not cheap here but many many Thais can afford private Health insurance. IPD coverage can be purchased for as little as 1000 to 2000 baht a month. If a working couple earn 30 to 40k between them then they can afford private healthcare. Especially as many working class Thais are not paying tax or rent as they live in their families property. 

 

Having experience private healthcare in both Europe and Thailand in my own personal experience Thailand is better. The doctors have often experience from USA or Europe in their specialisations too..

 

 

[Ramdas]

12 minutes ago, claffey said:

Actually, private hospitals like Bangkok Hospital, Bumrungrad, Phaya Thai etc are pretty amazing compared to hospitals with gigantic waiting lists in Europe. Many people die in Europe while waiting especially in cancer patients. Here, its straight to the specialist who will operate there and then if required.

 

Private Hospitals are not cheap here but many many Thais can afford private Health insurance. IPD coverage can be purchased for as little as 1000 to 2000 baht a month. If a working couple earn 30 to 40k between them then they can afford private healthcare. Especially as many working class Thais are not paying tax or rent as they live in their families property. 

 

Having experience private healthcare in both Europe and Thailand in my own personal experience Thailand is better. The doctors have often experience from USA or Europe in their specialisations too..

 

 

Not only I disagree but while you’re at it can you teach the doctors some English language skills ? It’s such a let down when you can’t even have a decent conversation ( about your health issue ) With whomever you eventually get to see..If I’m not mistaken you get to become a doctor in two years time in the States ?! During that time they won’t even be able to become fluent in American language not to mention proper English ????????‍♂️ Useless !

Edited September 10, 2019 by Ramdas

[MrMo]

I saw this somewhere a day or two back.   Yes, out of 100, Thailand was rated very highly for aspects such as medical infrarstucture, medicine availability, cost and a couple of other categories.   However, for professional competence it achieved less than 20 out of a hundred.

 

Must add that, 20 months back, the state health service installed a new hip in me and re-constructed a smashed-up shoulder at an up-country government hospital.   Yes, I paid for it and very reasonably priced it was too.   The surgeon and his team were brilliant and the follow-up support was there to get me active again.

[RichardColeman]

I cannot comment on if Thai hospitals are better than Spanish or French ones, but one thing i can say is you do not have to report to immigration you are in hospital in France or Spain !!

[Colabamumbai]

So why did I have to fight and argue with the vet for 3 hours this morning to have my dying dog put down? Short of calling the police and having him charged with animal abuse, he finally relented. Hard enough to live here and even harder to die. 

[Bangkokazy]

 

Edited September 10, 2019 by Bangkokazy

[BobBKK]

Tell THAT to the poor Thais waiting 8 hours to see a Doctor for 30 baht.

 

If so great WHY does Prawit fly to Switzerland every month?

[MadMac]

Nothing wrong with being on top for the handful of wealthy who can afford to pay for it. From an American perspective it must certainly look like a parallel universe ????

[Totoandlilly]

6 hours ago, ZeVonderBearz said:

And how much of the population have access to the fantastic health services in the country? 1%? 

Everyone that are paying the small fee of few hundred baht a month , many companies pay that fee for their employer.

[spidermike007]

I have a friend who was in an accident. She stayed in a public hospital for two days and nights. Her total bill was 30 baht. In the US? $25,000 and up. I visit an emergency room in a good, private hospital here and see a specialist. Out the door for under 2000 baht. In the US? $2,000 and up. 

 

A friend of mine needed a complicated operation on a broken femur. Bangkok Hospital quoted him 1.3 million baht. A private hospital in Bangkok quoted him 460,000 baht. A friend of his, is an orthopedic surgeon in San Diego. He worked up an estimate for him with cash discounts, for someone without health care. It came to $960,000. That was not a typo. He ended up having the procedure done at a public hospital here in Bangkok. Same surgeon as the 460,000 baht hospital. How much? 44,000 baht including follow up care. 

 

I will take Thailand's health care system and hospitals over America's completely broken system, except for the most extreme and specific situations. 

Edited September 10, 2019 by spidermike007

[Totoandlilly]

23 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I cannot comment on if Thai hospitals are better than Spanish or French ones, but one thing i can say is you do not have to report to immigration you are in hospital in France or Spain !!

What amazes is that Spain, a country with so much debt and high unemployment can keep their hospital standards up, if it wasn’t for rich European countries who are aiding Spain, then the country  would have been bankrupt, I lived in Spain from, 2008 to 2017, and the amount of people fleeing their country to go to a rich Northern European country to work and get a decent wage was many..

 

 

[Totoandlilly]

Numbeo picking up information from many sources.