Multi-tier prices at state hospitals now in effect in Phuket

[webfact]

Multi-tier prices at state hospitals now in effect in Phuket

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

People wait at the dispensary at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town. Photo; Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

PHUKET: The multi-tier prices for government hospitals to charge foreigners higher fees are now in effect in Phuket, the Chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) has confirmed.

 

“The new pricing regulation came into effect on Sept 29 at all three government hospitals in Phuket – Vachira, Thalang and Patong,” PPHO Chief Thanit Sermkaew told The Phuket News.

 

“They can now charge different fees for the three groups of foreigners – migrant labourers (from Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam), foreigners staying on non-immigrant visas, and tourists,” he added.

Read more at https://www.thephuketnews.com/multi-tier-prices-at-state-hospitals-now-in-effect-in-phuket-73252.php#LxFmBIZmWaOXU1mI.99 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2019-10-16

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[RichardColeman]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

“They can now charge different fees for the three groups of foreigners – migrant labourers (from Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam), foreigners staying on non-immigrant visas, and tourists,” he added.

I think 'potential scams' would be a better word than fees

[smedly]

so first they are complaining about bills not being paid - now they are making it more expensive for foreigners to pay the bills

 

how long do they think foreigners are going to put up with this, I know people who now travel to India for medical procedures

[PatOngo]

I have a good mind to report this to the anti discrimination board!

[PatOngo]

Be warned, I went to the first afore mentioned hospital last week to get a few things checked, when the bill for 9,280 baht was handed to me I bucked and they reduced it to 5,280 which I paid and vowed never to return.  

[ChipButty]

They must have thought the International hospitals do it, so why not us?

[ChipButty]

3 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Be warned, I went to the first afore mentioned hospital last week to get a few things checked, when the bill for 9,280 baht was handed to me I bucked and they reduced it to 5,280 which I paid and vowed never to return.  

I would imagine they are thinking they can do what they want now

[PatOngo]

At least they are well placed to fix the damage of shooting themselves in the foot!

[BigC]

7 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Be warned, I went to the first afore mentioned hospital last week to get a few things checked, when the bill for 9,280 baht was handed to me I bucked and they reduced it to 5,280 which I paid and vowed never to return.  

So they  gave you a discount and you got angry

 

They should have charged you the full wack is thats  the case

[kotsak]

That's pathetic.. If I have a local health insurance why on the earth should I be charged more? Ah wait.. TIT

 

[PatOngo]

2 minutes ago, BigC said:

So they  gave you a discount and you got angry

 

They should have charged you the full wack is thats  the case

NO! I got angry, THEN they reduced the price!

[darksidedog]

I am firmly of the belief that charges should be made for the appropriate services which have been rendered, and those should be the same regardless of who you are and where you are from. The local supermarket operates on this basis and seems to stay in business after all. The national Parks have been charging foreigners huge mark ups for years, resulting in many foreigners avoiding the places. Keep gouging foreigners and then they can scratch their heads as to why so many have left or aren't visiting anymore.

[unamazedloso]

Racists! Thais get treated equally everywhere else so what is going on the Thais minds to think up such scams. This is a Thai only problem of greed, immoral behaviour and racism. Thailand is the number 1 hub of racism!

My wifes family are racist and even they are embarassed by these scams on foreigners.

[Beggar]

The easiest would perhaps be to indroduce a special VAT for foreigners for ALL goods and services. Perhaps 100 percent plus at least ????

[bearpolar]

I went to mission monday and was quoted a crazy price for a small procedure, the price is 5x higher than what i found on this forum from a few years ago and almost 50% more than a decently high class private cosmetic surgery clinic that offers that service on the side.

 

Which is weird since mission has always been really affordable.

Edited October 16, 2019 by bearpolar

[smedly]

40 minutes ago, onera1961 said:

As long as they keep brothels (aka bars) alive and pimp their poor young girls to 30-years older sex perverts for marriage. I cant think of any other country in the World where farangs have married more brothel girls than in Thailand. Can you name one please?

not something I study a lot

 

you seem to be an expert

[Denim]

About the only reason I can imagine for a westerner to want Thai citizenship is to turn up at a hospital with double pricing, flash my ID card and watch the subsequent coin slowly making it's way through their brains until it dropped that they could not milk me. 

 

At least ..............in theory.

[smedly]

it is blatant discrimination nothing more nothing less

[soalbundy]

wasn't Thailand supposed to be a medical hub for foreigners ?

[Denim]

2 hours ago, soalbundy said:

wasn't Thailand supposed to be a medical hub for foreigners ?

 

It was a typo. They meant snub.

 

Blame predictive text for that.

[Skallywag]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

it is blatant discrimination nothing more nothing less

So, it would be OK if a U.S. citizen gets a visa to Canada and while there demands free health care?

You realize Thais only pay 30 baht for government hospital visit.

Are you saying foreigners should only pay 30 baht and if charged more it is discrimination?

[Brigand]

Can you just imagine the venom and spitting if the UK came out with a policy that foreigners had to pay at the NHS and natives got it for free. You would be in court before you could say "hang on."

Edited October 16, 2019 by Brigand

[DaRoadrunner]

“This law focuses on foreigners who do not have any health and accident insurance. Even though the rates might be different (for different groups of people), the prices are now regulated by the government, so foreigners do not need to worry about being overcharged,” he said.
 

A wonderful piece of Thai inverse logic which translates into: ... The hospitals are not overcharging foreigners because the Govt now says they are allowed to overcharge.

 

What happened to the Dept of Trade investigation into hospital overcharging?

 

This country is giving me brain damage.

Edited October 16, 2019 by DaRoadrunner

[dimitriv]

35 minutes ago, Brigand said:

Can you just imagine the venom and spitting if the UK came out with a policy that foreigners had to pay at the NHS and natives got it for free. You would be in court before you could say "hang on."

 

Of course, even it would be like that it would not be free for UK tax payers. All UK tax payers will pay, even the ones who never visited a hospital in their life.

 

I know that at least in the EU it is common that students pay different prices for going to university. In The Netherlands Dutch citizens of the country pay about 2000 Euro, EU citizens about 10.000 Euro and not EU citizens about 20.000 Euro a year.

 

The way of thinking is: Dutch citizens already pay all their life for universities, even when they never go there. People from abroad never made that contribution.

 

With hospitals in Thailand you can apply the same way of thinking. The only problem is that they use this as an excuse to scam people with overpriced services instead of asking a fair price.  

 

 

 

 

[Scot123]

I can not believe that some on here try and justify this totally racist policy. If you can not see how wrong this is on so many levels you are so morally corrupt your beyond help. 

[ChipButty]

What about in the pharmacy? Over priced in there also?

[Chazar]

13 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I am firmly of the belief that charges should be made for the appropriate services which have been rendered, and those should be the same regardless of who you are and where you are from. The local supermarket operates on this basis and seems to stay in business after all. The national Parks have been charging foreigners huge mark ups for years, resulting in many foreigners avoiding the places. Keep gouging foreigners and then they can scratch their heads as to why so many have left or aren't visiting anymore.

problem is they will still be scratching their heads in 10 years and stil wont know the answer

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Can you feel the love?

[Deli]

Legalized rip off. Makes every visitor feel very welcome.

 

[legend49]

12 hours ago, bearpolar said:

I went to mission monday and was quoted a crazy price for a small procedure, the price is 5x higher than what i found on this forum from a few years ago and almost 50% more than a decently high class private cosmetic surgery clinic that offers that service on the side.

 

Which is weird since mission has always been really affordable.

Yes all overpriced and then they give the farang a 20% discount so you feel better but you are still paying above normal price!