General Practitioner Doctors

[stament]

I'm looking for a GP nearer to me than the Loi Krok road one mentioned in the pinned Doctors topic.

 

I live near Don Chan (Big C) and wondered if there was a decent Doctors clinic maybe in Nong Hoi or somewhere close by?

 

It seems to be the norm in TH for people to go to the hospital when I'll but I would prefer to avoid that and go to see a general doctor first.

 

Thanks in advance 

[lopburi3]

Although there are a few standalone clinics in Chiang Mai of good quality GP is not a common profession here as almost all are specialized and hospital is best setting (out patient departments which are like large clinics but with specialists in different departments).  

[jagi00]

Maybe not close enough for you but Dr Morgan at HCMC (Health Care & Medical Clinic) on Hang Don Road opposite the Geriatric Hospital provides excellent service and highly recommended.

[saengd]

I've been in Chiang Mai since 2005 and I've tried lots of different health care options, sadly I can't recommend any stand alone GP's or family doctors. Most are promoted because of their English language skills but their medical knowledge can be less than good, many have farang partners who seem to be responsible for promoting them in a way that appeals to westerners. I agree with poster lopburi above, the outpatient department of say Chiang Mai RAM or Bangkok hospitals is definitely the way to go and the costs are pretty similar. Plus no appointment is needed, you get a specialist in the field relative to your ailment and test facilities are right there if followup work is needed. The only draw back is the cost of meds. which can always be refused and purchased elsewhere. 

[stament]

3 hours ago, saengd said:

I've been in Chiang Mai since 2005 and I've tried lots of different health care options, sadly I can't recommend any stand alone GP's or family doctors. Most are promoted because of their English language skills but their medical knowledge can be less than good, many have farang partners who seem to be responsible for promoting them in a way that appeals to westerners. I agree with poster lopburi above, the outpatient department of say Chiang Mai RAM or Bangkok hospitals is definitely the way to go and the costs are pretty similar. Plus no appointment is needed, you get a specialist in the field relative to your ailment and test facilities are right there if followup work is needed. The only draw back is the cost of meds. which can always be refused and purchased elsewhere. 

Thanks all for the posts.

 

Interesting where can you buy the medication from in the instance recommended above and do you need a prescription from the hospital itself?

[stephenterry]

3 hours ago, saengd said:

I've been in Chiang Mai since 2005 and I've tried lots of different health care options, sadly I can't recommend any stand alone GP's or family doctors. Most are promoted because of their English language skills but their medical knowledge can be less than good, many have farang partners who seem to be responsible for promoting them in a way that appeals to westerners. I agree with poster lopburi above, the outpatient department of say Chiang Mai RAM or Bangkok hospitals is definitely the way to go and the costs are pretty similar. Plus no appointment is needed, you get a specialist in the field relative to your ailment and test facilities are right there if followup work is needed. The only draw back is the cost of meds. which can always be refused and purchased elsewhere. 

Lanna outpatients is also good value. 

[Lacessit]

Rajavej Hospital opposite the Holiday Inn in Nong Hoi has GP's. I prefer the lady doctors as they are more amenable to answering questions. 300 baht for a consultation.

[lopburi3]

19 minutes ago, stament said:

Thanks all for the posts.

 

Interesting where can you buy the medication from in the instance recommended above and do you need a prescription from the hospital itself?

Most medications in Thailand do not require prescription so just get the name and buy at cheaper drug store.  There are a few exceptions, mostly opiates, that would require purchase from a hospital but most things do not.

[stament]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Rajavej Hospital opposite the Holiday Inn in Nong Hoi has GP's. I prefer the lady doctors as they are more amenable to answering questions. 300 baht for a consultation.

Very reasonable indeed

[saengd]

2 hours ago, stament said:

Thanks all for the posts.

 

Interesting where can you buy the medication from in the instance recommended above and do you need a prescription from the hospital itself?

The Dara Pharmacy, opposite McCormick Hospital is consistently the cheapest in Chiang Mai, it also has a huge stock.

[Samuel Smith]

I personally, prefer the 2 GPs mentioned here.  Both very competent & recommend both to friends.  I don't trust the hospitals as they are big business & make heaps of money recommending unnecessary tests & treatment.

 

If I have a problem I go to one of the 2 GPs & trust their recommendations if specialists required.

[saengd]

2 minutes ago, Samuel Smith said:

I personally, prefer the 2 GPs mentioned here.  Both very competent & recommend both to friends.  I don't trust the hospitals as they are big business & make heaps of money recommending unnecessary tests & treatment.

 

If I have a problem I go to one of the 2 GPs & trust their recommendations if specialists required.

It comes down to competency and the seriousness of the complaint that has driven you to see the doctor in the first place. The general level of medical training in Thailand leaves a lot to be desired, which is why patients actively seek out specialists who graduated from top tier universities and have overseas training as well. That's also why hospitals put doctors CV's on their web sites so that patients can check their experience. Personally, I would not take any medical problem to a family doctor because I have too much insight into the way the system here works plus I have my own horror stories to tell. But hey, each to their own.

[lopburi3]

4 minutes ago, Samuel Smith said:

I don't trust the hospitals as they are big business & make heaps of money recommending unnecessary tests & treatment.

You are treated by doctors in hospital the same as in a clinic - it is the doctors that ask for tests and provide treatment.  Most doctors prefer hospital setting as tests/MRI/CT/X-Ray and such are easily available and they can call on other specialists to check and review what they are not up to date on.

[Samuel Smith]

13 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

You are treated by doctors in hospital the same as in a clinic - it is the doctors that ask for tests and provide treatment.  Most doctors prefer hospital setting as tests/MRI/CT/X-Ray and such are easily available and they can call on other specialists to check and review what they are not up to date on.

We've got a couple of good GPs in Chiang mai.  I'll continue to vist them, thank you ????

[stament]

Loi kroy clinic seems to be closed, can anyone recommend an alternate GP in or close to the old city as the other recommendation is Hang Dong which isn't really close to the old city.

 

Much appreciated