Prices at private hospitals in Bangkok

[JTXR]

Over the past few months I've gone to Bumrungrad a couple of times for different things.  The prices there were WAY more than they were several years ago.  Does anyone know how the prices in general are at Bangkok Hospital or Sukhumvit Hospital, compared to Bumrungrad?

 

Thanks.

[ChaiyaTH]

It so much depends for what you are going I learned. I got surgery cheaper at a private hospital than my usual semi private one. Best to just walk in and check.

[OneMoreFarang]

Bumrungrad is definitely one of the most expensive.

If you compare prices be careful. Sometimes hospital offer package prices and even normally expensive hospitals seems to have reasonable package prices. But if you need anything extra it gets very fast very expensive.

 

Once I walked in to Bumrungrad with a friend with a heart problem. He didn't ask for the cost, did a couple of tests and then they charged him a lot of money (I think nearly 100,000THB). I was waiting for him and had time to look at some brochures. One offered a heart checkup with similar test which he just made. The price was less than half of what he paid. When he showed me his bill and I showed him the promotion he asked them about that package and the special price. They answered something like: You should have asked for that package then you would have paid that special price...

Obviously it was in part his fault that he didn't ask. I mention it here as a reminder to be very careful.

[AndyAndyAndy]

Went to Bumrungrad with poping sound in ear. After 3 minutes with doctor I got prescribed 170 Baht nasal spray. And get billed 20 000 Baht. I'm having wet dream about running a business like that!

[orchis]

I don't go to Bumrungrad any longer, their prices are gauged at fortunes of Saudis who come for medical tourism.
For other hospitals it doesn't hurt to call them to get an idea of price range.

[uhuh]

To OP:

 

Bangkok Hospital won't be much cheaper. It depends. 

Sukhumvit Hospital is a lot cheaper, maybe half, but you may get what you pay for. It's generally an ok hospital,  but it really depends on what kind of examination or treatment you are looking for. 

 

I give you an example: if you come for pneumococcal vaccination Bumrungrad will tell you they have 2 kinds and they recommend both. 

Cheaper hospitals may have only one (maybe never heard the another one), and this one is also cheaper as the same one at Bumrungrad.

It turns out that, for many patients, Bumrungrad is right,  and getting only one vaccine is a waste of money - it depends on the patient, though. 

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

I stopped using BNH (Soi Convent) when I found that Bumrungrad was cheaper.

I do not know about Bangkok hospital in Bangkok, but the Samui version is outragously expensive.

[Sheryl]

Prices have increased significantly in all the private hospitals in the last few years, but for most things, Bumrungrad costs a bit more.

 

Less expensive private hospitals would be: St Louis, Bangkok Christian, Camellian, Phyathai etc.

 

In any hospital need to chose the doctor with care, in fact I advise choosing the doctor, not the hospital (unless the preferred doctor is at more than one hospital as is often the case - in that case see them at the less expensive option).

[samsensam]

 

i've always used the adventist mission hospital, though not for anything serious. always found them to provide professional health care, efficient, good communicators in english, i was once seen by a native speaker doctor, and the cost reasonable.

Edited July 26, 2020 by samsensam

[uncleP]

I go to Thonburi hospital just near Siriraj.( Thailand's top teaching hospital) The best specialists are the same but much cheaper. Bumramgrad is a tourist trap and should be avoided. 

[uncleP]

6 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

i've always used the adventist mission hospital, though not for anything serious. always found them to provide professional health care, efficient, good communicators in english, i was once seen by a native speaker doctor, and the cost reasonable.

They are rubbish.( insert much stronger word) I used them when I had free insurance . Never again

Edited July 26, 2020 by uncleP

[OneMoreFarang]

29 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

In any hospital need to chose the doctor with care, in fact I advise choosing the doctor, not the hospital (unless the preferred doctor is at more than one hospital as is often the case - in that case see them at the less expensive option)

That is obviously good advice.

But how to find out if a doctor is good?

I guess for some operations there are well known specialists. But just in general, how can we distinguish between a good and not so good doctor.

Recently my eyes hurt a little. I went to a hospital and they assigned a doctor to me. She told me I have a eye virus infection and gave me some medication. At home I checked and the medication was for a bacterial infection...

Is there an easy way to identify a good doctor?

[Sheryl]

Depends on what you mean by easy.

 

Most private hospitals list Dr CVs on their website, you look for someone with training in a western country (real training, not a short course - a residency or fellowship). Other points to look for are a professorship/asst professorship (not essential but a good sign) and relevant clinical focus (this can be a bit difficult for a lay person to do). I also look for people who have published in international peer reviewed journals, especially when the need is for something highly specialized in which case I look at who has published research pertinent to the issue. Also active membership in relevant professional organizations e.g. giving presentations at professional conferences.

 

You can always post here and ask, I've been doing this for many years and in addition to the process described above I have made note of member feedback.

 

BTW there is no medication for viral eye infections and it is common practice to give an antibacterial just to protect against bacterial superinfection.

 

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, uncleP said:

They are rubbish.( insert much stronger word) I used them when I had free insurance . Never again

 

in any hospital there are some substandard doctors, no exception so you can have bad expereiences anywhere and choice of hospital will not protect against that.

 

There are some very good doctors at the Adventist hospital. One in particular that is IMO the best GP to be found in Bangkok.

[JTXR]

21 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Less expensive private hospitals would be: St Louis, Bangkok Christian, Camellian, Phyathai etc.

Someone else recommended St Louis to me, but their website is in Thai with just an inconsistent smidgen of English in some places, and no option I can find to switch to an English version.  It's a shame.

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, JTXR said:

Someone else recommended St Louis to me, but their website is in Thai with just an inconsistent smidgen of English in some places, and no option I can find to switch to an English version.  It's a shame.

Frustrating, I agree. But if you opwn it in Google chrome it will translate for you

 

[Oxx]

On 7/26/2020 at 9:14 PM, Sheryl said:

BTW there is no medication for viral eye infections

 

Really? I thought acyclovir ophthalmic was used for herpes eye infections.

[asiaexpat]

My daughter worked in marketing a Bumrungrad and knows most of the doctors and what other hospitals they work at (most doctors work at several hospitals.) She tells me Bumrungrad is the most expensive for most treatments but they have top doctors in most fields. I select the doctor based recommendations from her and my nephew who is doctor and go to the cheapest hospital the doctor works at. I never use Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospital unless necessary to get the doctor I select. I prefer much cheaper hospitals like Piyavate or Ramkamhaeng Hospital. 

[Eindhoven]

On 7/26/2020 at 11:06 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

That is obviously good advice.

But how to find out if a doctor is good?

I guess for some operations there are well known specialists. But just in general, how can we distinguish between a good and not so good doctor.

Recently my eyes hurt a little. I went to a hospital and they assigned a doctor to me. She told me I have a eye virus infection and gave me some medication. At home I checked and the medication was for a bacterial infection...

Is there an easy way to identify a good doctor?

 

Yes, the medicine you were given was to alleviate certain symptoms, not to eliminate the virus. Possibly something like Dex-Oph.

The virus has to run it's course. So you were likely given the correct diagnosis and treatment.

[Sheryl]

14 hours ago, Oxx said:

 

Really? I thought acyclovir ophthalmic was used for herpes eye infections.

 

for herpes yes, but nothing for ordinary viral conjunctivits which is what I am assuming he had

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, asiaexpat said:

My daughter worked in marketing a Bumrungrad and knows most of the doctors and what other hospitals they work at (most doctors work at several hospitals.) She tells me Bumrungrad is the most expensive for most treatments but they have top doctors in most fields. I select the doctor based recommendations from her and my nephew who is doctor and go to the cheapest hospital the doctor works at. I never use Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospital unless necessary to get the doctor I select. I prefer much cheaper hospitals like Piyavate or Ramkamhaeng Hospital. 

 

This is basically what I do, both for myself and in giving recommendations to posters.  The best thing about Bumrungrad is its excellent website (easily the best of any hospital here) and very large number and range of specialists.  in combination these factors make it easy to find a suitable doctor there. But the place is very expensive and so where possible to see one of their doctors at a different private hospital, I do so unless there is a pressing need to schedule the visit on a day the doc is only at Bumrungrad.

 

There are some specialists there who are not at any other private hospital and even a few -- very good ones -- that are nto at any other hospital period.  So as annoying as it is to pay extra for all the "frills" of the place -- none of which do I value -- I end up doing it from time to time.

[dddave]

I personally have had what I consider to be excellent treatment for a number of issues at Bangkok Christian Hospital on Silom, between Sala Daeng & Chon Nonsi BTS stations. 

Though it's an older facility without the "Five-Star" amenities of B-grad, Samitivej and BNH, it's staff is as professional and skilled as any other hospital I have used in Bangkok.

Prices at BCH are significantly lower that the top tier private hospitals.

Their system is "Walk-In", no appointments needed for consultations, just be sure to bring your passport.

[jayboy]

Some useful pointers here from Sheryl and others.As to Bumrumgrad and other expensive hospitals when contemplating a significantly pricey treatment, it's best to let one's insurance company negotiate on one's behalf - although I fully appreciate it's often not practical/possible to do so in the event of an emergency.

 

Realistically, a proven Covid 19 vaccine is unlikely to be widely available (if at all) until late next year.Even when available there will in my view be lower numbers of foreigners from the Middle East and elsewhere visiting Thailand for medical treatment.This will be mostly due to a long term disinclination to travel by air and also because of stringent Thailand entry conditions.If I am right, hospitals like Bumrungrad will need to be more transparent/competitive on pricing.

[Sheryl]

11 minutes ago, jayboy said:

Some useful pointers here from Sheryl and others.As to Bumrumgrad and other expensive hospitals when contemplating a significantly pricey treatment, it's best to let one's insurance company negotiate on one's behalf - although I fully appreciate it's often not practical/possible to do so in the event of an emergency.

 

Realistically, a proven Covid 19 vaccine is unlikely to be widely available (if at all) until late next year.Even when available there will in my view be lower numbers of foreigners from the Middle East and elsewhere visiting Thailand for medical treatment.This will be mostly due to a long term disinclination to travel by air and also because of stringent Thailand entry conditions.If I am right, hospitals like Bumrungrad will need to be more transparent/competitive on pricing.

 

One might hope...but I suspect they are busy working on plans/packages for Middle Eastern patients and their families to come in as medical tourists. Coming to Bangkok for (government paid) medical care and getting in some shopping and "other" past times on the side is very, very popular with this demographic. I suspect the main hold up now is ban on commercial flights but I wouldn't be surprised if there are efforts underway to establish charter medical tourist flights, the patient volume is large enough to support it. We shall see. ..