Many private hospitals ready to offer quick Covid-19 jabs - expect to pay 2,000 baht a dose

 

FILE PHOTO: Small bottles labeled with a "Vaccine COVID-19" sticker and a medical syringe are seen in this illustration taken taken April 10, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

 

Sources in the Thai business media have suggested that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will likely soon give approval for private hospitals to offer their own Covid-19 vaccinations.

 

The hospitals say there is huge demand - as much as 10 million doses - for people to pay rather than wait for the government to get its act together and jab people for free.

 

Hospitals are queuing up to offer the service - and of course make money in the process. 

 

Some of the biggest names are among those interested.

 

They will present documentation to the FDA whereby they will act as legal  importers of vaccine. 

 

Among the hospital groups believed to be onboard are the Thonburi Group, Ramkhamhaeng Hospital, Bangkok Hospital (BDMS) and Kasemrat Group. 

 

All manner of vaccine will be available including Pfizer, Moderna, Sinopharm, Sputnik and Johnson and Johnson, suggested the sources.

 

Hospitals want to offer a variety to give patients choices.

 

A source at Thonburi suggested that they would buy vaccine at a cost of $17 to $40 a dose.

 

When the cost of sending it and service charges are added they expected to offer the vaccine to patients at 2,000 baht per dose.

 

Having the recommended two doses would therefore cost 4,000 baht or a little under 100 UK pounds or about $US 133.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-03-05

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

You never need to wait long to see the greed popping up in this country. Big money to make easily.

Instead of giving the hospitals 200% + profit i will wait to get mine thanks , already got an email from a hospital in Bangkok last month asking how many family i wanted to book for and immediately deleted it .

13 minutes ago, keith101 said:

Instead of giving the hospitals 200% + profit i will wait to get mine thanks , already got an email from a hospital in Bangkok last month asking how many family i wanted to book for and immediately deleted it .

I have no problem paying for this, let them make some profit it gets you in front of the line. I dont think 4000 bt is too much for this.

Shouldn't the government be using hospitals to distribute and administer the vaccines free of charge?

.... then I woke up ....

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

A source at Thonburi suggested that they would buy vaccine at a cost of $17 to $40 a dose.

When the cost of sending it and service charges are added they expected to offer the vaccine to patients at 2,000 baht per dose.

Yet the UK manufacturer is selling the vaccine at $5 a shot (OK $7.50 to South Africa).

Why can't the Thai hospitals buy it at the open market rate?

5 minutes ago, robblok said:

I have no problem paying for this, let them make some profit it gets you in front of the line. I dont think 4000 bt is too much for this.

 

The way I look at it, you can wait until who knows when to get the (probably) Chinese vaccine via the TH government program....

 

Or, you can get the vaccine of your preference in the pretty immediate future by paying a bit of money... The way things are looking, I'll take the get sooner, have my own choice, pay option.

 

I received a polling email from B'Grad over a week ago, asking if I would be interested in getting a COVID vaccination.

 

I wonder if they will also issue a certificate of vaccination as proof for any potential future travel.

8 minutes ago, Phuketshrew said:

Shouldn't the government be using hospitals to distribute and administer the vaccines free of charge?

.... then I woke up ....

Considering the ability of this virus to destroy countries economies...yes, it should be free due to the simple risk to the economy in the long run

16 minutes ago, robblok said:

I have no problem paying for this, let them make some profit it gets you in front of the line. I dont think 4000 bt is too much for this.

The 2,000 will be for the cheapest (probably Sinovac) and going up from there and from 3,000 + for the rest  but wont tell you that till your getting the jab .

I would pay to get the vaccine of my choice. I believe the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only one shot? But I’d probably go for Pfizer as it’s been around longer and appears to be very effective with few if any side effects. 
 

I wouldn’t want the Chinese or Russian vaccines, I just trust western medicines more ... both appear to be safe and work well.

23 minutes ago, robblok said:

I have no problem paying for this, let them make some profit it gets you in front of the line. I dont think 4000 bt is too much for this.

 

Agreed. But I will not accept the Sinovac. I prefer AZ. But I will not pay more than 2,000 THB. For both shots.

Bring it on, I would definitely pay a few thousand baht for a vaccine of my choosing.  Of course my insurance from the US will reimburse me for the hospital visit and vaccination.  Yes money to be made but then nothing is free.

26 minutes ago, robblok said:

I have no problem paying for this, let them make some profit it gets you in front of the line. I dont think 4000 bt is too much for this.

I expected a much higher price.

But wait for the final pricelist.

 

Turn up at the end of the day, when they have open vials that need using or binning, & haggle.  TIT ????

28 minutes ago, robblok said:

I have no problem paying for this, let them make some profit it gets you in front of the line. I dont think 4000 bt is too much for this.

Considering it’s free everywhere else, it’s not the best deal out there.

13 minutes ago, phetphet said:

I wonder if they will also issue a certificate of vaccination as proof for any potential future travel.

That is one of the crucial questions.

And so far this has not been finalized or discussed in depth.

 

 

Unless a shot guarantees entrance into Thailand without quarantine, it's not worth it.

 

So far one still has to go through quarantine regardless of vaccination status.

7 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Unless a shot guarantees entrance into Thailand without quarantine, it's not worth it.

 

So far one still has to go through quarantine regardless of vaccination status.

True, that would be my reason to do it, however something like that might be in the pipeline. Once you got your shot your safe too. Also not something to forget. Though the risk in Thailand is low. But mainly for traveling. 

There's not been a hint of the virus getting anywhere near where we live thus far and I cannot foresee any reason why that should change. However Anutin reckons that no one is safe until everyone is safe, so I'll happily await his kind offer of a free vaccination.

 

And if Sinovac is good enough for him, it's good enough for me.

 

Ah, except I'm 75. ???? Sorry I'll take that back!

1 hour ago, webfact said:

10 million doses - for people to pay rather than wait for the government to get its act together

Here ladies and gents is exactly what the government wanted and I have no doubt planned for, the private sector to make up their shortfall in vaccine supplies.

 

That said, I'm more than happy to oblige and as another poster suggested would opt for the JJ as its only one shot.

There was a story in Bangkok Post I read today. Saying no private hospitals have yet to apply for approval to distribute a vaccine. So if no hospitals have applied for approval, how can they distribute it?

nothing wrong with a private, i.e. for-profit, hospital charging over the cost of the vaccine.

 

I have insurance for free treatment at 3 good governments hospitals through my job.

but I choose to go to BKK Hospital for routine care because I like the efficiency and English language skill there

 

If you want it ASAP, pay the price, otherwise wait for the largess of the Government.

 

 

 

 

1 minute ago, swm59nj said:

There was a story in Bangkok Post I read today. Saying no private hospitals have yet to apply for approval to distribute a vaccine. So if no hospitals have applied for approval, how can they distribute it?

 

The privates want to. They've no doubt been making plans and inquiries in those directions...

 

If and when the government will actually give them permission to do so, and for what particular vaccines, remains unknown for now.

 

50 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Yet the UK manufacturer is selling the vaccine at $5 a shot (OK $7.50 to South Africa).

Why can't the Thai hospitals buy it at the open market rate?

Because there are too many middle-men in uniform.

And how will we know we are not getting an injection of some fake cr"p?

TITS!

6 minutes ago, fangless said:

And how will we know we are not getting an injection of some fake cr"p?

TITS!

From a hospital one would hope and think it was all above board. Never heard of a hospital pharmacy storing fake medicines or vaccines.

Hmm.

Didn't expect to have that much of a choice.

The Johnson and Johnson is only one shot.

So are they going to double price that one?

Aside from concerns about getting genuine vaccines even though Moderna and Pfizer might be superior they require a much more difficult storage. My initial reaction is to prefer a vaccine only needing basic refrigeration.

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

From a hospital one would hope and think it was all above board. Never heard of a hospital pharmacy storing fake medicines or vaccines.

They are buying on an open international market. Seems to me mistakes could be made unintentionally. As I already mentioned the special storage needed for Moderna and Pfizer add a risk element in any country arguably much more so in a country like Thailand. 

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

From a hospital one would hope and think it was all above board. Never heard of a hospital pharmacy storing fake medicines or vaccines.

We are in Thailand!

How many doctors/hospitals give a medical certificate for a work permit, driving licence etc for a fee with no examination?