Best hospital in Bangkok

[Sergach]

Which private hospital is considered the best in Bangkok. Thanks.

[Orton Rd]

People usually look for the best Drs for their particular need, often they work at more than one Hospital. Bumrungrad is often considered the best, also one of the most expensive and you can see many Drs from there at cheaper Hospitals as well.

[ThailandRyan]

I use BNH hospital.  I like my specialists there.  There are many western trained Doctors at all of the private hospitals.  You might want to check for the specialty you need and do a check of the doctors.  Prices are subject to what each may charge.  My endocrinology visits every once every 3 months for blood work and such runs me around 7400 baht and that includes all the lab work and doctors appointment.  Of course if you have insurance, your reimbursement should make it less.  My insurance reimburses me 90%.  Same with any meds the doctor prescribes that I get from the pharmacy.  You can buy most meds at the hospital or choose to go outside to a local pharmacy which is cheaper if it is sold over the counter without a prescription.

[JTXR]

I've been to both Bumrungrad and Bangkok Hospital.  They seem to me to be about equally good.  Equally expensive too, though.  I had one experience where the department I was using at Bumrungrad tried obviously to gouge me, and that left a bad impression.  Other departments, though, I've had only good experiences with.

Like health systems everywhere, the trick is finding a doctor (or doctors) you like and trust and a hospital that gives good value for money.

[Andyfez]

Best for what treatment?

[CharlieH]

Defamatory post removed.

[Crossy]

Important note when posting stories such as the above.

In Thailand a statement does NOT have to be untrue to be defamatory or libellous, it just has to have "caused damage" to the person or institution.

Also, libel and defamation are criminal offences here, you could get locked up and deported (not to mention ThaiVisa getting into serious grief too) for a bad review of somewhere.

Please take care when posting.

[berrec]

I think the general consensus is; the size of your wallet and the services you will be charged for!

[pmarlowe]

Depends on your needs. Bumrungrad is the most expensive but has the most extensive specialities. BNH is great if you know what you need, e.g eye, dental, derm, etc. and i find them to be less expensive.  If you need a major procedure i would start with either of them first.

[Bangkok Basha]

On 3/12/2021 at 8:21 AM, ThailandRyan said:

I use BNH hospital.  I like my specialists there.  There are many western trained Doctors at all of the private hospitals.  You might want to check for the specialty you need and do a check of the doctors.  Prices are subject to what each may charge.  My endocrinology visits every once every 3 months for blood work and such runs me around 7400 baht and that includes all the lab work and doctors appointment.  Of course if you have insurance, your reimbursement should make it less.  My insurance reimburses me 90%.  Same with any meds the doctor prescribes that I get from the pharmacy.  You can buy most meds at the hospital or choose to go outside to a local pharmacy which is cheaper if it is sold over the counter without a prescription.

My endocrinology visits at Bangkok Christian Hospital for the works (blood tests, physician examination) cost less than 2000 bahts. Perfectly well qualified MD with good English. 

[Bangkok Basha]

8 hours ago, JTXR said:

I've been to both Bumrungrad and Bangkok Hospital.  They seem to me to be about equally good.  Equally expensive too, though.  I had one experience where the department I was using at Bumrungrad tried obviously to gouge me, and that left a bad impression.  Other departments, though, I've had only good experiences with.

Like health systems everywhere, the trick is finding a doctor (or doctors) you like and trust and a hospital that gives good value for money.

I highly recommend BNH Hospital at the top level (compared to Bumrungrad, for example, where I was misdiagnosed for something that BNH treated correctly). 

[ThailandRyan]

4 minutes ago, Bangkok Basha said:

My endocrinology visits at Bangkok Christian Hospital for the works (blood tests, physician examination) cost less than 2000 bahts. Perfectly well qualified MD with good English. 

Of course it all depends on what blood work they do.  As a diabetic and with the meds i take it is an extensive panel including all of the lipid panels, and then the Vitamin D screening.  It may cost me what I stated but my US based insurance refunds 90%, it just takes up to 30 days / 4 weeks after I submit the paperwork via on-line filing.  True I could probably find a cheaper place, but the doctor I have goes the extra distance with me.  He even called my US doctor when I first started seeing him and got all of the files shipped to him and BNH.

[Tropposurfer]

I've had multiple inpatient and day patient experiences i.e. colonoscopies, skin cancers, and hip replacement at BKK and BNH. Both were superb. I have pretty good insurance coverage which in any country talks. I had seamless service at both.

[OneMoreFarang]

I will never forget a one page advertisement from one of those hospitals mentioned above at the end of the year.

They didn't write something like: Next year we will help x % more patients to get healthy.

They wrote something like: Next year we will make 10% more turnover (or profit, I forgot)

Many big hospitals in Bangkok are about getting as much money as possible out of their customers. If they can sell something more expensive they will do it.

I understand that top specialists want to get paid like top specialist. No problem. But what many of those hospitals do is just sell anything to make extra money. It has very little to do with helping patients to get well.

Many hospitals also sell medicine with extreme high profit margins. Think about adding a couple of 100% on top of the original price. Why? Because they can and too many people pay without questioning it.

[Zenwind]

Yanhee International.  I've been getting great all round treatment there for years.  It is now accessible via MRT.  

[dlclark97]

I use BNH.  Have confidence in my doctors.  Cardiometabolic center and also spine and joint.  Had surgery to replace blocked arteries from the groin to the knee and also a lateral bypass above the groin.  Purpose was to improve and balance the blood flow down each leg.  Great care.  If I have need for a future surgical procedure it will be at BNH.

[fvw53]

9 hours ago, Andyfez said:

Best for what treatment?

Correct....and the best doctor is the one who cured you

[SiSePuede419]

The best to take the money of snobs who think they're too important to wait at a government hospital?

All of them.

My wife used to work at a private hospital and all the doctors there worked at public hospitals, too.

If you want to pay more for the same doctors, then a fool and his money will be parted. ????

[DDBKK]

9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I will never forget a one page advertisement from one of those hospitals mentioned above at the end of the year.

They didn't write something like: Next year we will help x % more patients to get healthy.

They wrote something like: Next year we will make 10% more turnover (or profit, I forgot)

Many big hospitals in Bangkok are about getting as much money as possible out of their customers. If they can sell something more expensive they will do it.

I understand that top specialists want to get paid like top specialist. No problem. But what many of those hospitals do is just sell anything to make extra money. It has very little to do with helping patients to get well.

Many hospitals also sell medicine with extreme high profit margins. Think about adding a couple of 100% on top of the original price. Why? Because they can and too many people pay without questioning it.

Its an interesting point and one that should always be considered when dealing with any hospital in a foreign country who are known to run a model based on high profits.

I've had two quite interesting experiences with one of the private hospitals. Brother in law had a severe stroke a couple of years back sadly and was treated to remove the blood clots in the brain. to this day I still don't know what to believe because on the one hand it was clearly sold via my sister in law that upon having the operation to the brain it went well and we all had high hopes of a reasonably good recovery. Maybe not functioning down one side of the body but good enough to live a semi decent life. Not so. After eyes opening he didn't really progress any further from there and I couldn't help but feel that this was known all along and somewhat unethical because they were going to make a <deleted> ton of cash (circa 3million total bill in the end) by operating. Whereas if they had let him slip away they might have made a few K baht for the ambulance and admission. Still not sure on that one. Would a UK or USA hospital have been any different ? Perhaps not. At the end of the day it is down to the patient (or their nearest and dearest) to go ahead with treatment. No one is being forced but miss sold? perhaps. But he's 1 stage up from vegetative state and its no life for any person to lead.

On the other hand I've had a totally sound heart specialist at the same hospital tell me to stop wasting money coming to see him 6 months after having an mri because the UK hospitals would only sign me off as fit for work (avoiding liability should I drop dead in the desert) with the visit being part of the condition. He literally laughed and told me there was nothing wrong with my heart.  That was also a few years back and I haven't experienced anything bad happen since (touch wood) so I'm inclined to believe he knows his stuff.

Make of that what you will.......

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, DDBKK said:

Its an interesting point and one that should always be considered when dealing with any hospital in a foreign country who are known to run a model based on high profits.

I've had two quite interesting experiences with one of the private hospitals. Brother in law had a severe stroke a couple of years back sadly and was treated to remove the blood clots in the brain. to this day I still don't know what to believe because on the one hand it was clearly sold via my sister in law that upon having the operation to the brain it went well and we all had high hopes of a reasonably good recovery. Maybe not functioning down one side of the body but good enough to live a semi decent life. Not so. After eyes opening he didn't really progress any further from there and I couldn't help but feel that this was known all along and somewhat unethical because they were going to make a <deleted> ton of cash (circa 3million total bill in the end) by operating. Whereas if they had let him slip away they might have made a few K baht for the ambulance and admission. Still not sure on that one. Would a UK or USA hospital have been any different ? Perhaps not. At the end of the day it is down to the patient (or their nearest and dearest) to go ahead with treatment. No one is being forced but miss sold? perhaps. But he's 1 stage up from vegetative state and its no life for any person to lead.

On the other hand I've had a totally sound heart specialist at the same hospital tell me to stop wasting money coming to see him 6 months after having an mri because the UK hospitals would only sign me off as fit for work (avoiding liability should I drop dead in the desert) with the visit being part of the condition. He literally laughed and told me there was nothing wrong with my heart.  That was also a few years back and I haven't experienced anything bad happen since (touch wood) so I'm inclined to believe he knows his stuff.

Make of that what you will.......

Great comment, thanks.

Every salesman is happy to be in the situation of "you have to buy now, or else". And it seems lots of sales people in lots of hospitals like that system. I wonder if they get commissions.

Another less dramatic example was when I went with a friend to a hospital. He knew he had a heart problem and he saw a doctor. And the doctor decided he should make this and that test. He did what the doctor suggested. After the tests were done he got the bill and it was very high. While I waited I read some promotion material from the hospital offering exactly the same tests in a bundle for a special price which was considerable lower than what my friend paid. I showed this to him and he asked the cashier. She explained to him that he didn't request this special deal before he got the tests. That's why he had to pay the full amount. And no arguing changed their mind...

And I agree, this happens not only in Thailand.

 

[ThailandRyan]

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Great comment, thanks.

Every salesman is happy to be in the situation of "you have to buy now, or else". And it seems lots of sales people in lots of hospitals like that system. I wonder if they get commissions.

Another less dramatic example was when I went with a friend to a hospital. He knew he had a heart problem and he saw a doctor. And the doctor decided he should make this and that test. He did what the doctor suggested. After the tests were done he got the bill and it was very high. While I waited I read some promotion material from the hospital offering exactly the same tests in a bundle for a special price which was considerable lower than what my friend paid. I showed this to him and he asked the cashier. She explained to him that he didn't request this special deal before he got the tests. That's why he had to pay the full amount. And no arguing changed their mind...

And I agree, this happens not only in Thailand.

 

Last year I used BNH for a full day Wellness examination, but first I compared the promotions they had with what the other hospitals had.  They each have their own websites and each has a page dedicated to ongoing promotions for many different products they are selling.  Good point to make @OneMoreFarang.  If you buy a product here and then find it on sale, they will never reduce the price like they will in the US.  In the US if you negotiate a cash price for your procedure or appointment it is always cheaper than what they charge the Insurance companies.

[brianthainess]

On 3/12/2021 at 7:22 AM, Orton Rd said:

People usually look for the best Drs for their particular need, often they work at more than one Hospital.

They also work at govt. hospitals. Just saying.

[elgenon]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

They also work at govt. hospitals. Just saying.

Is the ability to access them the same?

[superal]

1 hour ago, elgenon said:

Is the ability to access them the same?

I believe you can access the same doctors , who work in private hospitals , in government hospital and at a much reduced cost . Example , the doctor who specialises in angioplasty in a particular Bangkok hospital is only there on weekends as Mon to Fri he works in a gov hospital . I was recently quoted 35,000 baht for a stent from a Thai gov hospital compared with the Thai private cost below  . A massive difference but a 5 week wait where in a private hospital there is no waiting ( maybe a couple of days ). Prices below similar to UK hospitals . 

CAG = cardio angioplasty 

   

Cost estimation
- CAG                                   38,000THB – 45,000THB
- CAG+PCI (1 stent)           180,000THB – 250,000THB
- Additional stent              100,000THB / stent
- By pass                             1,000,000THB+ including 7 days of hospitalization (Excluding the cost of CAG) as CAG must be done first as the doctor has to make an agreement with patient for this procedure post CAG.

- Standard ward room     25,000THB / night
- ICU / CCU                        50,000THB / night

[camble]

I recommend Bangkok Hospital Medical Center, they removed my stomach in an emergency operation, sometimes you can’t wait for a government hospital.  For two weeks, they treated me like a rock star (I.e. great drugs and hot women).

[elgenon]

16 hours ago, superal said:

I believe you can access the same doctors , who work in private hospitals , in government hospital and at a much reduced cost . Example , the doctor who specialises in angioplasty in a particular Bangkok hospital is only there on weekends as Mon to Fri he works in a gov hospital . I was recently quoted 35,000 baht for a stent from a Thai gov hospital compared with the Thai private cost below  . A massive difference but a 5 week wait where in a private hospital there is no waiting ( maybe a couple of days ). Prices below similar to UK hospitals . 

CAG = cardio angioplasty 

   

Cost estimation
- CAG                                   38,000THB – 45,000THB
- CAG+PCI (1 stent)           180,000THB – 250,000THB
- Additional stent              100,000THB / stent
- By pass                             1,000,000THB+ including 7 days of hospitalization (Excluding the cost of CAG) as CAG must be done first as the doctor has to make an agreement with patient for this procedure post CAG.

- Standard ward room     25,000THB / night
- ICU / CCU                        50,000THB / night

So more difficult access but much lower price. Good to know. Thanks.

I would assume the doctor would make more in a private hospital. Why would he/she work more in the government hospital than the private? Maybe some kind of government benefits?

[superal]

5 hours ago, elgenon said:

So more difficult access but much lower price. Good to know. Thanks.

I would assume the doctor would make more in a private hospital. Why would he/she work more in the government hospital than the private? Maybe some kind of government benefits?

Majority of Thais do not have the money for private hospital treatment and therefore attend the government  hospital where the doctors are fully employed , kept busy with a waiting list of patients . The same doctors then work at private hospitals in their spare time but who receives the high fees , the doctor or the hospital ? I do not know  

[elgenon]

13 minutes ago, superal said:

Majority of Thais do not have the money for private hospital treatment and therefore attend the government  hospital where the doctors are fully employed , kept busy with a waiting list of patients . The same doctors then work at private hospitals in their spare time but who receives the high fees , the doctor or the hospital ? I do not know  

Thanks. I would assume they make more.

[timendres]

I would also include Samitivej Hospital on Sukhumvit 49 on the list. It is considered the best hospital in Bangkok by many Japanese expats, and they have pretty high standards. My experiences with them have been excellent. As always, it does depend on the treatment you seek as to whether the have the best doctor available.

[Ashaz666]

I went to Bangkok Heart Hospital a few years ago for a coronary artery CT scan because their machines were better than the UK's.

In theory.

It cost around 26,000 baht and the results "showed" multiple narrowings of the arteries all over the place and up to 45% narrowed specific areas.

 

It put the fear of God into me as my dad had died of a heart attack at the same age but they said they don't treat it until it got to over a 50% blockage.

I couldn't wait to get back to the UK and have a real angiogram which showed that not one of the narrowings existed.

I wonder to this day what would have happened if they said there was a 51% blockage and I needed a stent and if they went to do it would they have admitted there was no need or just carried on for no reason and put one in just to save face?

I complained to them but, of course, I was just ignored.