Private hospitals ready to inject choice into Thailand’s COVID jab rollout

[webfact]

(Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

 

By Thai PBS World’s General Deskv

 

Currently, two COVID-19 vaccine brands are available under the Thai government’s free rollout, AstraZeneca and Sinovac, but recipients cannot choose which one they receive. Those who want to select a brand will have to wait until commercial “vaccine alternatives” arrive on the market.

 

The Private Hospital Association is now working with the government in a bid to present Thais with alternatives and boost efforts to achieve herd immunity.

 

How many choices for people who pay?

 

The association’s president, Dr. Chalerm Harnphanich, said vaccine brands offered by the private sector will likely be different from those in the free government rollout. Prospective choices include the Moderna, Novavax, Sinopharm, and Bharat Biotech brands.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/private-hospitals-ready-to-inject-choice-into-thailands-covid-jab-rollout/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-05-14

 

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[Surelynot]

More smoke and mirrors......we have gone from vaccines for everyone.....to vaccines for everyone, but foreigners last....to "walk in" centers on Thursday to no "walk in" centers on Friday........from no chance to no choice to having a choice and then............back to no chance and no choice........What country.

[Shuya]

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

in a bid to present Thais with alternatives

Always glad to see they are not racist and include all human beings. 

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

Quote

Though they haven’t arrived yet, demand is already growing for alternative brands. As of April 28, more than 2,629 companies had expressed their intention to pay for 921,817 staff to get vaccinated.

 

You know where you stand now. Just a million or two ahead of us. 

[herfiehandbag]

They are manifestly not ready - they haven't got access to vaccines, and there is no coherent information as to when they will have, or what varieties, or at what cost!

[Thomas J]

3 hours ago, Surelynot said:

More smoke and mirrors......we have gone from vaccines for everyone.....to vaccines for everyone, but foreigners last....to "walk in" centers on Thursday to no "walk in" centers on Friday........from no chance to no choice to having a choice and then............back to no chance and no choice........What country.

Yep and yet the world clamors for the governments to take control of the health care system.  It never ceases to amaze me how people who have had experience with their own government agencies back home and those here in Thailand somehow think that "this time will be different" when dealing with health care.  One only has to look at the immigration bureau, land office, and drivers license bureau to see how efficient and easy that they make it to get things done. But somehow believe that if you only put them in charge of healthcare it will be different.  Regarding anything with government Ronald Reagan said it best, governments view of private enterprise can be summed up as 

 

If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” 

If the private industry was able to procure the vaccines from the beginning, they would be available already.  If you mandated that the hospitals must publish their prices for receiving the vaccine including all associated "examinations & tests"  you would get competition from the various hospitals/clinics driving the cost down.  Instead you have government bureaucrats who have zero incentive to make things easy or available.  The private system is not perfect but it is infinitely more efficient and if you allow competition it drives the cost down to the lowest level.  

Edited May 14, 2021 by Thomas J

[Snig27]

8 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

Yep and yet the world clamors for the governments to take control of the health care system.  It never ceases to amaze me how people who have had experience with their own government agencies back home and those here in Thailand somehow think that "this time will be different" when dealing with health care.

I don't know where you are from but my personal experience of public health systems in New Zealand, Australia and the UK over my seven decades is phenomenal. I've also been fortunate enough to be looked after under reciprocal arrangements in Europe - equally phenomenal. 

[Thomas J]

Just now, Snig27 said:

I don't know where you are from but my personal experience of public health systems in New Zealand, Australia and the UK over my seven decades is phenomenal. I've also been fortunate enough to be looked after under reciprocal arrangements in Europe - equally phenomenal. 

I am from the USA.  The examples that I have are Medicare.  Medicare has more fraud each year than the combined profits of all the private healthcare insurance companies combined each year.  The other example is the V.A. which has made the news for decades for poor service and dying patients. 

Now your experience may be good but that says nothing about its expense and no way to determine if the private system competed against it that the quality of healthcare would be as good or better and the cost lower 

There is nothing, absolutely nothing the government runs efficiently.  They have zero incentive to provide cost effective services.  

With the private system, I get to choose my doctor, I get to choose my hospital, I get to choose which drugs to take and if I don't like my current selection, I get to change them.  With government run programs I can only receive what they allow.  In your instance that may be very good but it says nothing about at what cost.  

If I am a government and don't care about the expense I can certainly provide world class care.  My fiance is from Norway which has "free" healthcare  The government confiscates so much of company profits that a Big Mac, small french fries and a medium soft drink cost upwards of $17 USD or about 22 AUS.  They tack on a 25% VAT to each and every purchase.  So good "maybe" expensive absolutely. 

Personally, I prefer choice.  I see how the USA runs the postal service - bankrupt, Amtrak rail - bankrupt. social security retirement - bankrupt, Dept. of Education - US test scores declining, V.A - bankrupt and lousy service 

I have not delusions that some bureaucrat will have my best interest at heart.  They care not about what something costs, nor about its quality of the service they provide.  One of those two will always not be a priority.  The government will spend far more than necessary or it will provide lousy service.  

[pmarlin]

I'll wait and pay. It'll be the best 3000 baht i will spend since I' have been in this country.

[SheungWan]

29 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

I am from the USA.  The examples that I have are Medicare.  Medicare has more fraud each year than the combined profits of all the private healthcare insurance companies combined each year.  The other example is the V.A. which has made the news for decades for poor service and dying patients. 

Now your experience may be good but that says nothing about its expense and no way to determine if the private system competed against it that the quality of healthcare would be as good or better and the cost lower 

There is nothing, absolutely nothing the government runs efficiently.  They have zero incentive to provide cost effective services.  

With the private system, I get to choose my doctor, I get to choose my hospital, I get to choose which drugs to take and if I don't like my current selection, I get to change them.  With government run programs I can only receive what they allow.  In your instance that may be very good but it says nothing about at what cost.  

If I am a government and don't care about the expense I can certainly provide world class care.  My fiance is from Norway which has "free" healthcare  The government confiscates so much of company profits that a Big Mac, small french fries and a medium soft drink cost upwards of $17 USD or about 22 AUS.  They tack on a 25% VAT to each and every purchase.  So good "maybe" expensive absolutely. 

Personally, I prefer choice.  I see how the USA runs the postal service - bankrupt, Amtrak rail - bankrupt. social security retirement - bankrupt, Dept. of Education - US test scores declining, V.A - bankrupt and lousy service 

I have not delusions that some bureaucrat will have my best interest at heart.  They care not about what something costs, nor about its quality of the service they provide.  One of those two will always not be a priority.  The government will spend far more than necessary or it will provide lousy service.  

Do we really want this thread hijacked by Trumpers on a mission?

[Jimbo2014]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Private Hospital Association is now working with the government in a bid to present Thais with alternatives and boost efforts to achieve herd immunity.

 

[HarrySeaman]

32 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

If the private industry was able to procure the vaccines from the beginning, they would be available already.  If you mandated that the hospitals must publish their prices for receiving the vaccine including all associated "examinations & tests"  you would get competition from the various hospitals/clinics driving the cost down.  Instead you have government bureaucrats who have zero incentive to make things easy or available.  The private system is not perfect but it is infinitely more efficient and if you allow competition it drives the cost down to the lowest level.  
 

Not getting good service, or not being able to get any service at all from a health care system is different than not being able to afford to buy a Honey Almondmilk Decaf Pike Place Roast coffee.  Not being able to afford the coffee is an inconvenience, not being able to afford the health care can be ... deadly.

There is no real competition in the private health care system in the USA, it consists of sweetheart deals with insurance companies so that the two of them can split the money pie while the customers get screwed royally, and many people are unable to find affordable health care, or even any health care at all.

 

It is when the capitalist company, like the heath care system in the US, isn't well run or regulated that a government run health care system becomes a better choice.

[poskat]

"

However, so far, no one can say when alternative brands will be made available via the private sector.

 “At present, vaccine manufacturers can only tell us that they will deliver as soon as possible,” Chalermchai said. “There is no specific timeframe.”

 

In other words, more BS, just a distraction until the local AZ jab is available and then they can say no other type is needed...money #1

[Emdog]

"The Private Hospital Association is now working with the government in a bid to present Thais with alternatives and boost efforts to achieve herd immunity."

Makes sense

Hasn't got a snowballs chance in Samuii. At least until big payoffs arranged, which will be added to your bill. Not itemized, I assume

[Isaan sailor]

Sadly, it looks more and more like a vaccine vacation coming...

Edited May 14, 2021 by Isaan sailor

[Thomas J]

33 minutes ago, SheungWan said:

1 hour ago, Thomas J said:

I am from the USA.  The examples that I have are Medicare.  Medicare has more fraud each year than the combined profits of all the private healthcare insurance companies combined each year.  The other example is the V.A. which has made the news for decades for poor service and dying patients. 

Now your experience may be good but that says nothing about its expense and no way to determine if the private system competed against it that the quality of healthcare would be as good or better and the cost lower 

There is nothing, absolutely nothing the government runs efficiently.  They have zero incentive to provide cost effective services.  

With the private system, I get to choose my doctor, I get to choose my hospital, I get to choose which drugs to take and if I don't like my current selection, I get to change them.  With government run programs I can only receive what they allow.  In your instance that may be very good but it says nothing about at what cost.  

If I am a government and don't care about the expense I can certainly provide world class care.  My fiance is from Norway which has "free" healthcare  The government confiscates so much of company profits that a Big Mac, small french fries and a medium soft drink cost upwards of $17 USD or about 22 AUS.  They tack on a 25% VAT to each and every purchase.  So good "maybe" expensive absolutely. 

Personally, I prefer choice.  I see how the USA runs the postal service - bankrupt, Amtrak rail - bankrupt. social security retirement - bankrupt, Dept. of Education - US test scores declining, V.A - bankrupt and lousy service 

I have not delusions that some bureaucrat will have my best interest at heart.  They care not about what something costs, nor about its quality of the service they provide.  One of those two will always not be a priority.  The government will spend far more than necessary or it will provide lousy service.  

Expand  

Do we really want this thread hijacked by Trumpers on a mission?

Did I mention Trump in anything.  

I said and this report establishes the Fraud.  That has been going on for decades. 

Watch the video it is ABC News - Hardly a conservative media outlet. 


https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/medicare-funds-totaling-60-billion-improperly-paid-report/story?id=32604330

[sqwakvfr]

"mixed messaging".  At this point going back to Los Angeles soon just to get vaccinated sounds more and more like the sensible thing to do?  

 

First it was June?  Then maybe August?  What next June 2022 for healthy foreigners and of course "you must pay".  

 

It is already the middle of May and no definitive plan or timetable?  With the way things work in this country I doubt any foreigner who is under 60 and without any underlying health conditions will get vaccinated until  4th Q 02021?  I am under 60 and healthy.  This puts in me near the bottom of the list for foreign vaccination candidates in LOS?  

 

Meanwhile in the United States 12-15 years old can now get vaccinated.  The Governor of Ohio is now offering a chance at winning a 1 million dollar lottery prize if you get vaccinated.  Finally, good old New York City just rolled out a mobile vaccination van just so tourists can get vaccinated.  "Truth is stranger than fiction"? 

 

I have never been labeled as die hard American Patriot but I never thought this time last year things would be like this in LOS and certainly never in my wildest imagination that Americans are now being offered beer and/or Lottery Prizes just to get vaccinated.  

[Thomas J]

35 minutes ago, HarrySeaman said:

There is no real competition in the private health care system in the USA, it consists of sweetheart deals with insurance companies so that the two of them can split the money pie while the customers get screwed royally, and many people are unable to find affordable health care, or even any health care at all.

I absolutely agree with you.  The private health care system has colluded with government to eliminate competition.  Obamacare was never about AFFORDABLE health care it was to completely take over the system.  Perfect scenario, the government gets another huge bureaucracy to run, more federal employees vested to vote for bigger government.  The health care system gets a cut now of unlimited dollars from the federal government and lobbies for rules that benefit those with the biggest amount of lobbying dollars.  The insurance companies, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies all embraced 'UNIVERSAL" health care.  Why not.  It opens up the federal treasury for unlimited amounts of money and even more healthcare expenditures.  

You can bribe, lobby, and convolute if you only have to work with the government to manipulate the system.  It is impossible to control and influence the entire marketplace if you allow it to compete.  

If anything the moves to bettering the healthcare system should be to broaden the people in a position to provide services not concentrate it in the hands of politicians and bureaucrats who will construct a system that benefits them and those that pour money into lobbying. 

One only has to look at Lasik to see the effects of true competition.  A procedure that when started out cost upwards of $5,000 per eye.  It is now down to as little as $250 per eye and the technology has improved.  Why?  No third party pay,  Providers had to improve their services and charge less to get patients.  

With government the pharma companies lobby to get on "the approved list"  That shuts out the competition.  They lobby for longer clinical trials, more expensive clinical trials and the government obliges.  That keeps the old drugs on the market longer making them more profit and it freezes out any small competitors.  

This delusion that somehow concentrating the power to operate and regulate healthcare will result in lower costs and better care is an illusion.  It is a concerted effort to open the purse of the federal treasury. 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Private Hospital Association is now working with the government in a bid to present Thais with alternatives and boost efforts to achieve herd immunity.

The private hospital association has nothing to offer as the Thai government has blocked them from procuring anything.

Why don't they shut up until they can follow through with vaccines instead of empty promises now.

[malibukid]

2 hours ago, Thomas J said:

I am from the USA.  The examples that I have are Medicare.  Medicare has more fraud each year than the combined profits of all the private healthcare insurance companies combined each year.  The other example is the V.A. which has made the news for decades for poor service and dying patients. 

Now your experience may be good but that says nothing about its expense and no way to determine if the private system competed against it that the quality of healthcare would be as good or better and the cost lower 

There is nothing, absolutely nothing the government runs efficiently.  They have zero incentive to provide cost effective services.  

With the private system, I get to choose my doctor, I get to choose my hospital, I get to choose which drugs to take and if I don't like my current selection, I get to change them.  With government run programs I can only receive what they allow.  In your instance that may be very good but it says nothing about at what cost.  

If I am a government and don't care about the expense I can certainly provide world class care.  My fiance is from Norway which has "free" healthcare  The government confiscates so much of company profits that a Big Mac, small french fries and a medium soft drink cost upwards of $17 USD or about 22 AUS.  They tack on a 25% VAT to each and every purchase.  So good "maybe" expensive absolutely. 

Personally, I prefer choice.  I see how the USA runs the postal service - bankrupt, Amtrak rail - bankrupt. social security retirement - bankrupt, Dept. of Education - US test scores declining, V.A - bankrupt and lousy service 

I have not delusions that some bureaucrat will have my best interest at heart.  They care not about what something costs, nor about its quality of the service they provide.  One of those two will always not be a priority.  The government will spend far more than necessary or it will provide lousy service.  

in America my experience with Medicare has been excellent.  i get to choose doctors hospitals and everything.  prompt service. had an operation 3 years ago and it took one week between the initial visit and the surgery.  it was a 80K operation and i did not have to pay a penny out of pocket.  

in America you can get a vaccination at any pharmacy.  here it all BS

[Rampant Rabbit]

Where can I get an injection of  that herbal remedy.

[newnative]

'Ready'?  No.

[ftpjtm]

3 hours ago, poskat said:

"

However, so far, no one can say when alternative brands will be made available via the private sector.

 “At present, vaccine manufacturers can only tell us that they will deliver as soon as possible,” Chalermchai said. “There is no specific timeframe.”

 

In other words, more BS, just a distraction until the local AZ jab is available and then they can say no other type is needed...money #1

I just arrived in the US from Thailand. Got my Pfizer in less than 24 hours.

 

It was a bit of a struggle to get Pfizer, needed a relatively difficult to get appointment vs walk in for Moderna or J&J.

 

Vaccinations have been available here for several months and general word of mouth consensus is that Pfizer has the least side effects. Personally I had tingling in my fingers and very, very minor shoulder pain for about 30 minutes, then nothing. 

 

My guess is that Thailand will get Moderna or J&J first, because there's definitely less demand for it here.

Edited May 14, 2021 by ftpjtm

[sammieuk1]

Don't think they want choice more like they don't want the Chinese concoction ???? 

[DBath]

9 hours ago, SheungWan said:

Do we really want this thread hijacked by Trumpers on a mission?

It’s so refreshing to know we have people like you here to decide what should and shouldn't be discussed (next time let the admins and/or mods decide). I am curious as to how you made your huge leap to claim this post was written by a ‘Trumper on a mission’. Nowhere was Trump brought up in his post nor anything in reference. Reminds me of a comment I made to my ex-wife recently, “You really need to move on, I have.” And...before you even think about ‘going there’ with me, I’m not a “Trumper”. Thanks for baiting, though. 

[sqwakvfr]

I stand corrected.  This is not mixed messaging.  Technically speaking this entire Vaccine registration, rollout, June, August, October etc is a "Charlie Foxtrot".  Also, two other acronyms come into mind:  SNAFU and FUBAR. Some will know what these acronyms stand for?  

Edited May 15, 2021 by sqwakvfr

[ExpatOilWorker]

The clock is ticking for private hospitals to offer alternative vaccines to the poison the government is pimping. 

As soon as the door to free international travel is just cracked open people will start to fly out in droves to get a jab in Singapore or any nearby civilized country with a plan.

[traveller101]

20 hours ago, Thomas J said:

I am from the USA.  The examples that I have are Medicare.  Medicare has more fraud each year than the combined profits of all the private healthcare insurance companies combined each year.  The other example is the V.A. which has made the news for decades for poor service and dying patients. 

Now your experience may be good but that says nothing about its expense and no way to determine if the private system competed against it that the quality of healthcare would be as good or better and the cost lower 

There is nothing, absolutely nothing the government runs efficiently.  They have zero incentive to provide cost effective services.  

With the private system, I get to choose my doctor, I get to choose my hospital, I get to choose which drugs to take and if I don't like my current selection, I get to change them.  With government run programs I can only receive what they allow.  In your instance that may be very good but it says nothing about at what cost.  

If I am a government and don't care about the expense I can certainly provide world class care.  My fiance is from Norway which has "free" healthcare  The government confiscates so much of company profits that a Big Mac, small french fries and a medium soft drink cost upwards of $17 USD or about 22 AUS.  They tack on a 25% VAT to each and every purchase.  So good "maybe" expensive absolutely. 

Personally, I prefer choice.  I see how the USA runs the postal service - bankrupt, Amtrak rail - bankrupt. social security retirement - bankrupt, Dept. of Education - US test scores declining, V.A - bankrupt and lousy service 

I have not delusions that some bureaucrat will have my best interest at heart.  They care not about what something costs, nor about its quality of the service they provide.  One of those two will always not be a priority.  The government will spend far more than necessary or it will provide lousy service.  

 

[traveller101]

In response to Thomas J

You prefer choice and the costs involved seem not to bother you.

As a matter of fact, the highest costs for every service and medication in the world. Costs that millions of Americans cannot afford.

Next you are going to tell that this fact proves the efficiency of corporate America running Healthcare.

I agree that this system is highly effective in one respect - maximising profits.

 

[DirtyHarry55]

Why not just get Pfizer it's cheaper than Sinovac and no one wants to put that cheap Chinese stuff in their body it's not even "Who" approved
Of course we all know why they choose the more expensive Chinese product.
Once other vaccine are ready to pay for kickbacks that when it will arrive until then forget it.

Edited May 15, 2021 by DirtyHarry55