Tried the Healthcare but appears to be down

[jwest10]

Hi  Admins
 

Just a quick question and will be based in Kanchanaburi Province in a village  and yes in rural area and the doctors clinics and local clinics.
Are these open specifically on a Saturday and do most of them have a walk in system.
Thanks and moving but told there are a few local clinics .
Thanks all for your help and sorry could not get in the health area.

[Sheryl]

I have no idea what the title of the thread refers to, what"healthcare" did you try and what was down (soundsl iek you mean soem sort of website?)

 

Government health centers and the outpatient departments of government hospitals are open only Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from about 8 Am to about 4 PM. However, many government hospitals (referring to the provincial level on up. not community hospital;s which are tiny and in some cases have only 1 or 2 doctors in the whole place) have an "after hours clinic" that starts around 4 pm wherein you can see the more senior doctors directly and have more time with them, for a higher (but still very affordable) fee. The "after hours" clinic in soem places also operates on Saturday morning. In Kanchanaburti the only place that might offer this would be the provincial hospital.

 

Hospitals are open to emergencies 24 hours but the capacities of small district hospitals  are very, very limited. For which reason they are not much utilized.

 

Government hospitals do operate on a walk in basis but will hand out queue numbers first thing in the morning (e.g. by 8 AM usually) and if you arrive much after that you may be told you have to come back the following day. This does not apply if you already hold an appointment e.g. if it is a follow up visit. Referring here to the provincial hospital and one other "general" hospital, Makarak in Ta Maka district. The other government  hospitals  in Kanchanaburti province are really tiny, few staff, would nto be unusual for there to be just 1-2 doctors and for these to sometimes not be available at all.

 

There is one military hospital in Kanchanburi, but pretty small. Fort Surasi Hospital located in the town.  Still, probably a good choice for routine problems and wait might be less than at the p ovincial hospital. This is because for the general Thai public, care at the provincial hospital is free but at the military hospital it is free only for the military and their families. As a foreigner you have to pay full fee regardless, so this doesn't factor into it -- provincial hospital or military hospital will cost you the same. But do nto go to the military hospital for anything really major, they do nto have equal capacities to the provincial hospital. 

 

As for the Health centers, these have just 1 doctor newly out of school, a very limited range of medications, no labs or Xrays etc. They are fine for preventive immunizations, lancing an abscess, suturing a small wound etc but nto for much more than that. (These might be what was meant when someone told you about "clinics").

 

You won't find much in the way of stand alone private clinics except in the provincial town and nto so many even there. And their capacities are very limited, most do not even have labs or ability to do Xray. In Thailand people mostly use the outpatient departments of hospitals, or the government Health Center,  as their clinic and I advise you do that as well.

 

I could advise better if I knew where exactly in Kanchanaburi you will be e.g. which district. And your age and whether you have any chronic health conditions. Kanchanaburi is not great in terms of medical resources, even the best hospital there (Phahon Phon Phayuha Sena Hospital) is just a provincial level facility and will not have the full range of specialists, they would have to refer complicated cases or people needing specialized care to a regional hospital. There are regional hospitals in neighboring Nakhon Pathom and Supanaburi provinces. So living there you need to be prepared for sometimes needing to travel to another province, or to Bangkok, for health care.

 

 

 

[jwest10]

14 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I have no idea what the title of the thread refers to, what"healthcare" did you try and what was down (soundsl iek you mean soem sort of website?)

 

Government health centers and the outpatient departments of government hospitals are open only Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from about 8 Am to about 4 PM. However, many government hospitals (referring to the provincial level on up. not community hospital;s which are tiny and in some cases have only 1 or 2 doctors in the whole place) have an "after hours clinic" that starts around 4 pm wherein you can see the more senior doctors directly and have more time with them, for a higher (but still very affordable) fee. The "after hours" clinic in soem places also operates on Saturday morning. In Kanchanaburti the only place that might offer this would be the provincial hospital.

 

Hospitals are open to emergencies 24 hours but the capacities of small district hospitals  are very, very limited. For which reason they are not much utilized.

 

Government hospitals do operate on a walk in basis but will hand out queue numbers first thing in the morning (e.g. by 8 AM usually) and if you arrive much after that you may be told you have to come back the following day. This does not apply if you already hold an appointment e.g. if it is a follow up visit. Referring here to the provincial hospital and one other "general" hospital, Makarak in Ta Maka district. The other government  hospitals  in Kanchanaburti province are really tiny, few staff, would nto be unusual for there to be just 1-2 doctors and for these to sometimes not be available at all.

 

There is one military hospital in Kanchanburi, but pretty small. Fort Surasi Hospital located in the town.  Still, probably a good choice for routine problems and wait might be less than at the p ovincial hospital. This is because for the general Thai public, care at the provincial hospital is free but at the military hospital it is free only for the military and their families. As a foreigner you have to pay full fee regardless, so this doesn't factor into it -- provincial hospital or military hospital will cost you the same. But do nto go to the military hospital for anything really major, they do nto have equal capacities to the provincial hospital. 

 

As for the Health centers, these have just 1 doctor newly out of school, a very limited range of medications, no labs or Xrays etc. They are fine for preventive immunizations, lancing an abscess, suturing a small wound etc but nto for much more than that. (These might be what was meant when someone told you about "clinics").

 

You won't find much in the way of stand alone private clinics except in the provincial town and nto so many even there. And their capacities are very limited, most do not even have labs or ability to do Xray. In Thailand people mostly use the outpatient departments of hospitals, or the government Health Center,  as their clinic and I advise you do that as well.

 

I could advise better if I knew where exactly in Kanchanaburi you will be e.g. which district. And your age and whether you have any chronic health conditions. Kanchanaburi is not great in terms of medical resources, even the best hospital there (Phahon Phon Phayuha Sena Hospital) is just a provincial level facility and will not have the full range of specialists, they would have to refer complicated cases or people needing specialized care to a regional hospital. There are regional hospitals in neighboring Nakhon Pathom and Supanaburi provinces. So living there you need to be prepared for sometimes needing to travel to another province, or to Bangkok, for health care.

 

 

 

Thanks so much Sheryl
Wow so much information and yes just want a form or rather a medical Certificate filled out and signed and fit to drive a car on my renewal of my Thai Drivers License and yes believe a few clinics in Danmakhamtia.
Yes did a search and yes the hospital came up but believe on my extension my family went to a local clinic and was just asking if any on Saturday or are they just Monday to Friday.
Really appreciate all the time and effort and thanks so much.

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, jwest10 said:

Thanks so much Sheryl
Wow so much information and yes just want a form or rather a medical Certificate filled out and signed and fit to drive a car on my renewal of my Thai Drivers License and yes believe a few clinics in Danmakhamtia.
Yes did a search and yes the hospital came up but believe on my extension my family went to a local clinic and was just asking if any on Saturday or are they just Monday to Friday.
Really appreciate all the time and effort and thanks so much.

Some DLTs (office that renews licenses) will only accept a certificate from a government hospital. Others will take from anywhere.

 

If they will accept from a private clinic. these are often open on Saturdays.