What is it with Thais and Hospitals?

[bob smith]

why do thai people seem to check into a hospital for even a cough or a sneeze? why do they send their kids for the slightest ailment to stay in a hospital ward complete with drip and breathing apparatus.

 

when I was a kid i can count on one hand the amount of times I visited a hospital.

here it's like a family day out, oh i've got a cough lets go to the hospital.

 

can anyone shed some light on this matter? is it cultural? 

[scubascuba3]

I noticed this too, if i have any slight symptom of anything thai bird friend will say go hospital

[KannikaP]

And if multiple meds are not prescribed, they feel cheated.

[Gaccha]

The family day out to ER is, partly, a need to demonstrate family values of caring for others. 

 

Thais have remarkably little knowledge of the most basic medical conditions. They know nothing of the basic symptoms of mundane illnesses which most educated Westerners can immediately identify. For example, with tonsillitis, a Westerner knows of it, broadly understands its risks, knows how long it'll last, and knows how to respond to it (i.e. at what point to escalate their action and seek medical help and so on).

 

Thais know none of this. The most banal illnesses register to them as a potential existential calamity seeking the reassuring paternal hand.

 

Thais will even visit hospital because they've recovered (!) from some simple illness such as laryngitis and they want to make sure all is now well. I suspect, by contrast, a person attending ER in England with no symptoms would be told rather forcefully to #@£% off.

 

I must admit that my Thai social circles are the lower-elites. Presumably for the poorer, they simply wouldn't think of attending hospital with such frequency because of costs or time- costs; but I suspect they'd attend a clinic.

 

It is in the interests of all to keep playing this game. 

Edited September 8, 2022 by Gaccha

[bob smith]

10 minutes ago, Gaccha said:

The family day out to ER is, partly, a need to demonstrate family values of caring for others. 

 

Thais have remarkably little knowledge of the most basic medical conditions. They know nothing of the basic symptoms of mundane illnesses which most educated Westerners can immediately identify. For example, with tonsillitis, a Westerner knows of it, broadly understands its risks, knows how long it'll last, and knows how to respond to it (i.e. at what point to escalate their action and seek medical help and so on).

 

Thais know none of this. The most banal illnesses register to them as a potential existential calamity seeking the reassuring paternal hand.

 

Thais will even visit hospital because they've recovered (!) from some simple illness such as laryngitis and they want to make sure all is now well. I suspect, by contrast, a person attending ER in England with no symptoms would be told rather forcefully to #@£% off.

 

I must admit that my Thai social circles are the lower-elites. Presumably for the poorer, they simply wouldn't think of attending hospital with such frequency because of costs or time- costs; but I suspect they'd attend a clinic.

 

It is in the interests of all to keep playing this game. 

Excellent analysis my friend. Right on the money I would say! 

[Farmerslife]

If you want to see a doctor here it is usually a choice between a hospital or a clinic. The clinics can be pretty hit and miss, some good, some quite bad.  

 Both hospitals and clinics are run as businesses primarily and their objective is make a profit. Hence the ubiquitous use of drips and the over prescription of antibiotics. It all generates income.

 Mind you, it is possibly preferable to the alternative school of health care that believes pretty much everything can be cured by a visit to the local temple. 

[AsianAtHeart]

Ignorance feeds dependence on others and their knowledge.  The more uneducated one is about health, the more revering one will be of the doctors, and the less likely one will be to question the doctors or to think oneself capable of selecting a good home treatment.  Furthermore, as fear accompanies ignorance, the lack of education may cause some to assume the condition is worse than it actually is--causing an increased felt need to seek treatment.

[1FinickyOne]

20 minutes ago, Farmerslife said:

Mind you, it is possibly preferable to the alternative school of health care that believes pretty much everything can be cured by a visit to the local temple. 

when my FIL retired, he wanted to go to any crazy person w/a cure - though he was pretty much ok.. it was fun for a while watching the rituals and taking long drives into the countryside... one time he wanted to return to an old man who spit holy water all over him... when we got there, the old man was gone.. he was sick and went to the hospital...

 

I told my FIL if this healer goes to the hospital for a cure, then he should too... that was the last visit. 

[bob smith]

ignorance runs 

22 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Ignorance feeds dependence on others and their knowledge.  The more uneducated one is about health, the more revering one will be of the doctors, and the less likely one will be to question the doctors or to think oneself capable of selecting a good home treatment.  Furthermore, as fear accompanies ignorance, the lack of education may cause some to assume the condition is worse than it actually is--causing an increased felt need to seek treatment.

ignorance is rampant here, thats for sure.

[BonMot]

My wife's coverage is full in hospital but not nearlt6as good outpatient. Twice in ten years she's just checked in overnight and rec'd additional tests and the stay. She was feeling really awful and had vertigo.

[Worldplus]

There hypercondriacts...

 

Russell

[CANSIAM]

1 hour ago, bob smith said:

an anyone shed some light on this matter? is it cultural? 

A Thai lady many years back said its a "soft" culture here.........

[proton]

50 minutes ago, bob smith said:

ignorance runs 

ignorance is rampant here, thats for sure.

At least they know getting wet in the rain means mai sabai, rainwater not same ap nahm ????

[Boomer6969]

27 minutes ago, CANSIAM said:

A Thai lady many years back said its a "soft" culture here.........

Maybe, but IMHO it is more a profiteers' culture. When something is free they go for double dipping. But this happens not only in Thailand, in Europe way too many people go to the ER when a visit to the GP would have been more indicated. 

[IvorBiggun2]

1 hour ago, Farmerslife said:

 Both hospitals and clinics are run as businesses primarily and their objective is make a profit. Hence the ubiquitous use of drips and the over prescription of antibiotics. It all generates income.

So a government hospitals, and clinics objective is to make money????? Yer havin a larf.

[OneMoreFarang]

Back in Europe people visited hospitals when they were really sick.

 

Here, they go to the hospital for anything. And I do the same. Because here many hospitals have many doctors which can be visited. I.e. instead of going to an eye doctor somewhere in town and maybe to a skin doctor somewhere else here I go to just one hospital, and they have eye doctors and skin doctors and many other doctors from any variety.

 

And then, as far as I know, it's mostly up to that doctor if they give you some medicine and send you home or if they decide that you are in bad shape and should stay in the hospital.

 

And then there is of course the issue that many private hospitals want to make money. If they convince you to stay for a night or two, then they will make a lot more money than just for a visit. And if they can sell you an operation then it's even more money.

[lopburi3]

1.  They go to hospitals because that is where most doctors work from.

2.  Clinics will normally refer to hospital if any kind of testing beyond temp/BP/weight is required.

3.  Most government hospitals are basic needs and not that expensive so out patient is often a one night stay and longer stays are more normal than in the 'get out asap' found in US medical doctrine.

[misterphil]

Its step 3 of the medicinal process. 
 

Step 1.  
Go to pharmacy and explain symptoms to pharmacist and they offer over the counter medicines that would normally require a prescription in the Western world. 
 

Step 2.

If pharmacy medicine doesn't help then visit a clinic.
 

Step 3.

If the above don't work then its a hospital visit.
 

Personally I prefer the Thai health system than the UK as its a lot quicker and smoother.    

[Ralf001]

Social security covers the bill at the persons nominated hospital.

Social security does not cover the bill at a clinic.

[IvorBiggun2]

22 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Social security covers the bill at the persons nominated hospital.

Social security does not cover the bill at a clinic.

Definition of a clinic please. Definition of a persons nominated hospital please. Definition of social security please.

Edited September 8, 2022 by IvorBiggun2

[jcmj]

Well for me it’s pretty straight forward. Most health policies do not cover outpatient treatment or clinics. So it’s cheaper and better to see your doctor late in the day have them run tests and stay the night and run more tests in the morning. If everything is clear get discharged and your insurance will pick up the bill. If not you’re in good hands(hopefully) I’d do the same thing. No reason to be paying for insurance if you’re not going to get the benefits. Obviously everyone has their own opinions as to why and when to go, but it’s not really any of your concern. So let them be. 

[itsari]

A nation of hypochondriacs I guess .

 

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Definition of a clinic please. Definition of a persons nominated hospital please. Definition of social security please.

You don't know the difference between a clinic ?

 

Wow.

 

Here is a link to Thailand Social Security, it will answer you remaining questions.

 

https://www.sso.go.th/wpr/eng/benefit.html

 

 

 

[IvorBiggun2]

7 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

You don't know the difference between a clinic ?

 

Wow.

And you do know the difference between a clinic and what?

Your link doesn't work.   

 

 

Quote

 

Content is not available

No information found in the system.

 

 

Edited September 9, 2022 by IvorBiggun2

[Old Croc]

The very cheap Thai health system is based around the hospitals.

In most western countries people would visit their local doctor's clinic for minor ailments. Here, that's incorporated into the hospitals.  The fear of Covid probably causes bigger crowds in waiting rooms these days.

From my observations the few clinics seem to be more about follow-up treatment such as changing bandages or checking blood sugar levels.

 

 

[swm59nj]

The concept of medicine has changed comparing it to decades ago.  Peoples way of thinking has changed 

[AgMech Cowboy]

15 hours ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Ignorance feeds dependence on others and their knowledge. 

I think this can be applied to most of the above post. 

 

Thais go to the hospital because it's the only place they can use their government medical policy and in the case of my wife and son, who have private insurance, inpatient care is covered, out patient care and prescriptions are not.

Edited September 9, 2022 by AgMech Cowboy

[AgMech Cowboy]

1 hour ago, Old Croc said:

The very cheap Thai health system is based around the hospitals.

In most western countries people would visit their local doctor's clinic for minor ailments. Here, that's incorporated into the hospitals.  The fear of Covid probably causes bigger crowds in waiting rooms these days.

From my observations the few clinics seem to be more about follow-up treatment such as changing bandages or checking blood sugar levels.

Nailed it!! Thanks, Old Croc! (mostly, IMHO)

[Gottfrid]

16 hours ago, bob smith said:

why do thai people seem to check into a hospital for even a cough or a sneeze? why do they send their kids for the slightest ailment to stay in a hospital ward complete with drip and breathing apparatus.

 

when I was a kid i can count on one hand the amount of times I visited a hospital.

here it's like a family day out, oh i've got a cough lets go to the hospital.

 

can anyone shed some light on this matter? is it cultural? 

Yes, it´s cultural. It´s their way of taking care of themselves.

[JohnOFphon]

16 hours ago, KannikaP said:

And if multiple meds are not prescribed, they feel cheated.

Exactly! My girlfriend went to 3 doctors because the first two told her to put on a bandage..they third sold her a bag of pills...made her so happy. 

then she borrowed?? 10,000 bt to pay the medical bill.