Government hospitals - Cancer - Thailand

[toast1]

We've used the Udon Thani, government cancer hospital, which was excellent.
Cheap and easy to get an appointment.

 

And also the government hospital in Nong Khai, which has an oncologist.

 

Couldn't find any Government cancer hospitals in BKK or nearby, do they exist?

How easy is it to be treated in a government hospital in BKK or around Pattaya?
We'll be looking for a government hospital around these areas that has an oncologist available.

As easy as in Issan?


Thank you

 

 

[Sheryl]

There is a government cancer hospital in Chonburi.

 

In Bangkok, all the major (tertiary) government  hospitals treat cancer and have oncologists.  Some have specialty centers for treatment of specific cancers.  I could advise more specifically if I knew what type and stage of cancer.

 

Compared to upcountry the hospitals in Bangkok are more crowded abd likely to have longer wait lists. But on plus side have more experienced doctors and are better equipped (hence the larger number of patients coming).

 

Some also  have dual pricing for foreigners.

 

 

 

 

[toast1]

Thanks

Stage 4 cancer.

 

In Issan, no double charging.

 

 

Edited April 9, 2023 by toast1

[Sheryl]

Stage 4 cancer of what? 

 

 

[digbeth]

There are about 11 government hospitals in Bangkok that has oncology that accepts referrals

For Thais, they'd first get referrals from their local hospitals, but there is a scheme where they can take the referral and go to any hospital of their choosing in this list, The local hospital might do the  diagnosis and surgery first and only transfer to the hospital in this list for Chemo/Hormone Therapy 

The 11 hospitals in Bangkok are Siriraj, Chula, Ramathibodi, Rajvidhi, National Cancer Institute, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, Monkujklao Hospital, Vajira Payabal, Chullbhorn, Bangkok Cancer Center and Wattana Bhosot

[toast1]

Thanks for the info

Most useful

 

its Mesothelioma.

 

I know what chemo I need, what medication has been recommended, so was hoping to be able to ask a govt hospital to administer the chemo as per the instructions of my oncologist back home.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2023 by toast1

[Sheryl]

35 minutes ago, toast1 said:

Thanks for the info

Most useful

 

its Mesothelioma.

 

I know what chemo I need, what medication has been recommended, so was hoping to be able to ask a govt hospital to administer the chemo as per the instructions of my oncologist back home.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

For that, I would suggest Chulalongkorn Hospital's Cancer Center

 

https://chulalongkornhospital.go.th/kcmh/en/ec/ศูนย์ความเป็นเลิศทางก-17/

 

Mesothelioma is quite rare in Thailand. Your knowing what chemo you need and getting an oncologist at a hospital to order it are not exactly the same thing. From my experience, in a situation like this you stand the best chance of at Chula and the worst chance at Chonburi (would probably get it eventually there but likely a lot of runaround at first.)

[crouchpeter]

Usually, with mesothelioma, your lifespan is 18 months to 2 years. No cure, of course, but RNS Hospital in Sydney, ran a trial, and some patients were lasting an extra couple of years. Don't remember the drug, but might have been KERTRUDA. (sic).

[toast1]

On 4/10/2023 at 7:00 PM, Sheryl said:

For that, I would suggest Chulalongkorn Hospital's Cancer Center

 

https://chulalongkornhospital.go.th/kcmh/en/ec/ศูนย์ความเป็นเลิศทางก-17/

 

Mesothelioma is quite rare in Thailand. Your knowing what chemo you need and getting an oncologist at a hospital to order it are not exactly the same thing. From my experience, in a situation like this you stand the best chance of at Chula and the worst chance at Chonburi (would probably get it eventually there but likely a lot of runaround at first.)

Sheryl shall I take it that you've been to these hospitals and this comes from your experience?

I know what medication I need (Gemcitabine and Ramucirumab), so its not a complicated case.

Did you have a bad experience of delay or poor service at Chonburi?


Thanks

 

[Sheryl]

5 hours ago, toast1 said:

Sheryl shall I take it that you've been to these hospitals and this comes from your experience?

I know what medication I need (Gemcitabine and Ramucirumab), so its not a complicated case.

Did you have a bad experience of delay or poor service at Chonburi?


Thanks

 

Again, you knowing what medication you need does not mean a doctor at a hospital will immediately prescribe it to you.

 

Chonburi is a rural regional hospital, staffed mainly by interns and residents. It is large, crowded, busy, very bureaucratic and  totally unused to a patient showing up with diagnosis from  somewhere other than their own network of government hospitals.   You risk being made to go through the whole diagnostic process all over, or at least a lot of delay.

 

Chula is also crowded and busy but as a tertiary university hospital gets a lot of patients from elsewhere and it will not be such an anomaly for them.

 

Just my advice, based on decades of referring people to Thai hospitals and their feedback.

[PPMMUU]

In Bangkok, there is a dedicated government hospital for cancer patients known as the National Cancer Institute. It is conveniently situated adjacent to Ramathibodi Hospital and in close proximity to Victory Monument.

Besides this facility, there are several other excellent options for government hospitals that specialize in cancer treatment in Bangkok, including renowned university teaching hospitals such as Chulalongkorn, Ramathibodi, Siriraj, Vajira, and more, as recommended by many others.

[toast1]

Thanks for the information.

 

I went to Chulabhom Cancer Hospital, they were very good, but said that it would take a few weeks to get the medication I needed.

 

Is there a private hospital you have a good experience with for cancer?

I've heard stories of people being over-charged at these hospitals, and thought a government hospital might be better.

 

Is treatment at government hospitals lesser quality?

 

 

Thanks

 

Edited April 21, 2023 by toast1

[itsari]

20 minutes ago, toast1 said:

Thanks for the information.

 

I went to Chulabhom Cancer Hospital, they were very good, but said that it would take a few weeks to get the medication I needed.

 

Is there a private hospital you have a good experience with for cancer?

I've heard stories of people being over-charged at these hospitals, and thought a government hospital might be better.

 

Is treatment at government hospitals lesser quality?

 

 

Thanks

 

Most specialist in private hospitals work for the government hospitals full time .

Enough said 

[Sheryl]

Quality is not the problem in (tertiary) government hospitals.  But things move slowly in them and long waits and a lot of red tape is the norm.

 

There is a 4-5 fold cost difference between government hospitals and private hospitals.

 

As the type of cancer you have is very rare in Thailand you would do better to go to the Chulalongkorn Cancer Center as they are more likely to have the drugs on hand. 

 

 

 

[Don Chance]

'According to the study, Thailand has used an estimated 60,000 to 180,000 metric tons of asbestos annually through the past 30 years. "

 

I would think this type of cancer is quite common. Perhaps misdiagnosed.

[Don Chance]

"Almost 50% of the general population in Thailand will die with at least traces of asbestos in their lungs, based on one recent study.

Asbestos fibers were discovered in the lungs of 48.5% of those who were part of a one-year, post-mortem analysis done by the Department of Pathology at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University in Bangkok.

The toxic mineral was found during 97 of the 200 autopsies that were performed at the hospital without regard to occupation, age, sex or cause of death."

 

I am guessing the OP is Australian, worked with asbestos in the past, might have smoked, in his 70's.

[norbra]

1 hour ago, Don Chance said:

"Almost 50% of the general population in Thailand will die with at least traces of asbestos in their lungs, based on one recent study.

Asbestos fibers were discovered in the lungs of 48.5% of those who were part of a one-year, post-mortem analysis done by the Department of Pathology at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University in Bangkok.

The toxic mineral was found during 97 of the 200 autopsies that were performed at the hospital without regard to occupation, age, sex or cause of death."

 

I am guessing the OP is Australian, worked with asbestos in the past, might have smoked, in his 70's

As a teenaged smoker, in the mid 1950's I frequently worked in Australian brown coal fired power stations where all high pressure vessels and ducting were encased in asbestos and coal dust everywhere.. I hand crafted asbestos moulds to facilitate the renewal of white metal bearings in rotating, load bearing motor and generator shafts. I also installed woven asbestos cushions to fire doors in many commercial buildings.

Thankfully I have dodged this dreadful disease.