Can Anyone Recommend A Good Gp In The Pattaya Area?

[Mobi]

Since I have been in Thailand, I have always gone to the nearest private hospital for all the family’s medical needs.

As I now have little or no confidence in any hospitals in the Pattaya region, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good GP (farang or Thai) who could be the first port of call when a family member goes down with a fever, stomach bug or similar. I’m not talking major emergencies, but somewhere to go to have a doctor check it out and either prescribe some drugs or recommend a specialist.

Last week, I almost certainly had a small dose of dengue fever (I was very sick for 48 hours) but was reluctant to go to any hospital because I just didn’t trust them. I’m probably paranoid, but I’d rather sweat it out at home than have some dubious diagnosis made, based on how much money they think they can extract from me. I would have been prepared to go to Samitivej in Sri Racha, or the hospital at Sattahip, but when you’re really ill, you can’t face travelling even that distance.

I know there have been threads on Pattaya GP’s before, but I can't seem to come up with anything on the search facility. I think the dengue has ‘dengued’ my mind.

[thatguy]

Dr Oliver has always gotten good marks from my friends that have used him. May still be on Pattaya Tai. He had an ad in one of the tourist handouts, maybe in one of the local papers too.

[Jingthing]

Yep, he is still there. Not a bad idea to get screened by him if it isn't an emergency.

[JimmyTheMook]

Dr. Oliver gets my recommendation also, take my kids to him as well. He does not try to sell you any medical services and is rather straight forward with his diagnosis.

http://www.dr-olivier-clinic.com/

[puuchai299]

Dr Mongkol.has clinic at Jomtien,near foodmart/supermarket on left hand side just before threpprasitt road,this doctor i like,he is very patient and doesn't rush you in and of the clinic without thoroughly checking you out.his staff are very friendly also..

[twix38]

Dr Mongkol is my best.

Dr Oliver is fine, but I think he over charges a bit. For some cream and a bandage for a motor bike burn it was 500 Baht. After I got the cream and Bandage for myself lasting 3+ days and self administered. Total cost was 160 Baht and for 3 days+. Compares to 1,500 Baht if I had got Dr Oliver's nurse to do the same for 3 days!!!!!! That's a BIG percentage above what I would expect to pay extra, if it is a typical example.

I have not been back as it was only 150 Baht at Memorial Hospital. Jesus!!!

Edited July 6, 2007 by twix38

[Tammi]

Dear Mobi,

Sorry to hear you were unwell. Dr. Olivier is very nice and will do house calls. I've heard that Dr. Mongkol spent years in America and when he returned to Thailand was bored so opened the clinic near FoodMart. I haven't met him but there's good reports.

[Mobi]

Thanks for the recommendations folks; in due course I will try out the good Doctors Olivier and Mongkol.

As it happens I needed a nurse to give me an inter muscular injection today, and as Dr Olivier closes at 1 pm on Saturday, I thought I'd try out Pattaya Int'l Hospital - after all it was only an injection, so they could hardly screw that up.

I had to register as a new patient, and they insisted on weighing me and checking my blood pressure, before I was escorted to see a doctor for a consultation. He was very nice and friendly, and I showed him my email from the specialist at Bumrungrad, and the drug vial which I had brought with me.

He referred me to a male nurse who asked me if I wanted the injection to make me 'nice and strong?'

Anyway, he carried out his task with complete professionalism and as I was rubbing my hip I was escorted to the cashier - no chance to escape without paying.

Total cost: 250 Baht.

Not bad eh?

[wcr]

Thanks for the recommendations folks; in due course I will try out the good Doctors Olivier and Mongkol.

As it happens I needed a nurse to give me an inter muscular injection today, and as Dr Olivier closes at 1 pm on Saturday, I thought I'd try out Pattaya Int'l Hospital - after all it was only an injection, so they could hardly screw that up.

I had to register as a new patient, and they insisted on weighing me and checking my blood pressure, before I was escorted to see a doctor for a consultation. He was very nice and friendly, and I showed him my email from the specialist at Bumrungrad, and the drug vial which I had brought with me.

He referred me to a male nurse who asked me if I wanted the injection to make me 'nice and strong?'

Anyway, he carried out his task with complete professionalism and as I was rubbing my hip I was escorted to the cashier - no chance to escape without paying.

Total cost: 250 Baht.

Not bad eh?

I will say for GP serices I always use Pattaya International. I have found them professional, quick and reasonable prices.

[Mobi]

Just to report that I went to see the good Dr. Olivier yesterday, as ever since I recovered from my supposed dengue attack, I've had a pain in the right side of my stomach, and irregular bowel movements.

He suspects I've got a bug lurking in my intestine, and gave me course of antibiotics t see if it gets rid of it. He said 'let's take it one step at a time, and eliminate possible causes'. Sounds sensible to me.

Total cost for consultation and drugs - 950 Baht.

Now if it had been "that hospital which shall remain nameless for fear of this thread being closed", they would have probably admitted me at upwards of 30k per night and given me all tests known to man , including an MRI scan and I'd be looking at a bill in excess of 50K, before being transferred to Chonburi hospital after they discovered that I don't carry medical insurance.

[Hobgoblin]

Try Doctor Sawadeepong in South Pattaya. Great service, no long queue and great English. Most maladies I've gone in for have been totally cured, and usually always less than 1,000 Baht.

His office is located on Pattaya 2nd Rd. (Actually, Lower Pratamnak Road, where all that horrendous road construction is taking place) near the old OD Bowling. From the Thappraya Road/Third Road viaduct, head towards the beach, merge onto Pratamnak Road, heading north. His office is about 200 meters north on the left-hand side.

Edited July 11, 2007 by Hobgoblin