‘Last push’ to get injured English tourist stuck in Thailand hospital back home

[newbee2022]

  On 5/24/2023 at 7:24 AM, JustAnotherHun said:

gofundme if things go wrong.

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....so others should pay for your own stupidity.????? I would not give any cent or baht for any fundraising  in this context.

[3NUMBAS]

if he gets back to blighty he still    needs to find a hospital to take    him

[BusyB]

  On 5/24/2023 at 7:53 AM, richard_smith237 said:

‘Thailand' seems to think otherwise which is why officials have been coming up with various ideas to ‘tax’ tourist arrivals / departures so that tourists have insurance. 

 

There was the 300 baht tourist tax - officials attempt to shunt the onus onto the airlines who refused to differentiate between Thai and non-Thai passengers (charging different rates so that this 300 baht was covered in the Ticket) - This can has been kicked down the road for numerous years, the latest ‘deadline’ is for a decision to be made by September for this. 

 

Thailand is also mulling over the 1000 baht departure tax, which would be for everyone. 

Some of this money ‘could’ (is planned?) to go into ‘insurance coffers’ to cover the cost of unpaid medical bills 

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Why should I, who never travels without insurance, and also adheres to the small print, have to pay a thousand baht on exit for those who can't be bothered, feel too entitled or immortal, or are simply too stupid as not to do so themselves?

 

[thailand49]

  On 5/24/2023 at 1:06 PM, JustAnotherHun said:

Yeah, that's the difference. Anywhere else in the world PRIVATE hospitals work for altruistic reasons and money does not count ????

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Sarcastic,  hospital all work for money!  I'll use the  U. S.  Since that is where I'm from and I'm sure others like myself will admit there are certainly problem but if you think it is the same you are blind! 

If this story was in U. S.  he would have been release long ago instead maybe you missed it they are basically holding the man hostage as soon as the family come up with every baht he can leave. 

No where in the States has our Supreme Court ruled that hospital can charge foreigner duel pricing because they stereotype that we have more money therefore should pay more. 

Walk into a private hospital particularly a private International instead of treating you first they want payment first. 

Maybe you didn't read this story a year back " Black Mountain fire " in Sattahip many killed many burn victims a girl from Vietnam burn badly handcart friend take her to a private Inter in Pattaya, they ask for payment first,  ten year ago a foreign teacher was run down by a truck on beach road they took him to this same hospital unable to verify he had insurance put him in the back of a pickup shipping him to a provincial he die on the way.  

When sick or injure which we all do all we want is to get treated not be given the head toe, we need a deposit first.  

Not hear in Thailand there doesn't seem to be a medical oath the only oath is having a meeting beginning of the day we need to fill how many rooms,  meet quotas.

Hope you never have to find out the truth dreamer!

[richard_smith237]

  On 5/24/2023 at 1:16 PM, BusyB said:

Why should I, who never travels without insurance, and also adheres to the small print, have to pay a thousand baht on exit for those who can't be bothered, feel too entitled or immortal, or are simply too stupid as not to do so themselves?

 

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You already pay tax when landing and departing in most countries… you just don’t know it.

This is really not much different. 
 

 

 

[sabai-dee-man]

They were quick enough to implement a "show us your vaccine certificate", why can't they implement a "show us your insurance certificate"? No insurance, no entry. Simples.

I can't be totally unsympathetic, but it's hard to really care much about their plight. If you can afford the £700+ flight and all the fun when you get here, you can afford the £100 insurance.

[richard_smith237]

  On 5/24/2023 at 12:20 PM, JustAnotherHun said:

If he needs continued treatment, then he should stay in the hospital - or fly home, but after his bill is payed.

Double pricing is a completely different thing. and has nothing to do with the topic.

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Potentially the subject of double pricing has everything to do with this topic. 
IF there is no double pricing the bill may be less and it may have been paid already rendering this issue of not being able to afford the payment somewhat moot.
 

 

[JustAnotherHun]

  On 5/24/2023 at 2:33 PM, thailand49 said:

Hope you never have to find out the truth dreamer!

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If you think Thailand has to be like US or other western countries, you are the dreamer, not me.

It's quite easy. The guy in the topic either had no sufficient insurance or he drove under circumstances that were not covered.

 

So who should have to pay for such a moronic behavior? Thailand? GB? The hospital?

If things are so much better in other countries, idiots like him better should stay there.

[richard_smith237]

  On 5/24/2023 at 2:43 PM, sabai-dee-man said:

They were quick enough to implement a "show us your vaccine certificate", why can't they implement a "show us your insurance certificate"? No insurance, no entry. Simples.

I can't be totally unsympathetic, but it's hard to really care much about their plight. If you can afford the £700+ flight and all the fun when you get here, you can afford the £100 insurance.

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Covid arrivals were a lot less in numbers so the MoPH could keep up with the certification checks.

Checking if every arrival has insurance is a logistical impossibility… 

[JustAnotherHun]

  On 5/24/2023 at 2:44 PM, richard_smith237 said:

Potentially the subject of double pricing has everything to do with this topic. 
IF there is no double pricing the bill may be less and it may have been paid already rendering this issue of not being able to afford the payment somewhat moot.
 

 

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If ou visit a foreign country it's you who have to inform yourself. Double pricing at hospitals and (nearly) everywhere in Thailand is widely known and easy to find out.

If you don't accept it, don't go there.

[richard_smith237]

  On 5/24/2023 at 2:45 PM, JustAnotherHun said:

If you think Thailand has to be like US or other western countries, you are the dreamer, not me.

It's quite easy. The guy in the topic either had no sufficient insurance or he drove under circumstances that were not covered.

 

So who should have to pay for such a moronic behavior? Thailand? GB? The hospital?

If things are so much better in other countries, idiots like him better should stay there.

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You never made a mistake? …. people are fallible. Many hypocrites on this thread seem to forget that, they also conveniently forget they too were once young and made mistakes….

[richard_smith237]

  On 5/24/2023 at 2:48 PM, JustAnotherHun said:

If ou visit a foreign country it's you who have to inform yourself. Double pricing at hospitals and (nearly) everywhere in Thailand is widely known and easy to find out.

If you don't accept it, don't go there.

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‘If you don’t like it don’t go’ is not a very intelligent contribution to the issue at hand. 
 

There are plenty of people in Thailand who have been caught out, so clearly there needs to be a better solution rather than the judgement of guys who conveniently forget their own mistakes. 
 

 

[JustAnotherHun]

  On 5/24/2023 at 2:48 PM, richard_smith237 said:

You never made a mistake? …. people are fallible. Many hypocrites on this thread seem to forget that, they also conveniently forget they too were once young and made mistakes….

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Oh, I still make plenty and much more when I was young. But I don't think that's the point.

[Gaccha]

  On 5/24/2023 at 5:21 AM, webfact said:

was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital

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That's a public hospital.

 

And yet:

 

"The young man is currently alone in a private Phuket hospital"

 

What happened? Did they, without adequate resources, move their relative to a private hospital, deciding they were entitled to better healthcare but without the hassle of paying for it?

 

[JustAnotherHun]

  On 5/24/2023 at 2:50 PM, richard_smith237 said:

so clearly there needs to be a better solution rather than the judgement of guys who conveniently forget their own mistakes. 

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And your solution would be?

"Go to Thailand, behave as moronix as you want and if things go wrong, someone will pay your bill"?

[wadman]

  On 5/24/2023 at 12:04 PM, cardinalblue said:

The objective is if he is ready for travel and the family has lined up medical travel, then should go asap….

 

He should not be held hostage for bill payment…that is not medical care…

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If the hospital is forced/coerced in letting him go without receiving full payment, then the next foreigner in an emergency will not be treated until payment is received upfront (or sufficient guarantees are provided). I don't see how that is a good thing. 

[FarangFB]

  On 5/24/2023 at 6:19 AM, AAArdvark said:

So what next?  He dies and they then get? 

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I'm pretty sure they won't release the body if there's outstanding debt.

 

(someone correct me if I'm wrong)

[pacovl46]

This is precisely the reason why foreign objects shouldn't be removed from wounds! If they had left the glass shard in his throat he wouldn't have lost nearly as much blood, subsequently he most likely wouldn't have died in the ambulance and wouldn't suffer from post cardiac arrest syndrome now. 

[it is what it is]

  On 5/24/2023 at 6:52 AM, TheFishman1 said:

No comment TIT

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not sure what you mean. this whole tragic situation has arisen because the individual concerned did not have appropriate travel insurance for the activities he participated in. blame lies wholly with the uninsured individual, not the health care provider.

[ukrules]

  On 5/24/2023 at 2:48 PM, JustAnotherHun said:

If ou visit a foreign country it's you who have to inform yourself. Double pricing at hospitals and (nearly) everywhere in Thailand is widely known and easy to find out.

If you don't accept it, don't go there.

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If the truth about Thailand was universally known then almost nobody would come.

[it is what it is]

  On 5/24/2023 at 6:12 PM, ukrules said:

If the truth about Thailand was universally known then almost nobody would come.

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nonsense, plenty of people know exactly what thailand is like and visit regularly or choose to live here full time

[bristolgeoff]

sorry 1 word travel insurance,have a licence and international one from the uk all would be ok.The other way is the begging bowl called go fund me and pay for my mistakes with travel insurance

[KhaoYai]

  On 5/24/2023 at 5:30 AM, JustAnotherHun said:

What? The Thai hospital is very demanding to be payed because there is no free health care in Thailand for tourists without a sufficient travel insurance?

How dare those Thais!

Gofundme!

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I understand where you're coming from but don't you think that Thailand also has some responsibility?  I don't know the details in this case but people who are not eligible for free healthcare shouldn't be allowed to ride/drive/hire/buy bikes or cars without adequate insurance.

 

There are also all sorts of other accidents and illnesses which raises the question of whether Thailand should require foreigners to have insurance or provide some sort of healthcare through a levy as they claimed to be going to do.

 

The country wants tourists but doesn't want to take any responsibility for them - that responsibility could be mitigated if insurance was compulsory.  The country itself has a lax attitude towards insurance - the cover provided by compulsory insurance on motor vehicles is woefully inadequate.  Thai's are no different to other races, many rely only on compulsory insurance because that's all they are legally required to do.

 

I was hit by a taxi in Bangkok many years ago and the taxi driver only had 3rd class insurance - apparently quite legally.  How can a vehicle that can carry 3 or 4 passengers have only 3rd party insurance?? As I say, a lax attitude.

[stevenl]

  On 5/24/2023 at 1:02 PM, thailand49 said:

Thailand the Medical Hub $$$$$$$

Don't expect if he makes it into office Harvard education going to change how they treat anyone that isn't Thai especially in medical care all they care about is money! 

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Yes, medical hubs are about money. What is your point regarding the topic at hand?

[jerrymahoney]

  On 5/25/2023 at 12:10 AM, KhaoYai said:

I was hit by a taxi in Bangkok many years ago and the taxi driver only had 3rd class insurance - apparently quite legally. 

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It is one thing when there are 2 or more vehicles (or a pedestrian)  involved in an accident.

 

But as I read these topics, many of these accidents involve a  motorcyclist ploughing into a stationary object like a utility pole or a concrete sewer pipe awaiting construction on the side of the road.

[The Fugitive]

  On 5/24/2023 at 6:12 PM, ukrules said:

If the truth about Thailand was universally known then almost nobody would come.

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It's people's fixed beliefs (especially the Brits) that need to change. Most would never accept that a hospital could 'keep you prisoner' or, that in the 21st century, any hospital would do (or not do) anthing that would not be in the best interests of the patient.

[IvorBiggun2]

Thailand should provide emergency care for foreigners as per reciprocal treatment given to Thais when abroad. The UK provides free emergency treatment to all foreigners when attending a NHS hospital. 

[PremiumLane]

  On 5/24/2023 at 9:54 AM, The Fugitive said:

Those three subjects certainly invite discussion! Having said that some of us want to see simple solutions which would operate to the benefit of all. The right to live and work anywhere (like a Worldwide European Union) would solve two out of three. UK style National Health Service would solve the third.

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agree with you on that 

[zyphodb]

  On 5/24/2023 at 8:13 AM, JonnyF said:

Big difference between 5,000 Baht++ (you don't state what 'much higher is') and 300,000 Baht for the girl with food poisoning.

 

I spent a whole day at Bumrungrad (possibly the most expensive hospital in Thailand) getting blood tests for about 40 conditions, ECG, stool and urine tests, ultra sound liver check, 30 minutes with a doctor and it was 14,000 Baht.

 

As I said before I did 3 days 2 nights at Camillian hospital following the bike crash, multiple Xray/MRI and meds - 55,000 Baht.

 

Maybe Samui is just ripping tourists off.

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That hospital chain in Samui are well known for gouging tourists, they've also got all the ambulances paid off to bring them any farang victims, rather than take them to the gov. hospital, a total scam... 

[IvorBiggun2]

  On 5/25/2023 at 2:10 AM, zyphodb said:

rather than take them to the gov. hospital, a total scam... 

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Welcome to Thailand.