Hi,

 

After a recent post by a guy bashing the Thai health system, I thought I would add my sixpence worth:-

 

I had a bowel screen done in the UK, which recommended a colonoscopy be carried out as they found slight irregularities and I said I would get it done on my return to Thailand.

 

Anyway, I visited my local government hospital which is very near my house and advertises this procedure. My private hospital is two to two and a half hours away in Khonkaen.

 

I went on Friday, spoke to the specialist who said she could admit me Sunday and carry out the procedure on Monday. Now that is fast!

 

I booked a VIP room, which was unavailable when I got there, but I was later transferred to it, which was great. Privacy, peace, private bathroom, toiletries, and food for a Thai relative who would stay with me and a sleeping area provided for them.

 

On Monday morning to my surprise, I was taken to the surgical department at 8.30 am, even though they said there was a queue. There I was waiting for about an hour. I had fasted the day before and taken the drinking fluid they had provided to clear me out.

 

I was placed under anesthesia and was out of it until to awake sometime later in a side ward.  They informed me they had removed one polyp in the descending colon area and this has been sent for analysis to Kalasin. 

 

Throughout the day before and the day of the procedure, I was monitored constantly with blood pressure checks, heart monitors, and various blood tests.

 

The staff was thorough, attentive, and professional.

 

My total bill for this, plus a biopsy analysis, follow-up appointment, VIP room, Colonoscopy procedure, and removal of a polyp was 9,800 Baht.

Had 3 done in the UK, free

I think that's a very good price. I am also considering doing such a check. To go to Kalasin and return to Pattaya is about 1200 km. Does anyone know a good and cheap place in Pattaya or Chonburi? There was discussion here in this forum already but things change. 

15 minutes ago, proton said:

Had 3 done in the UK, free

So, I have,saved £800 if I pay £1000 to fly with Qatar to UK?

 

I was offered in the UK a telephone only consultation only leading to a colonoscopy months further down the line.

 

Why would I do that when I reside in Thailand?

18 minutes ago, proton said:

Had 3 done in the UK, free

The cost of the flight there and back would be?

IMO that is very quick. Getting a colonoscopy in Australia, even with private health cover, is 1-2 months for an appointment. 9800 baht is also quite cheap.

Having said that, pathology testing in Thailand can be quite slow, 2-3 weeks compared to a couple of days in Oz.

4 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

My total bill for this, plus a biopsy analysis, follow-up appointment, VIP room, procedure, and removal of a polyp was 9,800 Baht.

That is a very good price and the procedure and the accommodations sound just fine. But consider this:

 

"Screening guidelines by age are: 45-75 — colonoscopy every 10 years for average-risk patients. 76-85 — selective testing based on individual factors, such as overall health, life expectancy, and previous screening history."

 

https://www.gastroconsa.com/colorectal-cancer-screening-guidelines-for-2023

 

So while getting the colonoscopy done at a private hospital will be 2 - 3x the price if not more, factoring the difference over a 10 year period isn't that great.

4 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

That is a very good price and the procedure and the accommodations sound just fine. But consider this:

 

"Screening guidelines by age are: 45-75 — colonoscopy every 10 years for average-risk patients. 76-85 — selective testing based on individual factors, such as overall health, life expectancy, and previous screening history."

 

https://www.gastroconsa.com/colorectal-cancer-screening-guidelines-for-2023

 

So while getting the colonoscopy done at a private hospital will be 2 - 3x the price if not more, factoring the difference over a 10 year period isn't that great.

It was an interesting read and bearing in mind the survival rates with early detection, its well worth getting screened with colon cancer being the second biggest cancer killer in that age group.

Scouse123- That is a great price. Can  you give the name of the specialist you used for the procedure? I am exploring different options and I would like to check out this govt hospital in Kalasin.  Thanks

42 minutes ago, watgate said:

Scouse123- That is a great price. Can  you give the name of the specialist you used for the procedure? I am exploring different options and I would like to check out this govt hospital in Kalasin.  Thanks

I am registered at this hospital but yes the specialist was Dr. Juthamart assisted by Kotchakorn P. and it was the Crown prince hospital in Buakhao, Kuchinarai, Kalasin.

 

 

Scouse123-  Thank you for the reply. At the very least you gave a figure as to what your total bill was, including a lavish room, with meals, to recuperate in. I am going to check with my hospital and now I have a figure which was graciously supplied by you for this procedure.

May I ask if they did give you any medication for sleeping during the procedure? I have done many colonscopies during my life, some without anything, some with Dormicum, some with Propofol.

 

Given the skills of the gastroenterologists as I have experienced here, I would never go for anything less than Propofol again. In Switzerland I could easily do it without anything and witness how my intestine looks like from the inside. But my hospital regards a Propofol sedation as equal to a full anestesia with charges of 60KTHB for the sedation alone, which is a joke since it can be done by a well trained nurse and it does not require a special anesthesist for such a short procedure which is not very deep and easily controlled (just life-sign monitor and having am antidote ready - safe as can be).

27 minutes ago, moogradod said:

May I ask if they did give you any medication for sleeping during the procedure? I have done many colonscopies during my life, some without anything, some with Dormicum, some with Propofol.

 

Given the skills of the gastroenterologists as I have experienced here, I would never go for anything less than Propofol again. In Switzerland I could easily do it without anything and witness how my intestine looks like from the inside. But my hospital regards a Propofol sedation as equal to a full anestesia with charges of 60KTHB for the sedation alone, which is a joke since it can be done by a well trained nurse and it does not require a special anesthesist for such a short procedure which is not very deep and easily controlled (just life-sign monitor and having am antidote ready - safe as can be).

Hi,

 

Yes, I was out cold for the entire procedure.

 

I am not sure exactly what they used but it goes up your nose and I was in a deep sleep and awoke somewhat euphoric and it took a good hour and a bit to wear off.

 

So according to my paperwork there were four involved, the doctor, two assistants and an anesthetist.

 

They gave me a document showing the intestine and photographs of what they found and removed and sent to the city lab in downtown Kalasin for analysis.

 

I get the result by the 14th July.

 

 

 

 

 

35 minutes ago, watgate said:

Scouse123-  Thank you for the reply. At the very least you gave a figure as to what your total bill was, including a lavish room, with meals, to recuperate in. I am going to check with my hospital and now I have a figure which was graciously supplied by you for this procedure.

The room was good for a government hospital. I initially was placed on a mixed ward with some very sick elderly people, both male and female. I had booked and requested a private room.

 

I was near the toilets and had the unfortunate experience of witnessing bedpans and urine containers coming past my bed being emptied and cleaned by family members. They were also bed bathing their relatives who could not walk to the toilets.

 

A fairly humbling experience was there showing the depth of feelings and respect these Thais showed to their relatives.

 

it was a whole new world being moved to a private room.

 

The room meals were fairly basic but in with the price and I gave them to my partner who stayed with me and slept on the sofa bed beside mine.

 

They also supplied toiletries package included, but I had taken my own so I gave them away to a patient as I was leaving.