Another Disappointing Encounter with the Thai Medical Establishment

[BangkokHank]

A shopping mall near my home in a Bangkok suburb is currently undergoing a complete renovation. While walking around the mall a couple of weeks ago observing the work in progress, I spotted what I thought was a brilliant addition to the mall: A very large, modern looking health clinic. This is such a practical idea, because there are many health-related things that do not require the use of a hospital, such as blood tests, etc.

 

Yesterday I went back to the mall to check if the clinic was open, and it was. So I asked them what it would cost to have a fasting insulin test. The man working at the reception responded with, "We only recently opened, so we don't have our foreigner prices yet." Ha. Not a good start. I countered with, "So you have different prices for foreigners and Thais." He said yes. So I asked, "And the prices for foreigners is lower, right?" I was actually not so surprised when he answered that no, actually foreigners have to pay a little more. When I asked him why, he just mumbled something about "hospital policy". 

 

The actual prices were as follows: Price of the test (for foreigners): 420 baht. Plus a 250 baht hospital fee. Price for Thais: 350 baht (plus the hospital fee). Conclusion: The main benefit for me of having this conveniently located clinic just minutes away from my home is that now I don't have to go as far as I used to to get overcharged for medical care. I wonder why they feel the need to charge foreigners more for things? And I just hope that the other shops in the mall, like the supermarket, don't get any ideas from them.

[JimTripper]

Because they are stupid.

 

There must be a reason why you can afford to pay more, right? You could be morally superior, smarter, etc.

[Olmate]

70bht!! Oh dear.

[Lacessit]

For a fasting insulin test, I would be going to a pathology lab. The health clinic is merely a middleman.

I use Mengrai Labs in Chiang Rai, and get charged the same as any Thai would pay.

[steven100]

you did say it's convenient for you as you live nearby ....  so isn't that worth the extra 70 baht alone .   

[BangkokHank]

9 minutes ago, Olmate said:

70bht!! Oh dear.

It's also only 70 baht for them.

 

Would you accept it if your supermarket charged you 70 baht extra for being a foreigner? After all, it's just 70 baht - and you're obviously a rich foreigner.

 

I guess you don't understand the concept of principles. In that case, perhaps you could pay the extra 70 baht for me - since it's such a small amount?

[it is what it is]

 

just take your business elsewhere. next...

[samtam]

28 minutes ago, BangkokHank said:

A shopping mall near my home in a Bangkok suburb is currently undergoing a complete renovation. While walking around the mall a couple of weeks ago observing the work in progress, I spotted what I thought was a brilliant addition to the mall: A very large, modern looking health clinic. This is such a practical idea, because there are many health-related things that do not require the use of a hospital, such as blood tests, etc.

 

Yesterday I went back to the mall to check if the clinic was open, and it was. So I asked them what it would cost to have a fasting insulin test. The man working at the reception responded with, "We only recently opened, so we don't have our foreigner prices yet." Ha. Not a good start. I countered with, "So you have different prices for foreigners and Thais." He said yes. So I asked, "And the prices for foreigners is lower, right?" I was actually not so surprised when he answered that no, actually foreigners have to pay a little more. When I asked him why, he just mumbled something about "hospital policy". 

 

The actual prices were as follows: Price of the test (for foreigners): 420 baht. Plus a 250 baht hospital fee. Price for Thais: 350 baht (plus the hospital fee). Conclusion: The main benefit for me of having this conveniently located clinic just minutes away from my home is that now I don't have to go as far as I used to to get overcharged for medical care. I wonder why they feel the need to charge foreigners more for things? And I just hope that the other shops in the mall, like the supermarket, don't get any ideas from them.

 

What is it with this "hospital fee"? I too pay a "service fee" at my hospital, (plus the doctor - 500, 800, 1000, 1200, depending on the phase of the moon), also plus a nurses fee to take my blood pressure, which by the time I'm more than completely effed off, is verging on the stroke level.

 

Of course, as new Thai taxpayers, all of these foreigner fees will disappear...

[expat_4_life]

This is just another "double pricing" thread.

Everybody knows how this works but you thought you would try to embarrass or humiliate some poor receptionist who works at the clinic by demanding answers, another disgruntled farang.  Pretty pathetic IMHO

He's not responsible for the policy, congratulations, well done

 

[jaideedave]

21 minutes ago, samtam said:

 

What is it with this "hospital fee"? I too pay a "service fee" at my hospital, (plus the doctor - 500, 800, 1000, 1200, depending on the phase of the moon), also plus a nurses fee to take my blood pressure, which by the time I'm more than completely effed off, is verging on the stroke level.

 

Of course, as new Thai taxpayers, all of these foreigner fees will disappear...

Same here, when I visited PIH in Pattaya they made me pay get the bp test right after checking in. Of course it always reads high.I just got off my motorbike after running the gauntlet of 2nd Rd.

There's a nurses fee involved.It's only 300 baht but I feel it's a wee bit of a rip off.

[Olmate]

46 minutes ago, BangkokHank said:

It's also only 70 baht for them.

 

Would you accept it if your supermarket charged you 70 baht extra for being a foreigner? After all, it's just 70 baht - and you're obviously a rich foreigner.

 

I guess you don't understand the concept of principles. In that case, perhaps you could pay the extra 70 baht for me - since it's such a small amount?

Principles dont come cheapit seems😂

[OneMoreFarang]

Maybe the reason why they charge more for foreigners is because foreigners complain more. QED

 

[BritManToo]

55 minutes ago, samtam said:

 

What is it with this "hospital fee"? I too pay a "service fee" at my hospital, (plus the doctor - 500, 800, 1000, 1200, depending on the phase of the moon), also plus a nurses fee to take my blood pressure, which by the time I'm more than completely effed off, is verging on the stroke level.

 

Of course, as new Thai taxpayers, all of these foreigner fees will disappear...

My hospital fee is 50bht.

Blood pressure is free, the blood pressure machines are by the door, you can just walk in and use them.

[BritManToo]

45 minutes ago, expat_4_life said:

This is just another "double pricing" thread.

Everybody knows how this works but you thought you would try to embarrass or humiliate some poor receptionist who works at the clinic by demanding answers, another disgruntled farang.  Pretty pathetic IMHO

He's not responsible for the policy, congratulations, well done

 

I have no objection to embarrassing racists/xenophobes/bigots.

I'm just obeying ze orders ........ always nice to see that move.

[VinnieK]

1 hour ago, it is what it is said:

 

just take your business elsewhere. next...

Well..it wouldn't hurt if he let the world know..

They deserve all the bad publicity they can get.

[edwardflory]

Most foreign people do not know that you can use a Thai Military Hospital. Many of the doctors were trained in US or UK, thus speak good English.

 

You have to register and get a hospital ID card ( free )- passport needed until registered, then use Hospital ID card at the hospital.  

 

Military hospitals are slightly more expensive than civilian government hospitals, WAY WAY WAY LESS expensive than private hospitals, you pay the same cost as Thai civilians using the hospital.

 

 

 

[newbee2022]

2 hours ago, BangkokHank said:

A shopping mall near my home in a Bangkok suburb is currently undergoing a complete renovation. While walking around the mall a couple of weeks ago observing the work in progress, I spotted what I thought was a brilliant addition to the mall: A very large, modern looking health clinic. This is such a practical idea, because there are many health-related things that do not require the use of a hospital, such as blood tests, etc.

 

Yesterday I went back to the mall to check if the clinic was open, and it was. So I asked them what it would cost to have a fasting insulin test. The man working at the reception responded with, "We only recently opened, so we don't have our foreigner prices yet." Ha. Not a good start. I countered with, "So you have different prices for foreigners and Thais." He said yes. So I asked, "And the prices for foreigners is lower, right?" I was actually not so surprised when he answered that no, actually foreigners have to pay a little more. When I asked him why, he just mumbled something about "hospital policy". 

 

The actual prices were as follows: Price of the test (for foreigners): 420 baht. Plus a 250 baht hospital fee. Price for Thais: 350 baht (plus the hospital fee). Conclusion: The main benefit for me of having this conveniently located clinic just minutes away from my home is that now I don't have to go as far as I used to to get overcharged for medical care. I wonder why they feel the need to charge foreigners more for things? And I just hope that the other shops in the mall, like the supermarket, don't get any ideas from them.

Did you ever came across with the expression " cash cow" ? Very common in economics.🧑‍🎄

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, Olmate said:

70bht!! Oh dear.

You are completely missing the point!

[fittobethaied]

1 hour ago, jaideedave said:

Same here, when I visited PIH in Pattaya they made me pay get the bp test right after checking in. Of course it always reads high.I just got off my motorbike after running the gauntlet of 2nd Rd.

There's a nurses fee involved.It's only 300 baht but I feel it's a wee bit of a rip off.

None of the government hospitals charge a nurse's fee to take weight, height and blood pressure, but all of the private hospitals do. It's their "cash cow" and a total rip off. Most everyone who goes to the hospital will already be stressed out, so they will have "white coat syndrome" which is an elevated blood pressure and pulse due to stress or just having run up steps or walked a great distance down hallways. Most doctors are aware of this, so I think they pay little attention to these number anyway. Again, the entire procedure is nothing by a sure-fire way to extract money from the patient. There have been times when I have even insisted that I will NOT take their tests, but they charged me anyway. Just imagine if they see a mere 100 patients a day at 300 Baht a pop, that's an extra 30,000 Baht per day or 10,950,000 Baht per year in the hospital's coffers. That certainly makes the shareholders happy!

[Olmate]

12 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

You are completely missing the point!

thats the general idea, micky

 

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, BangkokHank said:

 

Would you accept it if your supermarket charged you 70 baht extra for being a foreigner?

They don't, and there's no suggestion that they will.  Maybe when they start providing blood test services it'll change and they'll deliver a nurse with the groceries for just B70 extra.  'Kin bargain.

[timendres]

3 hours ago, BangkokHank said:

The actual prices were as follows: Price of the test (for foreigners): 420 baht. Plus a 250 baht hospital fee. Price for Thais: 350 baht (plus the hospital fee).

 

You could always go to a private hospital where Thais and foreigners pay the same 900 baht...

[riclag]

27 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

You are completely missing the point!

Spot on Mike

[Tom Parkinson]

3 hours ago, BangkokHank said:

I guess you don't understand the concept of principles. 

I appreciate your point. But if you think that “the concept of principles” exists in Thailand, you must be fresh off the boat. 

[BusyB]

4 hours ago, JimTripper said:

Because they are stupid.

 

There must be a reason why you can afford to pay more, right? You could be morally superior, smarter, etc.

 

No. It's because they can. Same with any commodity. And it's now legally legitimized for medical services as well. So they can, so they scam.

[DUNROAMIN]

6 hours ago, BangkokHank said:

A shopping mall near my home in a Bangkok suburb is currently undergoing a complete renovation. While walking around the mall a couple of weeks ago observing the work in progress, I spotted what I thought was a brilliant addition to the mall: A very large, modern looking health clinic. This is such a practical idea, because there are many health-related things that do not require the use of a hospital, such as blood tests, etc.

 

Yesterday I went back to the mall to check if the clinic was open, and it was. So I asked them what it would cost to have a fasting insulin test. The man working at the reception responded with, "We only recently opened, so we don't have our foreigner prices yet." Ha. Not a good start. I countered with, "So you have different prices for foreigners and Thais." He said yes. So I asked, "And the prices for foreigners is lower, right?" I was actually not so surprised when he answered that no, actually foreigners have to pay a little more. When I asked him why, he just mumbled something about "hospital policy". 

 

The actual prices were as follows: Price of the test (for foreigners): 420 baht. Plus a 250 baht hospital fee. Price for Thais: 350 baht (plus the hospital fee). Conclusion: The main benefit for me of having this conveniently located clinic just minutes away from my home is that now I don't have to go as far as I used to to get overcharged for medical care. I wonder why they feel the need to charge foreigners more for things? And I just hope that the other shops in the mall, like the supermarket, don't get any ideas from them.

Just imagine the reaction if a Thai was overseas on a holiday and visited a hospital that had 2 tier sytem. Norman price for locals, 100% price hike for foriegners. 

[digger70]

6 hours ago, Olmate said:

70bht!! Oh dear.

Nothing Oh dear, It's the Principle  they think If one can do that everyone Can/Will do it.

Greedy ripoffs. 

Would the Thais be happy to pay more then the Locals in an other country. 

I Don't think so.

 

[LikeItHot]

6 hours ago, Olmate said:

70bht!! Oh dear.

70 baht worth of racism is still racism.  You can pay my white tariffs if you want.  Give me your QR code and I'll have them bill you directly.

[spidermike007]

7 hours ago, BangkokHank said:

A shopping mall near my home in a Bangkok suburb is currently undergoing a complete renovation. While walking around the mall a couple of weeks ago observing the work in progress, I spotted what I thought was a brilliant addition to the mall: A very large, modern looking health clinic. This is such a practical idea, because there are many health-related things that do not require the use of a hospital, such as blood tests, etc.

 

Yesterday I went back to the mall to check if the clinic was open, and it was. So I asked them what it would cost to have a fasting insulin test. The man working at the reception responded with, "We only recently opened, so we don't have our foreigner prices yet." Ha. Not a good start. I countered with, "So you have different prices for foreigners and Thais." He said yes. So I asked, "And the prices for foreigners is lower, right?" I was actually not so surprised when he answered that no, actually foreigners have to pay a little more. When I asked him why, he just mumbled something about "hospital policy". 

 

The actual prices were as follows: Price of the test (for foreigners): 420 baht. Plus a 250 baht hospital fee. Price for Thais: 350 baht (plus the hospital fee). Conclusion: The main benefit for me of having this conveniently located clinic just minutes away from my home is that now I don't have to go as far as I used to to get overcharged for medical care. I wonder why they feel the need to charge foreigners more for things? And I just hope that the other shops in the mall, like the supermarket, don't get any ideas from them.

 

From my point of view those prices are still ridiculously reasonable, even with a small premium that they're charging for foreigners. It's not like the National parks where it's 10x more.

 

I just had some work done Ramathibodi in Bangkok and it was not only excellent, but it was very reasonable. Where I come from in the US the tests and exams that I had done would have been 75 times more. 

[spidermike007]

33 minutes ago, digger70 said:

Nothing Oh dear, It's the Principle  they think If one can do that everyone Can/Will do it.

Greedy ripoffs. 

Would the Thais be happy to pay more then the Locals in an other country. 

I Don't think so.

 

 

I think having an attitude like that is just an invitation for aggravation, you can play the victim if you want, but I would rather pay a price that's 2% of what I would pay back in the US, than worry myself over a small premium that they're charging for a foreigner.

 

It just doesn't make a difference. Water off a duck's back.