Please Explain The 30 Baht Idea To Me

[jasonc]

I have a good friend and her sister has got some big problems. I am thinking she may have breast cancer, or at least needs to be checked. She has bruised breasts and lumps in them. Not good. She told be that she had to do this once before and they cut stuff out then told her it might come back. She knows they may have to remove it entirely. I'm no medical doctor but that sounds like cancer to me. Her husband just left her... of course and she has no money. Great! This is not a BG scam. I've seen the damage and need to get her help.

My question is: Do I really need to pay for this?

I've been in Thai hospitals before and once they see farang the price goes way up. I am always shocked that the price in the hospital is negotiable... How strange. Anyways I though Thailand had a health care system. I always hear the PM talking about his big 30 baht initiative but none of MY Thai friends seem to know anything about it.

Any suggestions on how to deal with this are appreciated. I will pay if I have to. I can't bear seeing her like this.

[stroll]

In Kluay Nam Thai hospital, Rama 4 rd., farangs pay the same as Thais.

30bt: I don't know what makes one eligible, I think it is income related.

My gf has a card which she can take to any government hospital to register, after that it will be 30bt per visit.

She got the card by applying at the district office where she is registered to vote. After a few weeks she received the card by post at our adress in Bangkok.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I have a good friend and her sister has got some big problems. I am thinking she may have breast cancer, or at least needs to be checked. She has bruised breasts and lumps in them. Not good. She told be that she had to do this once before and they cut stuff out then told her it might come back. She knows they may have to remove it entirely. I'm no medical doctor but that sounds like cancer to me. Her husband just left her... of course and she has no money. Great! This is not a BG scam. I've seen the damage and need to get her help.

My question is: Do I really need to pay for this?

I've been in Thai hospitals before and once they see farang the price goes way up. I am always shocked that the price in the hospital is negotiable... How strange. Anyways I though Thailand had a health care system. I always hear the PM talking about his big 30 baht initiative but none of MY Thai friends seem to know anything about it.

Any suggestions on how to deal with this are appreciated. I will pay if I have to. I can't bear seeing her like this.

Can't your " good friend " shed a bit of light on the matter for you. The bills will become horrendous once specialist oncologists and surgeons enter the fray.

[350torana]

Not sure of all the details but I thought all Thais were entitled to the 30 baht scheme . My wife and daughter both use them but been told u have to use a hospital within the same district . Although my wife was admitted to a hospital for 10 days not in the district. Alot of debating by her family with the hospital, leave it up to the Thais to do the negotating ,a falang on the scene will not help Her hospital expenses were covered by 30 baht. But, told next time to go to a district hospital or foot the bill.

I think the 30 baht puts alot of western countries to shame , but can't see it lasting as it is a political vote winner and the money for all this 'free' health care has to come from somewhere

[KevinN]

Not sure of all the details but I thought all Thais were entitled to the 30 baht scheme . My wife and daughter both use them but been told u have to use a hospital within the same district . Although my wife was admitted to a hospital for 10 days not in the district. Alot of debating by her family with the hospital, leave it up to the Thais to do the negotating ,a falang on the scene will not help Her hospital expenses were covered by 30 baht. But, told next time to go to a district hospital or foot the bill.

I think the 30 baht puts alot of western countries to shame , but can't see it lasting as it is a political vote winner and the money for all this 'free' health care has to come from somewhere

As of last year the hospitals were talking about not having drugs or services to give as the hospitals were broke because the gov't would not pay the money to support the patients on the 30 baht deal,,so for all practical purposes,the deal was a bust before it ever got started, just another wet dream from cheerless leader.

[TRIPxCORE]

The 30 Baht health scheme applies to all Thais. Not sure about certain hospitals or how to get a card etc etc. Have a Thai friend who is rather well off financially and even she tries to take part in this 30 Baht deal. Told me though that she had to get to the hospital very early in the morning and wait in line with a million other people. Apparently, the hospital puts a quota on the amount of patients they will see with this plan per day and you dont find out what that number is until they cut you off and tell you to come back the next day. Sounds like a real nightmare to me.

[KevinN]

My wife tells me that any Thai can go to the public health office in their village and register or go to the gov't hospital and register,get your card and then give the 30 Baht,

Open to all Thai's. I also have Thai gov't insurance because my wife is a gov't employee. so there fore I go to gov't hospital for physical therapy and for prescriptions as that is the only place the ins. will pay.

If something is really wrong and I want to talk to a good Dr. then I go to a private hospital..but it is not that cheap. about half of what it would cost in the states.