Racism or "just" bad behavior at Pattaya City Hospital?

[Parsve]

Let me start by saying that this does not apply to all staff. Most are very nice. I visit said hospital about every two months for refills on high blood pressure medication.

 

About six months ago, when I was going to register, I was waiting in line. When it was my turn, the registrar looked up at me, pointed, and said, "Go and stand last in line". There were 8 to 10 Thais behind me. He refused to register me unless I waited until the Thais were registered.

 

On November 14, it was again time to refill medicine. This is not a complicated procedure, the effective time from when I register until I receive and pay for the medicine is about 10 minutes, of which two to three are at the doctor's (the doctor asks how I feel and then signs the prescription).

This time the registration and the nurse's questions went quickly. As usual, I was referred to "station 4", where I assume that what the nurse at the previous station wrote down on the registration is transferred to a database. I left my document in a basket in front of the two nurses and one of them picked it up. Wait she said, and I waited for five hours to be exact. In the meantime, they let about 50 people who had come after me, in to the doctor. I approached the nurse and asked what was going on, sit down and wait a moment she said. I waited another half hour, then I went to the other nurse and said, give me my document.

In front of her was a stack of about 10 documents for the next round to be admitted to the doctor, but mine wasn't there. She knew, however, without asking me for my name, immediately where it was. It was alone about a meter from the pile where it should have been several hours earlier. I took the document and went out with the words. There are more and better hospitals in the city.

It cannot be blamed on unfortunate circumstances. In both cases, everyone involved knew very well what they were doing. Many, both foreigners and Thais, that I have spoken to about these events say that they have similar experiences from the same hospital.

 

60 years ago, Pattaya was an insignificant fishing village, now, thanks to tourism, it is a big city. Before the pandemic, tourism accounted for more than 21% of Thailand's GDP and it still accounts for a high proportion of Thailand's income, not least thanks to the foreigners who are permanent residents here. Unfortunately, some of the staff and management of the said hospital don't seem to understand that without us, Pattaya would degenerate back into a fishing village, because just like there are other hospitals in Pattaya, there are other places that can offer the same thing as Pattaya, but with a friendly attitude ( I look forward to an explanation of the behavior from the hospital management).

[quake]

Change hospital.

Always been treated well in hospitals in Pattaya and nongkhai.

But had my wallet tapped up in one hospital in pattaya.

wonder what one that was. 

 

 

[scubascuba3]

Strange experience, I've not seen them doing it, standard is to serve everyone in order, maybe they don't like you for some reason. Go to Bang Lamung or Queen Sirikit hospital instead

[save the frogs]

1 hour ago, Parsve said:

Pattaya would degenerate back into a fishing village,

It was probably better off as a fishing village

[quake]

36 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

It was probably better off as a fishing village

 

Yes sure.

All them thousands of Thai people not to have a job.

Like hundreds  of bank staff,  hundreds of workers  at Big-C, Lotus, Makro, shops, taxi drivers, blue and whit collar workers.

Hospital workers, doctors , nurses, just to mention a few.

Yes way to go man.

Dumbest post of the week. 

 

[scubascuba3]

50 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

It was probably better off as a fishing village

Those who don't like Pattaya can go to the other side of the bay to Hua Hin

[pomchop]

why would anyone go to a hospital to pick up a script refill?  Pharmacies everywhere lot cheaper and little to no hassles.  If your doc won't offer easy refill then get another doctor.

[Celsius]

5 hours ago, Parsve said:

60 years ago, Pattaya was an insignificant fishing village, now, thanks to tourism, it is a big city. Before the pandemic, tourism accounted for more than 21% of Thailand's GDP and it still accounts for a high proportion of Thailand's income, not least thanks to the foreigners who are permanent residents here. Unfortunately, some of the staff and management of the said hospital don't seem to understand that without us, Pattaya would degenerate back into a fishing village, because just like there are other hospitals in Pattaya

 

 

What a dumb arrogant post.

 

What would your country be if there wasn't for millions of (legal) immigrants who to this day contribute to your pension, so you can retire in another country?

 

[Mark Nothing]

Get used to it or make adjustments.  This flagrant disrespect is normal here.  They are are informing you where your position in the social hierarchy totem pole is located.  

 

My car dealer pulled this on me during the 6 month service.  20 years ago it was a 45 minute inconvenience.  More recently 8 hours while thai customers were in and out under an hour.  All the while the staff were profusely smiling and pretending  that I was top priority.

 

They don't want your business and are making it painfully obvious to you.  They enjoy agitating those without a place in the pecking order.

[Caldera]

9 hours ago, Parsve said:

60 years ago, Pattaya was an insignificant fishing village, now, thanks to tourism, it is a big city.

 

And for that reason alone, every single employee of every single hospital should be thanking you and other tourists and expats like you to this day. On their knees.

[Ralf001]

4 hours ago, pomchop said:

why would anyone go to a hospital to pick up a script refill?  Pharmacies everywhere lot cheaper and little to no hassles.  If your doc won't offer easy refill then get another doctor.

 

Two meds Iam on are only available at hospital pharmacy...... that be why I go to the hospital  !

[richard_smith237]

4 hours ago, pomchop said:

why would anyone go to a hospital to pick up a script refill?  Pharmacies everywhere lot cheaper and little to no hassles.  If your doc won't offer easy refill then get another doctor.

 

That was my thought - Are these meds not available from a regular Pharmacy ?

 

Most meds, unless highly  controlled, can be purchased at a pharmacy, I'm sure Blood-Pressure meds are not controlled, so why even go to the Dr. in the first place ?

 

 

Was this racism? It seems more like general incompetence combined with plenty of disregard and indifference.

[essex boys]

I use a company called fulfill pharma in Pattaya they are cheap and good service, some Thai people don’t like foreigners and are happy to cause you inconvenience just go elsewhere 

[alanrchase]

5 hours ago, pomchop said:

why would anyone go to a hospital to pick up a script refill?  Pharmacies everywhere lot cheaper and little to no hassles.  If your doc won't offer easy refill then get another doctor.

Not true. Meds from a government hospital are often significantly cheaper than a pharmacy. Monthly supply for me is 300 baht from the hospital and 850 baht in a pharmacy.

[richard_smith237]

30 minutes ago, essex boys said:

I use a company called fulfill pharma in Pattaya they are cheap and good service, some Thai people don’t like foreigners and are happy to cause you inconvenience just go elsewhere 

 

Yup - that happens...   its very rare, but sometimes we can 'encounter the person who is just happy to make things awkward'... This happens anywhere, and also in Thailand. 

 

For whatever reason, often beyond our understanding, some individuals may choose to be unhelpful, leading to a cascade of inconveniences.

 

Navigating these challenges here often hinges on initiating interactions with a positive and open approach, setting the tone for outcomes to unfold favourably. It’s a subtle art, a "game," if you will - one that many long-term residents have mastered over time.

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, alanrchase said:

Not true. Meds from a government hospital are often significantly cheaper than a pharmacy. Monthly supply for me is 300 baht from the hospital and 850 baht in a pharmacy.

 

Thats interesting - I have never found this to be the case... 

 

In my experience, Medication has always been more expensive directly from the hospital to such a degree, when I visit a hospital, I get the name of the medication prescribed and go and get it elsewhere, particularly if it going to expensive stuff....

... But even a strip of Ibuprofen (accorcia) is about 3-4x more expensive when prescribed and obtained directly from the hospital. 

 

Clearly this is a case of experiences vary (YMMV)...  

Government hospitals may well be cheaper.... Private certainly aren't.

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by richard_smith237

[Purdey]

While the Thai smile is famous, we shouldn't forget that they are sometimes extremely nationalistic and pro- "Make Thailand Great Again."

This means that you cannot own land in Thailand because you are an alien (not a foreigner, an alien).

You can only own 49% of a business here because 51% must be held by a Thai who may know nothing about your business, the exception being if you get BOI support.

If you live here for a long time, learn Thai. They will like you a lot more.

[alanrchase]

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Thats interesting - I have never found this to be the case... 

 

In my experience, Medication has always been more expensive directly from the hospital to such a degree, when I visit a hospital, I get the name of the medication prescribed and go and get it elsewhere, particularly if it going to expensive stuff....

... But even a strip of Ibuprofen (accorcia) is about 3-4x more expensive when prescribed and obtained directly from the hospital. 

 

Clearly this is a case of experiences vary (YMMV)...  

Government hospitals may well be cheaper.... Private certainly aren't.

 

 

I totally agree that private hospitals are way more expensive for meds than a pharmacy, that is why I specified government hospitals. All the medications I get from the government hospital are significantly cheaper. 

[ravip]

6 minutes ago, Purdey said:

While the Thai smile is famous, we shouldn't forget that they are sometimes extremely nationalistic and pro- "Make Thailand Great Again."

This means that you cannot own land in Thailand because you are an alien (not a foreigner, an alien).

You can only own 49% of a business here because 51% must be held by a Thai who may know nothing about your business, the exception being if you get BOI support.

If you live here for a long time, learn Thai. They will like you a lot more.

I think there is nothing wrong with the above.

No country would do good to sell their land off freely to all and sundry.

[Peterphuket]

8 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Those who don't like Pattaya can go to the other side of the bay to Hua Hin

100km swimming.

[Thingamabob]

I've never experienced that kind of discrimination anywhere in Thailand.   Regarding repeat prescriptions, in Bangkok I always order mine COD from a pharmacy on Rama 4. Always delivered within 24 hours. A polite, friendly and efficient service.

[Parsve]

10 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Strange experience, I've not seen them doing it, standard is to serve everyone in order, maybe they don't like you for some reason. Go to Bang Lamung or Queen Sirikit hospital instead

Thanks for the good advice.

[Parsve]

5 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

 

What a dumb arrogant post.

 

What would your country be if there wasn't for millions of (legal) immigrants who to this day contribute to your pension, so you can retire in another country?

 

Are you sure you answered the right post, or do you not know the difference between tourists and immigrants?

[cardinalblue]

Why do you need to see the doctor for refills on medication especially BP or cholesterol?

 

Go to any pharmacy…

[Parsve]

4 minutes ago, cardinalblue said:

Why do you need to see the doctor for refills on medication especially BP or cholesterol?

 

Go to any pharmacy…

Good question, others have asked that too, and the answer is two. I have not thought about it. The other reason is that I have had this medication for about 10 years and those pills I get are working fine. 555, in fact, the first pills I got, gave me an allergic reaction my throat swelled up, and so did my di*k. With one hand I could not reach around it when it was "sleeping", and no, my wife was not happy about it either.

[DavisH]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

While the Thai smile is famous, we shouldn't forget that they are sometimes extremely nationalistic and pro- "Make Thailand Great Again."

This means that you cannot own land in Thailand because you are an alien (not a foreigner, an alien).

You can only own 49% of a business here because 51% must be held by a Thai who may know nothing about your business, the exception being if you get BOI support.

If you live here for a long time, learn Thai. They will like you a lot more.

Alien is a legal definition. And rightly so, foreigners should NOT be allowed to own land in LoS. The Arabs and Chinese will overrun the place. Be thankful you can own a condo. 

[DavisH]

31 minutes ago, cardinalblue said:

Why do you need to see the doctor for refills on medication especially BP or cholesterol?

 

Go to any pharmacy…

Exactly, why wait hours at a hospital to possibly save a few baht? The only reason to go to the hospital is to see a doctor following a blood test to check the meds are working as they should and the organs are functioning normally. 

[Parsve]

9 minutes ago, DavisH said:

Exactly, why wait hours at a hospital to possibly save a few baht? The only reason to go to the hospital is to see a doctor following a blood test to check the meds are working as they should and the organs are functioning normally. 

See the answer a little bit above.

[WDSmart]

The events in the article definitely sound like they are racially related to me. However, I must say that I live in Phetchabun, and every time I go to the private hospital, I get what I would consider as equal treatment compared to the Thais. And when I go to the public hospital, which isn't often, it seems like I get even faster and better treatment than the Thais. 

[jimn]

3 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Two meds Iam on are only available at hospital pharmacy...... that be why I go to the hospital  !

What medication is that? I lay a bet you can get easily from pharmacy in a generic form.