Photo via Instagram/ @travelwithshades

 

Monica Gupta, an Indian travel blogger, apologized after accusing hospitals in Krabi, Thailand, of overcharging tourists for medical treatment following adverse reactions to cannabis gummies. She alleged on Instagram that she and a friend experienced a “Thai hospital scam” when charged 36,000 baht after consuming cannabis edibles and requiring IV treatment. This sparked discussions about medical costs and cannabis use among tourists.

 

Gupta and her friend felt ill after eating “weird gummies” in Phuket and were admitted to a hospital for treatment. Initially presented with a 17,500 baht bill, they were later informed that the total was 36,000 baht, leading Gupta to suspect overcharging. She noticed that other patients were treated for similar symptoms and encouraged followers to share experiences, fueling reactions from social media users.

 

Responses varied, with many Thai and Indian commentators disputing Gupta's scam claims. A long-term Indian resident in Thailand praised the local medical system and stressed the importance of travel insurance. A Thai user highlighted that state hospital costs are lower and suggested ensuring awareness of edibles' effects before consumption. Gupta's apology clarified misunderstandings but maintained concerns about cannabis gummies targeting tourists.

 

Despite retracting her accusation, Gupta advised tourists to buy travel insurance and consider state hospitals over private ones. Comments continued to challenge her scam assertion, emphasizing personal responsibility in consuming edibles. The debate underlined the broader issue of medical costs for foreigners in Thailand and the need for cautious consumption of unfamiliar products, reported The Thaiger.

 

Key Takeaways

• Gupta apologized for misunderstanding about Thai hospital charges.
• Social media showcased diverse opinions on medical costs and cannabis use.
• Tourists are advised to check medical coverage and product familiarity.

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-11-20

 

 

 

So how much does a simple drip cost to be administered?

It seems that she apologized because Thai followers wanted that... There is no explanation however why the bill was  changed from 17.500 to 36.000 THB... 

51 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

There is no explanation however why the bill was  changed from 17.500 to 36.000 THB... 

She is a foreigner... Simple enough explanation in Thailand. I once went to an evening clinic in a government hospital to see a doctor. They initially charged me about 700 baht for the visit and medicine. Later that evening they asked me to return to pay another 1000 baht because they forgot to add the foreigner fee to my bill. 

When you go to any hospital. You are not only paying for medical care. You are paying for foreigner care also. Foreigners bodies are not the same as Thai I guess. It cost more to take care of any problems. 

Thailand wants more of these visitors to come here......the number 1 scam of gold necklaces being stolen in Pattaya....now medical cost scams!

Hopefully her blog will result in less Indian tourists.....

Another dopey, naive tourist determined to add to the pile of accusations against weed and its use among tourists.

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

Thailand wants more of these visitors to come here......the number 1 scam of gold necklaces being stolen in Pattaya....now medical cost scams!

If you can't afford insurance, stay at home.

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

So how much does a simple drip cost to be administered?

I had a drip injection of an iron supplement at Bumrungrad last year for about 14,000 baht; of course, this was an outpatient procedure lasting about an hour, and the cost did not include the original bloodwork or consultations with the hematologist (billed separately); the bulk of the cost was the supplement itself. Plus, the woman in this case may have had other complications that boosted the cost.

Maybe the hospital is located within a national park. 
Next time she might just want to roll one and smoke it the old fashion way. 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Gupta maintained concerns about cannabis gummies targeting tourists.

Red Alert: Thai Gummies are Targeting Tourists!!!

 

Dear Gupta, if you feel targeted by gummies in Thailand, you have the option of turning your back on them and walking around a corner. The crosshairs will be off.

This solution works for many similar scenarios and may avoid a hospital stay and associated costs. Of course, employing this solution will not make you a victim anymore, so my guess is, that you will not use it...

 

^^ Medium to Heavy Sarcasm

Yeah, you should make sure you have travel insurance before taking edibles... The insurance will be happy to cover if you are too high 🤦🏻🫠

They likely made the mistake of going to a top private hospital instead of a public hospital. The private hospitals here are relatively inexpensive compared to the west, but they are expensive. The public hospitals by contrast are very reasonable and it would be quite unusual to be overcharged like this in a public Hospital. 

 

 So who's really at fault here?

Maybe the Hospital only charged for one at first then doubled it and added the Tip.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Gupta and her friend felt ill after eating “weird gummies” in Phuket and were admitted to a hospital for treatment. Initially presented with a 17,500 baht bill, they were later informed that the total was 36,000 baht

Two people admitted to hospital for treatment.

 

it depends on how long they were in hospital and what work and treatment was performed, but 36,000 Baht for two does not seem expensive?

3 minutes ago, Homburg said:

Two people admitted to hospital for treatment.

 

it depends on how long they were in hospital and what work and treatment was performed, but 36,000 Baht for two does not seem expensive?

17,500 baht bill, they were later informed that the total was 36,000 baht

Double the 17500 and it still does not equal the money they paid.. 

 

8 minutes ago, thesetat said:

17,500 baht bill, they were later informed that the total was 36,000 baht

Double the 17500 and it still does not equal the money they paid.. 

 

....and 17,500 Baht could be for one patient, 36,000 Baht for both (they may not have had exactly the same treatments)?

 

3 hours ago, thesetat said:

She is a foreigner... Simple enough explanation in Thailand. I once went to an evening clinic in a government hospital to see a doctor. They initially charged me about 700 baht for the visit and medicine. Later that evening they asked me to return to pay another 1000 baht because they forgot to add the foreigner fee to my bill. 

When you go to any hospital. You are not only paying for medical care. You are paying for foreigner care also. Foreigners bodies are not the same as Thai I guess. It cost more to take care of any problems. 

If you don't like the Government hospital charges, try BKK hospital or Bumrungrad.

They will leave you feeking more sick

3 hours ago, thesetat said:

. Later that evening they asked me to return to pay another 1000 baht because they forgot to add the foreigner fee to my bill. 

 

 

 

Bwahahahahaha, love it!

3 hours ago, thesetat said:

She is a foreigner... Simple enough explanation in Thailand. I once went to an evening clinic in a government hospital to see a doctor. They initially charged me about 700 baht for the visit and medicine. Later that evening they asked me to return to pay another 1000 baht because they forgot to add the foreigner fee to my bill. 

When you go to any hospital. You are not only paying for medical care. You are paying for foreigner care also. Foreigners bodies are not the same as Thai I guess. It cost more to take care of any problems. 

I have mentioned this story before. I had a stoma hernia repair done at the government hospital in Prachuap Khiri Khan in the days before I got my health insurance. Coincidently a Thai from our village had the same op in the same week. My bill came to less than theirs and I had an extra day in hospital! So, work that one out.

Probably tried to bargain and the hospital faced her down.

 

Living as if your life is a show.  Sad.

 

Hope the hospital sues her for defamation.... we all know what influencers are like...

Attention seeking..

Edibles. Shove it up your 

36000 for two people doesn't seem out of the ordinary.

"Initially presented with a 17,500 baht bill, they were later informed that the total was 36,000 baht,"

 

Sounds like the initial bill was for 1 person.

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“weird gummies”

 

Whatever happened to just sleeping it off?

9 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

 

Whatever happened to just sleeping it off?

 

It's so dumb. Happens a lot in the US, too. It's like a social contagion and when they start feeling "weird" they rush to the ER like social media has trained them to do.

1 hour ago, worrab said:

I have mentioned this story before. I had a stoma hernia repair done at the government hospital in Prachuap Khiri Khan in the days before I got my health insurance. Coincidently a Thai from our village had the same op in the same week. My bill came to less than theirs and I had an extra day in hospital! So, work that one out.

Perhaps yours was less complicated.. Thais in general require longer hospital stays. They go to the hospital more often for trivial things. 

5 minutes ago, thesetat said:

Perhaps yours was less complicated.. Thais in general require longer hospital stays. They go to the hospital more often for trivial things. 

 

My Thai wife is like this. I keep telling her "doctors are not your friends". She doesn't realize the riskiness of doctors and hospitals when you aren't really all that sick.

3 hours ago, chmeatloaf said:

If you can't afford insurance, stay at home.

First consider cost of insurance, in Thailand, if over 70...approx US$500/month...I don't know how much travel insurance would cost