Bumrungrad International Hospital

[Phuketscooter]

I am planning going there next week. Do you been there with a baby, mine is 2,5 year old.

Like to hear your experience and what you feel about the prices/treatment and so on....

[SamuiHomemadeFood]

A first class, world class hospital. Not the cheapest place to go for treatment but probably one of the best places to go. The times I have used it I could not complain about any part.

[Sheryl]

I think the vast majority of us have been there at some point.

Everything depends upon the choice of doctor, you can get both exceptionally good and exceptionally bad care there, as you can in other hospitals.

The choice of hospital does not assure you of the best care. you need to choose the doctor.

Do not rely on the hospital to do that for you.

The above points apply to any hospital, not just Bumrungrad.

Selecting a doctor at Bumrungrad is easier than at many places tho due to a very good "find a doctor" search function on their website. You'll be able to see the qualifications and working hours of all pediatricians. If your child has a specific type of problem other than the normal illness of childhood, look at the "special interests" listed to identify doctors who specialize in the appropriate area. And regardless, look for a doctor with training in the west and board certification in Pediatrics both in Thailand and in a western country. This will assure an unusual level of skill, excellent English and, usually, a willingness to explain things and answer questions.

You could also do a search here and in the family forum for the names of pediatricians others have recommended.

[lennyh]

Like you I'm also looking for a new doctor for my kids. I have tried Bumrungrad and also Samitivej but haven't found anyone I really like. They all seem to prescribe a lot of medicines even for the littlest thing, and the cost of the medicines can really add up, I've had to pay nearly 1000 baht for a small bottle of antibiotic on several occasions from these hospitals.

[Phuketscooter]

I am going to meet Dr. Karl Kalavantavanich, I do not know him. This with medicine is a never ending problem. Married to a Thai wife, she wanted all the medicine. I want them to have a blood test before accepting any antibiotic. Always working hard with this and made a point of it is paid by me! Have tried to find out what is wrong with my baby, they can not help me more here in Phuket, thinking more and more serious about going to my home country. It looks like the rate of death of children is so high here, that they do not have the knowledge here in Thailand. Sad if that is the answer!

[Sheryl]

Do NOT buy your meds at the hospital pharmacy. You do not have to. they will automatically put the meds on your bill, asking you to pay first and then go get them, but you can just say you either already have the meds or will buy them outside and insist they take that off the bill.

Mark-ups are considerable. Buy at an outisde pharmacy, and request where applicable a loc al generic equivalent, GPO if there is one.

[Comehome]

Hi!

What is the matter with your baby?

Perhaps I can help you or at least give you some names of good doctors you can visit.

We had some problems with our 3 yearold girl in the beginning. She was late in development and she was tested for some genetic disorders but nothing was found.

Please describe a bit more, so we can help easier. Only if you want to.

Take care,

Comehome

[t.s]

I am going to meet Dr. Karl Kalavantavanich, I do not know him. This with medicine is a never ending problem. Married to a Thai wife, she wanted all the medicine. I want them to have a blood test before accepting any antibiotic. Always working hard with this and made a point of it is paid by me! Have tried to find out what is wrong with my baby, they can not help me more here in Phuket, thinking more and more serious about going to my home country. It looks like the rate of death of children is so high here, that they do not have the knowledge here in Thailand. Sad if that is the answer!

Doctor karl has taken care of my 3 1/2 year old since birth.

He has an excellent manner with children, is patient willing to explain and justify his treatments and even willing to adjust treatments to suit a farang sensibility.

His english is excellent too.

My only caveat is to review anything he prescribes (but this is true of EVERY private hospital in Thailand i have encountered) -- typical of a thai doctor he will prescribe antihistamines and the like for a cold, but will quickly knock them off the prescription if you intervene. i had this discussion with him once and he apologized, explaining that thai's often expect something, anything to treat symptoms where farang would not. we have never needed to revisit that conversation since.

He is also willing to perform tests before resorting to antibiotics.

FYI:

Dr Karl specializes in respiratory ailments as well as general pediatrics.