Some week ago took my wife to a major Bangkok hospital for a consultation.

She had been having very bad headaches for some weeks and had some lack of left side eye/ hand coordination. Doctor had a brief talk, did a brief physical examination and advised that she was suffering some stress and anxiety problems.

He then gave her an injection in the neck to stop the pain.

The nurse in the room then handed me an envelope with 4200 baht written on it. Thinking this was the fee, I was told to pay this to another nurse sitting outside the room. I then asked about any medicines and was directed to the pharmacy counter and paid 1540 b. Got a small bag of medicines and we then got into the car and drove home.

Whilst been driven home I checked the bill. Usual things... Nurse fee 60

Drugs 960

Medical charges 60

Health Professional fees 400

Vitiams 60 = 1540 b

So the cash 4100 not incuded, so the Doctor must be having double dipping as I was also charged in the bill for his fee. Also he gets cash, so no income tax on that and no actual bill for the 4100b. Do that several times a week and a nice little income earner.

I will be taking it up with the Hospital as I feel it is pretty blatent cheating.

BAYBOY

Just curious? Any other people been charged in the consulting room as well as having an offical bill from the hospital?

At a hospital, I have only paid at the cashier window, I never paid a doctor separately. Always an itemized bill. I have argued a bit about the billing before though...

This is a new one to me, I have never heard of it. I suggest you contact the hospital for clarification.Preferrably in writing, addressed to the billing department with cc to customer relations. It is possible there is a legitimate explanation, but if so you should have at least gotten a receipt for the 4200 Baht.

When you say it was written on the envelope, do you mean hand written? Or was there some sort of actual bill?

More important, though, I think you need to get your wife, whose symptoms are potentially serious, to a well qualified neurologist. What you describe does not sound like a proper diagnostic work up for these complaints. Don't delay. While it is possible that the doctor was correct in writing it off as stress, there are also some extremely dangerous possibilities that need to be ruled out. These will involve some costly testing (e.g. CT) but given the risks if she has, for example, an aneurysm or tumor, well worth it.

Be sure to get a neurologist with training and board certification from a westemn country. I can suggest some if you like.