Cost Of Seeing A Gp

[dmscott]

From what I gather, if I want to see a GP I'd still need to go to a hospital, is that right? Or are there clinics also?

I have been taking antibiotics and painkillers (from a pharmacy) for an ear infection, but I fear it's getting worse, and I might need to see someone about it.

I have travel insurance, but don't really want to use it, as at the moment it's not an emergency, so am just trying to get an idea of the cost of seeing a GP.

Does anyone have any idea at all?

Thanks in advance,

Dani

[crazydrummerpauly]

Hi - regarding having to go to a hospital - no, not necessarily; but many ex-pats do drop straight into the local public hospital A&E department because they are often very thorough. Speaking only from my personal experience, I have never paid at my local 'GP' / clinic - I've been 3 times for different minor lergies, and it seems that the financial side is taken care

of by the fact that the clinic has its own pharmacy so I never leave without 500 Bt's worth of little pills ! Clinics are usually easy to find and open to the street - the clue is all those

weary-looking humans sitting on parallel rows of chairs !; and even up in the far N-East, GP's with pretty decent English are available.

I have experienced ear-probs that were so painful that Valium was administered when I finally got onto a hospital trolley - I'd strongly treating your infection as an Emergency, even

though I understand your point about not waving your insurance-policy about ( which the urban myth says will also result in the fees heading northwards! ).

The best of luck.

[lopburi3]

General clinics are normally extremely unreliable. Highly advise using a hospital with a trained ENT specialist. Even at top places the facility/doctor fees should be between about 300-800 baht.

[RabC]

You don't say where you are, Pattaya has a few clinics but I am not really sure of their quality. There is a Swiss GP who charges 500 baht for a consultation (Dr Olivier Pattaya google him).

[dmscott]

You don't say where you are, Pattaya has a few clinics but I am not really sure of their quality. There is a Swiss GP who charges 500 baht for a consultation (Dr Olivier Pattaya google him).

I ALWAYS forget to do that.

I'm in Bangkok.

Less than 1,000B, I think I can handle. I was worried it would be a lot more than that.

Dani

[theoldgit]

The only thing that annoys me about hospitals is whenever I have been there the nurse insists on taking your blood pressure and weighing you. I recently went to have a stitch removed, the doctor charged 500 Baht, fair enough, but why on earth do I need the "nursing services" which more than doubled the price.

My experience of GP clinics has been generally positive, though I have not been to one in Bangkok.

[lopburi3]

At most places nursing will not double the price and expect it include the facility expense as well as services; but there is a very good reason for the weight/blood pressure check and most doctors worldwide require them before seeing anyone. That blood pressure check saves a lot of lives each year I suspect.

[theoldgit]

At most places nursing will not double the price and expect it include the facility expense as well as services; but there is a very good reason for the weight/blood pressure check and most doctors worldwide require them before seeing anyone. That blood pressure check saves a lot of lives each year I suspect.

I accept what you are saying that, on an initial visit, there should be weight and blood pressure checks and that probably saves a lot of lives. However, I doubt that when returning a few days after a tiny lump of skin was cut off to be told it wasn't malignant, necessitated a weight and blood pressure check, and neither did it when I returned a few days after that to have the stitch removed, and yes the "nursing care" did double the cost of the visit.

[lopburi3]

My hospital does not weigh or check blood if making a return to skin treatment area but at times also agree it seems excessive if you just did it the day before for another doctor but as the cost is I feel a general facility charge rather than specific to these tests do not feel concerned. If it doubled my charge I might feel different. The nurse care is only 50+30 baht for a normal visit at Vejthani so far from a major change there.

[dmscott]

Thanks very much for all your help. I really appreciate it.

Dani

[phaethon]

Last year I did a walk-in at Samitivej with gastric pain. The bill for the first consult was THB800 for the quack, THB100 for the ever-present nurse and a slightly mysterious THB200 for "Packaged Medical Charge - Other Medical Charges" (probably for the pianist in reception). Meds and blood tests etc. extra.

When the hospital prescription pad comes out ask the quack to just write down what you need on a post-it note and take it to a trusted external pharmacy - hospital pharmacies charge several times more, but you may consider that worth it in terms of reliability of supply.

[Sheryl]

In Thailand -- at least in the major cities -- doctors tend to work out of the outpatient departments of hospitals and these function like clinics. so yes, you do need to go to sa hospital, but a hospital outpatient department.

Cost could go as high as 1,500 (excluding medicine) depending on the doctor and the hospital.

As you are concerned about cost, considre one of the non-profits, e.g.

Bangkok Christian hospital (Silom)

Saint Louis Hospital (Sathorn)

Cost will be 50-75% that of places like Bumrungrad. St Louis generally less expensive than Bkk Christian.

As mentioned by another poster, be sure yo purchase your medication at an outside pharmacy and not the hospital pharmacy. Although the mark-up at St Louis doesn't seem as bad as most.

[sinbin]

If you have the 'Yellow Book' you can get a Thai medical card, giving you the same free medical treatment a Thai would receive. So I believe.

[dmscott]

I ended going into hospital today as my pain got so bad.

Saw a specialist within 10 minutes of registering, who was really helpful and thorough. I remembered to get her to write down my meds so I could get them from my local pharmacy. My visit cost 660B at Sukhumvit Hospital.

A big thank you to everyone for your help!

Dx

[Scully]

I am not saying this is the case with every government hospital however I visited the morning doctor with my girlfriend, they took my address in Thailand and driving license.

Cost to see doctor nothing, cost of nurse nothing, cost of drugs 70 baht, got home did a google check on drug precription and he made a good diagnosis and drug chioce.

[sinbin]

I am not saying this is the case with every government hospital however I visited the morning doctor with my girlfriend, they took my address in Thailand and driving license.

Cost to see doctor nothing, cost of nurse nothing, cost of drugs 70 baht, got home did a google check on drug precription and he made a good diagnosis and drug chioce.

He probably Googled the same page as you did.