Medical Tourism Continues To Boom: Thailand

[GreenSnapper]

What about Malaysian Hospitals? Any personal experiences here?

They are supposed to be cheaper than the top Thai ones and English is widely spoken. May be a good alternative for serious cases.

[clockman]

If you do some research, you will find that there is a 30,000 shortfall of nurses and many other specialist. The nurses work long hours, and are paid crap salary. The result is alot more problems for patients. I would be very careful of anything i read about Thai hospitals!

[doggie888888]

Costs and quality issues aside, I think we need to take into account the framework under which such "medical tourism" operates.

Whilst it is fine when all goes according to plan and everyone is happy, the question ought to be asked: what happens when things don't go to plan and what are the patient's legal rights? I am unsure and so when things are serious enough, I may consider going back to my home country or to Singapore/HK. It's a risk analysis worth making and not just focus on costs.

[HerbalEd]

Despite the garbled reporting, yes, medical tourism to Thailand is very considerable and is still growing. A lot of people combine it with a holiday here, so even the best figures can be somewhat confusing. And these aren't the best figures.

As for its quality . . . well, despite the effective PR of some of the more marketing-oriented hospitals here, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that while you can do very well with things like plastic surgery here, you'd want to be a lot more cautious about treatment for, say, heart disease or cancer. Personally, if I had to deal with the latter, I'd be on the first plane to Singapore.

Not saying you are incorrect, but where is the "plenty of evidence to suggest" that Singapore is better than Thailand for treatment of cancer? Why is Singapore better?

Edited July 18, 2012 by HerbalEd

[HerbalEd]

Costs and quality issues aside, I think we need to take into account the framework under which such "medical tourism" operates.

Whilst it is fine when all goes according to plan and everyone is happy, the question ought to be asked: what happens when things don't go to plan and what are the patient's legal rights? I am unsure and so when things are serious enough, I may consider going back to my home country or to Singapore/HK. It's a risk analysis worth making and not just focus on costs.

So does this mean that you are sure about patient rights in HK & Singapore? How are those rights different from Thailand?

[HerbalEd]

If you do some research, you will find that there is a 30,000 shortfall of nurses and many other specialist. The nurses work long hours, and are paid crap salary. The result is alot more problems for patients. I would be very careful of anything i read about Thai hospitals!

Where did you get the facts that there are "alot more problems for patients" in Thailand? Do you actually know this for sure, or do you think all-things-Thai are always a problem?

[HerbalEd]

Hospitals are dirty places and patients often contract infections. It's normal. How come, you never hear about it in Thailand? There have been outbreaks of c. difficile, but you wouldn't know that because the numbers are never released.

It is not unusual for hospitals to get mold in their HVAC and this can shut down the surgeries. It is expected to be more severe in any country that has high humidity and warmth. I have yet to see one case reported in Thailand. There is also minimal reporting of medical malpractice. Based upon the press coverage, it seems that medical errors are a rarity in Thailand.

I would go to Singapore. It is more expensive, but at elast I know that the Singapore hospitals have high standards and that the medical instruments are usually properly sterilized.

If, as you say, "There have been outbreaks of c. difficile, but you wouldn't know that because the numbers are never released." How would you know this if the numbers are never released?

If you "have yet to see one case (of mold in their HVAC) reported in Thailand" how do you know there are such cases?

Why do you assume the Thai hospitals do not sterilize their medical instruments properly? What evidence do you have of this?

Also, why would you ever be treated in Singapore if you actually believe their "medical instruments are USUALLY properly sterilized"?

Edited July 18, 2012 by HerbalEd

[Felt 35]

Thailand have actually a top 100 hospital worldwiide http://hospitals.web...0.asp?offset=50

In Asia 5-6 hospital in the top 100. http://hospitals.web...t.asp?cont=asia

That not means all the average Foreigners have access to or live near the best ones. I have used a couple of hospitals in Bangkok, Bumrungrad which I personally think was like a chaotic shopping mall and Samitivei Sukhumvit which I cant say enough good about.

Edited July 18, 2012 by Felt 35

[moe666]

If you do some research, you will find that there is a 30,000 shortfall of nurses and many other specialist. The nurses work long hours, and are paid crap salary. The result is alot more problems for patients. I would be very careful of anything i read about Thai hospitals!

I spent 10 days in Ram Hospital in Chiang mai there were no problems with the nurseing service or my care. The problem is with the government hospitals having low staff numbers as the staff optout to private hospitals. The nurses in private hospitals tend to make more money than in public hospitals. The nurses at Ram where I stayed made around 20,000baht a month the aids made 10,000 a month. These are very good salaries for Thailand.

[doggie888888]

Costs and quality issues aside, I think we need to take into account the framework under which such "medical tourism" operates.

Whilst it is fine when all goes according to plan and everyone is happy, the question ought to be asked: what happens when things don't go to plan and what are the patient's legal rights? I am unsure and so when things are serious enough, I may consider going back to my home country or to Singapore/HK. It's a risk analysis worth making and not just focus on costs.

So does this mean that you are sure about patient rights in HK & Singapore? How are those rights different from Thailand?

YES, without a doubt. I am sorry but I simply do not believe that when things go awry, my rights as a patient will be better protected in Thailand. The legal framework here is different from Sing/HK. The corruption is less in those 2 countries too. Not to mention a more independent system insofar as consumer protection is concerned. If you think it is same in Thailand, I'd certainly be interested to know why.

[chrissables]

If you do some research, you will find that there is a 30,000 shortfall of nurses and many other specialist. The nurses work long hours, and are paid crap salary. The result is alot more problems for patients. I would be very careful of anything i read about Thai hospitals!

I spent 10 days in Ram Hospital in Chiang mai there were no problems with the nurseing service or my care. The problem is with the government hospitals having low staff numbers as the staff optout to private hospitals. The nurses in private hospitals tend to make more money than in public hospitals. The nurses at Ram where I stayed made around 20,000baht a month the aids made 10,000 a month. These are very good salaries for Thailand.

Having experienced some big problems with more than one hospital here, iwould say check what they do if something goes wrong!!!

[how241]

I'll be damned if I ever go to a dentist in the US except in an emergency. The worst and most expensive dentists are in America. A lousy filling will set you back $350, while here in Thailand I recently got 2 root canals in a 1st class clinic for $290, then a high-end crown for $550 dentist's fee included. A perfect job.

You can't beat Thailand dentist. Good work and a fair price.

[mrdome]

I believe what is needed is a website rating medical clinics & practitioners that foreigners can go to, kind of like tripadvisor rates hotels & restaurants.

[Jingthing]

I believe what is needed is a website rating medical clinics & practitioners that foreigners can go to, kind of like tripadvisor rates hotels & restaurants.

There is.

I have checked about 10 Thai docs on this site. None had any reviews!

http://www.mythaidoctors.com/