Finding A Chiang Mai Forum Recommended Hospital In Cnx

[NancyL]

I've found the two ladies who run the Peera Pharmacy near Thapae Gate, across from Hotel M to be a great source of information about drugs. Sometimes they've steered me away from a generic version saying I really should use the prescribed brand name for certain drugs and with other drugs they've said "no difference, just as good". I trust them to keep on on this type of information.

Also, sometimes they'll suggest buying dosage size pills for me to split at home with my pill splitter and other times they say "don't split". Of course, splitting one bigger dose is always cheaper than buying two pills at half the dose. I suspect they wouldn't recommend splitting at all unless they thought I had the manual dexterity and brain power to do it myself.

[jollyrog]

I am the originator of this topic.

The CM Forum is so quick to respond and with excellent advice. Thanks to all 16 of you.

The edge on your recommendations went CM Ram with the caveat of their high cost.

Two members said: Pick the Doctor and not the hospital.

I live in the Nimmankemin area and I believe that Ram is the closest to my place.

One member recommended a good doctor at Rajavej.

Does anyone recommend an Internal Medicine doctor at Ram?

Thankfully I am in excellent health and do not need specialists at this time.

Once again, thanks very much to one and all

James

James.....

Does anyone recommend an Internal Medicine doctor at Ram?

Dr. Kaset......Endocronologist at CM Ram ....on 4th floor .......full time at CM Ram........Has been my Doctor for 8 years.....schedules me with specialist as needed. If I need something I call his office and go in two hours later. So far this year heart/lungs chest X-ray; electrocardiagram; full blood breakdown; EENT Dr.; neurologist for MRI and a referal to an outside clinic for something not available in-house. At 300 Baht a visit, cheap at 10 times the price for excellent service and he is a nice guy.

Roger

[LawrenceChee]

Booked an appointment yesterday and the RAM guys are efficient an professional

Will update tomorrow when the checkup is completed

[Ulysses G.]

I've found the two ladies who run the Peera Pharmacy near Thapae Gate, across from Hotel M to be a great source of information about drugs. Sometimes they've steered me away from a generic version saying I really should use the prescribed brand name for certain drugs and with other drugs they've said "no difference, just as good". I trust them to keep on on this type of information.

I agree. They are great about telling one the best drugs to use for the least cost.

[cheeryble]

I've found the two ladies who run the Peera Pharmacy near Thapae Gate, across from Hotel M to be a great source of information about drugs. Sometimes they've steered me away from a generic version saying I really should use the prescribed brand name for certain drugs and with other drugs they've said "no difference, just as good". I trust them to keep on on this type of information.

I agree. They are great about telling one the best drugs to use for the least cost.

Her name's Nalin....

I reconfirm my sentiment in a recent post that this is an important business to sort out if one is paying for oneself. I think it must be one of the duties-to-oneself of a self-insurer to keep costs down whilst keeping quality the same.

I shall indeed have a chat with Nalin good idea.....am interested in her criteria for efficacious or not (maybe just the manufacturer's reputation), and shall ask at Ram pharmacy too. I shall report back here, but don't hold your breath could be couple of days or couple of weeks....

[cheeryble]

I already enquired at the Ram pharmacy.

Communication was difficult and it took two minutes to get the word generic understood by the pharmacist who looked most senior.

When we got generic understood the lady pharmacist seemed not to use the word generic as we do, ie generically identical copy, but called it "local name". Whenever I said generic I believe she thought I meant the Brand name.....have no idea why.

Then I understood from what she said that they only give originals. Some minutes later it turned out this was not so.

She said it was up to the doctor.

So I asked what was the hospital policy about this.

She said if I wanted generic I could ask the doctor.

I then asked approximately what percentage of their prescriptions were generic.

She didn't seem to be able to answer.

After consultation with another, surprising for someone who does nothing but issue drugs all day long, she opted for 10%.

I then asked how they decided which were prescribable generics and which weren't.

Seeing the look of consternation I gave up said thankyou v much and left.

Pharmaceuticals can be a major burden at American prices, especially for chemotherapy.

It seems to me a hospital should have a responsibility to give drugs that work with 100% efficiency at the best possible price allowing for a fair profit margin. The previous poster could have saved much of his $3000 instead of it paying the school fees of the children of Pfizer or the like, companies convicted of malpractise on a regular basis, who spend more on advertising than research as if a layman is capable of judging their adverts anyway.

This means a doctor or pharmacist absolutely needs a policy to follow and a list of proper generics which should be used in all cases unless a patient ticks a box otherwise. Anything else is unworthy of a profession.

I shall try to learn further about how generics are rated.

Cheeryble

Edited September 3, 2012 by cheeryble

[LawrenceChee]

Was at Ram today for my annual and have nothing but praise for the staff.

There are better ones in Bangkok for sure but CM is home.

[naboo]

I already enquired at the Ram pharmacy.

Communication was difficult and it took two minutes to get the word generic understood by the pharmacist who looked most senior.

When we got generic understood the lady pharmacist seemed not to use the word generic as we do, ie generically identical copy, but called it "local name". Whenever I said generic I believe she thought I meant the Brand name.....have no idea why.

Then I understood from what she said that they only give originals. Some minutes later it turned out this was not so.

She said it was up to the doctor.

So I asked what was the hospital policy about this.

She said if I wanted generic I could ask the doctor.

I then asked approximately what percentage of their prescriptions were generic.

She didn't seem to be able to answer.

After consultation with another, surprising for someone who does nothing but issue drugs all day long, she opted for 10%.

I then asked how they decided which were prescribable generics and which weren't.

Seeing the look of consternation I gave up said thankyou v much and left.

Pharmaceuticals can be a major burden at American prices, especially for chemotherapy.

It seems to me a hospital should have a responsibility to give drugs that work with 100% efficiency at the best possible price allowing for a fair profit margin. The previous poster could have saved much of his $3000 instead of it paying the school fees of the children of Pfizer or the like, companies convicted of malpractise on a regular basis, who spend more on advertising than research as if a layman is capable of judging their adverts anyway.

This means a doctor or pharmacist absolutely needs a policy to follow and a list of proper generics which should be used in all cases unless a patient ticks a box otherwise. Anything else is unworthy of a profession.

I shall try to learn further about how generics are rated.

Cheeryble

Just ask to see the bill in hand, write down the list of prescribed drugs and head off to your local pharmacy to see what they are and how much they'll do them for.

Only trouble is, this seems to mark you up as a cheap Charlie and the docs start prescribing injections. Long live the NHS!

[cheeryble]

I already enquired at the Ram pharmacy.

Communication was difficult and it took two minutes to get the word generic understood by the pharmacist who looked most senior.

When we got generic understood the lady pharmacist seemed not to use the word generic as we do, ie generically identical copy, but called it "local name". Whenever I said generic I believe she thought I meant the Brand name.....have no idea why.

Then I understood from what she said that they only give originals. Some minutes later it turned out this was not so.

She said it was up to the doctor.

So I asked what was the hospital policy about this.

She said if I wanted generic I could ask the doctor.

I then asked approximately what percentage of their prescriptions were generic.

She didn't seem to be able to answer.

After consultation with another, surprising for someone who does nothing but issue drugs all day long, she opted for 10%.

I then asked how they decided which were prescribable generics and which weren't.

Seeing the look of consternation I gave up said thankyou v much and left.

Pharmaceuticals can be a major burden at American prices, especially for chemotherapy.

It seems to me a hospital should have a responsibility to give drugs that work with 100% efficiency at the best possible price allowing for a fair profit margin. The previous poster could have saved much of his $3000 instead of it paying the school fees of the children of Pfizer or the like, companies convicted of malpractise on a regular basis, who spend more on advertising than research as if a layman is capable of judging their adverts anyway.

This means a doctor or pharmacist absolutely needs a policy to follow and a list of proper generics which should be used in all cases unless a patient ticks a box otherwise. Anything else is unworthy of a profession.

I shall try to learn further about how generics are rated.

Cheeryble

Just ask to see the bill in hand, write down the list of prescribed drugs and head off to your local pharmacy to see what they are and how much they'll do them for.

Only trouble is, this seems to mark you up as a cheap Charlie and the docs start prescribing injections. Long live the NHS!

Ram is certainly dearer for prescriptions, in my experience about 100%.

if you look at the group profits however (i considered buying shares) they're not the least extraordinary just normal, so they have to make money somewhere presumably they're giving value elsewhere.....I, non-insured, just personally am careful what prescriptions I get filled there.

Nor do I think the physicians (I know several in the Ram) are in on any conspiracy to rip one off on drugs. If you ask them to just put the prescription on a note to buy at leisure rather than send direct to pharmacy they don't have a problem. (oftentimes it ain't worth it, just occasionally). This also allows one to cross off the useless items....I was once prescribed anti flatulants and it wasn't because I was talking too much.

I think they're just doing their best to cure people, but one must keep one's own eye on the finances, because they may not be quite as aware as they might.

AGREE! Long live the NHS!

Edited September 4, 2012 by cheeryble