Capsule Endoscopy - Cost?

[chiang mai]

I just had a very expensive capsule endoscopy at Sriphat Hosptial in Chiang Mai and I wanted to check and see how much others have paid for this procedure, I paid THB 46,000.

[cheeryble]

http://voices.yahoo.com/capsule-endsocpy-advantages-upgraded-technology-7465.html

..........mentions $1500

I read elsewhere of $2000 and $1100.

That is in the appallingly expensive US.

Edited December 10, 2012 by cheeryble

[chiang mai]

http://voices.yahoo....ology-7465.html

..........mentions $1500

I read elsewhere of $2000 and $1100.

That is in the appallingly expensive US.

Thanks, any others from Thailand anyone?

[Rooo]

I just got quoted 45,000 + any tests etc...... + the initial consultation fee at Samitivej hospital. Bumrungrad was about the same.

[chiang mai]

I just got quoted 45,000 + any tests etc...... + the initial consultation fee at Samitivej hospital. Bumrungrad was about the same.

Thanks Roo.

Hmm, interesting, if it costs 45K at Bumrungrad I would have expected it to cost much less at Sriphat in Chiang Mai - there are no variables in this test and the disposables are not expensive, 6k baht, the rest is the payback on the technology and profit.

[Naam]

I just had a very expensive capsule endoscopy...

can you tell us a bit more about the procedure? e.g. how long was your stay in the hospital? thanks!

[chiang mai]

I just had a very expensive capsule endoscopy...

can you tell us a bit more about the procedure? e.g. how long was your stay in the hospital? thanks!

It's a very easy process and no hospital stay is needed. As with all investigations into the large/small bowel you have to empty it completely beforehand which involves taking a range of laxatives, not the most pleasant experience but easily managable - expect to eat nothing for 24 hours.

On the day of the test, remove the capsule from the box and in doing so it will activate, the capsule is the size of a large vitamin tablet. Strap on.a jacket that houses a small electronic collection device and a series of wires which are attached to your chest, not unlike an EKG arangement - try not to make comments about feeling like a suicide bomber since these are mostly not understood.

Swallow the capsule with water and wait for three hours, after which an x-ray will help determine if the capsule has transitted the stomach and entered the small bowel - if it has not the capsule must be pursuaded to go in the right direction and an endoscope is used. If the capsule has begun its journey then go take some long walks whilst pictures are taken are transmitted to the storage device located on the jacket.

The battery life of the capsule is eight hours and the rig/jacket can be removed then, the capsule will pass painlessly around twenty four hours later.

Biggest downside to the above is how hungry I was at the end of 30 hours without food and of course, paying a rather large bill. Excellent diagnostics technology however and far superior to any other approach.

The capsule takes pictures at the rate of two per second so that's 60k pictures over the life of the test, all are extremely clear and in colour

[Rooo]

I just got quoted 45,000 + any tests etc...... + the initial consultation fee at Samitivej hospital. Bumrungrad was about the same.

Thanks Roo.

Hmm, interesting, if it costs 45K at Bumrungrad I would have expected it to cost much less at Sriphat in Chiang Mai - there are no variables in this test and the disposables are not expensive, 6k baht, the rest is the payback on the technology and profit.

At Bumrungrad the doctor wanted me to have an overnight stay, which would have added a considerable amount, plus as with other quotes +++ for any extra pathology etc.............

I actually went to Samitivej & had a consultation with Dr Nathavut. After perusing the test results from Endoscopy & colonoscopy from Bumrungrad and further consultation, he was of the opinion I did not need The Capsule.

Gave me some tablets, they seem to be working & I have to go back in a month. Consultation cost 800 Baht , medicine 8437.00 ouch for a month supply.

So by having a second opinion it helped pin point the problem. With all honesty a far superior hospital then Bumrungrad in the sense of the doctor taking his time & you are not a hiccup in the production line.

[chiang mai]

I agree there's absolutely no need for an overnight stay, no reason at all. Also, the current capsule endoscopy technology doesn't have the capaility to take biopsies hence there cannot be an associated pathology charge, the new generation of the technology does have that ability plus it will be radio controlled for greater focus on specific areas, look for doctors to need training in game boys at some stage.

Also, I'm curious, can you provide details of what medicines you were prescribed, I just want to see if there's any comanality between doctors on this, everyone seems to prescribe motilium and plasil.

[negreanu]

Doesn't seem that expensive at all considering the equipment and time.

[chiang mai]

Doesn't seem that expensive at all considering the equipment and time.

The disposables in the test comprise the capsule camera which is charged at THB5k, the doctors fee for having to pay for having to go through the 60,000 pictures is THB5K, the rest of the charge is for, presumably, payback on the device that captures the pictures, essentially a small PC and profit. Just seems high to me.

[puck2]

CM, curious to read/learn more about capsule endoscopy I opened a special German website.

Although German medical treatment in general is much more expensive than Thai medical care, I was astonished to see the German price for your treatment at ~1.300 € (comment on this website: all inclusive; relatively expensive). That's about 52.000 THB, not much more than the Thai costs.

According to this article, the price for the capsule alone is ~600 € = ~24.000 THB. When out of your body this capsule is never used again. So the Sripat price considerably differs from the German price. Does this unravel the (high) price mystery?

It was interesting to read that this kind of endoscopy is useful where a gastrocopy or a colonoscopy cannot be done, for example in the small intestine.

[chiang mai]

CM, curious to read/learn more about capsule endoscopy I opened a special German website.

Although German medical treatment in general is much more expensive than Thai medical care, I was astonished to see the German price for your treatment at ~1.300 € (comment on this website: all inclusive; relatively expensive). That's about 52.000 THB, not much more than the Thai costs.

According to this article, the price for the capsule alone is ~600 € = ~24.000 THB. When out of your body this capsule is never used again. So the Sripat price considerably differs from the German price. Does this unravel the (high) price mystery?

It was interesting to read that this kind of endoscopy is useful where a gastrocopy or a colonoscopy cannot be done, for example in the small intestine.

That is interesting! I cannot explain the high cost of this test here unless the cost of the technology as sold to hospitals in Thailand is much higher than elsewhere perhaps.

[IAMHERE]

Any update on this topic ?  A colonoscopy is free for me in the USA but I would consider this capsule endoscopy if it were in the 15,000 baht range. Oh, I'd hope the pictures are 'analyzed' by a computer, 60k pictures nobody is gonna look at them all.

[Sheryl]

It will be condiderably more than 25k
Maybe double that.

And if any polyps or other growths are seen you will then have to have a colonoscopy anyhow.


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[uhuh]

On 12/20/2012 at 11:37 PM, puck2 said:

German medical treatment in general is much more expensive than Thai medical care

Very wrong.

Medical care for foreigners in Thailand, in the private sector (and in state-owned places run like a private clinic/hospital), is usually much more expensive than in the public sector in Germany, and often more expensive than the private sector in Germany (prices in the private sector being roughly 2.3 times the prices in the public sector)

 

Endoscopies are generally much more expensive in Thailand than in Germany.

45000 was a very reasonable price. 

Edited August 6, 2019 by uhuh

[puck2]

9 hours ago, uhuh said:

Very wrong.

Medical care for foreigners in Thailand, in the private sector (and in state-owned places run like a private clinic/hospital), is usually much more expensive than in the public sector in Germany, and often more expensive than the private sector in Germany (prices in the private sector being roughly 2.3 times the prices in the public sector)

 

Endoscopies are generally much more expensive in Thailand than in Germany.

45000 was a very reasonable price. 

If you compare prices of the public health sector in Germany with those of the private sector in Thailand, then you had compared apples to oranges.

 

If you compare prices of endoscopes in  the private sector of both countries, they are not very different.

 

As usual, is depends on, it's depend's on  ....... !

I.e., Compare Bumgrumrad Hospial prices with those of a small(er) city in Germany, you will have differences. If you compare the prices for (private) chef-treatment in famous German Hospitals with those of Chiang Mai or those in smaller cities you will see great differences "in favour" of the German Hospitals.

 

 

Please show us examples of your "more expansive".

[CMoldie]

On 8/7/2019 at 12:47 AM, IAMHERE said:

Oh, I'd hope the pictures are 'analyzed' by a computer, 60k pictures nobody is gonna look at them all.

The images will be assembled into a single file, similar to a video, which allows the doctor to "travel" along the gut on a computer screen and inspect it as they go.

On 12/20/2012 at 11:37 PM, puck2 said:

It was interesting to read that this kind of endoscopy is useful where a gastrocopy or a colonoscopy cannot be done, for example in the small intestine.

Endoscopy of the small intestine is possible - I have had it done. I could not have capsule endoscopy because of an intestinal stricture. Also done at Sriphat, it was quite a performance, done under general anaesthetic with my gastroenterologist, an endoscopy specialist, an anaesthetist, a radiologist with portable imaging equipment and two theatre nurses in attendance. I had to spend a night as an in patient afterwards, to be monitored for signs of intestinal bleeding or peritonitis which are known complications. Cost around 75,000 as I remember (insurance paid for it). I wish capsule endoscopy had been available for me!

 

[IAMHERE]

OK, thanks for the replies. I got a estimate from Bumrungrad. The cost would be somewhere between 103K and 134K depending more or less on which room I chose for after care. 

[Sheryl]

Any update on this topic ?  A colonoscopy is free for me in the USA but I would consider this capsule endoscopy if it were in the 15,000 baht range. Oh, I'd hope the pictures are 'analyzed' by a computer, 60k pictures nobody is gonna look at them all.

Computers cannot do this.

Has to be done by a doctor and much depends on the skill and attentiveness of the doctor reading it. Especially when being done for routine screening the latter factor can be limited here. The "mai pen rai" attitude does make its way into medical care here and I have known cases where overly cursory readings missed cancers eith catastrophic results.

If you are having this done because of a problem or special risk factor then you should carefully choose a good colorectal specialist. Dr. Chucheep (at Bumrungrad and also at Bangkok Christian Hospital) is top notch.

Do not let the hospital chose the doctor for you.

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[IAMHERE]

15 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Computers cannot do this.

Has to be done by a doctor and much depends on the skill and attentiveness of the doctor reading it. Especially when being done for routine screening the latter factor can be limited here. The "mai pen rai" attitude does make its way into medical care here and I have known cases where overly cursory readings missed cancers eith catastrophic results.

If you are having this done because of a problem or special risk factor then you should carefully choose a good colorectal specialist. Dr. Chucheep (at Bumrungrad and also at Bangkok Christian Hospital) is top notch.

Do not let the hospital chose the doctor for you.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Every ten years since I was 55, anniversary is coming up. I'll get it one last time in America; for free. 'Free' meaning I've paid ahead.

[Sheryl]

Since turning Medicare age I get mine (and all other routine preventive care) done in the US. Goes a long way towards offsetting the cost of Part B premiums.

 

Of course, that works for me because I have to go back to the US annually anyhow. Would not be cost effective to make a special trip for this purpose.