-"bangkok-Pattaya Hospital" - Still Terrible In My Experience

[Tiger7Moth]

Recently someone made a very positive report about Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital
and mentioned a number of positive changes they have made. I don't
discount that person's experience.

Perhaps different departments perform differently.

While I have had bad experiences with B-P in the past, I won't go into
those experiences but, will just talk about my experience about 10
days ago, after the positive report was posted.

I had made an appointment with the Cosmetic Surgery department for a

Vaser Lipo consultation - primarily to find out the cost. There are
many videos on youtube that show the procedure and have Docs give a
detailed explanation - so, I didn't need any information except for
the cost.

When I made the appointment, I made it very clear that I was interested in
Vaser Lipo and not Liposuction.

My appointment was for 8:30 and upon finally seeing the Doc, it seemed

obvious that everyone (this being low season, there were only 4 of us
- two Thai women, a Russian man and myself) was scheduled for 8:30.

First, one of the Thai women was attended to by the Doc. Then, the 2nd Thai

women was attended to. Meanwhile, the Russian guy had gotten quite
angry and a hospital representative who spoke Russian showed up to
calm him down.

I was not happy, but, since there were only 4 of us, I kept calm

knowing it wouldn't be too long before I saw the Doc.

So, after the Russian guy was attended to, I was called to see the Doc.
The room was empty at this time, except for me.

So, I was taken into the Doc's office. The Doc, in my opinion, exhibited
extremely rude behavior. He didn't in anyway acknowledge me. He was
looking at his computer screen and ignored me. He seemed to be
looking at unopened file folders. He did nothing at all with the
computer except stare at the screen. So, it was not as if he had
something he needed to finish before he acknowledged me.

Finally he looked at me and asked if I was there for liposuction. This after
I had made it abundantly clear that my appointment was for a Vaser
Lipo consultation.

So, I told him I was there for Vaser Lipo consultation, opened my shirt,
lowered my slacks a bit and said I was interested in Vaser Lipo for
my lower stomache and love handles. The Doc never left his seat,
made a drawing of how the results would look and told me the cost
would be 80,000 or at most 90,000 baht.

I left his office, went to the counter to which I was sent and was
presented with a bill for 750 baht, which I paid.

I then went to Customer Service. I told the person that attended to me
that it was entirely inappropriate that I had to pay 750 baht to find
out the cost of a procedure. And, I tried to make my point by
saying: a) if you go to a car dealer and discuss the features of the
car with a sales person and then ask how much does the car cost?,
does the sales person say, give me 500 baht and I will tell you?.
if you go to the market and ask how much do these shoes cost?, does
the sales person say, give me 20 baht and I will tell you?

I also told the Customer Service person that I had been scheduled for
8:30 and apparently everyone else was as well. So, she made a couple
of phone calls and ended up telling me that I was scheduled for
10:15. However, I have an SMS that confirms my appointment for 8:30.

The good news is that I went to a clinic in BKK that does Vaser Lipo and
got a quote that was for 80,000 baht. So, I pointed out to them that
Bangkok-Pattaya is very expensive and they also gave me a quote for
80,000 baht. So, they dropped the price to 60,000 baht and I will
have the procedure done there a week from today.

[Jingthing]

As I would have expected there. Thanks for the report.

[Potosi]

I would have walked out the moment the first Thai was called in, I just don't wait for them.

[Jingthing]

I want to clarify that I don't actually find any objection to being charged for a PROFESSIONAL consultation being done in a professional manner by a well qualified medical professional. Such a consultation should not be limited to a price quote, it should include an individual evaluation of the patient and their suitability for the procedure in question. A doctor's visit isn't the same as going to an auto mechanic.

[Tiger7Moth]

I want to clarify that I don't actually find any objection to being charged for a PROFESSIONAL consultation being done in a professional manner by a well qualified medical professional. Such a consultation should not be limited to a price quote, it should include an individual evaluation of the patient and their suitability for the procedure in question. A doctor's visit isn't the same as going to an auto mechanic.

I have no idea what would have followed if I indicated to the Doc that I was interested in having the procedure done at B-P hospital. At the clinic where I will have it done, I was administered an electrocardiogram and have had to submit a blood test. But, as I said, for the 750 baht I was charged at B-P, the Doc never left his chair and did nothing but look at me from his chair.

[Hugh Jarse]

I want to clarify that I don't actually find any objection to being charged for a PROFESSIONAL consultation being done in a professional manner by a well qualified medical professional. Such a consultation should not be limited to a price quote, it should include an individual evaluation of the patient and their suitability for the procedure in question. A doctor's visit isn't the same as going to an auto mechanic.

I have no idea what would have followed if I indicated to the Doc that I was interested in having the procedure done at B-P hospital. At the clinic where I will have it done, I was administered an electrocardiogram and have had to submit a blood test. But, as I said, for the 750 baht I was charged at B-P, the Doc never left his chair and did nothing but look at me from his chair.

A shocking story and having such an obnoxious doctor deal with a simple enquiry, You MUST report this to senior management of the hospital. Hope you have a Thai friend who can help you with this . I have heard far worse stories about this hospital chain.

[gamini]

BGH Hospitals of which Bangkok Pattaya is one, have become very bad recently. The Bangkok branch seems to be only interested in Arab and Indian customer s because they can overcharge them.

My experience is as follows. I asked BangkoHua HIN how much for a colonoscopy and they quoted me Bt12,000 .Then I contacted Bangkok and they quoted twice as much. So I wrote Bangkok and told them of the Hua HIn quote and added I am very confused and requested an explanation. The reply I got from BGH Bangkok. "We are sorry for you being confused" nothing else. Cataract removal at Bangrumrad is half the price of BGH.

I can tell you many more bad overcharging at BGH hospitals

[stoffel45]

I was admitted to BPH with a high fever, vomiting and diarrhea which was in its 3rd day. Typical gastric enteritis. I was en route to the airport but the Doctor in Emergency told me that it would be very unwise and perhaps unkind to other passengers to fly.

Most of you on holiday insurance know the rigmarole of several hours before you get to the ward - so OK no worries there.

I was given the right treatment (my wife is a GP so kept me right).

Afternoon of day 3 the doctor came to discharge me the following morning but asked that one of his colleagues could look at me.

The colleague came the next morning and an hour or so later a wheelchair arrived to take me for an MRI. I told them I was being discharged that morning and had a flight re-booked for that evening. Deaf ears all round.

The MRI was clear. At last someone gave me a reason for the MRI. It was in case I had had a stroke. I had NO symptoms of stroke - none.

I called the insurance company and told them I suspected I was being treated as a cash cow to milk them.

6 days later, with no fewer than 9 different doctors - including HEARING for Goodness sake - with the Insurance company telling me that I could not refuse treatment - I finally - with their blessing - discharged myself.

The Bill was nearly 140,000 higher than the date of my original discharge.

Now I will tell you all - and when I ran a charity in Pattaya I had a lot of experience of patients being horribly robbed. This Hospital is run by its Accounts department - not its doctors. Clinical reasons are laid aside in favour of commercial ones.

So friends - caveat emptor with this hospital.

[BlackPuddingBertha]

This Hospital is run by its Accounts department - not its doctors. Clinical reasons are laid aside in favour of commercial ones.

I think the same applies at all hospitals here, with the possible exceptions of the government ones.

All these private hospitals are just businesses with shareholders. The Sri Racha one likes to charge as much as possible also, but being outside of Pattaya they just arent quite so good at it.

[Minpin]

Every year my husband gets his annual physical done at BHP cost in 2012 6000 baht.

This year company forgot to book so he went to BH rayong cost 3000 baht for exactly the same physical

[Suradit69]

On the other hand, I've been using them for years ... dental, surgical, orthopedic, cardiac, ENT and eye center. Had one bad experience with someone in ENT, but in all other cases I was treated professionally, politely and charged a reasonable amount (my insurance has never disputed anything). More importantly, (with the ENT exception) every problem I've gone there to have treated has been cured or improved as expected.

Obviously the most important factor is the doctor and to a lesser degree the nursing staff and that can be as much an issue of personalities as medical skill. And, the personality issue can work both ways. I think most Thais, especially in a place like Pattaya, develop a defensive attitude toward some farang who can come across as being arrogant and condescending ... as is often demonstrated in these forums. Or, if they've had many bad experiences they may simply feel defensive when dealing with any farang.

Of course as professionals working in an "international" hospital they ought to learn how to deal with that. Unfortunately I doubt that sort of training is available and it still comes down to the personalities of the doctor and support staff. BUT it might help, at least in some cases, if we went into such situations without the combative, I-Know-My-Rights, I-Know-You're-Out-to-Screw-Me attitude. If you sit in the waiting room itemizing all the supposed affronts to your dignity you'll be dragging along a lot of baggage by the time you see the doctor.

I've certainly encountered doctors in the US I would never see twice. Medical malpractice suits in the US have gone beyond ridiculous, but even if many suits are without any rational basis, there's still a very hostile doctor-patient relationship there that feeds into all the litigation.

Edited April 9, 2013 by Suradit69

[pinfold]

I was admitted to BPH with a high fever, vomiting and diarrhea which was in its 3rd day. Typical gastric enteritis. I was en route to the airport but the Doctor in Emergency told me that it would be very unwise and perhaps unkind to other passengers to fly.

Most of you on holiday insurance know the rigmarole of several hours before you get to the ward - so OK no worries there.

I was given the right treatment (my wife is a GP so kept me right).

Afternoon of day 3 the doctor came to discharge me the following morning but asked that one of his colleagues could look at me.

The colleague came the next morning and an hour or so later a wheelchair arrived to take me for an MRI. I told them I was being discharged that morning and had a flight re-booked for that evening. Deaf ears all round.

The MRI was clear. At last someone gave me a reason for the MRI. It was in case I had had a stroke. I had NO symptoms of stroke - none.

I called the insurance company and told them I suspected I was being treated as a cash cow to milk them.

6 days later, with no fewer than 9 different doctors - including HEARING for Goodness sake - with the Insurance company telling me that I could not refuse treatment - I finally - with their blessing - discharged myself.

The Bill was nearly 140,000 higher than the date of my original discharge.

Now I will tell you all - and when I ran a charity in Pattaya I had a lot of experience of patients being horribly robbed. This Hospital is run by its Accounts department - not its doctors. Clinical reasons are laid aside in favour of commercial ones.

So friends - caveat emptor with this hospital.

...and at the end of all this it was an in-growing toe nail.

[Naam]

i am "frequenting" BPH since years, different specialists, different sections. i am (was made) aware that their fees are higher than a number of other hospitals. but, as opposed to some posters, i am also aware that buying and maintaining a Mercedes is more expensive than a Honda Jazz.

Edited April 9, 2013 by Naam

[apetley]

i am "frequenting" BPH since years, different specialists, different sections. i am (was made) aware that their fees are higher than a number of other hospitals. but, as opposed to some posters, i am also aware that buying and maintaining a Mercedes is more expensive than a Honda Jazz.

Too modest, I had you down as a Maybach:-)

[prospero]

And then there are those who pay Mercedes prices for Honda Jazz quality.

[Naam]

i am "frequenting" BPH since years, different specialists, different sections. i am (was made) aware that their fees are higher than a number of other hospitals. but, as opposed to some posters, i am also aware that buying and maintaining a Mercedes is more expensive than a Honda Jazz.

Too modest, I had you down as a Maybach:-)

i don't own a Mercedes, my wife owns one. the car i drive will be 44 years old this autumn.

[Naam]

And then there are those who pay Mercedes prices for Honda Jazz quality.

for a layman it is rather difficult to judge the qualities of a medical doctor. of course that does not apply to most of the resident Thaivisa expert posters.

[BlackPuddingBertha]

i am "frequenting" BPH since years, different specialists, different sections. i am (was made) aware that their fees are higher than a number of other hospitals. but, as opposed to some posters, i am also aware that buying and maintaining a Mercedes is more expensive than a Honda Jazz.

Do you seriously imagine that BPH staff are any more or less competent than the people one might find at another similar hospital? I think they are probably the same but they just charge more, because there are more foolish people around here prepared to pay over the odds.

If you want to continue your car analogy, do you think that the car you buy in Pattaya is in any way better than an identical car purchased in Bangkok, even though the latter will be cheaper than the former, and probably delivered much more quickly? I dont.

[SparklingCascades]

I took my grandma to Bangkok Pattaya hospital some days back (she lives at our Rayong villa and I came to the South to spend time with her). They started by checking 'vital signs', I think its called. The blood pressure was read on one of their automatic machines. It seemed wrong so my grandma asked me to tell them to do a reading using the old-fashioned manual pump. A nurse told me that they did not have one as the hospital has modernised. My grandma would have none of it and insisted that they find one :-) The nurse arrived 5 minutes later with the traditional Blood Pr reader. The B.P reading was very different to the automatic machine. Confused we asked which reading do we believe. The nurse said that it may help to do one more reading on the automatic machine and so we did one - only to have a third very different reading. When I insisted for an explanation the nurse said that all the moving around could affect one's pressure. I agreed but pointed out that the 3 sets of numbers were not even close. She grinned and that was it.

Am at a loss to understand how reliable the auto-machines are at Bangkok Pattaya or if they are serviced.....Sitting in the waiting room was an Arab gentleman who had seen the situation unfold. He said that he has the same problem. The first reading alarmed him so they did another which was very different but comforting as it showed he had no pressure. He sat there confused not knowing which reading to believe. Bangkok Pattaya is getting to be a shame with even the basics, if even half the stories I hear are to be believed !!

[Rimmer]

One post removed, if you want to make name and shame posts then please do it somewhere else as it is not allowed on Thai Visa.

6) Not to post comments that could be reasonably construed as defamation or libel.Defamation is the issuance of a false statement about another person, which causes that person to suffer harm. Libel involves the making of defamatory statements in a printed or fixed medium, such as a magazine or newspaper.

[Naam]

i am "frequenting" BPH since years, different specialists, different sections. i am (was made) aware that their fees are higher than a number of other hospitals. but, as opposed to some posters, i am also aware that buying and maintaining a Mercedes is more expensive than a Honda Jazz.

Do you seriously imagine that BPH staff are any more or less competent than the people one might find at another similar hospital? I think they are probably the same but they just charge more, because there are more foolish people around here prepared to pay over the odds.

If you want to continue your car analogy, do you think that the car you buy in Pattaya is in any way better than an identical car purchased in Bangkok, even though the latter will be cheaper than the former, and probably delivered much more quickly? I dont.

i am a retired physicist/mech.eng. and can therefore not judge the competence of any medical staff except whether it's a dummy or an expert who draws blood from my veins or the surgical team which made me feel better after cutting me open and replacing some coronary piping of my heart.

what i can judge is the environment (especially the cleanliness), that i see the specialist of my choice at 0945hrs when i make my appointment via internet for 0945hrs, the fact that staff speak a language i master and last not least the experience i had with a variety of medical doctors.

i don't "seriously imagine" anything concerning your irrelevant statement about buying cars in Bangkok or Pattaya because i'm sure you have no idea about expensive car prices. and if you consider me foolish to pay more for a clean and efficiently run hospital over a dirty government hospital where people wait for hours (see postings) to save a few bucks then... so be it. not always, but most of the time i believe in the old wisdom "you get what you pay for!"

now be a good girl Bertha and take the medicine the good doctor prescribed with your black pudding.

Edited April 9, 2013 by Naam

[jimmybkk]

The BGH situation reminds me of the Dixons & Currys electrical stores in the UK in the 70's and 80's. Back then, every high street it seemed had a Dixons and a Currys, sometimes right next door to each other. Standard procedure would be to go to Dixons (or Currys) and price up the camera (or whatever) you were looking for, then go to Currys (or Dixons) to see if it was any cheaper there. Then, satisfied that you had done your due diligence and you wouldn't hear from your mate later that he had seen the same camera on sale in Dixons (or Currys) for 10 quid cheaper than the price you paid, you made your purchase. Only years later did it come to light that Dixons and Currys were all part of the same firm. Lol. Nice work if you can get it...

My understanding is that BGH owns Phayathai, BNH, Samitivej and others, AND owns around 20% of Bumrungrad. It's getting to the stage where it's hard to get a "real" 2nd opinion/price.

There is clearly a conflict of interest in any publicly listed "private" hospital - obligations to the shareholders on one side vs obligations to patients on the other.

For the unscrupulous out there, selling medical procedures or treatments must be one of the easiest sells too. The salesman's doctor's guidelines would read something like this:

Make subtle "tutting" noises while looking at test results.

Shake head almost imperceptibly, no more than twice.

Assume a stern expression.

Remove your reading glasses slowly.

Make very deliberate eye contact with the patient.

Say the words: "You really should undergo this procedure sooner rather than later..."

and...

(Ka-Ching...)

You're unlikely to hear: "If only you had it in green..." or "I'll come back next week and see if you've got it in a 32 then..." like other sales persons must endure.

If the procedure in question is not one you enjoy undertaking personally, or if your planned golfing vacation in Hawaii is rapidly approaching, then say: "But It's an expensive procedure, you would be well advised to get a second opinion before making a decision...", safe in the knowledge that the patient will most likely get that second opinion at Samitivej... or Phayathai... or BNH.... (Ka-Ching...)

[prospero]

A year ago, I went for my regularly scheduled fasting blood sugar test at
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital After the blood results, the doctor did a cursory
general examination. Upon listening to my heartbeat with a stethoscope, she
detected an irregular rhythm.

She immediately referred me to the Heart Center (I was placed
in a wheelchair for the transfer.) where I was examined by a cardiologist. He administered an EKG and had me undergo a sonogram.

After those tests, and no other, he diagnosed my condition as Atrial
Fribulation -- a condition where my heartbeat was unstable, mostly, alternating
between regular and too fast.

His first words to me were “You have heart disease”.

He immediately recommended a very expensive procedure; He wanted to put
me in for an EP study and AF ablation by CARTO.. This was to be performed
in Bangkok, whichwould necessitate an ambulance ride back to BHP where I
would recuperate. He offered no other alternatives and said the operation
was necessary and should be done as quickly as possible.

The cost? Between THB 700,000.00 and 750, 000.00 -- not including the
Ambulance and recovery.

I told him that I was flying to Kuala Lumpur in two days, as I have
employment there. He told me that, before I go, I should schedule the operation
for when I get back.

I was immediately wheeled down to admissions to arrange the procedure.
The hospital contacted BUPA and I was urged to give a date when I would return.

When I got back to Kuala Lumpur, I contacted my closest friend, whose
son is a heart surgeon. I visited him at Damansara Specialist Centre. He
immediately referred me to a top cardiologist, there, who looked over the BHP
medical report and immediately said that the CARTO procedure was completely unnecessary at
this point. He also told me that the operation was only 70% effective and only
50% effective after two years. CARTO is a last resort, not a first option.

He put me in for an angiogram so he could examine my arteries and a
Transesophogal echo.

The Malaysian cardiologist performed both procedures. The result? Absolutely no problem. Arteries clear. Heart in good shape. He applied an electrical charge to set the rhythm straight and I
was discharged.

The cost? RM 11,000.00, about THB 110,000. Paid for by my employee
insurance in Malaysia.

Clearly, BHP were trying to rush me into an expensive, risky, and
totally unnecessary procedure with only a cursory testing of my condition. How
can such a procedure be recommended without even an Angiogram? Why the hurry?
Why the rush to the admissions office?

You know the answer as well as I do.

Edited April 9, 2013 by prospero

[guzzi850m2]

Yes you have be very careful with BPH, I know a guy that needed a heart by-pass operation and he was quoted something like 800K bath.

He had it done in Bangkok for about 300K bath and are still alive and well today.

If you end up in ICU and you are not insured you are in deep shit economically, you could end up paying 100K bath pr 24 hours.

[Tolley]

Hospitals are like just about everything else in Thailand. At first appraisal all looks okay but scratch the surface ever so slightly and you find a festering corrupt institution with no morals or principles

[BlackPuddingBertha]

i don't "seriously imagine" anything concerning your irrelevant statement about buying cars in Bangkok or Pattaya because i'm sure you have no idea about expensive car prices. and if you consider me foolish to pay more for a clean and efficiently run hospital over a dirty government hospital where people wait for hours (see postings) to save a few bucks then... so be it. not always, but most of the time i believe in the old wisdom "you get what you pay for!"

Actually the irrelevant nonsense about cars was all yours. I merely prolonged the analogy to point out your error. I invite you to re-read your comments to refresh your memory which appears to be failing a little.

You also dont appear to have noticed that I was specifically not comparing pay hospitals with government hospitals, but was comparing similar private hospitals that just happen to be in different locations. Having been in pay hospitals outside of Pattaya I can assure you that they are not necessarily any more or less dirty than the ones in Pattaya.

Others have pointed out that a different branch of the BPH group just a few tens of km away charges half the price to do the same tests that BPH does. You dont appear to have noticed this. Or are we to assume that in spite of them being in the same group they are also dirty and inefficient, perhaps just due to them not being in Pattaya? From personal experience I can confirm that the hospital in Sri Racha also does a perfectly competent job in clean surroundings and with staff that speak English, for a lesser price than that charged by BPH.

And indeed you still dont get the fact that just because you pay more for something does not necessarily make it better. It just makes it more expensive. And that really does apply to cars and hospitals and indeed just about everything else on the planet. Only an idiot would imagine otherwise.

Maybe your apparent lack on comprehension here goes some way towards explaining how BPH suckered you in so easily? There must be an explanation, after all.

[zombie nights]

Reading some of the above posts causes me to conclude that in Thailand profits are put ahead of patients. In my opinion if in Thailand I needed major surgery then it is preferable to go to another country for it.

[BlackPuddingBertha]

Reading some of the above posts causes me to conclude that in Thailand profits are put ahead of patients. In my opinion if in Thailand I needed major surgery then it is preferable to go to another country for it.

Having spent many years living in a European country where most of the health service is run on a private basis for profit, I can assure you that there is nothing very unusual about the situation in Thailand. From what I have been told it is similar in the States also (though I've never been there and dont want to).

Many people chose to come to Thailand from abroad specifically for health care, and I can understand this. I would certainly be happy to have major or minor health treatment here. (I'm currently in the middle of dental implants and related bone grafts here that would have cost me triple the price back in Europe.)

I think that the private hospitals here generally do a good job, but tend to go over the top in the procedures and extra tests or services that they are inclined to give you. These extras do bump the bill up, of course, but they also cover the hospital against having its collective arse sued for malpractice if it omits to do something. But they used to do that back in Europe as well so no change there.

Some hospitals definitely charge a lot more than others, presumably because they can get away with it due to having more (farang) people around who dont care so much about the cost, for whatever reason. Again the trick is just to look for somewhere a little further away where there are fewer rich farangs, or indeed somewhere like Bangkok where there is a lot more choice. In both cases you will probably end up paying much less that you would here, for similar treatment. I certainly do.

My dental work is costing me quite a lot less in Sri Racha than it would at a Pattaya hospital (in fact it is costing me less in Sri Racha than it would cost me in most regular street-corner dental clinics here, yet in Sri Racha it is being done by a full-time implantologist who does nothing but that), and the standard of work appears to be fine. I also know that I could have had it done in a good place in Bangkok for about the same price, but it's further to travel so why bother?

[SinghaJoe]

My dental work is costing me quite a lot less in Sri Racha than it would at a Pattaya hospital (in fact it is costing me less in Sri Racha than it would cost me in most regular street-corner dental clinics here, yet in Sri Racha it is being done by a full-time implantologist who does nothing but that), and the standard of work appears to be fine. I also know that I could have had it done in a good place in Bangkok for about the same price, but it's further to travel so why bother?

Any hint of the dentist please?

[Naam]

i don't "seriously imagine" anything concerning your irrelevant statement about buying cars in Bangkok or Pattaya because i'm sure you have no idea about expensive car prices. and if you consider me foolish to pay more for a clean and efficiently run hospital over a dirty government hospital where people wait for hours (see postings) to save a few bucks then... so be it. not always, but most of the time i believe in the old wisdom "you get what you pay for!"

Actually the irrelevant nonsense about cars was all yours. I merely prolonged the analogy to point out your error. I invite you to re-read your comments to refresh your memory which appears to be failing a little.

You also dont appear to have noticed that I was specifically not comparing pay hospitals with government hospitals, but was comparing similar private hospitals that just happen to be in different locations. Having been in pay hospitals outside of Pattaya I can assure you that they are not necessarily any more or less dirty than the ones in Pattaya.

Others have pointed out that a different branch of the BPH group just a few tens of km away charges half the price to do the same tests that BPH does. You dont appear to have noticed this. Or are we to assume that in spite of them being in the same group they are also dirty and inefficient, perhaps just due to them not being in Pattaya? From personal experience I can confirm that the hospital in Sri Racha also does a perfectly competent job in clean surroundings and with staff that speak English, for a lesser price than that charged by BPH.

And indeed you still dont get the fact that just because you pay more for something does not necessarily make it better. It just makes it more expensive. And that really does apply to cars and hospitals and indeed just about everything else on the planet. Only an idiot would imagine otherwise.

Maybe your apparent lack on comprehension here goes some way towards explaining how BPH suckered you in so easily? There must be an explanation, after all.

my apparent lack of comprehension is nobody's business and the same applies to my judgment of hospitals or me "foolishly" spending money on medical care or for whatever.

for me, any "yada yada outside Pattaya is cheaper and the savings pay for many bottles of Chang" is irrelevant and that applies especially to wasted time driving to Sri Racha or Sattahip and then waiting for a doctor or for medical care.

as a summary i repeat the age old wisdom "you get what you pay for!" although exemptions might prove the rule and mileages do vary.