Chiang Mai Ram Hospital Experience

[hellodolly]

I agree with you that 1300 bahts for onsia appears to be expensive. It can be found online for about 0.60 cents per dose. The usual use for this drug is to prevent nausea after chemotherapy or radiation treatments. It is also used to prevent nausea post operative. To give you an example of the pricing differential between hospitals. In January of this year a doctor at Sriphat prescribed the injectable antibiotic Ertapenem for 7 consecutive days. I had the first dose at the Sriphat but because I had to go to the Ram on 3 of the other 6 days I opted to have the balance done at the Ram. The cost per injection at Sriphat was 2280 bahts and at the Ram 3945 bahts.

Thanks for the information. I was expecting that hospital pays the "ราคาขาย" (26.50bht) price, so normal "Ram-price" should have been about 100bht (now they asked 50 times the price that they pay, looks good business ) There was no real need to use that medicine for my baby, but it's not really wrong too... Decide yourself why it was used. When you go to Ram, you can expect that kind of pricing. I'm not going back, hope you think too whether you want to support this hospital or not.

To cheeryble: I don't think I have claimed I have any evidence. I have been talking about my experience and what I think about people working at Ram. Feel free to have different opinion. And for sure there are good and honest doctors too.

I had a doctor readdy to operate on me immidi9atley after looking at an x ray. Two doctors in Canada who had done the origanal operation had told me not to do i8t if I could take the pain. No problem with the pain now. But two years ago it was bothering me so I went to see a doctor who operates out of Ram in fact that is the only place now and he took one look at the x ray and said if I could walk 100 meters or sleep with out pain killers leave it be. In 40 years of practice he had only seen it done once.

Same hospital two exactly opposite opinions. I went with the leave it alone. the doctor even explained why to leave it alone and looking at the x ray I could understand the difficulties with the operation. I had already been told in Canada that 15% of the time the operation did not work.

There is an excellent article in the Chiang Mai Mail about the Rajavej Hospital. It is apparently only 16 years old.

[market trader]

Since I started this price war thing...by western standards the cost at Ram is low.

The doctors there were great as many of the posters agree and were very attentive .

The nurses called me 2 days in a row to ensure the runs have stopped and the medication @ home is working.

While I was there even the smallest medication was given with an explanation and what it will do and they smile real sweetly ( missus didn't appreciate the frequency they came and check on me but I guess a foodie in hospital is new to them )

For the care and the doctors the price was worth it ...was it cheaper nope it was not.

well Lawrence you must be one hot looking dude if the nurses call you 2 days in a row. Now let me give an example of the cost in Canada as compared to the Ram for the exact same drug and administration of it. I have a type of blood and bone marrow cancer where for two years I was on maintenance therapy every 90 days. The drug was Rituximab and although as a Canadian resident at the time my treatment was free. However I had changed my address and my new health card had not yet been issued when I required a treatment therefore the hospital billed me for it. The cost of the Rituximab was $7875.00 and the cost to administer it was $2637.00. Total cost $10,512.00. When my last treatment was due I was in Chiang Mai and on a whim I went to see the lovely Hematologist to see how much it would cost here. She said the Ram does not keep the drug in stock but she would phone right away and find out the cost. At the time Rituximab was still on patent around the world so I knew it wouldn't be cheap. She said the cost to the hospital would be 110,000 bahts and they would mark it up 10%. 121,000 bahts for the drug and 600 bahts to administer it. So I had my treatment done here. Total cost at the Ram 121,600 bahts compared to the Canadian cost in bahts of 315,360.. Now all of you people who bitch and complain about the Ram and other hospitals here please stop. We have it good here and compared to North America and Europe its cheap.

[hellodolly]

Since I started this price war thing...by western standards the cost at Ram is low.

The doctors there were great as many of the posters agree and were very attentive .

The nurses called me 2 days in a row to ensure the runs have stopped and the medication @ home is working.

While I was there even the smallest medication was given with an explanation and what it will do and they smile real sweetly ( missus didn't appreciate the frequency they came and check on me but I guess a foodie in hospital is new to them )

For the care and the doctors the price was worth it ...was it cheaper nope it was not.

well Lawrence you must be one hot looking dude if the nurses call you 2 days in a row. Now let me give an example of the cost in Canada as compared to the Ram for the exact same drug and administration of it. I have a type of blood and bone marrow cancer where for two years I was on maintenance therapy every 90 days. The drug was Rituximab and although as a Canadian resident at the time my treatment was free. However I had changed my address and my new health card had not yet been issued when I required a treatment therefore the hospital billed me for it. The cost of the Rituximab was $7875.00 and the cost to administer it was $2637.00. Total cost $10,512.00. When my last treatment was due I was in Chiang Mai and on a whim I went to see the lovely Hematologist to see how much it would cost here. She said the Ram does not keep the drug in stock but she would phone right away and find out the cost. At the time Rituximab was still on patent around the world so I knew it wouldn't be cheap. She said the cost to the hospital would be 110,000 bahts and they would mark it up 10%. 121,000 bahts for the drug and 600 bahts to administer it. So I had my treatment done here. Total cost at the Ram 121,600 bahts compared to the Canadian cost in bahts of 315,360.. Now all of you people who bitch and complain about the Ram and other hospitals here please stop. We have it good here and compared to North America and Europe its cheap.

You might have added we can get it today here in Chiang Mai with the rare occasion such as you had. It was recommended that I get a hip replaced. I can get it for free in Canada. Just make an appointment to see a doctor who will recommend seeing a specialist which will take up to 6 months and then he will recommend a hip replacement at the first available date generally another 6 months.

I had a friend who was on the list for a triple bypass surgery it took over a year. His Doctor contacted a friend in Seattle and they said no problem tonight if you want $110,000 basic price.

If we check are doctors out we do indeed have it good here in Chiang Mai. The trick is to get the right doctor.

[skills32]

I am guessing that it was some kind of special blood test. I paid something like 100 baht for the last one that I had there.

13,000 Baht? My guess a decimal point missing or misunderstanding or, as you say, very special. I've had full screening several times for all key indicators due to cholesteral and hypertension medication and included liver, kidney function, sugar, cholesteral, and a list of several other things for less then 1300 Baht.

The blood test was a test for Myeloma and he said they would have to send it out and the quote was thirteen thousand baht.

If it came back negative then they would have to test for something and if that came back negative then another test etc.

I could see where that was going so I'm getting it done in Os because I have to go there anyway.

I have been told by my medical advisor that the price seems to be over the top.

Edited June 12, 2013 by skills32

[market trader]

I am surprised by the Rams quote of 13,000 bahts. The Cancer I have is very similar to myeloma. I go to the Ram every 3 months for a CBC the cost is 194 bahts. Every 6 months I have a very extensive blood test. The results are 2 pages long and the cost is 2250 bahts. Now the only test I don't have done is IGM now maybe they would have to send that one out but even if they did I doubt it would cost more than 1000 bahts.

[Tywais]

The blood test was a test for Myeloma and he said they would have to send it out and the quote was thirteen thousand baht.

Just looked into this and appears a blood test called serum protein electrophoresis is needed to properly evaluate the condition and costs around $1000.00 in the US.

[hellodolly]

The blood test was a test for Myeloma and he said they would have to send it out and the quote was thirteen thousand baht.

Just looked into this and appears a blood test called serum protein electrophoresis is needed to properly evaluate the condition and costs around $1000.00 in the US.

Thanks for the Due Diligence. Way to many answers with no knowledge of the specific case.

[cheeryble]

I would go to McCormick for a lot of stuff, especially for the eyes. My dad had the injections for retinal bleeding last year (in America) and they are very expensive. He even told me he was delaying cataract surgery for a while to give his insurance a breather.

thighlander did you read my previous post?

there is an extremely expensive injection for macular bleeding, and a very much cheaper one.

The cheaper one has worked very well for my 85yo friend, but the price has suddenly gone up from 400 to 5000 baht.

Still, your father should be aware of the cheaper version, though even that could be a ripoff under the American system.

PM me if you wish for details.

[cheeryble]

I am guessing that it was some kind of special blood test. I paid something like 100 baht for the last one that I had there.

13,000 Baht? My guess a decimal point missing or misunderstanding or, as you say, very special. I've had full screening several times for all key indicators due to cholesteral and hypertension medication and included liver, kidney function, sugar, cholesteral, and a list of several other things for less then 1300 Baht.

The blood test was a test for Myeloma and he said they would have to send it out and the quote was thirteen thousand baht.

If it came back negative then they would have to test for something and if that came back negative then another test etc.

I could see where that was going so I'm getting it done in Os because I have to go there anyway.

I have been told by my medical advisor that the price seems to be over the top.

There are a couple of consulting labs in CM and some tests are sent out from the Ram to them anyway.

If you have an expensive test why not go direct.

(One is in Sirimankalajam further south than Apple shop.)

[howzat]

Nice to hear somebody on TV blogg posting complimentary things about Thais for a change.. That's why we stay here isn't it.

[market trader]

The blood test was a test for Myeloma and he said they would have to send it out and the quote was thirteen thousand baht.

Just looked into this and appears a blood test called serum protein electrophoresis is needed to properly evaluate the condition and costs around $1000.00 in the US.

Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong but I believe this is a total serum protein blood test. This is one of the tests I get at the Ram every 6 months and is included in the fee of 2250 bahts. This is one of the tests they use to determine if you possibly have Multiple Myeloma or as in my case Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia. Although there is no cure for these cancers you can become in a stable state as I am now. I have the total serum protein test every 6 months as one of the determining factors in whether my cancer is still stable or progressing. The test is done in house at the lab of the Ram.