German club makes donation to cover unpaid hospital bills in Phuket

[webfact]

German club makes donation to cover unpaid hospital bills in Phuket
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan



PHUKET: -- Hagen Dirksen, German Honorary Consul in Chiang Mai and member of the Board of the German Help Association, today (July 24) presented a donation of B100,000 to the Vachira Phuket Hospital in gratitude “for their untiring efforts over the years in helping German patients and cooperating with German organisations operating in Thailand”.

The money came from the German Help Association of Thailand. “This association, funded by the German business sector and private donors in Thailand, has been helping Germans who get into some kinds of difficulty, in particular, those who have health problems and accidents,” Mr Dirksen explained.

“We work very closely with the Germany Embassy, and can act quickly when help is needed. We know that this hospital [Vachira] has been assisting German patients for many years and there have been German patients who were unable to pay, so the hospital has many unpaid bills.”

Mr Dirksen also stressed the excellent cooperation between the Hospital and the German Consulate in Phuket, as well as Dr Gerhard Melcher who works as orthopaedic surgeon in the Vachira Hospital and Mr. Olaf Taenzer, a German citizen, who is working as volunteer in the Phuket Immigration Office.

“We also gave similar donations to hospitals in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya.”

Methawee Maneesri of the International Services Department of Vachira Hospital told The Phuket News, “It’s so nice that the German consular team came today. It feels like it’s like giving us the power to move forward in taking care of people.

“It shows they understand how much we care about their people and how hard we work.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/german-club-makes-donation-to-cover-unpaid-hospital-bills-in-phuket-40967.php

-- Phuket News 2013-07-24

[JetsetBkk]

"...B100,000 to the Vachira Phuket Hospital in gratitude for their untiring efforts over the years in helping German patients and cooperating with German organisations operating in Thailand."

100,000 for their efforts "over the years" in helping German patients? - i.e. more than one.

I don't want to sound too ungrateful (or maybe I do ), but I had to go to hospital recently for a leg infection and it cost me 80,000 baht for antibiotic treatment to get it fixed.

Kind of puts 100,000 into perspective.

[LivinginKata]

"...B100,000 to the Vachira Phuket Hospital in gratitude for their untiring efforts over the years in helping German patients and cooperating with German organisations operating in Thailand."

100,000 for their efforts "over the years" in helping German patients? - i.e. more than one.

I don't want to sound too ungrateful (or maybe I do ), but I had to go to hospital recently for a leg infection and it cost me 80,000 baht for antibiotic treatment to get it fixed.

Kind of puts 100,000 into perspective.

I was thinking much the same. But at least the Germans club made some contribution.

[stevenl]

I have the same feelings. Let's not forget though they've given in total 400.000 Baht, so all in all it is a good effort.

[harrry]

"...B100,000 to the Vachira Phuket Hospital in gratitude for their untiring efforts over the years in helping German patients and cooperating with German organisations operating in Thailand."

100,000 for their efforts "over the years" in helping German patients? - i.e. more than one.

I don't want to sound too ungrateful (or maybe I do ), but I had to go to hospital recently for a leg infection and it cost me 80,000 baht for antibiotic treatment to get it fixed.

Kind of puts 100,000 into perspective.

The Thai Government pays about 2000 baht a head for full health care for thais. That is enough for 30 German visitors staying a full year. It is a public hospital lets get things into perspective,

[huuwi]

"...B100,000 to the Vachira Phuket Hospital in gratitude for their untiring efforts over the years in helping German patients and cooperating with German organisations operating in Thailand."

100,000 for their efforts "over the years" in helping German patients? - i.e. more than one.

I don't want to sound too ungrateful (or maybe I do ), but I had to go to hospital recently for a leg infection and it cost me 80,000 baht for antibiotic treatment to get it fixed.

Kind of puts 100,000 into perspective.

And your treatment was in vachira, just asking.

[lee b]

Good for them, but still thinking how far that would go for hospital bills

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Good for them, but still thinking how far that would go for hospital bills

Private charge for bed in government public ward + intravenous saline/dextrose/antibiotic/pain relief = about 400bht/day inc. doctor and nursing fees and profit.

Edited July 24, 2013 by AnotherOneAmerican

[JetsetBkk]

"...B100,000 to the Vachira Phuket Hospital in gratitude for their untiring efforts over the years in helping German patients and cooperating with German organisations operating in Thailand."

100,000 for their efforts "over the years" in helping German patients? - i.e. more than one.

I don't want to sound too ungrateful (or maybe I do ), but I had to go to hospital recently for a leg infection and it cost me 80,000 baht for antibiotic treatment to get it fixed.

Kind of puts 100,000 into perspective.

And your treatment was in vachira, just asking.

No, Bangkok Phuket hospital. Sure, it's expensive there, and may have cost half that at Vachira, but still puts that 100,000 donation in perspective.

But every little bit helps, I suppose.

[JetsetBkk]

No, Bangkok Phuket hospital. Sure, it's expensive there, and may have cost half that at Vachira, but still puts that 100,000 donation in perspective.

But every little bit helps, I suppose.

Whoops! I meant: "may have cost double that at Vachira..."

Maybe even treble.

[JulesMad]

Is that 100,000 THB per (German) patient?!? THAT would have been a nice gesture....

This is absolutely peanuts, compared with the salaries of the Bobo's in the picture (but better than nothing)

[webfact]

German consuls in Phuket urge travel insurance for visitors
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The German honorary consuls for Phuket and Chiang Mai yesterday urged tourists to take out adequate travel insurance before travelling to Thailand.

German honorary consuls Dirk Naumann (Phuket) and Hagen Dirksen (Chiang Mai) handed over a cheque for 100,000 baht to Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday in appreciation for the facility providing medical services to travellers who were unable to pay for their treatment.

“Vachira is the only hospital in the South we donate to. We have made similar donations in Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Bangkok,” said Mr Dirksen.

The donation was made on behalf of Bangkok-based The German Help foundation*, which provides assistance to German nationals in need of assistance while travelling in Thailand.

“The aim of the donation is to express our appreciation for the support and cooperation of the hospital in helping foreigners, and German nationals in particular,” Mr Dirksen said.

Mr Dirksen urged travellers to take out adequate travel insurance before leaving their home countries.

“On behalf of the German government, I can only ask my countrymen to be prepared when they go overseas,” he said.

“If they like to live or travel overseas, they should have travel insurance or health insurance. Otherwise, they must have a big bank account balance in case anything happens,” he explained.

“Here in Thailand, and elsewhere, travellers will be asked to pay for any expenses incurred,” Mr Dirksen said.

Vachira Hospital Director Jetsada Jongpaiboonpattana recently reported that his facility spent 3 million baht providing treatment to tourists who were unable to pay their bills last year.

The issue of the Thai government footing the bill for tourists’ healthcare last month prompted Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong to float the idea of compulsory travel insurance for all tourists visiting Thailand, as is required for the Schengen visa to European countries.

Compulsory insurance could be regulated through tour agencies, added to ticket prices of all inbound flights and even offered at Immigration checkpoints, Mr Pradit said.

* The German Help foundation is based at the Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep

(Building 34, Room 202), at 2 Nanglinchee Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel: 02-2873761. Email: [email protected] Website: www.dhv-thailand.de

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/German-consuls-in-Phuket-urge-travel-insurance-for-visitors-21746.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-07-25

[Cuban]

Stepping back a little and looking at the picture from a wider perspective, all those visa fees go to the government so a small sum can be considered to be paid toward central funds for health services overall, of course relevant travel insurance is wise. And I question the effectiveness of non-Thai based polices for speed of getting hospital approval for surgical care and air-con private rooms etc compared to a local company that offered a good service that is farang friendly and not an exclusion riddled con.

The costs for a Thai health insurance policy could be a better option, it would need the underwriting of a Thai insurance company but to be farang fronted/faced, designed and managed and as that would be a lump too hard to swallow the Thais loose a business opportunity again.

[Suradit69]

"...B100,000 to the Vachira Phuket Hospital in gratitude for their untiring efforts over the years in helping German patients and cooperating with German organisations operating in Thailand."

100,000 for their efforts "over the years" in helping German patients? - i.e. more than one.

I don't want to sound too ungrateful (or maybe I do ), but I had to go to hospital recently for a leg infection and it cost me 80,000 baht for antibiotic treatment to get it fixed.

Kind of puts 100,000 into perspective.

I was thinking much the same. But at least the Germans club made some contribution.

And it also highlights the fact, often not registering with the Thai Visa Whingers, that Thai hospitals do treat people, including farang, in emergencies even when payment in full is not likely.

A nice gesture by the German community and a nice way to remind people that most Thais do show concern for people before profit.

[Alainpm]

Is that 100,000 THB per (German) patient?!? THAT would have been a nice gesture....

This is absolutely peanuts, compared with the salaries of the Bobo's in the picture (but better than nothing)

Tex deductible. Good self promotion. "The death of one's good action is when one talks about it. "

[IrishIvan]

Its nice to see some contribution. It would be nice to see the dive industry put in some money too....isnt Vachira the only hospital with a recompression chamber?

[huuwi]

Its nice to see some contribution. It would be nice to see the dive industry put in some money too....isnt Vachira the only hospital with a recompression chamber?

is there not one in chalong too?

[IrishIvan]

Its nice to see some contribution. It would be nice to see the dive industry put in some money too....isnt Vachira the only hospital with a recompression chamber?

 

is there not one in chalong too?

Tjere is one but I think that company is going down the gurgler. Taking money for courses and not training people. I doubt that privately owned bell even works

[stevenl]

Its nice to see some contribution. It would be nice to see the dive industry put in some money too....isnt Vachira the only hospital with a recompression chamber?

The dive industry is already paying handsomely for use of the recompression chambers. This is about foreigners who don't pay, so very much unlike the use of recompression chambers.

[LivinginKata]

Troll post removed. This topic is not about the dive industry. Further off topic/troll posts will be removed.