Soi Bouakao Public Hospital / Overview

[moonseeker]

Public Hospital Bouakao after several experiences....Still not fully operational...Reasonable good

and definitely friendly & cheap walk-in treatment with no crowds yet.

ER not busy yet, fast admission, assessment takes time as routine missing and probably hospital still understaffed.

Nice, friendly E speaking lady Dr.

Everybody makes an effort and we can see the routine still has to set in applies to all departments.

In patient-department just opened with the first few patients on third. fl, actually a good friend the first

foreigner staying on the third fl. with 4 women, 1 man, 1 kid last couple days & 1 more foreigner arriving todayin approx. 40 bed room. Friendly nurses, all seem to be a "militarized" and stiff. If you don't mind sharing and enjoy staying with another 40 + sick & injured patients, go ahead and stay uninsured.

BTW: Quoted cost per night was 2'200/night + consultations, meds and treatments. Not really that cheap, after all....Even this can add up fast. Will report back after check-out ref. final bill. No deposit required, but had to copy ID and give address and sign responsibility form for friend.

Seen quite a few foreigners in the outpatient department. Available all types of lab works for about 1/2 of Memorial and 1/3 of BPH cost. But waiting period in non-emergency up to 3 days...

Not everybody speaks E, but supervisors are in place and step up. Overall positive for a Public Hospital.

Hope this info helps some; MS>

Edited January 30, 2014 by Rimmer
Fonts and re fomat to make it easy to read

[moonseeker]

Sorry for big fonts...No more copy/paste...Promised... MS>

[blackman]

thanks for taking the time moonseeker

it was interesting

[KittenKong]

I'm tempted to go there for my regular blood test and cardiologist consultation next month. I'm sure the doctors in that hospital can say "keep taking the tablets and come back in 6 months" just as well as my regular one can, and probably for a quarter of the price.

Assuming they do have a cardiologist there, of course. I shall call in and check it out.

[jayceenik]

Thanks for the info moonseeker.

[moonseeker]

Final remarks:

Patient check-out today. ER-check-in & check-up. 4 days/nights stay with chest-x-rays, drips, medications, inhalators and the usual stuff. Total bill 16'700 Baht. Very good value for money. EVERYBODY has been extremely friendly & caring. For me as a critical expat, no pink glasses ever, a VERY positive surprise and a warm THANK YOU to everybody at the Public Hospital on Soi Bouako. MS>

[KittenKong]

Assuming they do have a cardiologist there, of course. I shall call in and check it out.

They don't.

[RabC]

Wonder how many beds the expats are taking away from needy Thais

[KittenKong]

Wonder how many beds the expats are taking away from needy Thais

None, I imagine. The place appears to be largely deserted.

I'm sure if the situation arose they would just increase the farang prices to the point of driving the farangs away, or ban farangs altogether. Besides which the extra money they charge farangs also goes towards providing cheaper/free services for Thais, so I think they win either way.

[MJCM]

Assuming they do have a cardiologist there, of course. I shall call in and check it out.

They don't.

In Pattaya Memorial they have a Cardiologist, but even for a simple stress test they will send / refer you to BPH

[KittenKong]

In Pattaya Memorial they have a Cardiologist, but even for a simple stress test they will send / refer you to BPH

Yes, thanks. I thought about trying them but in the end I went straight to PIH and have an appointment there next week.

[RabC]

Wonder how many beds the expats are taking away from needy Thais

None, I imagine. The place appears to be largely deserted.

I'm sure if the situation arose they would just increase the farang prices to the point of driving the farangs away, or ban farangs altogether. Besides which the extra money they charge farangs also goes towards providing cheaper/free services for Thais, so I think they win either way.

And as long as you are happy in that little world of yours just carry on. This is Thailand if there is a cash cow to be milked (farangs) then it will, at the expense of all others.

[KittenKong]

Wonder how many beds the expats are taking away from needy Thais

None, I imagine. The place appears to be largely deserted.

I'm sure if the situation arose they would just increase the farang prices to the point of driving the farangs away, or ban farangs altogether. Besides which the extra money they charge farangs also goes towards providing cheaper/free services for Thais, so I think they win either way.

And as long as you are happy in that little world of yours just carry on. This is Thailand if there is a cash cow to be milked (farangs) then it will, at the expense of all others.

Well, by that logic (?) all farangs must be depriving Thais of something or another, albeit only fresh air or walking space on the pavement, and so presumably we should all be deported immediately, including you.

[RabC]

Wonder how many beds the expats are taking away from needy Thais

None, I imagine. The place appears to be largely deserted.

I'm sure if the situation arose they would just increase the farang prices to the point of driving the farangs away, or ban farangs altogether. Besides which the extra money they charge farangs also goes towards providing cheaper/free services for Thais, so I think they win either way.

And as long as you are happy in that little world of yours just carry on. This is Thailand if there is a cash cow to be milked (farangs) then it will, at the expense of all others.

Well, by that logic (?) all farangs must be depriving Thais of something or another, albeit only fresh air or walking space on the pavement, and so presumably we should all be deported immediately, including you.

Not at all, some of us keep out of the social welfare system and pay our own way. Just like I despise scroungers claiming free medical care on the NHS.

[KittenKong]

Not at all, some of us keep out of the social welfare system and pay our own way.

The hospital in Soi Bouakao charges farang patients, just like the Queen Sirikit hospital in Sattahip. In fact as far as I know both of them charge farangs more than they charge Thais. Both of them could also just put up a notice saying "farang go home", but they deliberately choose not to.

PIH and BPH dont put up such signs either, in fact they both advertise to attract farang patients though maybe you dont care that farangs may be taking beds away from sick rich Thais? It's their choice anyway.

So what exactly are you moaning about?

[RabC]

Not at all, some of us keep out of the social welfare system and pay our own way.

The hospital in Soi Bouakao charges farang patients, just like the Queen Sirikit hospital in Sattahip. In fact as far as I know both of them charge farangs more than they charge Thais. Both of them could also just put up a notice saying "farang go home", but they deliberately choose not to.

PIH and BPH dont put up such signs either, in fact they both advertise to attract farang patients though maybe you dont care that farangs may be taking beds away from sick rich Thais? It's their choice anyway.

So what exactly are you moaning about?

A direct Question deservers a direct answer.

I am moaning about social security leeches.

[thailandbeachisland]

Still alive ?

[harrry]

Not at all, some of us keep out of the social welfare system and pay our own way.

The hospital in Soi Bouakao charges farang patients, just like the Queen Sirikit hospital in Sattahip. In fact as far as I know both of them charge farangs more than they charge Thais. Both of them could also just put up a notice saying "farang go home", but they deliberately choose not to.

PIH and BPH dont put up such signs either, in fact they both advertise to attract farang patients though maybe you dont care that farangs may be taking beds away from sick rich Thais? It's their choice anyway.

So what exactly are you moaning about?

A direct Question deservers a direct answer.

I am moaning about social security leeches.

You mean you are talking about people who do not pay full tax and who bring things into the country without paying the full rates of duty and tax that should be due if they were correctly declared I presume.

[Mobi]

It is a government hospital - just like Banglamung hospital. Thais who are in the 30 Baht scheme are treated more or less free of charge. Farangs are charged whatever the going rate is, but it will always be cheaper than private hospitals, such as PIH, Pattaya memorial and Bangkok Pattaya.

Q Sirkit Hospital at Rayong is a naval hospital, run by the navy and all Thais (who are not in the navy or are family of naval personnel) are charged. The rates for Thais are quite low, but not as low a government hospitals, which are more or less free. Farangs are charged a mark up of 50% on the Thai rate and there are notices everywhere in the hospital advising you of this. (in English). Again, even the farang rates at this hospital are lower than the private hospitals would charge.

I took my Thai gf to Soi Bukao hospital the other day as she had a very sore foot after somebody jumped on it when playing volley ball. She saw a doctor, had an injection to relieve th pain, plus a load of meds to take home and had her foot strapped up, all for a grand total of 82 Baht. She was treated under the Thai 30 Baht scheme so I'm not sure what the extra 52 Baht was for but I'm not complaining....

The place was pretty quiet and we waited less than 5 minutes to be seen. At Banglamung Hospital you can wait for 2-3 hours before seeing a doctor, so this was a vast improvement. I think it is fine for minor ails and accidents, but I wouldn't go there for something really serious - the best doctors and specialists are elsewhere, mainly in Bangkok.

[KittenKong]

As the Soi Buaukow hospital didn't have a cardiologist I went to see one at PIH.

Efficient enough, lots of people queuing (mostly farangs), clean and tidy enough. Many Filipina nurses/staff (the accent is unmistakable) which can only be a good thing.

The actual price to see the cardiologist was reasonable at 750B but then there was an extra 250B "nursing charge" and then a third charge of 100B labelled "other hospital charge". Presumably the 250B was for taking my blood pressure (which the cardiologist did 5 minutes later anyway) and weighing me, and I suppose the last charge can only be for breathing their air.

Still, all told it's cheaper than Phyathai in Si Racha and less of a hike. I may go and try Queen Sikirit in Sattahip at some point, as it seems that one of the cardiologists at PIH also works at Queen Sikirit.

In case anyone is interested I got my blood test done at the Lifecare Lab on 3rd Road. That cost 999B for a multiple test that covered everything I needed and a load of things I didnt need, and probably saved me a couple of thousand Baht over getting it done at the hospital. No complaints about the procedure or the staff or the price, but the toilets there (which of course double as a place to produce urine samples) do contain one of the dirtiest hand-towels I have ever seen. It should be in Ripley's Believe It Or Not.