thread on expats on a budget finding good value checkups in Vietnam

[hermespan]

#1 health checkup hunting for good value in Sai Gon

HI PRECISION DIAGNOSTICS

450 duong 3 Thang, P. 12, Q. 10

www.hpd.com.vn

I recognized this name from the Philippines (where I like being able to get results online, but not the high prices there at the same company, plus sometimes their website was down and estimated time to post test results were sometimes wrong (delayed))

The desk clerk spoke good English, a Filipina came later to answer more questions. New and professional in my experience in PI.

example prices (all in VND). USD1 = VND 21000+-

blood work

- CBCPLT 72K

- FBS 30k

- Lipid 130k

- urea 38K

- bun 38k

- creatine 38K

- uric acid 40k

- SGOT 40k

- SGPT 40 k

- GGT 40k

- PSA 180k

I asked about general abdomen ultrasound - 150k (didn't specify with or without contrast), chest X-ray 85k, and fecal sample 37K. Consultation with/explanation of test results by an internist (not intern) 150k

Total price 608k ($30?) for all (?) same as Van Hanh General Hospital nearby charges $93 for, but no ophthalmology exam, no ENT exam, no dental exam. So comparing apples with oranges.

Notes: This is a Filipino company that has numerous branches in Philippines. I have been to their one in Angeles City near University Hospital. My experience there was that if I bought a large number of tests or spent a certain peso amount I would get a 10% discount. Was told prices have been adjusted for Vietnamese market so already discounted (true).

Conclusion: Possibility, can get second/advanced interpretation elsewhere.

General conclusions: Health care Cheaper than Thailand. Much higher quality than Cambodia but more expensive? Not as good value as India and Malaysia. Extremely difficult to comparison shop as so far none of the places I enquire publish prices as brochures and language problems prevail. Vietnam does not seem to be a medical tourism destination.

[hermespan]

hunt medical #2

Van Hanh General Hispital

Le Hong Phang street

P. 12, Q. 10

TP HCM

08-629-34-797

www.benvienvanhanh.com

[website does not function]

[email protected]

Price: 2 million VND = $93

Last year a friend paid 1 million, albeit with the herd downstairs which he said was assembly line and packed in the morning.

'oh, prices go up' said the man in white coat in the 'express' office upstairs.

We had to go through the list of every test the friend had in May, and many were now extra and had to be calculated on top.

examples...

- consultation to explain it all. Does this suggest that Vietnamese don't want to discuss the interpretation of results but just get the data and be told 'you are healthy, go home' or otherwise (recommended additional tests presumably) Friend was a little annoyed and disappointed when the doctor gave him a cursory conclusion, something like 'you're fine, go live another 30 years' even though the data showed he had several chronic health problems that he wanted an assessment of. I was willing to put up with that shortcoming if it was truly cheap. But not if there was two-tier pricing as there indeed is now.

-ultrasound, abdominal, w/o contrast 150K, w/ contrast 280K

We were escorted upstairs to a white, clean, new aircon lounge and introduced to the doctor (?) who seemed more like a marketing graduate than a physician. We kept trying to ascertain the price for the standard service downstairs but he kept doing a selling job on why this was better. Paul commented that the test rooms and technicians will actually be downstairs, that not that much would be different except the speed.

It was an elaborate and frustrating exercise getting the price. Firstly they have no brochure (or website page?) printed up with current price - nothing close to Bumrungrad or Bangkok Pattaya Hospital with basic, executive and VIP packages. No specialized packages listed either.

It is clear that the only form and standard checkup package they have is the one required for a work permit, which has things I don't need and things I need which it doesn't have. They obviously are not used to dealing with foreigners and do not compete in the marketplace for persons such as myself.

While locals certainly do not all opt for VIP service, no one could or would talk to us downstairs about standard checkups. I was under the distinct impression that we were being deliberately ignored. It was not just language (an English-speaking doctor) helped the friend last spring here, in much the same way as BKK Christian has its checkup brochure only in Thai but they send someone to explain and expedite the test packages for foreigners.

English: Not fluent but not bad. Male MD spoke good English, female administrator better but due to some Asian cultural norms or office politics she kept mostly silent even though she would have been the better communicator. Rapport was better between friend and them as he was more indulgent and patient, whereas my expressed attitude was 'let's cut the bs and kowtowing - what does it cost and what do I get?'

Time: Didn't ask.

Features:

- CBC

- glucose fasting

- kidney function

- liver function

- uric acid

- chest x-ray

- ophthalmology exam

- dental exam

- ENT exam

Vibe: This is a business first and a medical facility second. The MD said he would give me a copy of the detailed price list but did not do so.

Solution: Must arrive with a Vietnamese speaking person, preferably a local. Ideally they call ahead or enquire in person for *them self* the day before , as a guerrilla method to ascertain local's price.

Conclusion: Pending/uncertain. Probably much cheaper than FV (Friend estimates 1/3 to 1/4) and better service than Cho Ray (public general hospital). But it seems difficult if not impossible, compared to Thailand, to get local's standard and local's price. Mgt pushing VIP service for foreigners whether we want it or not.

[hermespan]

To keep this in context, my needs are basic - English fluency, 1/2 day for all tests, good value (lower to mid level private or public hospital). My comparison hospitals are equivalent ones in India, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh and Singapore. While I have in the past gotten treatment and health packages at Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital etc I am phasing them out as I find them unnecessarily luxurious for my pedestrian needs.

[hermespan]

FAMILY MEDICAL PRACTICE

Top end private clinic is not even in the race for my cheap charlie hunt for medical bargains.

Price is VND9,660,000 = USD 451

No ENT, dental or eye exam, but more blood tests, a real physical exam i

and medical history consultation, possibly better English fluency and definitely more talk time with the doctor.

Short story. is it's extra blood tests and more talk time for 5 X the price of Van Hanh.

MALE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CHECK UP

- serious exam (friend complained that at Van Hanh no one examined his body for one second)

- blood tests, standard

- many additional blood tests, viz...

STDs

hepatitis

liver disease (X3)

metabolic disorders (X3)

bone diseases (X3)

cancer markers (X3)

cardiac markers (X2)

- stool analysis (X2)

- abdomen x-ray [hmm, what does this show that UKB does not?]

- ECG

- UKB ultrasound

- BMI (body mass index)

Edited April 13, 2014 by hermespan

[hermespan]

relevant news..

March, 2014

"Most private hospitals have good facilities, technical equipment and professionalism but they are running under capacity. Around 57% of private hospitals have seen bed occupancy under 60% while 22% have seen 60-85% occupancy.

Meanwhile, public hospitals in HCMC are running at high capacity. Cho Ray Hospital reported 135% occupancy last year while the HCMC Cancer Hospital was 350% utilized, meaning that 560 patients had to share 160 beds, Minister Tien said."

Nov. 13

"About: Health Checkup, If you do in Vn hospital, you just pay around 300.000 VND to 700.000 VND (from 15$ to 35 $) . But the price of Comlombia International Hospital in Saigon for Health Check Up More than 100 $. ( I remember around 120 $)"

Out of dste but the huge price diference is clear.

[hermespan]

hunt medical 3-7

3. GIA DINH HOSPITAL

US Embassy or google maps (or was it Wikipedia) had the name or location completely wrong. One time my app says this is the high end Columbia Asia. Another time a public hospital. I ended up at an 8 beds to a ward old hospital with a skeleton staff.

4. Hoan My

address: 60 Phan Xich Long, P. 1, Q. Phu Nhuan, TP HCM

tel: +84-8-3995-9868

email: [email protected]

website: www.hoanmy.com/saigon

Jumped off the bus because I saw this new modern-looking hospital as I passed. Dead on a Sunday. Glossy easy to understand brochure on health checkups IN VIETNAMESE ONLY.

Looks like they have specialists but again - no one speaks English.

5. B. V. TAN SON NHAT

28 Pho Quang, P. 2 , Q. Tan Binh

3997-6276

inside the sports and recreation center

'San Van Dong Quan Khu 7'

small hospital, English signs, humble but newish

Wholesome vibe in neighbourhood of youths and sportsmen

Enquire

6. VIEN Y DUOC HOC DAN TOC

(Traditional Medicine Institute)

address: 273 Nguyen Van Troi, P. 10, Q. Phu Nhuan

(opposite conventional hispital #7)

Tel: 08-38.443.047

www.vienydhdt.com.vn

Looks like has-been TCM hospital

7. B. V. PHU NHUAN

address: 274 Nguyen Trong Yuyen, P. 8, Q. Phu Nhuan

tel: 08-384.43910

Staff told me they don't do check ups, to 'Go to Columbia' (like I'n rich!)

[Maestro]

Removed a troll post and the reply to it.

[MrWorldwide]

OK - I'm assuming you've given up on Malaysia ?

[hermespan]

Mr. Worldwide asks if I have given up on Malaysia.

Not at all.

[hermespan]

Tired of critiquing obscure hospitals I took the plunge at Bien Vien (hereinafter B. V. = hospital ) Vanh Hanh in Saigon.

All I did was go to the website. to English option, then show the staff the VIETNAMESE option on checkups page. There was no problem getting the normal price (same on both languages web pages - clearly the VIP. section was just trying to hustle me).

The price was within VND20,000 ($1) of what posted. The slightly higher charge from 995,000 was because I opted for an HIV. blood test at 90,000 [will take one day]. Blood test results take less than an hour.

Package included abdomen ultrasound, chest x-ray, perfunctory exam by MD (BPN and stethescope), EKG and urine analysis.

Yes, an assembly line, but for VND1,180,000 (USD56) what do you expect? So, I got my good value.

[hermespan]

Service was fast (some might say rushed - shouldn't a UKB ultrasound take a wee bit longer and an EKG be done for longer than a couple of minutes? Maybe not - I don't know). English-speaking nurse escorted me to every station.

Given original X-ray, EKG printout, blood and urine tests printout, ultrasound report (in Vietnamese as all reports) with photos of irregularities, general report. It was obvious which ones said 'no problem seen', 'monitor ' and 'irregular 'within acceptable limits'. Explanation by doctor was adequate although not spectacular. I will google the differences between 'normal' and 'perfect'. For example, he made no comment on one organ imperfection that a Bumrungrad doctor said to monitor. as it could develop into something else.

Multiple Khmer 'medical refugees' seeking something better than Calmette. Several farangs probably here for healthy-for-work certificates. Hospital examination rooms clean and orderly.

The seem to take care (or does it mean analysis screwed up?) For example, for two tests that did them twice (as in 'hmm, let's redo this one')

No complaints.

[hermespan]

Specialist in India suggested I go see a doctor of his same specialty to see if there was any need to continue meds. So, it is time for a follow- up. I find it odd that to verify problem was temporary or not the B.V. Van Hanh MD dismissed it, saying 'when you have that problem again see a doctor, no problem ' That doesn't answer the question whether to continue to take meds.

[hermespan]

Oh, and unlike Thailand and Malaysia I was not even asked to produce ID. This is a plus in my view. If I hire a math tutor, prostitute or carpenter for a service they don't ask me for ID. Why should non-gov't (i.e. taxpayer sponsored) medical services be any different? Yet I argue to no avail in other countries. Maybe 'communist ' Vietnam has more of a market economy than socialist-leaning western nations these days.

Oh, and call call in for HIV results. Actually I'll want a printout because I can see a benefit to having my status in black and white.

[hermespan]

and if you think (as I did) that it will be cheaper to go to a lab (at least a foreign owned one with online access to results - Hi Precision post above) .... WRONG

Five examples

PSA 180VND. vs. 130 at B. V. Han Hanh

Anti HCVII 180 vs. 125

HDL/triglicerides 130 vs. 88

Ure 38 vs. 20

HBsAg 80 (same)

[hermespan]

No one seems to be interested in this subject. Or there is a minimal readership for SEA issues. So off to find a more suitable forum. Hmm, Mekong and another VN forum for expats that were both active in 2001 seem to have disappeared,

Bye guys.