Clinics or hospitals. Which is cheaper?

[jackvale]

Clinics or hospitals. Which is cheaper?

I never wait long at the clinics which lends me to think they are most expensive? Any feedback? Thank you.

[PoorSucker]

Government hospital are cheapest.

Private hospitals are most expensive.

 

Clinics are often run by doctors on government hospital doctors on their spare time so they are between the two.

[jackvale]

Government hospital are cheapest.

Private hospitals are most expensive.

 

Clinics are often run by doctors on government hospital doctors on their spare time so they are between the two.

 

Thank you. Makes sense. :)
 

[chiang mai]

Agreed, except to add that many doctors from private hospitals also operate clinics of their own on the side and many are very cost effective, I can think of several in Chiang Mai where it's possible to save substantial amounts of money by seeing a private hospital doctor who is regarded as an expert in his/her field, at his/her own clinic.

[chris2004]

Having run a hospital in the UK it's obvious that they are the most expensive. They have massive overheads before you even see a doctor.

[chiang mai]

Having run a hospital in the UK it's obvious that they are the most expensive. They have massive overheads before you even see a doctor.

 

It doesn't work the same way here: typically the private hospital here supplies the building and the infrastructure and the doctors are all self employed, they charge a fee to the patient, of which, a percentage goes to the hospital. At Chiang Mai RAM hospital in CM, a consultation with a specialist may cost around 400 baht, 100 of that will be for the hospital, 300 for the doctor, the hospital also makes substantial amounts from the sale of meds although the doctor will get a share of that. Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok operates in the above manner as do most of the private hospitals who don't actually employ any doctors at all.

[buhi]

My (Thai) wife needed an operation.

 

We went to our usual private hospital, where the consultant said it would be much cheaper for the operation, to be performed by him at the Bangkok police hospital, if my wife did not need a 5 star private hotel room and could share with other Thai.

 

Difference 100,000 Baht plus other expenses and 20,00 Baht plus 3000 Baht extra on the final bill.

 

I have health insurance, so am mostly covered.

 

 

 

Edited July 31, 2014 by buhi

[Sydneycraig]

Agreed, except to add that many doctors from private hospitals also operate clinics of their own on the side and many are very cost effective, I can think of several in Chiang Mai where it's possible to save substantial amounts of money by seeing a private hospital doctor who is regarded as an expert in his/her field, at his/her own clinic.

do you know any back specialists ? ... Need to get my spine (ankylosing spondylitis ) checked out

[chiang mai]

 

Agreed, except to add that many doctors from private hospitals also operate clinics of their own on the side and many are very cost effective, I can think of several in Chiang Mai where it's possible to save substantial amounts of money by seeing a private hospital doctor who is regarded as an expert in his/her field, at his/her own clinic.

do you know any back specialists ? ... Need to get my spine (ankylosing spondylitis ) checked out

 

 

Dr Chanakarn at Rajavej Hospital in Chiang Mai is an excellent orthopedic surgeon, he also has his own clinic nearby. He would be an excellent place to start.

[Sydneycraig]

Thanks, and so from others replies I should go to his clinic rather than rajavej... Do you have the name of his clinic? Thanks.

[chiang mai]

Thanks, and so from others replies I should go to his clinic rather than rajavej... Do you have the name of his clinic? Thanks.

 

It doesn't really matter, not in the first instance, his clinic is right across the river from the hospital - his mother is professor emeritus of gastroenterology at CMU and his father is the head of Rajavej hospital hence he's well known.

 

And I would guess he's going to be busy, another poster just PM'd me looking for the same specialty so that's two referrals in one day!

[WhamBam]

100 Baht to see the doctor at the local small hospital. Register, get blood pressure checked, weighed, temperature taken and brief explanation of the reason for visit. Join the queue to see the doctor.

Government hospital 2 times. One for an operation. Very cheap (under 10,000 Baht). They seemed to be somewhat embarrassed to ask if I could afford the fee. One time due to food poisoning. Same attitude on the bill request. Also cheap.

 

I see little or no need to go private for smaller problems. A major op might be a different scenario yet I would go to my home country if I was able and get it for free.

 

[umbanda]

My (Thai) wife needed an operation.

 

We went to our usual private hospital, where the consultant said it would be much cheaper for the operation, to be performed by him at the Bangkok police hospital, if my wife did not need a 5 star private hotel room and could share with other Thai.

 

Difference 100,000 Baht plus other expenses and 20,00 Baht plus 3000 Baht extra on the final bill.

 

I have health insurance, so am mostly covered.

 

 

 

 

What insurance do you have? Thai? Foreign?..Company?

Thank you