Two nghts ago my Thai father-in-law was in the ITC unit a siburin overnight. I was out of the country, and I still am. He was apparantly given refibrillation and I don't know what else but my wife had to call it quits when the bill reached 50,000 baht. He was therefore ambulanced to Chaing Rai public hospital (at a cost of a further 20,000 baht) where the poor bloke died shortly after.

Has anyone had experience of the cost of ITC? (just to be clear - i'm talking about ONE night plus ambulance across town) Seems a lot to me. advice and suggestions more than welcome. My wife, who admitted him to hospital has a farrang name. Maybe I'm being cynical but...well, I'd like to check the service charges against the bill if that were possible. Or maybe ITC is just bloody expensive? HELP

Tom Daly

Correction

- I've just phoned my wife in Thailand and the ambulance didn't cost anywhere near 20,000 baht - matter of hundreds, but the full deal for one night, according to her, cost 70,000. I only have her word for this of course. I imply no censure against siburin hospital or it's staff.

Are you perhaps asking about ICU (intensive care unit)? That will be much more expensive than a normal room but suspect most of cast was for procedures performed.

But have no explanation of a 20,000 baht ambulance movement.

As mentioned you need to know what was involved - hospital can provide what they call a detailed receipt on request showing all costs. If errors are found they can be corrected. This appears to have been a medical emergency and expect life saving procedures were performed - but like you have no knowledge without more information.

Surprised you find that amount expensive. Especially for critical or intensive-care response.

Both local private hospitals have a record of screwing people. As no surgery was performed these charges should be evaluated, discussed and possibly taken to the police with a complaint.

Thanks a lot for your great replies. If the bill's realistic, I'm fine with that; looks like ICU (intensive care unit) treatment doen't come cheap - nor should it really. But I'll take the advice and get a detailed transcript. Thanks All.

... and I don't know what else but my wife had to call it quits when the bill reached 50,000 baht. He was therefore ambulanced to Chaing Rai public hospital ...

This statement sounded odd to me.

I've never known any Hospital that gave a running total while critical care was being given. While some could tell me what a private room might cost, x-rays or MRI, most everyone's thoughts at any moment are to make things better and worry about paying whatever the bill might be later.

So, yea, ask for all the receipts. Challenge what needs to be challenged and pay for what needs to be paid for.

You'll probably be asked for a similar amount to pay for the funeral.

Not all Thai hospitals screw people, i was not screwed by Khonkaen hospital once.

I was a patient for 7 long months.

I was transfered from KK to Banphai by ambulance paid 1100 baht ,i was connected to oxygen all the time.

Journey was 44 kilometers, driver assistant and nurse. That is not being ripped off.

Sounds a little high. I was in ICU in Bangkok recently, for 4 days at a private, but not "international" hospital, and the bill was about 25k.

Siburin is the most expensive in this region. I believe they are the only private with proper hospital equipment

Let us not forget that Sriburin number one business in Chiang Rai is cosmetic surgery for women's faces, asses. stomach and eyes.

Their opportunity to screw farangs is not so often but they do a good job at it. A friends wife was treated there 1 year diagnosed as a back problem. He took her to Chiang Mai for test and she died 8 weeks later with cancer.

Not all Thai hospitals screw people, i was not screwed by Khonkaen hospital once.

I was a patient for 7 long months.

I was transfered from KK to Banphai by ambulance paid 1100 baht ,i was connected to oxygen all the time.

Journey was 44 kilometers, driver assistant and nurse. That is not being ripped off.

I've been "screwed" by a few hospitals but every one of them was in the USA. I have never had much of any problem with Thai hospitals which I have found overall to be amazingly good especially considering the low costs.

I had a badly broken collarbone a few years back (motorbike) and Overbrook did the surgery and two nights private room etc...total bill was 30 k baht which my insurance paid. Recently I had an orthopedic surgeon in USA take a look at the xrays etc and he said that he would not have done anything any differently re the surgery that they did, the screws they inserted etc.

My only "gripe" is that Thai doctors do tend to prescribe all kinds of pills and then charge you way too much if you fill the prescription at the hospital pharmacy...but I have learned you do NOT have to use their pharmacy...just take it to a drugstore and get same thing for a fraction of the cost.