Government concerned with foreigners being ripped off by Thai hospitals

[cumgranosalum]

You feel satisfied with your procedures - which is what most patients feel when they don't die - it's a recognised syndrome a bit similar to "Stockholm" - all you have described is a procedure that would happen anywhere in the world and how YOU feel about it. - it is purely the perception of a single lay-person - and as your yardstick appears to be one of the worst healthcare systems in the western world one has to take that with a pinch of salt.

I have been very pleased with the medical care I have received in Thailand. However, I do not live in a tourist trap--I believe that may be part of the difference. My wife collapsed, I took her to a good local hopsital, they put her in a private room performed several tests and gave her medication to reduce her very high blood pressure. Two days later with blood pressure back to normal, she was released. The bill was about $300 and that included two months of blood pressure medicine--my mother's BP medicine cost about $40/mo in the States and that was with full insurance coverage.

I had five broken ribs and a collapsed lung which was complicated by my own ignorance. I fell, hurt my ribs and went to a clinic in a resort town; they diagnosed bruised ribs and prescribed pain killers, muscle relaxers and anti-inflamatories. After three weeks, it was worse, I could not breathe. I went to my local hospital in Hatyai and was in surgery within two hours; they drained five litres of fluid from my lung cavity, but found I had several blood clots. The next day, after several more tests and specialists, I was back in the OR to remove the clots by major thoracic surgery. The docotrs said it would take three weeks for me to recover enough to be released. I had a private room which had a separate bedroom, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, two large screen TVs and enough comfortable furniture to seat a houseful of relatives. They gave me several medical tests-- MRIs, CTs, PFTs, ABGs, plethysmography, spirometry, x-rays, and numerous smaller blood and lung tests--I had 24/7 nurses, a plethora of medication, and four specialist doctors plus my GP. I recovered nicely with a delicate 11 inch rib cage scar from the thoracic surgery and a B10 coin-sized circular scar from the surgery to drain the fluids from my lung cavity. I was released from the hospital, at my insistance, in nine days. The thoracic surgeon was excellent, beyond criticism, he saw me twice before he took out the stiches, and then saw me every other month for the following year, all at no extra charge. The total bill was B240k, about $8k. I consider that a trivial cost for such great treatment, expensive tests, and complicated procedures-- the room would have cost more than that in the States. I have regained 100% lung capacity, all discomfort was gone in a year, the 11 inch scar looks as if it could have been done by a competent plastic surgeon--by comparison the circular scar, done by another surgeon, looks like it was performed in the hood with a can opener. I was 68 at the time. I rode my motorcycle the day after I got out of hospital. I feel great now and have no qualms about Thai medical care.

there is no analysis of the efficacy of the procedures used or how efficiently they were carried out or any comparison with treatment in other countries - this is of course nigh-on impossible in individual cases and one must have bilk stats to draw any concrete conclusions - in other words ANECDOTE!

The topic is foreigners being ripped off by Thai hospitals, not the quality of healthcare. I am sure I could have gotten that quality of healthcare at higher prices elsewhere. I am satisified with what happened to me and mine. Satisfied enough to trust a Thai doctor again. Yes, it is my opinion, but my opinion is the only one I have.

As with many of the posts here, it is how the opinion is arrived at that is so questionable.

What gives you the right to trivialize my personal experiences and those of other posters by calling them mere anecdotes, of questionable note?

It is true a scientific study must provide empirical evidence to reach any viable conclusion. How do you think empirical evidence is acquired? It is acquired by observation or experimentation and compiled for review.

Each of our "observations" through expressing our personal experiences is the basis of empirical evidence. Look at the sample we have already collected to posit the theory that Thailand has good medical care without being "ripped-off".

Therefore, based on the sample of observations we have collected herein; it is possible to get good medical care in Thailand without being ripped-off.

However, in Thailand as it is anywhere else, you can you get ripped-off for medical services and you can you get poor health care.

You simply don't understand the meaning of anecdote....as I have said many times the plural of anecdote is not data.

[seedy]

one troll flaming post removed

[cumgranosalum]

You feel satisfied with your procedures - which is what most patients feel when they don't die - it's a recognised syndrome a bit similar to "Stockholm" - all you have described is a procedure that would happen anywhere in the world and how YOU feel about it. - it is purely the perception of a single lay-person - and as your yardstick appears to be one of the worst healthcare systems in the western world one has to take that with a pinch of salt.

I have been very pleased with the medical care I have received in Thailand. However, I do not live in a tourist trap--I believe that may be part of the difference. My wife collapsed, I took her to a good local hopsital, they put her in a private room performed several tests and gave her medication to reduce her very high blood pressure. Two days later with blood pressure back to normal, she was released. The bill was about $300 and that included two months of blood pressure medicine--my mother's BP medicine cost about $40/mo in the States and that was with full insurance coverage.

I had five broken ribs and a collapsed lung which was complicated by my own ignorance. I fell, hurt my ribs and went to a clinic in a resort town; they diagnosed bruised ribs and prescribed pain killers, muscle relaxers and anti-inflamatories. After three weeks, it was worse, I could not breathe. I went to my local hospital in Hatyai and was in surgery within two hours; they drained five litres of fluid from my lung cavity, but found I had several blood clots. The next day, after several more tests and specialists, I was back in the OR to remove the clots by major thoracic surgery. The docotrs said it would take three weeks for me to recover enough to be released. I had a private room which had a separate bedroom, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, two large screen TVs and enough comfortable furniture to seat a houseful of relatives. They gave me several medical tests-- MRIs, CTs, PFTs, ABGs, plethysmography, spirometry, x-rays, and numerous smaller blood and lung tests--I had 24/7 nurses, a plethora of medication, and four specialist doctors plus my GP. I recovered nicely with a delicate 11 inch rib cage scar from the thoracic surgery and a B10 coin-sized circular scar from the surgery to drain the fluids from my lung cavity. I was released from the hospital, at my insistance, in nine days. The thoracic surgeon was excellent, beyond criticism, he saw me twice before he took out the stiches, and then saw me every other month for the following year, all at no extra charge. The total bill was B240k, about $8k. I consider that a trivial cost for such great treatment, expensive tests, and complicated procedures-- the room would have cost more than that in the States. I have regained 100% lung capacity, all discomfort was gone in a year, the 11 inch scar looks as if it could have been done by a competent plastic surgeon--by comparison the circular scar, done by another surgeon, looks like it was performed in the hood with a can opener. I was 68 at the time. I rode my motorcycle the day after I got out of hospital. I feel great now and have no qualms about Thai medical care.

there is no analysis of the efficacy of the procedures used or how efficiently they were carried out or any comparison with treatment in other countries - this is of course nigh-on impossible in individual cases and one must have bilk stats to draw any concrete conclusions - in other words ANECDOTE!

The topic is foreigners being ripped off by Thai hospitals, not the quality of healthcare. I am sure I could have gotten that quality of healthcare at higher prices elsewhere. I am satisified with what happened to me and mine. Satisfied enough to trust a Thai doctor again. Yes, it is my opinion, but my opinion is the only one I have.

As with many of the posts here, it is how the opinion is arrived at that is so questionable.

What gives you the right to trivialize my personal experiences and those of other posters by calling them mere anecdotes, of questionable note?

It is true a scientific study must provide empirical evidence to reach any viable conclusion. How do you think empirical evidence is acquired? It is acquired by observation or experimentation and compiled for review.

Each of our "observations" through expressing our personal experiences is the basis of empirical evidence. Look at the sample we have already collected to posit the theory that Thailand has good medical care without being "ripped-off".

Therefore, based on the sample of observations we have collected herein; it is possible to get good medical care in Thailand without being ripped-off.

However, in Thailand as it is anywhere else, you can you get ripped-off for medical services and you can you get poor health care.

As I have pointed out your testament alone does not prove anything as it is anecdotal.

the number of people receiving medical treatment in Thailand is millions, of that a percentage - likely to be thousands or 10s o0f thousands may be foreigners - this included everyone from neighbouring countries to wealthy expats from "the West" - to make a conclusion from one post on Thaivisa or even several would be foolhardy in the extreme.

What concerns me more though is that there is a perception developing amongst those posting on this thread that could be way off from the reality of the situation. in turn i would also question the governments ability to assess the real situation and if it uses the same criteria as some of the posters on this thread then the project is doomed from the start.

[mikemac]

If you're a foreigner, and in Chiang Mai, and want to be seriously overcharged for anything medical, simply go to Ram Hospital. You can go to Rajavaj, or McCormick for the same - if not better - treatment, for about half the price. Trust me, I've had the experience and know all about it.

Good advice for anyone living/staying in CM. Our family uses McCormick and we are very happy with the costs, service and quality of doctors. Our son was born there in 2013.

[Toknarok]

Great.. the general cares at least, can't say I ever seen the previous government care about us.

He must understand that most guys that live here prefer him over the old government (except a vocal minority).

Of course hospitals rip of foreigners its common knowledge. Part of the reason why i got insurance.

If he would really care, he would reinstate the "Health Card for Foreigner" which was scrapped last year.

That scheme still runs for the people who it was aimed at, Lao, Cambodian and Myanmar workers.

Because of some poorly worded guidelines that was misinterpreted by many hospitals it was wrongly offered to ALL foreigners.

When the error was discovered the hospitals then refused to reoffer it other than for those it was meant for.

Correct. For many years I got free health care under this scheme. It was discontinued for foreigners other than Burmese, Cambodians and Laotians on 1st October 2013.

[SiSePuede419]

Most people with life threatening illnesses don't "shop around" for the best prices at hospitals. That's the "illusion" of a "free market" for healthcare.

Also the persons estimate of $24,000 for a similar treatment is way off.

Prices vary by region, state, city and even by hospital in the same city.

Also, that price would be with no insurance.

With Obamacare insurance, your premium is limited to 9% of your income, by law.

Typical deductibles are $5000 or less.

So, if you're lucky enough to have income of $100K, your insurance premiums are a max of $9000+$5000= $14,000.

If you're 62+ in America and collecting SS, assuming you had a good paying job, your yearly income would be $24,000+.

9% ($24,000+) is approx. $2400 + $5K deductible = $7400.

Less than you paid at a private hospital (St. Louis).

Always happy to provide a bit of truth. You're welcome.

555

[Liquorice]

I can't quite see how this has any releveance to the OP - "Government concerned with foreigners being ripped off by Thai hospitals"

Is it simply an advert for the St Louis hospital?

does it imply they don't rip foreign patients off? Maybe....but at the end of the day this is a totally subjective anecdote.

"I have no experience with other private hospitals in Thailand, but fees at St. Louis are reasonable" - then how does he know???

As for the drug Alimta, yes it is very expensive - about $24K per patient and as such is not used by many hospitals who prefer less costly alternatives. it is not used as a first-line drug usually, only after others have been tried.

I'm not an oncologist and have no idea of this patient's background any more than he has of other cancer patients...so how can he be sure he has got the most appropriate and cost effective treatment....or are they just going for the most expensibb=ve drugs they can because someone is covering the cost?

It is very sad to hear of someone who is fighting cancer, but I think the exprience related here has little to do with whether foreigners are being over-charged, in fact it raises more questions than it answers.

Wow! Talk about kick a guy in the teeth when he's down.

haroldc has as much right as anyone to express his views, opinions and personal experience on this subject.

He expressed facts that in his experience not all Thai hospitals are overcharging, which is quite relevant to the topic that the government is concerned that foreigners are being ripped off by Thai hospitals.

Obviously not all Thai hospitals are ripping people off, which is the point Harold was making.

I by the same thinking I have a right to point out the flaws in his views. the health of the poster is not relevant to the argument.

Point out 'flaws' in his views!!!

He posted with facts, figures and personal experience, which is more than the you've posted.

[Keesters]

If they keep this up they will lose medical tourism to India in increasing amounts. The greed is insatiable here.

Heard good reports about Indian hospitals especially with their small bills. I'll be looking into them seriously for cataract surgery soon.

[cumgranosalum]

I can't quite see how this has any releveance to the OP - "Government concerned with foreigners being ripped off by Thai hospitals"

Is it simply an advert for the St Louis hospital?

does it imply they don't rip foreign patients off? Maybe....but at the end of the day this is a totally subjective anecdote.

"I have no experience with other private hospitals in Thailand, but fees at St. Louis are reasonable" - then how does he know???

As for the drug Alimta, yes it is very expensive - about $24K per patient and as such is not used by many hospitals who prefer less costly alternatives. it is not used as a first-line drug usually, only after others have been tried.

I'm not an oncologist and have no idea of this patient's background any more than he has of other cancer patients...so how can he be sure he has got the most appropriate and cost effective treatment....or are they just going for the most expensibb=ve drugs they can because someone is covering the cost?

It is very sad to hear of someone who is fighting cancer, but I think the exprience related here has little to do with whether foreigners are being over-charged, in fact it raises more questions than it answers.

Wow! Talk about kick a guy in the teeth when he's down.

haroldc has as much right as anyone to express his views, opinions and personal experience on this subject.

He expressed facts that in his experience not all Thai hospitals are overcharging, which is quite relevant to the topic that the government is concerned that foreigners are being ripped off by Thai hospitals.

Obviously not all Thai hospitals are ripping people off, which is the point Harold was making.

I by the same thinking I have a right to point out the flaws in his views. the health of the poster is not relevant to the argument.

Point out 'flaws' in his views!!!

He posted with facts, figures and personal experience, which is more than the you've posted.

"facts and figures"????...and anecdote!

[smotherb]

cumgranosalum said, “As I have pointed out your testament alone does not prove anything as it is anecdotal.”

My statement alone, can you not read or count?

[northernjohn]

If they keep this up they will lose medical tourism to India in increasing amounts. The greed is insatiable here.

Heard good reports about Indian hospitals especially with their small bills. I'll be looking into them seriously for cataract surgery soon.

From what I have heard India is changing their Visa qualifications to make it easier to get into the country. I am facing cataract surgery in a year or two I think I will check it out. Right now here in Chiang Mai the new Bangkok hospital has a special on for 39,000 baht. that is a brand new hospital. I have heard of as low as 32,500 baht at other hospitals. Could be the same surgeon.

[domdom]

Hello

I have been living in India for 6 years till 2000 and the specialized hospitals are excellent and at total bargain prices..

The problem in India is, if you have an accident and can't plan a surgery or treatment, your risks to die are very high as local hospitals are useless, no ambulances etc.. BUT all hospitals, some specialized in heart surgeries, in eye surgeries etc.. are ver good. I personally went to a plastic abdominal surgery in 2000, surgery, medicine, 2 monthly checkings after surgery, a huge suite room, 5 days in hospital with food given by a dietetician and special meals as I was european, even if I told them, indian food was enough for me.. 1000 euros... AND as I paid that, they gave me 3 full treatments for free, so I had a complete gynecology checking with analisis etc..., a dermatology check with some small esthetic intervention and a complete heart disease check up with exams and appointment with a cardiologist..

On top of it, indian speak english much better than thais and doctors take their time with you, explaining everything and are very friendly..

Just one thing which surprised me.. To give you the anesthesic they don't bring you directly to the surgery room but you find yourself in a huge room with a lot of people expecting surgery and there you get the anesthesia with a lot of other patients around you.. they put you to sleep and take you to surgery after.. I don't know if this procedure is common, or just in the hospital I was

I would highly recommend India if you plan any treatment.

Have a nice day

[soalbundy]

If they keep this up they will lose medical tourism to India in increasing amounts. The greed is insatiable here.

Heard good reports about Indian hospitals especially with their small bills. I'll be looking into them seriously for cataract surgery soon.

Small bills and lots of antibiotic resistant bacteria

[cumgranosalum]

cumgranosalum said, “As I have pointed out your testament alone does not prove anything as it is anecdotal.”

My statement alone, can you not read or count?

how many times? "the plural of anecdote is not data."

[Muzarella]

Interesting.

The Hospital being target by the Government now, is exactly the one I used last month with a lot of evident overcharges, to the insurance company and to myself. If I knew where to fill a complaint at that time....

[cumgranosalum]

Most people with life threatening illnesses don't "shop around" for the best prices at hospitals. That's the "illusion" of a "free market" for healthcare.

Also the persons estimate of $24,000 for a similar treatment is way off.

Prices vary by region, state, city and even by hospital in the same city.

Also, that price would be with no insurance.

With Obamacare insurance, your premium is limited to 9% of your income, by law.

Typical deductibles are $5000 or less.

So, if you're lucky enough to have income of $100K, your insurance premiums are a max of $9000+$5000= $14,000.

If you're 62+ in America and collecting SS, assuming you had a good paying job, your yearly income would be $24,000+.

9% ($24,000+) is approx. $2400 + $5K deductible = $7400.

Less than you paid at a private hospital (St. Louis).

Always happy to provide a bit of truth. You're welcome.

555

quite apart from anything else, you are comparing apples with Lemons - just because you think the price is OK, it doesn't follow you haven't been overcharged.

[smotherb]

cumgranosalum said, “As I have pointed out your testament alone does not prove anything as it is anecdotal.”

My statement alone, can you not read or count?

how many times? "the plural of anecdote is not data."

Apparently, you have never done serious research. Have you ever heard of a survey? Surveys ask people a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something. We have gotten the results of what several people think about Thai healthcare. This is an initial and crucial step in providing empirical data to posit a creditable theory.

Please continue your blather, I no longer care to argue with a duck.

Edited May 18, 2015 by smotherb

[domdom]

Hello

Today's example.. Crestor 10 mg, 30 tablets payed day before yesterday in Bangkok Pattaya Hospital 3600 bahts..

I checked today with the chemist in Big C Pattaya. Same medicine, same labo, same box... 1200 for 28 tablets !!!!

Those people have no shame..

Have a nice day..

[soalbundy]

Most people with life threatening illnesses don't "shop around" for the best prices at hospitals. That's the "illusion" of a "free market" for healthcare.

Also the persons estimate of $24,000 for a similar treatment is way off.

Prices vary by region, state, city and even by hospital in the same city.

Also, that price would be with no insurance.

With Obamacare insurance, your premium is limited to 9% of your income, by law.

Typical deductibles are $5000 or less.

So, if you're lucky enough to have income of $100K, your insurance premiums are a max of $9000+$5000= $14,000.

If you're 62+ in America and collecting SS, assuming you had a good paying job, your yearly income would be $24,000+.

9% ($24,000+) is approx. $2400 + $5K deductible = $7400.

Less than you paid at a private hospital (St. Louis).

Always happy to provide a bit of truth. You're welcome.

555

quite apart from anything else, you are comparing apples with Lemons - just because you think the price is OK, it doesn't follow you haven't been overcharged.

overcharged depends on your point of view and how much it was personally worth to you. Someone bought a Picasso recently for 63.5 million dollars, was he overcharged ?

[cumgranosalum]

Most people with life threatening illnesses don't "shop around" for the best prices at hospitals. That's the "illusion" of a "free market" for healthcare.

Also the persons estimate of $24,000 for a similar treatment is way off.

Prices vary by region, state, city and even by hospital in the same city.

Also, that price would be with no insurance.

With Obamacare insurance, your premium is limited to 9% of your income, by law.

Typical deductibles are $5000 or less.

So, if you're lucky enough to have income of $100K, your insurance premiums are a max of $9000+$5000= $14,000.

If you're 62+ in America and collecting SS, assuming you had a good paying job, your yearly income would be $24,000+.

9% ($24,000+) is approx. $2400 + $5K deductible = $7400.

Less than you paid at a private hospital (St. Louis).

Always happy to provide a bit of truth. You're welcome.

555

quite apart from anything else, you are comparing apples with Lemons - just because you think the price is OK, it doesn't follow you haven't been overcharged.

overcharged depends on your point of view and how much it was personally worth to you. Someone bought a Picasso recently for 63.5 million dollars, was he overcharged ?

Overcharging for a packet of Paracetamol is easy enough. If it is on average 20 baht in the pharmacies and a hospital is charging 100 baht for the same amount of the same product then this is pretty much unarguably overcharging.

However comparing medical procedures for various problems becomes a much more difficult process. Costs of medication., the charges of Doctors, the cost of real estate, equipment overheads and even if the cheapest or most effective treatments are used........all have to be taken into consideration....

What is needed is a thorough monitoring of ALL hospitals by an independent and non-corrupt body, and then some proper conclusions can be made.

As I have said all along, i doubt very much if the authorities have either the means or the will to do this.

[daveAustin]

Should it not be 'Government concerned with foreigners being ripped off'?

[dageurreotype]

Hello

I have been living in India for 6 years till 2000 and the specialized hospitals are excellent and at total bargain prices..

The problem in India is, if you have an accident and can't plan a surgery or treatment, your risks to die are very high as local hospitals are useless, no ambulances etc.. BUT all hospitals, some specialized in heart surgeries, in eye surgeries etc.. are ver good. I personally went to a plastic abdominal surgery in 2000, surgery, medicine, 2 monthly checkings after surgery, a huge suite room, 5 days in hospital with food given by a dietetician and special meals as I was european, even if I told them, indian food was enough for me.. 1000 euros... AND as I paid that, they gave me 3 full treatments for free, so I had a complete gynecology checking with analisis etc..., a dermatology check with some small esthetic intervention and a complete heart disease check up with exams and appointment with a cardiologist..

On top of it, indian speak english much better than thais and doctors take their time with you, explaining everything and are very friendly..

Just one thing which surprised me.. To give you the anesthesic they don't bring you directly to the surgery room but you find yourself in a huge room with a lot of people expecting surgery and there you get the anesthesia with a lot of other patients around you.. they put you to sleep and take you to surgery after.. I don't know if this procedure is common, or just in the hospital I was

I would highly recommend India if you plan any treatment.

Have a nice day

We're not talking about those residing in India having been mowed down/tripped over a paving stone, are we? Same Thailand. Do keep up.

SHOUT OUT to TAT. Westerners STILL travel to India for surgery, NOT overpriced rip off THAIILAND. Unless you want gender reassignment. They're very good at that. Apparently.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Of course a local pharmacy will charge a fraction of what a hospital does. It costs money to build and staff a hospital. A physician has to prescribe the medication, a pharmacists has to dispense it and a nurse has to administer the medication and all of this has to be recorded and records kept. Also, beware purchasing refrigerated medications from local pharmacies. I was given a prescription for antibiotics, ones to be kept refrigerated, and went to two local pharmacies. When I handed the pharmacists the prescription they would pluck the medication off the shelf in the shop. Both times the medication was manufactured one year prior and the expiration date was one year hence. But one year of being unrefrigerated renders the medication useless, if not dangerous.

No one likes to get ripped. At the same time, pinching baht on health car is false economy.

True and not true...

As regards to medicines, there are plenty of medicines that are available both at hospitals and private pharmacies as well. Although I understand your example above, most medications don't require refrigeration and are shelf-stable. For those, there's no reason to pay double or more the price for paracetamol or amoxicillin pills at a hospital vs a private pharmacy. That's not a false economy. That's just being an educated, informed consumer.

There are, however, also some kinds of medicines that can ONLY be prescribed/obtained in Thai hospitals by MDs and are not available from private pharmacies. One unfortunate example of that is the sinus medication pseudoephedrine. It used to be commonly available, but then became used in the manufacture of illegal drugs, was classed as a restricted drug, and now typically cannot be obtained from private pharmacies at all.

Whenever I'm dealing with Thai hospitals here, I ALWAYS ask the doctor to tell me exactly what they plan to prescribe, what quantity, what dose, etc etc. (Though they usually don't do that voluntarily -- I have to ask, otherwise, they'll just order it and I'll find out only when I go to pay). Usually, I have some idea of whether the medications are available outside the hospital or only can be obtained inside the hospital. If possible, I'll ALWAYS purchase my medicines outside the hospital and end up paying a whole lot less in the process.

Another example, my wife has been having a sore back, so she went to see an orthopedics doctor at a private hospital in BKK. Among various treatment items, one thing he wanted her to do was at least temporarily wear a velcro wrap-around back support. To his credit, he said we could obtain it from the hospital's pharmacy at a price of about 5,000 baht, or, we could buy it outside. We chose to buy it outside, went down the street to a medical supplies pharmacy, and paid about 1,000 for virtually the same item (same item, different brand).

It pays to be an aware medical consumer, especially here in Thailand.

[domdom]

Hello,

Somebody wrote :

"Of course a local pharmacy will charge a fraction of what a hospital does. It costs money to build and staff a hospital. A physician has to prescribe the medication, a pharmacists has to dispense it and a nurse has to administer the medication and all of this has to be recorded and records kept"

I understand from your post, that a pharmacist doesn't have to pay a rent for the pharmacy, doesn't have to earn his own income and pay his employees ??

Come on, the hospital has to transfer his charges on doctor's bills, surgery bills etc.. How is it done abroad ??? No hospital sells you medicine !!!

In my case the price was not 2 times the pharmacy price, but 3 times which is an absolute non sense...

I must admit that the doctor agreed to write a prescription for medicine, and so this will be the first and last time I purchase from the hospital (I purchased as I had to enquire first with my pharmacist wether it was available).

In Chao Pya Hospital, the doctor refused to give a prescription to allow to buy medicine outside of the hospital.. He lost a patient, we will never go there anymore;;;

Have a nice day

[Keesters]

If they keep this up they will lose medical tourism to India in increasing amounts. The greed is insatiable here.

Heard good reports about Indian hospitals especially with their small bills. I'll be looking into them seriously for cataract surgery soon.

Small bills and lots of antibiotic resistant bacteria

Evidence.....Is this more prevalent in India than elsewhere in the world? Please backup your statement.

[domdom]

Hello

Being a foreigner, when you undergo a surgery in India they give you a good quantity of antibiotics against everything.. The good hospitals are very clean and well maintained, the nurses, doctors and helpers very well trained about to avoid infections..

I had no problem on my side when I underwent the surgery neither other treatments..

A friend of mine went for an open heart surgery in Madras when she was really in a bad shape and the surgery was excellent, so was her recovery.. the only thing is she had to stay there for over 3 weeks after the surgery to be cared of properly as we were living very far away from Madras

Have a nice day

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I must admit that the doctor agreed to write a prescription for medicine, and so this will be the first and last time I purchase from the hospital (I purchased as I had to enquire first with my pharmacist wether it was available).

In Chao Pya Hospital, the doctor refused to give a prescription to allow to buy medicine outside of the hospital.. He lost a patient, we will never go there anymore;;;

In Thailand, I've never seen a written prescriptions approach for medicines similar to what you'd find in the West. As in, the doctor hands you a written prescription on paper that you need to present at a pharmacy in order to have the prescription filled.

Here, AFAIK, it works one of two ways:

1. the medication is only available from a hospital pharmacy, and the doctor simply orders it for you thru the hospital pharmacy, and you pick it up there after you've paid your bill. Oftentimes, the doctors don't even actually tell their patients what exact medicine they're ordering, and you only find out when you're presented with the bill at the hospital cashier.

or

2. the doctor does the same thing as mentioned above. Except, you decline to buy the medicine from the hospital and instead go to your local pharmacy and tell them exactly what you want. The pharmacies here, AFAIK, don't rely on or use any kind of written prescription system from the doctors.

Either they have the medicine available for anyone who wants to buy it, or they don't and it's only available from a hospital.

I always try to buy any doctor ordered medicines at private pharmacies outside the hospital, because the prices are vastly less expensive.

But, in all those transaction, the doctors rarely have even been willing or wanted to write down for me what medicines/doses/instructions they want me to take/do. Usually, about the best you can accomplish is to have them verbally tell you what they're ordering, and you write it down to take for your notes to the pharmacy.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

BTW, more on the original subject of this thread:

One of the things that has really bugged me about all of my Thai hospital interactions over the years involves the detailing of charges for your visit.

In my own visits to many different private hospitals here over the years, I can't think of a single one where, when I went to pay the bill, PRIOR to paying, they voluntarily presented me upfront with an itemized breakdown of what I was being charged for. Oftentimes, PRIOR to paying, the cashier will simply verbally tell me a total without giving me any paperwork at all, whereas other times, they'll hand over only a very general total and breakdown of costs (doctor fee, hospital service fee, medication).

So every time, I have to ask the cashier to print out for me a detailed listing of the various costs being charged, which also happens to include the detail and cost breakdown of any medicines being purchased, what they are, and how much they're costing. Why they don't provide that automatically when you walk up to the cashier counter, I have no idea.

[domdom]

.. The problem being that for the french social care facility I need a doctor prescription to get refund.. The guy understood and asked me to write the prescription, giving me the letter head paper.. He then signed and stamped it..

Have a nice day

[balo]

BTW, more on the original subject of this thread:

One of the things that has really bugged me about all of my Thai hospital interactions over the years involves the detailing of charges for your visit.

In my own visits to many different private hospitals here over the years, I can't think of a single one where, when I went to pay the bill, PRIOR to paying, they voluntarily presented me upfront with an itemized breakdown of what I was being charged for. Oftentimes, PRIOR to paying, the cashier will simply verbally tell me a total without giving me any paperwork at all, whereas other times, they'll hand over only a very general total and breakdown of costs (doctor fee, hospital service fee, medication).

So every time, I have to ask the cashier to print out for me a detailed listing of the various costs being charged, which also happens to include the detail and cost breakdown of any medicines being purchased, what they are, and how much they're costing. Why they don't provide that automatically when you walk up to the cashier counter, I have no idea.

The staff are trained to do so , the hospital earns more money if the patient accept to pay the total bill . It's a scam really , if you buy the medication at their hospital they will earn good money , you'll pay 3 to 5 times more than in the local pharmacies.

I can mention 3 hospitals I've experienced this practice, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, Samitivej Sukhumvit , and Bangkok Christian Hospital. The first time I was charged too much for tablets I learned my lesson , always ask for a detailed bill before you pay anything.

Edited May 19, 2015 by balo