Fair medical charges by private Thai hospitals are needed

[webfact]

Fair medical charges by private hospitals are needed



BANGKOK: -- A member of a panel charged with resolving medical overcharging problem by private hospitals said Monday that all she wanted was fair medical charges and fair prices of medicines.

Mrs Preeyanant Lorsermwattana, chair of the network of victims from medical mistreatment, is one of the three panel members representing the people’s sector. The other two are Dr Prateep Satjamit and Dr Thira Watthanarat.

The panel is to hold its first meeting on Tuesday at the Health Support Services Department to discuss the problem of medical charges by private hospitals.

Mrs Preyanant said that the issue at stake – overcharging by private hospitals – had been turned into a fight between multi-national pharmaceutical companies and people’s network which has demanded medical charges by private hospitals to be properly regulated and fair to the patients.

She also alleged that there had been attempts by private hospitals to lobby for the deletion of medical charge issue from the draft constitution.

She maintained that she had no intention whatsoever to undermine pharmaceutical companies or private hospitals but merely wanted fair and transparent medical charges.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/fair-medical-charges-by-private-hospitals-are-needed


-- Thai PBS 2015-06-01

[wiesner]

why do they not use generic medicine they think they look good by prescribing name brand drugs, they do not care about the cost to patients.

[Snuller]

Yes. I am a farang with Diabetes. I use Novo Nordisk Penfill Insulin. In Pattaya, Bangkok hospital the price for 1 ampul is 270 THB. At the same hospital in Korat, Bangkok hospital, the price for the exact same ampul is 790 THB. Anybody who can explain to me why there are this difference in the price. Novo Nordisk can not, The hospital can not. Maybe the Government can. But it seems that they just charge whatever they want. I think that it is a disgrace with this difference in the same hospital.

[clockman]

They do use, generic. And then charge name brand drugs!

[clockman]

Every sector of society is crooked. And has been for 50 years! Its a way of Thai life. And will take generations to change. If ever?

[lovetotravel]

I'm sure this is no different than in many other countries around the world. The nice, fancy private hospitals with the well educated specialists have much bigger overhead. Don't like the prices? Don't go there. But at times, the quality of the health care is not the same in public hospitals.

I go to Bumrungrad for a reason. The specialist is one of the best in the country. If not the best. You won't find him elsewhere nor his expertise anywhere else. I don't have to go at 7am and hope the doctor shows up. It's not the cheapest option, but sometimes, not always, you do get what you pay for.

For meds, I go to an outside pharmacy. Never at Bumrungrad.

P.S. for minor stuff, I do go to the local hospital. And it is cheap.

Edited June 1, 2015 by lovetotravel

[worgeordie]

The wifes friend went into hospital for 1 night, with a pain in her stomach,couple bags saline,

2 injections,and some Paracetamol,not a top private hospital,very ordinary,14K thb the bill, she only

paid 30 bhat, the same night shes there a heavily pregnant woman in the next bed,told the nurse

the baby was coming,the nurse said it wont come yet and went away, half hour later the woman

gave birth in the bed by herself !

So i think its fair to say,that these private hospitals ,that are part of the 30 bhat scheme are

screwing the Government by overcharging,and i suppose there is no one checking the invoices

regards worgeordie

[ColdSingha]

no mention of specifically overcharging foreigners too (double pricing). a well known hospital in bangkok happily told my wife i'd get thai price (50% lower) if i brought my wedding certificate along and registered next time..

[elgordo38]

Every sector of society is crooked. And has been for 50 years! Its a way of Thai life. And will take generations to change. If ever?

Its ingrained here and being a Farang just makes a bad situation worse when we need medical attention. If I am ever hit with a catastrophic illness its goodbye Charlie. I will never allow myself to be a living breathing ATM machine for hospitals my g/f can put the money to better use. It will be time to pass on the baton. God help future generations you better hope for a cheap cure all pill.

Edited June 1, 2015 by elgordo38

[jonw8uk]

As a private business i think they can charge what they want?

However the double pricing does annoy me; if they can make a profit off a thai, why should they make more off a foreigner for the same treatment??!

Vote with your feet people, simples

[rhythmworx]

What about the fake diagnoses of cancer and other stuff they try and screw the farang with?

Forget the over charging, how would you like your liver removed when there is nothing wrong with it?

[recycler]

So it's not the Thai hospitals, it's the pharmaceutical companies that get the blame, problem solved, Thailand is clean....

[prakhonchai nick]

Every sector of society is crooked. And has been for 50 years! Its a way of Thai life. And will take generations to change. If ever?

No it won't. If there's a will there's a way!

Fine them heftily -that will mean new laws -no point chasing them until new laws are in place. I mean tens of thousands of baht. Double or treble fines if they don't change, and if necessary revoke their operating licences.

Do the same with motorists and every other sector of Thai society -forget the stupid 100/200baht fines. 1000-5000baht for first offence.

Enact new laws, make sure they are implemented (sack those responsible for implementation if they don't) . That Mr PM is keeping ordinary Thais happy.

[circusman]

What about the fake diagnoses of cancer and other stuff they try and screw the farang with?

Forget the over charging, how would you like your liver removed when there is nothing wrong with it?

Readers will take you seriously when you can backup your claims with facts not hot air.

[KhunAussie52]

Last year i was with my family on holidays in Nong Khai.I was running out of medication for hypertension. I was taking Aprovel 150 mg.

The cost,then, in Surin was 900 baht for 28 tablets.

I went to a pharmacy in the local shopping mall.and the price quoted was 2900 baht for 28 tablets.

These meds are imported from France!

I have not been able to find a locally made equivalent.

Edited June 2, 2015 by KhunAussie52

[vegasphl]

Try Pattaya Memorial Hospital for grugs or thai govt hospitals. Try local pharmacies.

[maidee]

you already pay a high price of the hospital bill, it is immoral to try to make medicine a lucrative business deal

[Guest]

I'm sure this is no different than in many other countries around the world. The nice, fancy private hospitals with the well educated specialists have much bigger overhead. Don't like the prices? Don't go there. But at times, the quality of the health care is not the same in public hospitals.

I go to Bumrungrad for a reason. The specialist is one of the best in the country. If not the best. You won't find him elsewhere nor his expertise anywhere else. I don't have to go at 7am and hope the doctor shows up. It's not the cheapest option, but sometimes, not always, you do get what you pay for.

For meds, I go to an outside pharmacy. Never at Bumrungrad.

P.S. for minor stuff, I do go to the local hospital. And it is cheap.

Thank you for reminding many who will post here of the basic laws of supply, demand and price. Excellent posting.

And yes, as you pointed out, it is much better to buy the meds at the local pharmacy. Pretty sure that is a rule all over this world.

I see a few postings coming up baout how "crooked" Thailand is ... and I just shake my head and laugh. Really?

I do not need to argue this point, i just need to look at the beautiful world of supply and demand .. and Thailand has become a haven and destination for high quality low cost medical care.

[Guest]

Last year i was with my family on holidays in Nong Khai.I was running out of medication for hypertension. I was taking Aprovel 150 mg.

The cost,then, in Surin was 900 baht for 28 tablets.

I went to a pharmacy in the local shopping mall.and the price quoted was 2900 baht for 28 tablets.

These meds are imported from France!

I have not been able to find a locally made equivalent.

I am not a doctor .. i am a guy with an internet connections and Google.

I am going to give myself 60 seconds to see what I find:

The active ingrediant in your medication is Irbesartan.

The generic Irbesartan is manufactured by 7 companies.

Do some research on the following:

Equivalent to Aprovel

1. Candesartan

2. Eprosartan

3. Losartan

4. Olmesartan

5. Telmisartan

6. Valsartan

Times's up! Amazng what information the internet can produce.

Best of luck in your search! I hope this helps in some way.

[jackanapes]

it is time this was sorted it has been going on for a long time I and many others are living in Thailand on limited funds pensions tied to the rates of exchange we need to shop accordingly we need to get a fair crack of the whip . all private hospitals should be regulated .

[smotherb]

Has no one heard of a PDR, or use the internet to check for generics?

Try this link to find a generic for your brand name drug--http://www.emedexpert.com/lists/brand.shtml

or just google it.

[lovetotravel]

Last year i was with my family on holidays in Nong Khai.I was running out of medication for hypertension. I was taking Aprovel 150 mg.

The cost,then, in Surin was 900 baht for 28 tablets.

I went to a pharmacy in the local shopping mall.and the price quoted was 2900 baht for 28 tablets.

These meds are imported from France!

I have not been able to find a locally made equivalent.

I am not a doctor .. i am a guy with an internet connections and Google.

I am going to give myself 60 seconds to see what I find:

The active ingrediant in your medication is Irbesartan.

The generic Irbesartan is manufactured by 7 companies.

Do some research on the following:

Equivalent to Aprovel

1. Candesartan

2. Eprosartan

3. Losartan

4. Olmesartan

5. Telmisartan

6. Valsartan

Times's up! Amazng what information the internet can produce.

Best of luck in your search! I hope this helps in some way.

Generics are not always as effective as the real thing. Different bindings, different coatings, different absorption levels in the blood. Depending on the drug, the real thing might be the best:

http://www.medicaldaily.com/name-brand-drugs-vs-generic-drugs-does-price-reflect-effectiveness-rate-drugs-252007

My brother is a pharmacist. Mostly he recommends generics, but does point out that the end result may not always be the same.

[mikosan]

Last year i was with my family on holidays in Nong Khai.I was running out of medication for hypertension. I was taking Aprovel 150 mg.

The cost,then, in Surin was 900 baht for 28 tablets.

I went to a pharmacy in the local shopping mall.and the price quoted was 2900 baht for 28 tablets.

These meds are imported from France!

I have not been able to find a locally made equivalent.

I am not a doctor .. i am a guy with an internet connections and Google.

I am going to give myself 60 seconds to see what I find:

The active ingrediant in your medication is Irbesartan.

The generic Irbesartan is manufactured by 7 companies.

Do some research on the following:

Equivalent to Aprovel

1. Candesartan

2. Eprosartan

3. Losartan

4. Olmesartan

5. Telmisartan

6. Valsartan

Times's up! Amazng what information the internet can produce.

Best of luck in your search! I hope this helps in some way.

I've been prescribed Amlopine 10mg for hypertension by Bangkok Hospital, Hua Hin. I can't remember exactly what they wanted to charge me, I believe 280 baht or thereabouts for 10, I declined their offer, but whatever the price, for the exact same thing and price, I bought 1000 at a local pharmacy.

[Gandtee]

Every sector of society is crooked. And has been for 50 years! Its a way of Thai life. And will take generations to change. If ever?

Its ingrained here and being a Farang just makes a bad situation worse when we need medical attention. If I am ever hit with a catastrophic illness its goodbye Charlie. I will never allow myself to be a living breathing ATM machine for hospitals my g/f can put the money to better use. It will be time to pass on the baton. God help future generations you better hope for a cheap cure all pill.

Don't go yet Charlie!

[Fullstop]

Well that's private hospitals getting dragged into line.... what's next? Government run places like national parks and museums and their double pricing systems? Don't make laugh.

[razer]

Two weeks ago I went to a Dermatologist to remove and biopsy a suspected skin cancer. It cost about 7,500 Baht.

Last week my Thai wife went to the same doctor for the same thing. It cost her 2,700 Baht.

Go figure.

[KOZMO]

What about the fake diagnoses of cancer and other stuff they try and screw the farang with?

Forget the over charging, how would you like your liver removed when there is nothing wrong with it?

If you had your liver removed you would die!!!!!

[Soutpeel]

Two weeks ago I went to a Dermatologist to remove and biopsy a suspected skin cancer. It cost about 7,500 Baht.

Last week my Thai wife went to the same doctor for the same thing. It cost her 2,700 Baht.

Go figure.

I went to get a quote for dental implants as the Mrs get hers next week and my quote is cheaper than hers, same doctor.....go figure

Should I demand double pricing ?

Edited June 2, 2015 by Soutpeel

[Guest]

Last year i was with my family on holidays in Nong Khai.I was running out of medication for hypertension. I was taking Aprovel 150 mg.

The cost,then, in Surin was 900 baht for 28 tablets.

I went to a pharmacy in the local shopping mall.and the price quoted was 2900 baht for 28 tablets.

These meds are imported from France!

I have not been able to find a locally made equivalent.

I am not a doctor .. i am a guy with an internet connections and Google.

I am going to give myself 60 seconds to see what I find:

The active ingrediant in your medication is Irbesartan.

The generic Irbesartan is manufactured by 7 companies.

Do some research on the following:

Equivalent to Aprovel

1. Candesartan

2. Eprosartan

3. Losartan

4. Olmesartan

5. Telmisartan

6. Valsartan

Times's up! Amazng what information the internet can produce.

Best of luck in your search! I hope this helps in some way.

I've been prescribed Amlopine 10mg for hypertension by Bangkok Hospital, Hua Hin. I can't remember exactly what they wanted to charge me, I believe 280 baht or thereabouts for 10, I declined their offer, but whatever the price, for the exact same thing and price, I bought 1000 at a local pharmacy.

Great news, suggest you send a private message to the person posting this and help him out!

Nice to see Thai Visa producing thoughtful replies and results!

[mathias67]

Yes. I am a farang with Diabetes. I use Novo Nordisk Penfill Insulin. In Pattaya, Bangkok hospital the price for 1 ampul is 270 THB. At the same hospital in Korat, Bangkok hospital, the price for the exact same ampul is 790 THB. Anybody who can explain to me why there are this difference in the price. Novo Nordisk can not, The hospital can not. Maybe the Government can. But it seems that they just charge whatever they want. I think that it is a disgrace with this difference in the same hospital.

Seven years ago I had a Hernia Op and at Pattaya Memorial would have been Bt50,000. Went to Sattahip hospital a few days and had the same Op for Bt7,8000 just a small difference of Bt 42,200