Why Do I Feel Ripped Off?

[KittenKong]

They had to have you see the doctor. It is policy. The nurse who gave you your results (glad nothing serious by the way) was just the 'messenger'. As for what it cost you... actually it does not seem that high by Thai standards. I would put it down to location and the hospital. But seriously, back 'home' it would be far more.

No, it wouldn't for the reasons I gave. "Back home" they dont charge for follow-up visits where you just collect a prescription.

But the point is that you are not "back home". I am also sure that the meds would have been far more cost wise. I am just saying. But again I am glad that there was nothing of a serious nature for your visit in the first place.

You appear to be mistaking me for the OP.

I was just pointing out that elsewhere in the world one would not expect to pay a doctor's consultation fee when simply collecting medicine. In fact I dont know of any country (apart from here) where they would be shameless enough to even try and charge for this.

[jerojero]

You feel ripped of because you are were ripped off. Pretty straightforward.

[JGV]

My advice - unless you are seriously unwell use the Internet and self diagnose and buy drugs from local pharmacist

The hospital staff - nurses,doctors even admin staff are all trying to steal your money and in most cases their diagnosis is not accurate or appropriate

These people exploit your anxiety and fear for their own financial reward

I have refused to pay in the past and given half the drugs back and now I take prescription to local pharmacy and save as much as 50% - hospital prices are extortionate

Anxiety/fear - use the many health forums on the Internet to help you realize you are not alone

JGV

[Anon999]

I always feel ripped off when I visit a private hospital in Thailand. As I have insurance, I notice that the hospital always charges up to the maximum that the insurance will cover. I check the bills and they seem to just randomly bump up certain items to make the amount, like paracetamol for 490 baht and so on. No idea how they get away with it and why the insurance companies don't kick up a fuss.

Last month, I needed to get a medical check up called a PERF to get a visa for China. I went to Sikarin hospital and I was totally ripped off. The bill even read 'Payer Group: Foreigner'. Hope that makes the OP feel better

Paracetamol 20 Baht at the government I use and it's a big one so 490 baht worth must have been the supply for a year. Anyway you can always refuse them at the Pharmacy as you can everything else. Antibiotics are prescribed like smarties and are not good for you as you start to become immune to them. If you really need some then 5 days of the course is enough.

[FritsSikkink]

Redmouse, you feel ripped off because you were ripped off, why should the doctor charge you for repeating to you what the nurse said? Never be afraid to question anybody if you think they are wrong, but do it in a nice way. I'm not you, but I would be looking for that 600 Bt back, in fact I would not have paid it the first time, because the nurse had already told you what you need to know.

the nurse has no authority

[StefanBBK]

I had that years back. Needed to get a hearing test for work health certificate. Test required was simple. Cost about 300 baht. All was OK. Hospital insisted that I would have to see the specialist to let him explain the results too me... I did not want that. Was happy with the results just being entered into my company's form. Anyway the doctor proceeded to tell me my hearing was perfect. Charge 800 baht just to hear that. Felt quite bad about it. Not for the 800, but out of principle, because it was unnecessary.

So I do understand where the OP is coming from....

[dao16]

They could be trying to rip you off, but judging the way Thais deal with hospitals, it seems normal. From what I can gather from family members and what they do, they expect to see the doctor and will gladly pay for it, as they place a big value on the position and expertise. Not saying it's always necessary, but it does seem to be the way they operate.

The best way is to have insurance that covers it. Fortunately, I have full coverage from my job, so I pay nothing. Also, luckily, have only had to go to the hospital once here. I had an x-ray and some medicine and stitches for a cut, and that was just over 1000 baht. I am not sure if they tacked on more because they knew my insurance would cover it.....still, seems a reasonable price for what they did.

[fang37]

I was involved in a traffic accident recently. The police stated that the other party was 100% liable. But, after much negotiation, I finally received about 1/3 of the total.

Initially, I was ambulanced to the local hospital hospital - too complex but no x-ray!

Ambulanced to a hospital in another town/city.

Bed fee - OK

Operation - not cheap.

Follow up - this is where the rip-off got into top gear. The doctors may have good training but the breadth of knowledge is questionable. Referred to another doctor - another x-ray & then an ultrasound. Results - OK.

Now, I am undergoing physio - good service.

A broken leg - plate inserted - so far B350k.

[fang37]

Re previous post.

Whilst in hospital, I questioned the quantum of the bill.

A quick B10k came off.

Why?

[lovelomsak]

I will tell you a ri[ off story.

Had bladder problem went to Bumrungrad a few times they told me better to go to urologist nearer my home. So went to see doctor at hospital in Petchebun,just a follow up from BKK and let the doctor know about my problem. Well the doctor did an MRI and couldnot even interpret it. Doctor couldnot see my bladder was more than 4 times normal size,he just pointed at the mRI inage and said I will take xrays can see nothing here.So they have to drain my bladder first..Doctor is shocked when i fill the cathater bag 2 times and still have urine. He takes xrays and says come back next month for more examination. So nothing changed except I realised I had met an inept doctor. I went to pay and was floored when they told me 18,500 baht. I cannot give the name of the hospital but i think it rhymes with Petchebun it is a private one same side of the highway as Big C and Lotus

Bumrungrad which is an international hospital did ultrasounds thorouhly and xrays consultation etc and not one time did the bill even reach 5,000 baht

Edited July 25, 2015 by lovelomsak

[Bardeh]

It's 600 baht, c'mon now. I can so easily imagine the opposite of this post, where someone would complain they were handed medicine without the doctor even telling them what they were given. The consultation with the doctor, no matter how short, is important because he's personally looking at what you're being prescribed and giving the OK for you to take it.

[Jessi]

OMG...stopped reading after the second sentence...all I have seen 600baht- totally rip off...

well... when you translate that into bottles of Chang on the steps of a 7/11 then...

I start already crying for this rip off...

A bit like when Immigration ripped you off for 200B...

[Jessi]

Strewth. Times must be tough

Times are tough, have you read the news lately. Many Thai's are loosing their jobs.

[Sheryl]

Sounds like an extortionate amount to me.. last (private) hospital visit I had was under 300 for a 15 min consultation with a specialist, an xray, analysis of it, and a medical report.

9 US-Dollars for a consultation, an x-ray with most probably the analysis of a radiologist? please, gimme a break!

Agree, I have never heard of such low price, but possibly this was soem small upcountry hospital.

In Bangkok private hospitals, consultations with specialists range from 600 - 2000 depending on the hospital and the doctor. Xrays 500-1000 (per film,so if multiple views then that much per film).

[fang37]

Thailand is advertised as providing quality healthcare at very affordable prices.

Tell us another one (joke).

[Sheryl]

As to the original OP - sounds like some miscommunication to me, especially since when you went back you saw a different doctor.

There are 2 ways of handling the situation of giving patient test results, diagnosis and advice as to treatment:

(1) a follow up appointment for which there is usually a normal consultation fee but if all tests were negative and it's a simple "You're fine, no treatment needed" then doctors may, at their own discretion, waive the charge (not going to happen if you see a different doctor, though. They are not on salary in private hospitals. They work as private contractors and consultation fee goes directly to them. So while the first doctor has already gotten a fee from you and might feel no need to charge another one, a second individual has been paid nothing by you).

(2) By phone or email - Commonly done for simple negative findings requiring no treatment if the patient so arranged at the prior visit. Otherwsie, for positive findings that do require treatment, usually done only when there is a distance barrier to the patient's coming back in, or the original consultation had already included such a thorough discussion of possible diagnoses and treatment, and the matter is simple enough, that there is no real need for much more explanation.

Having someone "come in to just to pick up a prescription" is not something I have ever encountered in Thailand, given that almost all meds do not require one (and the few that do, as serious enough that you would need to talk to the doctor). Most private hospital adminiustrative and billing processes are not capable of issuing meds without also recording a consultation visit. Normally when the report by phone/email option is used, any needed meds would be told to the patient at that time and the patient just buy them outside the hospital. (I personally do this all the time as it's a 3 hour drive for me to come in for a repeat visit. I explain this clearly at the time of the initial visit. Doctors may also be more inclined to agree to this approach with me than they would with a lay person).

In OP's case I think one of 2 things happened - which I would be better able to guess if I knew what the diagnosis and treatment in question are.

Possibility #1: It was always the doctor's intention to have him come back so that the results and needed treatment could be explained. (As mentioned, this is the usual approach unless everything comes back negative) .The nurse took it on herself to give an explanation of the test results, possibly in order to allay anxiety or to ensure the patient understood the importance of coming in. Or perhaps in the phone conversation the patient asked some questions that led her too. Doctor did not know nurse had already explained matter and had not delegated this function to her.

Possibility #2: The possible diagnoses and treatments had already been adequately discussed before hand and it was the doctor's intention to have the nurse call and give you the results and treatment to save you the need for a return visit. If this were the case then unless the drugs in questions are controlled substances the nurse should also have told you what meds to take as most can be bought OTC. Nurse messed up in relaying the information and gave you an appointment. At which point a totally different doctor was on duty and had no idea that you had already had it all explained to you. Plus in any event, with a different doctor there is almost always going to be a fee, for reasons explained above.

In either case I really wouldn't get worked up about it. In a future situation of this sort, ask if they can just tell you what meds to take over the phone so you can buy them yourself and avoid having to come back in. Because very few meds require a prescription here, and for the hospital pharmacy to issue you meds there has to be a consultation recorded for that visit. (Also, hospital pharmacy mark-ups are huge. Never use hospital pharmacies unless you require a controlled substance).

[Tchooptip]

OMG...stopped reading after the second sentence...all I have seen 600baht- totally rip off...

well... when you translate that into bottles of Chang on the steps of a 7/11 then...

Sometime a single post on ThaiVisa expanded my field of view, thank you

[Asheron]

It's 600 baht, c'mon now. I can so easily imagine the opposite of this post, where someone would complain they were handed medicine without the doctor even telling them what they were given. The consultation with the doctor, no matter how short, is important because he's personally looking at what you're being prescribed and giving the OK for you to take it.

You mean the same doctors that give antibiotics against common cold? My experience with swwdish doctors are that the they triple check that the medicine they are about to give to you are really the correct medicine by reading online AND book in their office. My experience with thai doctors "ohh you hab sick? heee theek touuu everli dhay" and hands me a bad of antibiotics.

[ravip]

Do Doctors in your home country give consultations for free?

And ALL this for 600 THB

[ravip]

To be honest... the hospitals love to add on charges wherever possible...

In the example the Op provided I don't see why it was necessary to see the Dr again, just for the Dr to tell him... ok take this medicine.

So Doctors are not really necessary?

Taking meds from the pharmacists would save a lot of money?

Edit

And again, all this for 600THB

Edited August 15, 2015 by ravip

[Sheryl]

It's 600 baht, c'mon now. I can so easily imagine the opposite of this post, where someone would complain they were handed medicine without the doctor even telling them what they were given. The consultation with the doctor, no matter how short, is important because he's personally looking at what you're being prescribed and giving the OK for you to take it.

You mean the same doctors that give antibiotics against common cold? My experience with swwdish doctors are that the they triple check that the medicine they are about to give to you are really the correct medicine by reading online AND book in their office. My experience with thai doctors "ohh you hab sick? heee theek touuu everli dhay" and hands me a bad of antibiotics.

Sounds like you aren't choosing your doctors with care.

It is possible to find excellent, western-trained Thai doctors here. (Not that only those trained in the west are good, but it's a favorable sign. And it also means their English will be fluent and they will be socialized to Westerners' expectations, which are in fact very different from that of most Thais). It is also possible to find some very mediocre doctors, especially among GPs.

[cumgranosalum]

Antibiotics are far too readily available in Thailand..... The prospect of resistant bacteria is fast becoming a reality because of this...... So at least in one sense it is good to see a doctor administering them instead of the usual wreckless self administration and undiagnosed administration by pharmacists.

[tumama]

Antibiotics are far too readily available in Thailand..... The prospect of resistant bacteria is fast becoming a reality because of this...... So at least in one sense it is good to see a doctor administering them instead of the usual wreckless self administration and undiagnosed administration by pharmacists.

I totally agree with that. The only problem is that doctors are a part of the problem. So many times I went to the doctor and I tried to argue with them not wanting antibiotics, and in the end I just stopped arguing and took their antibiotic prescription and threw it away. And yeah, despite their "you might die" talk, I am still here.

[jerojero]

Cheap Charlie Op who clearly thinks a country like Thailand should provide 1st world services at 3rd world prices. Go back from whence you came....clearly you can pay less elsewhere countries and not feel ripped off.

[slerickson]

K

[cumgranosalum]

Antibiotics are far too readily available in Thailand..... The prospect of resistant bacteria is fast becoming a reality because of this...... So at least in one sense it is good to see a doctor administering them instead of the usual wreckless self administration and undiagnosed administration by pharmacists.

I totally agree with that. The only problem is that doctors are a part of the problem. So many times I went to the doctor and I tried to argue with them not wanting antibiotics, and in the end I just stopped arguing and took their antibiotic prescription and threw it away. And yeah, despite their "you might die" talk, I am still here.

Agreed - this however underlines a dreadful situation in the Thai healthcare system.......these doctors are essentially either uneducated on the matters of antibiotics or trying to make extra cash by flogging them, which in turn means they are lacking in ethics.

This is the problem with the WHOLE Thai healthcare system; it is riddled with poorly trained staff, including doctors who don't appear to know the difference between an antibiotic and an aspirin.

Anyone who uses the Thai healthcare system does so at their own peril....I would suggest that unless it is absolutely necessary one should avoid it "like the plague" - literally!

Edited August 16, 2015 by cumgranosalum

[fang37]

# 86

All well to criticize but do you have an alternative or a remedy?

Being in Thailand for 13+ years (& being 67yo), I have had a few hospitalizations.

My experiences have not always been # 1 but overall I am satisfied with the Thai medical service.

When I compare them with my native country (Oz), my comparison favors Thailand.

My only whinge is the charge for medication.

[samuibeachcomber]

# 86

All well to criticize but do you have an alternative or a remedy?

Being in Thailand for 13+ years (& being 67yo), I have had a few hospitalizations.

My experiences have not always been # 1 but overall I am satisfied with the Thai medical service.

When I compare them with my native country (Oz), my comparison favors Thailand.

My only whinge is the charge for medication.

As you know you can always refuse the hospital pharmacy if you think the price is too high and you are pretty sure you can buy elsewhere.

included in recent medication given to me were two packs sa ra at 60 baht per strip(711...10 baht each)..i just laughed and politely declined,same for anti biotics,you can get from pharmacy outside of the hospital.

[cumgranosalum]

# 86

All well to criticize but do you have an alternative or a remedy?

Being in Thailand for 13+ years (& being 67yo), I have had a few hospitalizations.

My experiences have not always been # 1 but overall I am satisfied with the Thai medical service.

When I compare them with my native country (Oz), my comparison favors Thailand.

My only whinge is the charge for medication.

As i said - unless YOU HAVE TO, avoid Thai healthcare.....

".I would suggest that unless it is absolutely necessary one should avoid it "like the plague" - literally!"

I'm sorry but the average patient is way too ill informed to make a judgement on how "good" or "satisfactory" their healthcare was.

what they CAN appreciate is that the system is riddled with incompetent, untrained and undertrained staff, often carrying out work they are not qualified to do.

There is not satisfactory independent monitoring and there is not proper comeback for malpractice and negligence.

These you can easily appreciate....the technicalities of healthcare, I think is unlikely.

the average TV member appears to have little or no understanding of basic human physiology and equally little of medical procedures and the accompanying, nursing anti-infection and aftercare methodologies that are standard practice used in hospitals around the world.

Edited August 16, 2015 by cumgranosalum

[silverado]

You were charged, 600 baht ($17) (£11) for a medical test, personal phone call from the hospital, doctor consultation and medication drugs, and this you consider a rip off? Unless you mean, charged 600 baht just for the doctor consultation? Otherwise; are you for real?

When you first had the test, a doctor had to analyse the results and prescribe the appropriate treatments prior to your consultation.

Out of interest, how mush would you expect to pay for this medical care?

No, I already paid nearly 3000 baht for the doctors consultation, tests, etc at my last visit. It is their choice to phone me - not my request. I was simply noting that today, when all I needed was the prescription as a result of the tests (already paid for) that I considered the additional doctor's consultation and fee unnecessary. BTW, it wasn't even my doctor that saw me - but another one in the clinic that I've never laid eyes on before.

In my home country, we pay 50 euro to see the doctor. Tests are free and when the results are back, if you only need medication you don't see the doctor, but just pick up the prescription. That is why I was surprised by today's events.

If the Doctor is prescribing medication then IMHO he has an obligation to discuss it with the patient regardless of what the nurse has already told you. Even if he is prescribing an every day medication he should be explaining to you why he is doing so and giving you an opportinity to ask any questions.

I'm nor so sure about the cost though. I went to the local hospital up country with a sore elbow. Had a consultation with the Doctor and was presribed 3 different meds. Anti inflammatory, paracetamol and some alternative nonsense that has never been scientifically proved to work. In all I was charge 120 bhat. I was very happy and pleasantly surprised with the service. The doc was also a fine looking lady who spoke great English which was a bonus

Had a consultation with the Doctor and was presribed 3 different meds. Anti inflammatory, paracetamol and some alternative nonsense that has never been scientifically proved to work. In all I was charge 120 bhat.

Please feel free to tell us of such a hospital where for 120 baht you had a consulatation with a doctor and a bag of drugs for 120 baht.

Private or gov't?

i went 2/3 times in gov hospital , for the same (doctor consultation and a few medicine) : each time the same rate 120/130 baths...