Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Think of a numer and treble it!

[twix38]

I was prescribed Mieact antibiotics at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, Pattaya after seeing the Doctor.

Total bill was 4,360 Baht and asked to see the breakdown.

It's a bit high for a week's worth (28) of anti-biotics and seeing the Doctor. Well, the antibiotic charge came in at 3,360 Baht!

Knowing what a rip-off their pharmacy prices are and ow they like to pad the bill, I paid the Nursing fee, medical fee and Doctor's fee and said I would get the Anti-biotics outside.

Right next to the Hospital (on Sukhumvit) is a branch of Fascino pharmacy and there the same drugs were 400 Baht for a strip of 10, so got 30 for 1,200 and they gave me a small discount, so I paid 1,140 Baht for 30.

How do Bangkok Pattaya get away with charging 3 times the price that an outside pharmacy charges and let's not forget Fascino also make enough profit to sell at that price already, so it is just absolute daylight robbery by Bangkok Pattaya to their patients who in the main will often know no better and as a captive customer totally get ripped-off on a regular basis!!

Edited November 4, 2015 by twix38

[inbangkok]

You most likely got a generic from the pharmacy. The big hospitals generally carry brand name drugs. They are not getting away with anything and it is not daylight robbery. International hospitals are incredibly expensive to maintain. You are paying a premium for service as well. Your other option is going to a government hospital, waiting 3 hours to see a Dr. and another hour for the medication. Everyone knows the international hospitals here are on the expensive side, yet there are constantly threads of people going for care and then complaining about the cost. You do not have to go to BKK Hospital, or any of the other big name ones next time you are sick. It is your choice.

[lopburi3]

Private hospitals will always be a much higher price than a normal pharmacy as it helps to pay the bills and they do not have the high profit cosmetics of such stores to make up the difference - but it is not all profit - they will be staffed with registered pharmacists and have 24 hour airconditioned storage as well as making checks for counter reactions with other drugs you are on record as taking as well as having less popular drugs available without the need to order.

[h90]

Private hospitals will always be a much higher price than a normal pharmacy as it helps to pay the bills and they do not have the high profit cosmetics of such stores to make up the difference - but it is not all profit - they will be staffed with registered pharmacists and have 24 hour airconditioned storage as well as making checks for counter reactions with other drugs you are on record as taking as well as having less popular drugs available without the need to order.

Sure that would make a surcharge of 30-50% reasonable.

Maybe someone can argue a 100% but not a 300%

[inbangkok]

Private hospitals will always be a much higher price than a normal pharmacy as it helps to pay the bills and they do not have the high profit cosmetics of such stores to make up the difference - but it is not all profit - they will be staffed with registered pharmacists and have 24 hour airconditioned storage as well as making checks for counter reactions with other drugs you are on record as taking as well as having less popular drugs available without the need to order.

Sure that would make a surcharge of 30-50% reasonable.

Maybe someone can argue a 100% but not a 300%

It is most likely not the same brand of medicine. The one from the pharmacy is almost certainly a generic. Therefore, you cannot compare the two. Brand name medicine in an outside pharmacy is very expensive as well.

[WitawatWatawit]

You most likely got a generic from the pharmacy. The big hospitals generally carry brand name drugs. They are not getting away with anything and it is not daylight robbery. International hospitals are incredibly expensive to maintain. You are paying a premium for service as well. Your other option is going to a government hospital, waiting 3 hours to see a Dr. and another hour for the medication. Everyone knows the international hospitals here are on the expensive side, yet there are constantly threads of people going for care and then complaining about the cost. You do not have to go to BKK Hospital, or any of the other big name ones next time you are sick. It is your choice.

What rot. First, there are a lot of people who DON'T know the alternatives, or DON'T have the means to search for alternatives, and they are susceptible and at the mercy of greedy places like BPH, which has a well established reputation for overcharging. Do you not remember that the complaints of overcharging came so fast and furious that BPH put out a statement that it was reviewing its methods of billing? With an eye to being fair to foreign customers? That was a pretty extraordinary thing to do and clearly indicated they were ripping people off, and knew it. Well, it appears the greedy leopard hasn't changed its spots after all.

Also, is 400 baht for a foil of 10 tablets the cost of generic antibiotics? Doesn't sound like it to me, although I could be wrong.

PS: They charged me 2,300 baht to have my ears cleaned out - double what it would have cost me back home or in Australia at a GP. That's greedy.

[Paul888]

Private hospitals are businesses with every constituent part of the process costed, marked up and charged on.

I always send the bill back to be itemized because that's pretty much the only thing that isn't charged for and it feels like a 'win'

[andre47]

The Bangkok hospital charges similar prices what I have to pay in German hospitals. If I compare the costs here in Thailand with Germany I think that they make a very good profit here in Thailand.

It is easy to say: Stay away from them!, but if you can you should avoid their services.

[h90]

Private hospitals will always be a much higher price than a normal pharmacy as it helps to pay the bills and they do not have the high profit cosmetics of such stores to make up the difference - but it is not all profit - they will be staffed with registered pharmacists and have 24 hour airconditioned storage as well as making checks for counter reactions with other drugs you are on record as taking as well as having less popular drugs available without the need to order.

Sure that would make a surcharge of 30-50% reasonable.

Maybe someone can argue a 100% but not a 300%

It is most likely not the same brand of medicine. The one from the pharmacy is almost certainly a generic. Therefore, you cannot compare the two. Brand name medicine in an outside pharmacy is very expensive as well.

Not the same brand, but the same medicine. The brand name doesn't bring any advantage to the customer. Beside there were also reports with about the same price difference and the confirmed same brand of medicine.

[h90]

Private hospitals are businesses with every constituent part of the process costed, marked up and charged on.

I always send the bill back to be itemized because that's pretty much the only thing that isn't charged for and it feels like a 'win'

Next time you'll find an "itemizing fee: 150 Baht" afterwards on your bill Can't be that they have something they don't charge for...

[Sheryl]

It is entirely possible that it was the exact same brand and drug.

It is well known that private hospitals in Thailand charge many times the actual retail price for medications, and there has been recent discussion of this in the press.

The government is considering measures to regulate this.

In the interim one should indeed never buy medications at a hospital pharmacy unless it is a controlled substance not available over the counter.

[inbangkok]

Private hospitals will always be a much higher price than a normal pharmacy as it helps to pay the bills and they do not have the high profit cosmetics of such stores to make up the difference - but it is not all profit - they will be staffed with registered pharmacists and have 24 hour airconditioned storage as well as making checks for counter reactions with other drugs you are on record as taking as well as having less popular drugs available without the need to order.

Sure that would make a surcharge of 30-50% reasonable.

Maybe someone can argue a 100% but not a 300%

It is most likely not the same brand of medicine. The one from the pharmacy is almost certainly a generic. Therefore, you cannot compare the two. Brand name medicine in an outside pharmacy is very expensive as well.

Not the same brand, but the same medicine. The brand name doesn't bring any advantage to the customer. Beside there were also reports with about the same price difference and the confirmed same brand of medicine.

I never said it did. I am perfectly aware generics work the same. But my point remains. You cannot claim it is a 300 percent markup if it is a generic vs. a brand name.

[lopburi3]

As for itemized bills have always been able to obtain without charge if you ask for them. They have them as are required for insurance billing.

Edit: most will not understand "itemized" but will know "detail".

[inbangkok]

It is entirely possible that it was the exact same brand and drug.

It is well known that private hospitals in Thailand charge many times the actual retail price for medications, and there has been recent discussion of this in the press.

The government is considering measures to regulate this.

In the interim one should indeed never buy medications at a hospital pharmacy unless it is a controlled substance not available over the counter.

Yes, I have read this. And is is pointlessly stupid. Hospitals will be forced to sell medication at a lower price and simply bump up the cost of other services to make up for the loss.

[h90]

It is entirely possible that it was the exact same brand and drug.

It is well known that private hospitals in Thailand charge many times the actual retail price for medications, and there has been recent discussion of this in the press.

The government is considering measures to regulate this.

In the interim one should indeed never buy medications at a hospital pharmacy unless it is a controlled substance not available over the counter.

Yes, I have read this. And is is pointlessly stupid. Hospitals will be forced to sell medication at a lower price and simply bump up the cost of other services to make up for the loss.

Actually many countries have laws that makes profiteering illegal....

It is not the situation that the private hospitals are on the brink of bankruptcy, just continuing because they want to help the people. In fact they make a very very healthy profit.

We could discuss if it is moral OK to make a huge profit of sick people who worry for their life and health.....But they keep the other services lower as customer may compare them and may choose a cheaper hospital, but you can't compare the price for all the medicine so they can make money there without being to obvious (well at least till they overdo it).

[h90]

Sure that would make a surcharge of 30-50% reasonable.

Maybe someone can argue a 100% but not a 300%

It is most likely not the same brand of medicine. The one from the pharmacy is almost certainly a generic. Therefore, you cannot compare the two. Brand name medicine in an outside pharmacy is very expensive as well.

Not the same brand, but the same medicine. The brand name doesn't bring any advantage to the customer. Beside there were also reports with about the same price difference and the confirmed same brand of medicine.

I never said it did. I am perfectly aware generics work the same. But my point remains. You cannot claim it is a 300 percent markup if it is a generic vs. a brand name.

it is still the same 300 % markup, as enduser I really don't care in whose pocket the cash goes (hospital/pharma company), if the hospital picks the most expensive purchase price for any reason, than this is their problem.

Beside a chain of hospitals for sure gets a total different purchase price than Mr. Somchais Pharmacy, as well they can do imports themself, so I wouldn't be surprised if the over all profit is over 1000%

[Suradit69]

Knowing what a rip-off their pharmacy prices are and ow they like to pad the bill, I paid the Nursing fee, medical fee and Doctor's fee and said I would get the Anti-biotics outside.

If you knew the pharmacy prices at the hospital were high, as we all do, why didn't you ask the doctor for a prescription and tell him you'd buy the meds elsewhere? I always do and it isn't a problem, although as someone else said, if you seek out the cheapest price elsewhere you may end up with a generic or something produced in Bangladesh which may or may not be the same quality.

Most hospitals charge more for meds because they usually maintain a larger inventory of drugs and those dispensing them are properly qualified. There are a few drugs that can only be dispensed by a hospital.

How do Bangkok Pattaya get away with charging 3 times the price that an outside pharmacy ...

They don't "get away with it" unless you choose to buy them there. They don't force you to do it any more than hotels force you to buy drinks from a mini-fridge in the room at 2 or 3 times what they'd cost at a 7-Eleven.

Edited November 4, 2015 by Suradit69

[gamini]

The private hospitals in this country are businesses and they try to make a profit. The specialists charge very little, so they make a profit on the medicine that they sell. they are still a fraction of what they cost in the US. You don't have to buy your medicine from the hospital. You talk about the markup on the cost. You probably don't realise that the medicine actually costs only a few cents to manufacture so the real markup is by the manufacturer, it is not so much the pharmacies or the hospitals who have to buy the medicine from the manufacturer

[stoli]

Pattaya City Hospital charged me 500 baht to check my height and weight before I could see the doctor at 4:30pm. They then told me the doctor went home, and I would have to come back the next day to see the doctor at 9am. When I went back the next morning they insisted on checking my height and weight again for 500 baht. As if I had grown an inch, and added 5 pounds overnight......

[h90]

Pattaya City Hospital charged me 500 baht to check my height and weight before I could see the doctor at 4:30pm. They then told me the doctor went home, and I would have to come back the next day to see the doctor at 9am. When I went back the next morning they insisted on checking my height and weight again for 500 baht. As if I had grown an inch, and added 5 pounds overnight......

And they do it if you come for the removal of wart on the nose where it is complete irrelevant how tall you are.

Falls into category "fraud". Just as some try to hook up everyone on an infusion without reason.

[lopburi3]

These are normally checked along with blood pressure at any hospital or clinic as is important information for doctor.

[h90]

These are normally checked along with blood pressure at any hospital or clinic as is important information for doctor.

Both no!

In Austria I was never checked for height or weight at any doctor or hospital and Austria isn't known for its bad hospitals.

So sure not ANY clinic and hospital.

For checking your eyes, ears, warts, teeth it is complete irrelevant how tall and heavy you are, maybe with the exception of massive overweight, but that the Doc will see anyway as soon as you enter the door.

And charging 500 Baht for it makes me speechless...it is clearly a rip off....there is no way to argue that it isn't.

[lopburi3]

We are talking about Thailand and I have always have had this checked here - doctor wants to know if you have gained or lost weight and height will be taken into account along with weight for medications - it is the basic data doctor works with along with your file. Blood pressure is also normally taken, even at my dentists office - and if flu season, or other virus common, body temperature.

But this does not cost 500 baht at any facility I use - and indeed is not charged beyond the normal nursing care fee, which is also the administrative time,

[jacky54]

what are the chances the OP did not need antibiotics anyway?

[Sheryl]

We are talking about Thailand and I have always have had this checked here - doctor wants to know if you have gained or lost weight and height will be taken into account along with weight for medications - it is the basic data doctor works with along with your file. Blood pressure is also normally taken, even at my dentists office - and if flu season, or other virus common, body temperature.

But this does not cost 500 baht at any facility I use - and indeed is not charged beyond the normal nursing care fee, which is also the administrative time,

I think that is the point of confusion. Private hospitals charge a fee which is often described on the bill as nursing service or something like that. People mistakenly think it is a fee for having had their BP measured or their weight etc. It is not. It is a flat fee for use of the hospital facilities which includes administrative as wrll as nursing staff and their functions, utilities, upkeep of the building and furnishings etc etc. Makes no difference whether you were weighed or not, though most hospitals will routinely do this so that the information is available to the doctor if needed (drug dosage often depends on weight).

The fee for seeing the doctor goes directly to the foctor not the hodpital. In private hospitals doctors work as private contractors not hospital employees.

That said, 500 baht is higher than most places and most hospitals also would not charge in a situation where the patient had to be sent away because the doctor was unavailable.

[dutchisaan]

Maby some posters have to think about getting insurrance.

[twix38]

Let me add some further info - after I got the anti-biotics at Fascino (read my post Suradit69) I actually went back to the pharmacy in the BKK Pattaya Hospital with a cunning plan. First I showed the pharmacist my (Fascino) antibiotics and asked if they were the right ones and as prescribed, to check. She looked and said yes, they were exactly right. Then I said they cost me 1,200 at Fascino and that the BKK Pattaya Hospital charges far too much - a 300% increase. She actually went RED with embarrassment and agreed, so I left it at that.

Did you read that! She had nothing to say to me other than going red and agreeing because she had nowhere else to turn.

Now I have subsequently gone to Queen Sirikit Hospital as I was getting worse not better and I did have to wait a few hours and I was then diagnosed with Prostatitis and told to stop taking those anti-biotics, so even the 1,200 baht at Fascino plus the Hospital's doctor fee, medical fee and nursing fee was a waste of money, but it is only the pharmacy charges I feel are ridiculous in that general fiasco.

That the cost at Queen Sirikit (public Hospital) is much lower at 706 Baht including doctor's fee, urine test and medication is to be expected, but nobody is going to convince me that BKK Pattaya do not rip off patients at their pharmacy and it is not the first time I have bought outside with a massive saving.

To address one other point I have read. It may have been an oversight but on another visit I was prescribed 3 medications all of which were costly and I didn't at that time know or think to refuse and get outside. I checked the bill shocked at the cost and I was able to completely cancel one of the 3 because I already took it daily for another condition! I was not asked or checked before prescribing. I accept that could just have been poor by the individual doctor or an oversight, but what I absolutely refuse to accept is the degree of MASSIVE overcharging that seems to me to be seen as a gift-horse to abuse. It is frankly taking the pi55!!

I can report I finally feel better.

Edited November 6, 2015 by twix38

[Maestro]

If you knew the pharmacy prices at the hospital were high, as we all do, why didn't you ask the doctor for a prescription and tell him you'd buy the meds elsewhere?

I have yet to see to see a prescription, a real prescription, issued by a hospital doctor in Thailand. The best I ever got was slip of blank paper with the name of the medicine written on it. There is no way that a health insurance company would accept this as the basis for a refund of medicines bought at a pharmacy, even with a proper receipt from the pharmacy.

[lopburi3]

Actually my US insurance can and will accept pharmacy detailed receipts (amount of information can vary but basically name/address, medication, amount, and person obtaining) for overseas purchase. The issue with some is they require the medication by US FDA brand name/number - but others accept equivalent names. Most do not require anything if prescribed by hospital facility so in that case for some buying in hospital may be advantageous even if more expensive per pill.

[h90]

Maby some posters have to think about getting insurrance.

an insurrance makes it only more expensive for the patient, or do you think the insurance companies make no profit.