Bangkok Hospitals and charges for foreigners

[Herestaeusall]

First post, and hope is acceptable. Recently visited Bhumrungrad and skin centre where doctor biopsed 5 skin blemishes, and basal cell carcinoma diagnosed and advised to have all areas removed for further checks.Quoting a total of almost US 5,000 all in ( barring further problems ), including a potential small skin graft for the biggest blemish. Been fining it difficult to really get answers ( not fluent thai ), and wondered if anyone has experienced similar problems, possibly used different hospital etc.. Not trying to pick on Bhumrungrad, just wondered about some stories regarding falang as easy prey, or similarly, any great experiences. Thanks...

[onetime]

St. Louis Hospital.

Dr. Whichai.

21st or 22nd floor

speaks English

Non-profit hospital

job done

Edited January 16, 2016 by onetime

[metisdead]

Moving to the Health forum.

[mogandave]

Bummer is about the most expensive, but the pricing is the same for Thais and non Thais, regardless of what some people might tell you. It is pretty nice as well.

I'm surprised your Doctor did not speak English.

[Herestaeusall]

Thanks for the assists. I will try St Louis for a second opinion. The Doctors at B'grad did speak, to a certain level, but more the kind of waffle when I was asking some more specific questions, about the medical and financial side, and have had occasion in past to tell them to take large medicine costs off a final bill.

[Spaniel]

Which doctor did you see at Bumrungrad? Two years I saw Dr. Niyom at the Skin Center for a skin cancer checkup. Total bill was B4,773 which included a couple of lesion removals. Every condition is different so can't base yours on what I paid. $5,000 certainly sounds high and I would definitely get a second opinion. If you do try Dr. Whichai at St. Louis Hospital post again how the appointment went. Another alternative is Dr. Anna Jaruwarn but she is at the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital in Pattaya so that may not work for you.

[lopburi3]

My last wide margin SCC removal from arm at Vejthani Hospital (full OR) by plastic surgeon had a fixed price of 30,000 baht so if all to be done in one visit it does appear very high (normally little or no extra for several).

[Herestaeusall]

Thanks again. I saw a Dr Supanee who did some N2 on 3 spots and a total of 5 small sample cuts, for biopsy. Cost, cBHT 25,000 so far, seems fair.Now, proposal is to remove the affected areas, 4 small ones, maybe currently 4-5mm in size. There is 1 bigger one on back, 15-20mm redness area, that the other Dr, Sukit who is a skin/plastic surgeon, mentioned more than once about a potential skin graft needed. That may be the higher cost reason but again, trying to get some specifics on medical necessity as I also mentioned that it is not the aesthetic side I am concerned about.personal experiences info much appreciated folks, thanks.

[mogandave]

It's pricy by Thai standards, but the service is great if you've got the dough.

[Pib]

You pay dearly for the atmosphere at hospitals such as Bumrungrad.

[mogandave]

Guys got skin cancer, probably not bargain hunting.

Yes, a nice clean hospital with English speaking staff comes at a premium.

Plenty of good hospitals around that are much cheaper than Bummer

[Issangeorge]

Just a comparison, I had a squamous cell carcinoma, removed from my ankle. I needed a skin graft from my stomach, everything done under locals, one night in the hospital, cost ฿6,000. This was in an upcountry government district hospital, overnight in the ward.

[gamini]

Bamrungrad dermatologist overcharged me on one occasion, but they explained to me that are mainly concerned with cosmetic surgery are not really the place to go with non cosmetic skin problems. Otherwise I now use them for most of my medical problems and they are really good and not as expensive as most people think and they charge Thais and foreigners the same.(not like other private hospitals) But I have severe skin problems and I go to Siriraj Hospital which has a very large and well equipped Dermatology department staffed by the best doctors who all seem to have been US trained. They charge about 1/5 that the private hospitals charge. You may have a long wait tor your first appointment, but afterward they give you a date and time for your next appointment at which you do not have to wait long. I go there every few months for basal cell carcinoma treatment.

I suggest you do the same.

[Herestaeusall]

Thanks again folks. Does seem to be a wide difference in costs, and I appreciate all situations are different. The mention of the word cancer even if not a current severe diagnosis and the thoughts go a bit wobbly, any money / savings becomes just a tool, decent treatment at a fair cost is the goal,

[streetlite]

Thanks again. I saw a Dr Supanee who did some N2 on 3 spots and a total of 5 small sample cuts, for biopsy. Cost, cBHT 25,000 so far, seems fair.Now, proposal is to remove the affected areas, 4 small ones, maybe currently 4-5mm in size. There is 1 bigger one on back, 15-20mm redness area, that the other Dr, Sukit who is a skin/plastic surgeon, mentioned more than once about a potential skin graft needed. That may be the higher cost reason but again, trying to get some specifics on medical necessity as I also mentioned that it is not the aesthetic side I am concerned about.personal experiences info much appreciated folks, thanks.

Dr. Supanee is the best. Efficient and professional and thorough.

[PeVee1st]

What is the best hospital for a comprehensive health check up?

Bumrungrad has this service, but it is expensive & the last one I had there, I later doubted the test results.

[ignis]

Everyone's problem is different, myself bad [keep putting if off] had a lump witch over a year got bigger and bigger.... Went 2 months ago to a private Hospital which is not far from where I live [have been on there Computer for some years + been a good few times even having to say overnight in the past]

Dr said need to be removed and biopsied. 1hr later he removed it and with 17 stitches the thing with very long roots was in a jar ready to be sent to BKK. went back for 2 dressings on the 3rd return to Hospital stitches removed and last dressing and biopsy report was back all clear total bill 7,140 baht..

Find it best to ask many people what is the best service in the area for all these sort of things.. Many years ago had no idea [now over 11 years ago] woke up in bad pain, got someone to drive me to the only Hospital I was aware of. Private. Burst appendix, 65,000 baht up front !! 1 hour later 4 am was on the operation table. 3 nights in Hospital [NOT a private ward as that was a lot extra] 3 weeks follow up 3x week dressing each visit at 350 baht was a very expensive back then. and have never visited that Hospital again.

Anything small have no problem going to the Government Hospital, about the most I have ever paid was 202 baht.

[razorramone]

For reference I had the same procedure as you, skin biopsy for skin cancer (punch biopsy). Cost 5,000 baht for one 4mm area + testing at Paolo memorial.

5000 usd seems insane. They must have been quoting in patient treatment of some sort, or unnecessary cosmetic treatment to the blemish areas.

[SantiSuk]

I get the impression that anything to do with skin, because of its association with the beauty game perhaps, and cosmetic dentistry calls up an industry of rich and greedy Thai medics who can charge high prices to Thais let alone falang!

I had a consultation with senior Bumrungrad pulmonologist recently. He got interested in my case and charged only 1000 baht for 2 hours of consultation over 2 days. The X-rays and bloods plus the typical 500 baht add on for nothing specific were not out of wack with private hopitals I have used in Chiang Mai, Ubon and Pattaya. I suspect that Bumrungrad cost has become exaggerated in expats minds here, though I don't discount that major surgery, accommodation and the cosmetic stuff may be a driver for that.

I'm a big fan of Bum when you want to get a same day consultation with a specialist who is going to be well qualified and a fluent English speaker. Anything longer - legged or planned surgery, sure you would be daft not to shop around.

But I would say that, as my darling daughter was conceived there!!

[mogandave]

How can you be sure? Evan if you banged the mother of your child in the hospital can you really nail it (no pun intended) down that close?

[mogandave]

I'm a big fan of Bum...

Do tell...

[lopburi3]

For reference I had the same procedure as you, skin biopsy for skin cancer (punch biopsy). Cost 5,000 baht for one 4mm area + testing at Paolo memorial.

5000 usd seems insane. They must have been quoting in patient treatment of some sort, or unnecessary cosmetic treatment to the blemish areas.

They appear to be talking about the surgical removal by plastic surgeon of 5 areas of skin with one likely requiring a skin graft for the $5k price. Yes it appears to be very high priced: but he has not had this done and it is not what you describe.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

St. Louis Hospital.

Dr. Whichai.

21st or 22nd floor

speaks English

Non-profit hospital

job done

Another dermatologist at St. Louis that I've had good experiences with on a couple visits is Dr. Parichart Chalidapongsee, who's there daily Sunday through Friday. Her medical background includes training at Edinburgh University in the UK.

I don't know if she does surgery. But she did very good for me with some routine skin problems. Easy to talk to, easy to understand, have a lot of respect for her in terms of how she handled my treatment.

I had previously seen Dr. Wichai there a time or two, and came away with a not very good experience.

[Herestaeusall]

Thanks again folks, for the great and informative replies. As various posts say, B'grad does seem a modern, clean, well equipped hospital with good people. Might have to go back to Bonnie Scotland soon 'cos of crap offshore situation and apart from some NHS 'stories', will miss those smiley wee nurses........

I know there's a lot of apples and oranges to consider, but I personally don't like the ( my perception, but through personal and friends' experiences ) padding of bills and lack of clear written reports or communications.They probably could have told me I needed immediate 2 million Baht surgery and I would have sold my nieces !

Joking apart, it did set my mind off, just hearing the 'c' word, but, anyway, without immediate doom prescribed,.....

I did visit St Louis this afternoon, missed Dr Parichat, saw Dr Whichai briefly, who advised to talk with surgeon Dr Suthep. A decent chat medically, and from the same info to work with, made an appointment, and the estimated costs of this stage sound a lot better.

Hopefully no posts of someone who saw Dr Suthep and is now missing the wrong ear !

[mogandave]

How old are the nieces? (just kidding)

[wpcoe]

There are threads here singing the praise of Dr.Anna at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, about 1.5 hours from Bangkok.

I just had a basal cell carcinoma excised by her from my forearm this past week, and the total cost was ~B15,000, or about US$415. Including the time waiting for the operating room, I was in and out in about 1.5 hours, so you could return to Bangkok the same day.

Dr.Anna speaks fluent English and specializes in skin cancers.

[Herestaeusall]

Thanks for that post. I had picked up on that name, and would have been my next call actually. Glad you got a job well done, cheers...

[JMWPACIFIC]

If my experience at Bangkok Pattaya Hosp. holds true at B'Grad, there's the Thai price, the resident expat price and the tourist price.

[Herestaeusall]

Greetings all, and I wanted to post an update, for info and thanks to all the folks who had good input. Overall differences in my case between hospitals and treatment advice and costs were quite different. B'grad quotes totaled circa $5k, and going over these, almost $3.5k would have been for a separate day to excise the largest affected area and perform a skin graft. ( The St Louis hospital didn't feel separate days or graft were medically required,but that is of course anyone's choice, especially if worried about scarring ). Stick a few hundred on for general nicer / better facilities, English skills etc at B'Grad and the pieces come together. I'll never know if future events will determine if my choices were correct, but overall am happy with them.

Likely it was sunshine that affected me, so as we know, be careful in the sun, especially fellow Jockinese who go from a kind of blue tinged skin, to white to red to purple then peel !

Hope everyone has at least one great moment today...

[Sheryl]

If my experience at Bangkok Pattaya Hosp. holds true at B'Grad, there's the Thai price, the resident expat price and the tourist price.

Same (very high) pricing for all at Bumrungrad.

Their heavy utilization by wealthy middle easterners may explain why their charges have risen so high. They have a clientele that can readily afford it.

Personally I utilize them only when I want care form a specific doctor who is not provately accessible elsewhere. Which does happen.