(Relatively) Inexpensive hand surgery options in Bangkok?

[ahrun]

Hi all,

I'm an expat in China. I severed the tendon in one of my fingers last year. It was reattached, but now I probably need a procedure to get scar tissue removed from the inside of the finger, since it's blocking movement. I decided to take advantage of an upcoming vacation to Thailand to look into surgery here, since Chinese hospitals are often not very good and can be quite expensive when it comes to procedures.

Having searched through the forums, I saw some recommended doctors (like Dr. Panupan), but they seem out of my price range, with surgery running up to 200,000 baht (more than double what it would cost me in China).

Are there any decent but more affordable hospitals? I obviously want good quality and safe medical care, but it's not necessary for me to be seen by one of the top global specialists in the field, just a doctor who knows what she/he is doing.

Thanks!

[Sheryl]

Did you actually consult Dr. Panupan and get this quote of 200,000 baht for this procedure? As it seems quite high. The private hospital Dr. Paniupan is at (Phayathai) is already towards the lower price range of private hospitals in Thailand.

He is also at Siriraj Hospital, a government hospital, which has a very good microsurgery team. Of course if treated at a government hospital, there will be a lot of red tape and delays and most of the hands on care will be by residents in training, but the cost will be much less. You'll need more time though and might not be able to get it done in one trip.

[ahrun]

I contacted Chaophya, where he also has hours. The international marketing department there told me based on a previous operation it would be 165,000 to 185,000.

[Sheryl]

1. Hospital international marketing departments are best avoided, they will quote inflated prices...which you may then not be able to escape. I would also not put much credence in their understanding of what the surgery in question actually is/involves.

2. Phyathai is likely to cost less and also has a more convenient location. I suggest you see Dr. Panupan at Phyathai. If he recommends surgery and the cost as quoted there (avoid international dept) is still too high for you, ask him about getting it done at Siriraj instead, but as I mentioned being a public hospital there may be a wait list and will certainly be a lot if initial time consuming procedures and formalities.

Private hospitals in Thailand have become significantly more expensive in recent years, but even so the price you were quoted seems off to me. Unless I am seriously misunderstanding the procedure involved, should be outpatient and under local anesthesia and not cost more than 50,000 baht.

[ahrun]

That's what I thought too. I was quite surprised to see how high quotes from the various international hospitals were, but I guess that might be because I was just going through their international marketers rather than simply booking appointments with the doctors and seeing what their estimates were. I was also considering St. Louis as a cheaper alternative, but have heard mixed things about it.

[Sheryl]

You will hear mixed reports about all hospitals as it is the doctor that matters, not the hospital, and there are not-so-good doctors to be found everywhere.

In Thai private hospitals the doctors are independent contractors, not hospital employees, and they practice as they see fit, with wide differences from one to the other, so selection of hospital doesn't really mean as much as one might expect it to...especially for something that will be outpatient.

As a hospital, St Louis is fine. I can't give a first (or even second) hand recommendation for any of the docs there who list hand surgery as a specialty but among them, Dr. Adisak Sungpet seems the best qualified. So perhaps add him to your list and see both him and Dr. Panupan at Phyathai. Aside from letting you compare cost this also gives you 2 opinions as to what is needed.

All other things being the same, surgery at St Louis will likely cost a little less than at Phyathai. Note that Dr. Adisak is only at St Louis on Mondays from 4-8 PM. The rest of the time he is at Ramatibhodi Hospital, a government hospital. (Ramathibodhi does have a private channel but it is ridicously expensive with two tier- pricing for foreigners).

[wpcoe]

... and there are not-so-good doctors to be found everywhere.

Reminds me of the old saying: "Remember that 50% of all [doctors / lawyers / teachers / etc] graduated in the bottom half of their class."

[Sheryl]

... and there are not-so-good doctors to be found everywhere.

Reminds me of the old saying: "Remember that 50% of all [doctors / lawyers / teachers / etc] graduated in the bottom half of their class."

And the one at the very bottom of the class gets the same medical degree as the one at the top......