Best Place to get X-Rays in Bangkok

[donaldinho9]

Hi Everyone,

Just wondering where in Bangkok I should go to get an X-Ray done on my knee?

I do not have insurance, so looking to get it done for as low a cost as possible!

Many thanks!

[sunnyjim5]

The cheapest place to go would be one of the Thai government hospitals.

You will need a Thai speaker to assist with the required registration etc.

[Sheryl]

Moved to health forum.

Any hospital can do an Xray and outside of the really top priced places, X rays are not expensive.

But they are also only as useful as the skill of the doctor examining the film. Indeed, sometimes the need for an xray can be ruled out just based on history and physical exam.

So either way what you need is not an Xray but a good ortho...who will order an Xray if indicated.

The lowest cost possible is, as indicated above, a government hospital but waits will be long and might even take more than 1 day as you have to register first (waiting in line to do so) then be screened by an intern who may then refer you to an ortho whom you then have to wait to see, possibly the appointment will not even be on that day,. And all the signs, forms etc will be in Thai only. The nurses and admin staff will not speak English and the doctors may or may not speak much, though most will speak at least a little.

If you are willing to pay say up to about 2,000 baht (all in - doctor fee plus films) , you can go to one of the less expensive private hospitals, with immediate direct appointment with an ortho and get it all done within an hour or two.

Suggest St Louis Hospital on Sathorn and one of these docs, all of whom trained in Western countries and thus speak flent English

Dr. Gof Tantisricharoenkul (Mondays 4 - 8 PM)

Dr. Sarunpong Yamaphai (Mondays through Saturdays, from early morning till about 2:30 PM)

Dr. Prachan Banlhasuek (Thursday mornings only)

Assoc. Prof. Pongsak Yuktanandana (Sunday and Thursday evenings)

No appointment needed. register on the ground floor and tell them who you want to see. Cost for the doctor will be around 700 baht give or take, Xray if indicated maybe 1,000 or less. Small charge for the hospital itself (usually labeled "nursing fee" but that's what it is). Do not buy medications from the hospital pharmacy,there is a mark-up -- note what they are and buy them at an outside pharmacy. When you do, ask for a locally made generic equivalent if available, often is.

[donaldinho9]

Thanks for your quick feedback! I just saw there is a BASEM clinic at the Bangkok Hospital. Has anyone been, or heard about it?

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[Thainess]

"I do not have insurance" *facepalm*.... So what are you doing living in a 3rd World country like Thailand WITHOUT INSURANCE?

[donaldinho9]

I came over here with it, but stayed longer than I thought and now it's run out. I'm here to play football. Once I sign for a team everything's taken care of. Thanks for your helpful message @Thainess...

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[Sheryl]

Thanks for your quick feedback! I just saw there is a BASEM clinic at the Bangkok Hospital. Has anyone been, or heard about it?

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There are ortho clinics with docs trained in sports medicine in all the hospitals. The doctors mentioned above are all specialists in sports medicine.

Bangkok Hospital is significantly more expensive than St Louis.

Should your problem turn out to be anything very complicated or you want an expert second opinion, Dr. Panya at Bumrungrad is the foremost knee specialist in Thailand. Consultation alone will run close to 2,000 baht so bring all Xrays along with you in hopes of not needing to repeat them. Only if necessary - if this is a simple problem (e.g. sprain tendonitis etc) will not be necessary. But good to have as a back up plan.

It is indeed very, very unsafe/unwise to be here uninsured. Outpatient cvare is not the problem but if you have a major accident or illness requiring hospitalization you could face bills in the millions of baht.

[donaldinho9]

Thank you very much Sheryl! Appreciate your help!!

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[SantiSuk]

Dunno whether it's the same in Bangkok but queues at hospitals and all-day clinics in Isaan are entirely a pre-2pm thing. Seems to me like 90% of isaanites go early in the morning and sit for hours. By 3pm the staff are sat twiddling their thumbs.

I agree with Sheryl about the orthopaedic consultant. I had a pain in my hip/groin that gave me periods of almost being unable to walk at times over a 6 month period. Yes - I'l always optimistic that pains will go away, and usually right! Finally got around to consulting (Ubon Ratchatani - new private hospital, but consultant came from the city's main allied public hospital; was told that she was the best in town and so would have to wait 10 days). Came out with a 2 week supply of some muscle relaxant pills (and the obligatory painkillers of course) plus instruction to come back in for scans if that didn't work.

I put the paracetemol/ibuprofen/omeprazole in the family medical box and took the relaxant (tolperisone hydrochloride) for 3 days. Pain miraculously disappeared and has not re-emerged in 9 months. Best 500 baht (for about 15 minutes of an excellent specialist's time - another 500 for the various pills) I ever spent in a private hospital.

Would have been 200 baht not 1,000 if I'd gone to the public hospital and taken pot-luck on who saw me and probably 500 if I had known about her and had found her own private clinic. Seems like all leading consultants have a tri-part approach to their consulting delivery.

Edited March 8, 2016 by SantiSuk