Unbelievable expensive!

[Badrabbit]

Friend has been in Phuket International hospital for 2 days and 1 night, just had a bill for 31k, 4100 bht to see the doctor for less than a couple of minutes, nothing major just some tests, antibiotic and drip, can not believe this country sometimes, he is in shock over the bill! I have insurance here but dreading the day I might be at the mercy of the greed here!

Friend has Social, very bad experience at mission forced him to go to international hospital!

Edited March 16, 2016 by Badrabbit

[thaiduncankk]

It has been explained here, so many times, how extortionate the private hospitals are here.

I do not see how he was forced to go to an international hospital ?

I had 7 days and nights in a government hospital last year, everything, including acceptable meals was 4,800 baht.

That also included take home medication.

[Badrabbit]

It has been explained here, so many times, how extortionate the private hospitals are here.

I do not see how he was forced to go to an international hospital ?

I had 7 days and nights in a government hospital last year, everything, including acceptable meals was 4,800 baht.

That also included take home medication.

He was forced because mission caused infection from the tubes(had op on back) and gave him the wrong treatment for the infection, international stated " you are very lucky as this could have been very serious" that's the story!

I've told him " don't get ill again"

Edited March 16, 2016 by Badrabbit

[sunnyjim5]

Unless a fully itemised bill can be scanned and posted it is not possible to determine or comment on whether the bill was "expensive" or not.

[thaiduncankk]

Surely the infection could not have been that bad if he only needed 1 night hospitalization ?

[Badrabbit]

Unless a fully itemised bill can be scanned and posted it is not possible to determine or comment on whether the bill was "expensive" or not.

He has a bill but I have not seen it, I think 4100bht to see a doctor can definitely be classed as expensive!

[thaiduncankk]

Unless a fully itemised bill can be scanned and posted it is not possible to determine or comment on whether the bill was "expensive" or not.

You obviously have no experience of hospitals here.

Itemised bill or not, that is way over the real price.

[Badrabbit]

Surely the infection could not have been that bad if he only needed 1 night hospitalization ?

He got the infection following the operation, he went back to mission 3 times they still could not fix the problem, it came to a point where he was very poorly hence going to private hospital!

[Badrabbit]

Unless a fully itemised bill can be scanned and posted it is not possible to determine or comment on whether the bill was "expensive" or not.

You obviously have no experience of hospitals here.

Itemised bill or not, that is way over the real price.

I have no experience of hospitals here in this way, so far I have been problem free!

The bill has been paid and he is on the mend.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Badrabbit

[thaiduncankk]

My point is, he could not have been that poorly to be let home after 1 night ?

Infections do not clear overnight.

Edited March 16, 2016 by thaiduncankk

[sunnyjim5]

Unless a fully itemised bill can be scanned and posted it is not possible to determine or comment on whether the bill was "expensive" or not.

You obviously have no experience of hospitals here.

Itemised bill or not, that is way over the real price.

What should the "real price" be and what costs are you basing the "real price" on ?

[Badrabbit]

My point is, he could not have been that poorly to be let home after 1 night ?

Infections do not clear overnight.

As stated he has been in 2 days 1 night, the medicine he was given at private hospital had immediate effect, sorry this is all 2nd hand.

[thaiduncankk]

Unless a fully itemised bill can be scanned and posted it is not possible to determine or comment on whether the bill was "expensive" or not.

You obviously have no experience of hospitals here.

Itemised bill or not, that is way over the real price.

What should the "real price" be and what costs are you basing the "real price" on ?

I am not on here to argue with someone who posts on every topic, not through experience, but posting for postings sake.

He was in for medication only, no operation etc., it should not have been that much.

[Badrabbit]

Unless a fully itemised bill can be scanned and posted it is not possible to determine or comment on whether the bill was "expensive" or not.

You obviously have no experience of hospitals here.

Itemised bill or not, that is way over the real price.

What should the "real price" be and what costs are you basing the "real price" on ?

I am not on here to argue with someone who posts on every topic, not through experience, but posting for postings sake.

He was in for medication only, no operation etc., it should not have been that much.

Should not have been that much but it was!

I'll get to see the bill on Friday and decide myself if it is way over the top.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Badrabbit

[sinbin]

I had 7 days and nights in a government hospital last year, everything, including acceptable meals was 4,800 baht.

Obviously not in a private room.

[Badrabbit]

I had 7 days and nights in a government hospital last year, everything, including acceptable meals was 4,800 baht.

Obviously not in a private room.

That's very reasonable for 7 days even cheap!

Edited March 16, 2016 by Badrabbit

[thaiduncankk]

I had 7 days and nights in a government hospital last year, everything, including acceptable meals was 4,800 baht.

Obviously not in a private room.

I actually prefer the wards.

A bit of company and people around, I find the private rooms a waste of money.

I had a foot infection, being in a private room would have probably bored me.

[thaiduncankk]

Sheryl is the medical expert on here.

When she comes on, she will not discredit private hospitals, but I am sure she will agree with me and and Badrabbit about the price charged.

[Badrabbit]

Sheryl is the medical expert on here.

When she comes on, she will not discredit private hospitals, but I am sure she will agree with me and and Badrabbit about the price charged.

They did there job and sorted the infection out but it seems way over the top to me, huge new extension just been built which is very posh, guess they have to pay for it somehow!

[Sheryl]

Mission Hospital is a private hospital.

31K for 2 nights, 1 day stay is typical of private hospitals in Bangkok and major tourist areas. But indeed, should always get an itemized bill to scrutinize, as not unknown to have "mistakes".

Would have been 1/3 - 1/5 as much at a government hospital.

Note that doctor charges on hospital bills do not reflect just time spent at the bedside. it is for overall medical supervision of the patient's care, including review of lab results, writing of medical orders etc most of which takes place away from the bedside. It is also possible more than one doctor involved as there will have been doctors on duty 24/7 and may also have been a consultation with a specialist -- which can be done without the specialist necessarily every visiting the patient in person (i.e. review of the chart and lab results).

[thaiduncankk]

The OP says it was only 1 night !

[Badrabbit]

This is the bill, is it acceptable?

Over 5K for IV fluid!!

Edited March 16, 2016 by Badrabbit

[thaiduncankk]

ImageUploadedByThaivisa Connect1458109937.133746.jpg

This is the bill, is it acceptable?

Only got as far as the medication to reaise it is extortion.

Compare those prices to Government hospitals or outside pharmacies, and you will understand.

[Badrabbit]

ImageUploadedByThaivisa Connect1458109937.133746.jpg

This is the bill, is it acceptable?

Only got as far as the medication to reaise it is extortion.

Compare those prices to Government hospitals or outside pharmacies, and you will understand.

What's in the IV that would cost over 5K? He had three! Edited March 16, 2016 by Badrabbit

[Sheryl]

If it was only one night then unless he was in shock and given massive infusions of fluid, the IV charge does seem high, and could ask for a breakdown of it - how many liters, of what, at what unit cost.

There is always a huge mark up on medication costs at private hospitals (10 fold not unheard of) and nothing to be done about it while an inpatient. Could have saved up to 2000 baht by not getting outpatient meds at the hospital pharmacy.

Rest of it does not seem remarkable to me assuming there was some sort of "physician procedure" performed. (insertion, removal or changing of a surgical drain would count as such).

Again, this total is not unusual for private hospitals in Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket.

[Badrabbit]

If it was only one night then unless he was in shock and given massive infusions of fluid, the IV charge does seem high, and could ask for a breakdown of it - how many liters, of what, at what unit cost.

There is always a huge mark up on medication costs at private hospitals (10 fold not unheard of) and nothing to be done about it while an inpatient. Could have saved up to 2000 baht by not getting outpatient meds at the hospital pharmacy.

Rest of it does not seem remarkable to me assuming there was some sort of "physician procedure" performed. (insertion, removal or changing of a surgical drain would count as such).

Again, this total is not unusual for private hospitals in Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket.

Cheers, thought I would post as all this is terrifying should I have a problem in the future, I do have insurance though but still scary!

[sunnyjim5]

ImageUploadedByThaivisa Connect1458109937.133746.jpg

This is the bill, is it acceptable?

Only got as far as the medication to reaise it is extortion.

Compare those prices to Government hospitals or outside pharmacies, and you will understand.

What's in the IV that would cost over 5K? He had three!

Seems reasonable !

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/27/health/exploring-salines-secret-costs.html?_r=0

19,110 Bht in the USA !

[inbangkok]

I paid the same for IV fluid at one on the majority international hospitals in BKK once. So not unheard of......

However, the bill is about $1,000 US. Really not that expensive for 2 full days in a private hospital. In America, probably would have been looking at 10-20x that (maybe even more) . No clue how many of these threads people will have to go through before learning the very simple lesson of either going to a cheap government hospital or to have private insurance.

A private hospital is a business..... Please remember that.....

Edited March 16, 2016 by inbangkok

[lonewolf99]

I had really bad food poisoning and was in a private hospital for 2 days and had a similar bill about 3 years ago.

The IV was full of all manner of drugs that worked. You have to weigh that up as well.

The only surprise here is that people are still surprised by the cost of Hospital bills....?

[moe666]

What ever the cost the OP says it fixed his friend up, just say thanks and move on