Dutch man with cancer says: Hua Hin Hospital fleeced me because I'm a foreigner

[webfact]

Dutch man with cancer says: Hua Hin Hospital fleeced me because I'm a foreigner

 

Image: Daily News

 

HUA HIN: -- A man from the Netherlands has complained that the Hua Hin Hospital has fleeced him because he is a foreigner.

 

He says that he has been married to a Thai woman for ten years and should be treated as anybody else, reported Daily News.

 

Edwin Buse, 47, a former train engineer, started having treatment for prostate cancer two years ago. He has questioned why he should pay a charge of 300 per visit for foreigners.

 

And he has no idea what another item is on his bills - namely a charge of 858 baht in one baht units. And nobody else knows what it is either.

 

Edwin went to Hua Hin police and has also appealed to the government watchdog Damrongtham claiming he is being conned.

 

He appealed to Thai reporters to help with his case as it has got tied up in red tape for four months now with no action.

 

They made representations on his behalf but the Public Finance Ministry seemed to confirm that the charges on his bills were irregular.

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2016-09-13

[shirtless]

This is why Thailand is doomed we all know they rip us off , Thais are good at shooting themselves in the foot.

[Aussie Jo]

You'd think that after living here 10 years that he'd be used to it! BTW - why didn't his Thai wife question the bill for him? Oh yeah I forgot - doctors (in this country) are always right!

[impulse]

Only the Europeans.  Free health care apparently spoils you.

 

If he were American, he'd be marveling at how cheap his treatment was in Hua Hin.  We're accustomed to seeing line after line of obscure charges that only a forensic accountant can decipher.

[taichiplanet]

30 minutes ago, webfact said:

should be treated as anybody else

he was treated like a Thai, Thais get ripped off too if they are considered to be able to pay up.

[ezzra]

Why he doesn't get treated in his home country where presumably it's for free

and no one will reap him off? I know I would not risk my health being treated

here by fake doctors and charlatans,

 

And why he can't understand the charges on the bill? how hard it can be? again,

if it was me, I don't pay until someone explain to me what am I paying for,

Gee, you can't be a pussy and let "doctors"  walk all over you, and with all due

respect to the doctors, I have my rights as well......

[zoza]

am I missing something? ok no explanation for the 858 or that but his bin was 1200+

after ten years I call that a result their charging 2500 + 1000 fee to get an income letter

from the British embassy......900 baht for a bit of lamb.....  

[petedk]

They are trying to make a big story out of this. It is only a few hundred baht he is talking about.

 

On the other hand it is quite true that Thai hospitals do charge foreigners much more than Thais. I have posted earlier about a quote of 300,000 Thai baht from a Bangkok Hospital being reduced to 150,000 Baht after they found out that I live here. I was eventually charged 100,000 by another hospital.

 

Oh, some of you ask why he didn't go back to his home country for treatment. He is complaining about 300 Baht doctor fee for foreigners. I guess that is cheaper than paying 50K for a flight home.  Anyway I have noticed that the doctor's fee is about 1000 Baht in Bangkok.

Why didn't I fly home? I have been away for so long that I am not entitled to free treatment.

 

 

[chrissables]

Only the Europeans.  Free health care apparently spoils you.

 

Your lack of knowledge is laughable. There is no "free" health care. Just percieved free health care.

 

From your first day of work, a percentage of your wage is taken to cover these costs. You have no say at all about this. In addition the employee pays an even larger percentage of your salary towards your health care.

 

Today in UK, that comes to 28.8% of income. Free it is not.

[does]

9 minutes ago, zoza said:

am I missing something? ok no explanation for the 858 or that but his bin was 1200+

after ten years I call that a result their charging 2500 + 1000 fee to get an income letter

from the British embassy......900 baht for a bit of lamb.....  

Indeed! Are we talking of 300 baht and 858 baht hospital bills? If so, the non-flying Dutchman could and should be a bit embarressed to make a fuzz.

[colinneil]

He should be embarrassed even bringing up that bill.

Where does he get that he was overcharged from?

If his bill was for thousands of baht understandable, not jut a few hundred.

Sorry i do not agree that hospitals here over charge farangs.

Every 3 weeks i go to our local hospital for 3 hours intensive physio 670 baht

Sometimes 1 physio and assistant with me sometimes 2.

Cost is 670 baht  small charge for 2/3 professionals time.

[Brer Fox]

18 minutes ago, zoza said:

am I missing something? ok no explanation for the 858 or that but his bin was 1200+

after ten years I call that a result their charging 2500 + 1000 fee to get an income letter

from the British embassy......900 baht for a bit of lamb.....  

I agree. I make a three monthly visit to a hospital on the outskirts of Bangkok to see my cardiologist who does a locum every Saturday morning. I get charged 500 baht for his consultation, 100 baht hospital fee and about 1300 baht for my blood tests which can be extensive. I am extremely happy with the service and the charges. I always enjoy my visits because the hospital staff are so caring and obliging.

[TheFishman1]

So did his treatments help him

[hansnl]

1 hour ago, shirtless said:

This is why Thailand is doomed we all know they rip us off , Thais are good at shooting themselves in the foot.

Both, with one shot.

Using buckshot to get a hit.

Edited September 13, 2016 by hansnl

[stupidfarang]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Only the Europeans.  Free health care apparently spoils you.

 

If he were American, he'd be marveling at how cheap his treatment was in Hua Hin.  We're accustomed to seeing line after line of obscure charges that only a forensic accountant can decipher.

Not free in Europe, we pay for our health care via our taxes.

[Rob13]

Overcharged maybe; hardly sounds like a 'fleecing' though.

[stupidfarang]

Daughter was in a private hospital for 4 days, three nights, the bill was for just over 21,000 BHAT. As always I check my bills no matter what country I am in, I picked up on a charge for 300 bhat per day for physio therapy, we did not recall any physio being carried out so I asked for clarification, it turned out to be a nurse coming in to pat her on the chest and back for about five minutes each day. Had to laugh at that and told them I would be happy to come and work for them at 300 bhat for five minutes work.

Amy way was happy to pay the full bill once it was explained and knowing daughter was well looked after and healthy 100 percent again.

 

With regards to doctors, I am okay in checking what they say and asking them for clear information and that is in any country and I find the doctors are happy to explain.

[useronthenet]

Foreigners still don't get it   .....

 

Doesn't matter if you have been here 10 years or 1 day,  you will always get treated the same, as a foreigner you have big money compared to Thais, hence the farang price. This goes right across the board.

 

As for the media attention for naming the hospital ... I don't they will be too pleased if they read this forum. Defamation charges come to mind, aswell as the computer crime act.

 

 

 

[KittenKong]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

And why he can't understand the charges on the bill? how hard it can be? again,

if it was me, I don't pay until someone explain to me what am I paying for,

 

Thai bills are frequently very unclear and imprecise, even in hospitals. I also have seen charges on hospital bills here that no-one could explain. When I insisted on an explanation the charges were removed with very bad grace. Many Thais in a perceived position of authority do not like being questioned or doubted, even when they clearly deserve it.

[BEVUP]

40 minutes ago, chrissables said:

Only the Europeans.  Free health care apparently spoils you.

 

Your lack of knowledge is laughable. There is no "free" health care. Just percieved free health care.

 

From your first day of work, a percentage of your wage is taken to cover these costs. You have no say at all about this. In addition the employee pays an even larger percentage of your salary towards your health care.

 

Today in UK, that comes to 28.8% of income. Free it is not.

Yes never free & paid above taxes

As mentioned before have paid up to 5000 AUD on top of taxes & Medicare is only good for Public Hospitals 

Once out of them & start running around GP'S & Test facilities you might get 1/3 rd of the bill back

[spidermike007]

This guy is out of his mind. Why should be be treated like a Thai person? He has to expect if he goes to a hospital here, he is going to pay more than a Thai person, who is at least partially covered by the national health care system. The hospitals here cost a fraction of what they do in the US, and probably in Europe. What is his problem?

[joepattaya1961]

Most of the posters do miss the point here. It doesn't matter if health care in Europe is "free" or if the THB 1,200+ is nothing to make a fuzz about. 

 

It's about charges that can't be explained and that found to be irregular by the authorities. The Dutch man is not a single case; there are thousands and thousands of patients being ripped off on a daily base; Thais and foreigners. 

[hansnl]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Only the Europeans.  Free health care apparently spoils you.

 

If he were American, he'd be marveling at how cheap his treatment was in Hua Hin.  We're accustomed to seeing line after line of obscure charges that only a forensic accountant can decipher.

There is no such thing as free health care, anywhere in the world.

You either pay insurance premiums, a mix of premiums via the tax office, or completely through the tax office.

The difference with the US system is that anybody can have healthcare in Europe, for a much lower total price as in your, I presume, US.

That, sir, is because most Euro countries have a system of controlling prices and bills, damming in the control and power of insurance companies, private hospitals, medicine factories, etc.

Also called the medimafia, for which the US is infamous.

 

[aussiandrew]

If the treatment worked and you are healthy again. Thats great look after yourself and get on with your life. All the best.

[Agent Sumo]

1 hour ago, shirtless said:

This is why Thailand is doomed we all know they rip us off , Thais are good at shooting themselves in the foot.

 

I've been hearing people say that for a decade. It was bullshit then as it is now

 

12 minutes ago, useronthenet said:

Foreigners still don't get it   .....

 

Doesn't matter if you have been here 10 years or 1 day,  you will always get treated the same, as a foreigner you have big money compared to Thais, hence the farang price. This goes right across the board.

 

As for the media attention for naming the hospital ... I don't they will be too pleased if they read this forum. Defamation charges come to mind, aswell as the computer crime act.

 

 

 

 

I use Samitivej in Bangkok. Never been ripped off. Thais pay exactly the same as farangs

[hansnl]

52 minutes ago, does said:

Indeed! Are we talking of 300 baht and 858 baht hospital bills? If so, the non-flying Dutchman could and should be a bit embarressed to make a fuzz.

It is not the amount that counts, it is the deed.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Mr.Dutchman you have stayed here for 10 years but have you ever paid income tax here ? Because this is where the money comes from to pay for your treatment or do you think the treatment cost what you were charged ? Yes I know the old farang excuses of paying so much VAT and spending so much money here supporting their wives/gf. How much will I pay as a non-Dutch citizen if I go for treatment in the Netherlands ? Will it be less than €40? What will the Dutch peoples reaction be if I complain about this cost? Then my last question is why do you not return to your hkme country to get treatment if you feel you are getting ripped off here ?

[PremiumLane]

ahh TVF at its dumb finest - constantly bellow about Thais ripping off foreigners - a foreigner takes a stand and makes a legitimate complaint and what do the TVF poster do, bitch about him, you couldn't make it up!

[Agent Sumo]

17 minutes ago, useronthenet said:

Foreigners still don't get it   .....

 

Doesn't matter if you have been here 10 years or 1 day,  you will always get treated the same, as a foreigner you have big money compared to Thais, hence the farang price. This goes right across the board.

 

As for the media attention for naming the hospital ... I don't they will be too pleased if they read this forum. Defamation charges come to mind, aswell as the computer crime act.

 

Yeah maybe they should have consulted a farang layman legal specialist on Thaivisa before publishing the story, eh?

[Navalator]

This fool has lived here for 10 years and finds it surprising that the Thai hospital fleeced him?  All hospitals in Thailand fleece foreigners.   In fact, it is in the very fiber of every Thai to fleece foreigners especially white foreigners. That's all part of the charm of living in Thailand.  I recently received a bill from a Pattaya hospital listing a 190 baht item.  The cashier told me that was for using the toilet.  Another 800 baht item was for "..being seen by a doctor". Immediately next was a 1,200 baht item for  a medical consultation by the same doctor.   All that for less than 3 minutes in his office.