How To Reduce Hospital Bills In Bangkok

[1Lucky]

I've been having to visit hospital in Bangkok everyday now for some time with a back problem.

I'm going to the best hospitals - Samitivej, BNH, etc.

The doctors fees themselves seem pretty cheap.

The prices for the medicines they prescribe however seem pretty extortionate.

Having forked out god knows how much for them over the past few weeks I popped into Boots today and found out that quite a bit of the medicine I've been paying for at the hospitals is actually available without prescription at Boots - at less than half the price they charge at the hospitals. And that was at Boots so I'm guessing its even cheaper at your typical Thai pharmacy.

So obviously I'm not too savvy when it comes to keeping down hospital costs in Bangkok so aside from getting the medicines I can from pharmacists instead of the hospital what other ways do people know of keeping medical bills lower here?

Yes I've got health insurance but its about to run out and any new stuff I get won't cover me for this ongoing problem.

Lucky

[farangsay]

If you know the medication they are prescribing

why don't you just buy it at a pharmacy instead

of the hospital ? iF not (because it changes0 can

you not just walk out with the paper the doc has

just given you and take it to a pharmacy ?

I have only one experience of hospitals in LOS

but the doc/consultancy bit was totally separate

from the "buy the medication" booth.

Anyway , from one back sufferer to another ,

g'luck

[DragonQuest]

Dont drink and Dont smoke LOL

[DragonQuest]

o and btw hospitals are the biggest rip-offs, I was sick and paid 500 baht to see a doctor for 5min then i got the same medicine i could have got at the mall for less then half the price......

[lanny]

Generally, I don't buy my medicines from the hospital. For my regular medications, I already know what to take and buy it from my usual pharmacy. If the doctor prescribes something new, I may take the medicine from the hospital, if the bill is not too high. If I think my pharmacy would be cheaper, I tell the cashier I don't want the medicine but I want a list of the things the doctor ordered. Then, I take the list to my pharmacist.

I've known my pharmicist and his sister for 6 years and trust him completely. For simple things, I don't even go to the doctor, I just ask his advice -- has always been good, too.

[lopburi3]

You could try using a public hospital as there pharmacy sells are much more reasonable prices and the medications should be good and stored properly. But you would have to have doctor there prescribe.

You could look for hospital with more reasonable pharmacy fees. They are out there.

You are free to not buy most medications if you prefer to buy outside hospital - but high priced hospitals seem to put a lot of pressure on doctors to not tell you that.

Hospitals may have discount cards that can be useful.

If buying outside look for larger pharmacy or those in malls where air conditioning will likely be 24 hours. The small shops could pose a problem - especially if not new stock. There is a higher level of pharmacy (know there were several near Chula and probably other public hospitals) that act a wholesalers to smaller places and if you know what you want have no problem serving smaller customers. Believe Makro (discount retailer) prices are also good but it has been many years since I used them. I also found Save On (believe that is the name) located in Carrefour malls to be good price but limited inventory.

[popshirt]

If buying outside look for larger pharmacy or those in malls where air conditioning will likely be 24 hours. The small shops could pose a problem - especially if not new stock.

I never thought of that! A very good point and might be critical for certain meds. Thanks.

[DragonQuest]

Actually Thailand hospitals are the most affordable and best value compared to the western world if your sick go for it, just not good for small stuff like cuts,headaches or your anual allergies lol

[PeaceBlondie]

If you need the level of expertise and shiny new surroundings that you'd have back in the west, it appears that Bumrungrad and Samitovej and BNH look as spiffy as the best hospitals back home. But I moved from Hua Hin (where I commuted to Samitovej for medical care) to the best govt. hospital in northern Thailand, where they not only have cheaper service, but a better surgeon! I pay 250 baht per visit to an air/con 'luxury' clinic to see a specialist. For drugs, as others have said, there are reliable pharmacies for less than what you pay in a hospital.

Look around; ask a rich Thai or a poor expatriate. You have options.

[oxymoron]

If you need the level of expertise and shiny new surroundings that you'd have back in the west, it appears that Bumrungrad and Samitovej and BNH look as spiffy as the best hospitals back home. But I moved from Hua Hin (where I commuted to Samitovej for medical care) to the best govt. hospital in northern Thailand, where they not only have cheaper service, but a better surgeon! I pay 250 baht per visit to an air/con 'luxury' clinic to see a specialist. For drugs, as others have said, there are reliable pharmacies for less than what you pay in a hospital.

Look around; ask a rich Thai or a poor expatriate. You have options.

Are you allowed to say what hospital that is. My TW has been using Suan Dok (as a private patient) but when they had to do Xrays and Barium meal tests she was pushed to the Public side and was very upset and distressed by the conditions cleanliness etc of the area. Lately she has been using Mc Cormick its OK but I would not allow her to be hospitalised there. Hence the open air ticket home in case of emergency.

Recent costs for Gastric problems have been 2000baht for 30 tablets, which is about double cost at home but at home medication has a Gov subsidy

Took her aunty with us last time 1200 Baht to diagnose Thyroid problem. At least no discrimination in this case the poor Thai's bear the same charges as us.

[lingling]

Prescribed medicines are the #1 source of income for private Thai hospitals. Some more or less require their doctors to send every patient home with something from the pharmacy, and doctors also get paid commission on prescribed medicines. The commission on drugs is often more than the doctor’s fee.

As an inpatient you have no choice, but as an outpatient you can simply tell them before you pay the bill that you want none of the medicines prescribed. Ask for a copy of your prescriptions for that day and buy it in a good outside pharmacy. They can not deny you this.

Avoid the hole-in-the-wall street pharmacies if you don't want fake/expired/incorrectly stored drugs.

[Ta22]

Drug sold at the Hospitial is sold at Rocket price .

out to rip of people in needs .

Tell the Nurse direct you don't have enough money and ould like to buy the drug else where as your stay far away from the hospital ..

and ask for the name of the drug you need .

many drug for can be buy off the local drug store ,.

the last time i bring my mom . i tell the doctor direct that the hospital is selling drug way too expensive .. and ask him to wrote me the drug name and i want to buy it from my country . ..

good luck

[taxexile]

after being prescribed some very expensive medication at bumrungrad , i spoke to the doctor about the cost , he cut down the prescription from one month to 4 days and said there would be no problem if i wanted to source them elsewhere , and if i couldnt then to come back and he would re instate the original prescription.

there are a number of good pharmacies opposite the entrance to siriraj hospital , i found my tablets (the same imported from germany ones as at bumrungrad ) there for half the cost , these are large pharmacies doing an enormous amount of business.

phetcharat pharmacy and siriraj pharmacy ( 02-441-0052 , 02-2412-4031 , 02-412-7122 ) are the names of two of them.

[PeaceBlondie]

If you need the level of expertise and shiny new surroundings that you'd have back in the west, it appears that Bumrungrad and Samitovej and BNH look as spiffy as the best hospitals back home. But I moved from Hua Hin (where I commuted to Samitovej for medical care) to the best govt. hospital in northern Thailand, where they not only have cheaper service, but a better surgeon! I pay 250 baht per visit to an air/con 'luxury' clinic to see a specialist. For drugs, as others have said, there are reliable pharmacies for less than what you pay in a hospital.

Look around; ask a rich Thai or a poor expatriate. You have options.

Are you allowed to say what hospital that is. My TW has been using Suan Dok (as a private patient) but when they had to do Xrays and Barium meal tests she was pushed to the Public side and was very upset and distressed by the conditions cleanliness etc of the area. Lately she has been using Mc Cormick its OK but I would not allow her to be hospitalised there. Hence the open air ticket home in case of emergency.

Recent costs for Gastric problems have been 2000baht for 30 tablets, which is about double cost at home but at home medication has a Gov subsidy

Took her aunty with us last time 1200 Baht to diagnose Thyroid problem. At least no discrimination in this case the poor Thai's bear the same charges as us.

We started at Sripat, the 13th floor clinic that your wife probably goes to at Suan Dok (Maharaj), the state hospital whose top doctors are faculty professors. We were referred to the weekly orthopedic convention, which is in a nastier part of Maharaj. The expert surgeon there put me into surgery there, and I insisted on staying in a private room near the roof of the fancier building. Eventually, I started seeing him at his other hospital, the private one next to the Sheraton (formerly Westin).

I think there are some doctors at the state hospitals who are glad to give you their private business card if you don't want to wait along with 328 Thais (and get served for free). Even the cardio specialist at Sripat gave me his private card.

Anyway, a charge of 250 baht to see a specialist, in air conditioned quarters, beats the prices at the fancy private Westernized hospitals. How much better is the care, at one place or the other? I have no idea.

Another point about private versus state hospitals. When I needed immediate surgery for vehicle accident, the state hospital had a 3 day waiting period (even though I was paying full price), and no private rooms available. So, I went to the private hospital (ChiangMai Ram), where I right away got the surgery, a higher bill, and an infection.

[Cheops]

Opposite Future Park Rangsit on the other side of Vibhavadi road near the Rangsit market there are some wholesale drugstores. For example, I buy Telfast there for about 80 baht, while elsewere this will cost 110 baht up. There are many shops around there that act as wholesale drugstores.

Happy New Year

Leon

[ProThaiExpat]

Chiang Mai Ram never fails to include half a dozen analgesic pills to every visit at ten times the local pharmacy price, that is if you receive dermatology treatment. Agree, a quick no is required, otherwise the pills will be on your bill along with the doctor visit and then you pick up the pills from the pharmacy. Often, I didn't even know pills were prescribed until I was paying the bill.

[pumpuiman]

Prescribed medicines are the #1 source of income for private Thai hospitals. Some more or less require their doctors to send every patient home with something from the pharmacy, and doctors also get paid commission on prescribed medicines. The commission on drugs is often more than the doctor’s fee.

As an inpatient you have no choice, but as an outpatient you can simply tell them before you pay the bill that you want none of the medicines prescribed. Ask for a copy of your prescriptions for that day and buy it in a good outside pharmacy. They can not deny you this.

Avoid the hole-in-the-wall street pharmacies if you don't want fake/expired/incorrectly stored drugs.

I spent quite a bit of time at Bumrungrad with a back problem. It took me some time, but finally realized the commision thing....as my doctor prescribed vitamins to alleviate pain!!

[1Lucky]

guys - thanks for the extremely helpful replies here. I'll remember to just ask for the prescription and not the medicine in future. Because of my back problem my mobility is a bit limited - if anyone has any good recommendations for pharamacies in Sukhumvit - phom phrong area or on Rama 4 near Carrefour I'd be very grateful - somewhere that I can trust I'll get the real thing and properly looked after.

Many thanks once again and happy new year to all.

Lucky

[1Lucky]

I also found Save On (believe that is the name) located in Carrefour malls to be good price but limited inventory.

Cheers I followed the various bits of advice on this posting today and saved a fortune on my medical bills. One medicine in particular was prescribed 'to stop the anti-inflamitory drug irritating my stomach'. Samitivej hospital wanted 320 baht for it, save On in carrefour rama 4 wanted just 95 baht for it and gave me 14 for that price instead of samitvej's 10 - so samitivej was charging me about 3.5 times the price! The only difficulty I have is with medicines that are 'controlled drugs' the pharmacies I have spoken to near where I live (near Phom Phrong) don't stock these - even if you have a prescription. Does anyone know where I can get these from a pharmacy instead of having to pay the inflated hospital prices. I've heard that places near siriraj hospital might but that's a long way from where I live and it is difficult for me to get there due to my medical condition. Does anyone know anywhere more central that might help? I can provide a prescription from my doctor.

Many thanks once again - the advice above has been extremely helpful.

Lucky

[lopburi3]

If you are in the Rama 4 area and don't want to waits of a public hospital why not try http://www.saintlouis.or.th/main_page.php

I have not used for any medications but the one time I did a retirement physical everyone was most friendly and able to communicate in English. I expect they work on a much lower markup than the hospital you mentioned and even if you have to see a doctor there it would probably be worthwhile. I use Vejthani Hospital and drugs are sold at the normal drug store price so not all are as greedy as the chosen few.

[DogNo1]

The only difficulty I have is with medicines that are 'controlled drugs' the pharmacies I have spoken to near where I live (near Phom Phrong) don't stock these - even if you have a prescription. Does anyone know where I can get these from a pharmacy instead of having to pay the inflated hospital prices. I've heard that places near siriraj hospital might but that's a long way from where I live and it is difficult for me to get there due to my medical condition. Does anyone know anywhere more central that might help? I can provide a prescription from my doctor.

You can ask the pharmacist of your local pharmacy to get the drugs for you. The pharmacy that I usually use across the street from the Indra Regent Hotel will order any drug that is available from his supplier. You should be able to get even the most expensive prescription drugs for 50% less than at Bumrungrad or Samitivej. Good luck!

[junkofdavid2]

If you are in the Rama 4 area and don't want to waits of a public hospital why not try http://www.saintlouis.or.th/main_page.php

I have not used for any medications but the one time I did a retirement physical everyone was most friendly and able to communicate in English. I expect they work on a much lower markup than the hospital you mentioned and even if you have to see a doctor there it would probably be worthwhile. I use Vejthani Hospital and drugs are sold at the normal drug store price so not all are as greedy as the chosen few.

Yup, that's a good suggestion. I'm not sure of the EXACT implications on drug prices, but Saint Louis Hospital is actually a "non-profit" hospital, which makes it less likely to make too big a mark up.

In Saint Louis Hospital, I got a doctor's consultation plus Influenza Vaccine (Vaxigrip) injection for less than 750 Baht All-In !

That's pretty cheap for a big private "english speaking" hospital if you ask me...

Edited January 13, 2007 by junkofdavid2

[Sheryl]

There are a number of things you can do. In addition to saving you a lot of money, several of these tips will also help safeguard your health:

MEDICATIONS:

1. Don't take any unnecessary medication (prescribed in abundance here). For every drug prescribed, ask the doctor what it is for and if it is really necessary. You might add something like "I don't like to take any more medication than is realy essential" because believe it or not, financial motives aside (and they are a factor!) most doctors here assume patients want to be given many drugs. And indeed, many Thais equate the level of care with how many diferent drugs they get. I once had the staff of a hospital apologize to me profusely, with great

[lopburi3]

That sounds very reasonable. We had flu shots in October at Vejthani as part of regular visit and shots were charged at 630 baht each.

[1Lucky]

having taken posters advice to check out the pharmacies outside Siriraj hospital I think the following is a very good way to minimize your hospital bills:

1. Go to a reasonable hospital get a good diagnosis and prescription. You may want to get it from the hospital first time round. Samitivej and BNH are the best in my experience but it will cost about 700 Baht to see the doctor and a lot more for any medicine.

2. Once you've worked out what medicine you need then don't bother with the hospitals. Go to Fascino pharmacy (or similar) just outside the main entrance to Siriraj hospital. Its an enormous pharamacy and they have a great range. The prices are very cheap (even cheaper that Save Drug in Carrefour (which itself is very good and cheap) and if you need a restricted drug for which prescriptions are required (there don't seem to be too many of these in Thailand) they have a doctor on the premises (5 pm onwards on week days and from 10-4pm on weekends) who can give you a prescription for the restricted drug so you can buy it from the pharmacy if you legitimately require it. To see the doctor simply become a member of the pharmacy for baht 50 and you can see the doc as many times as you like for 1 year for free! I haven't tried seeing the doc yet and personally I'd prefer seeing what I know to be a top of the range doc before I did but if you know what you need then this sounds a great way of saving money.

3. To get to this place either take a taxi or take a river boat up to Tha Chang and get the cross river boat across to Siriraj hospital for about 2 Baht. Fascino is on the road you walk out onto from the pier about 200m down on your left (the hospital is on your right).

Hope this advice is helpful to some.

Lucky

[lenin]

health is so expensive these days...my advise is keep healthy....smile...can help u...

[1Lucky]

health is so expensive these days...my advise is keep healthy....smile...can help u...

Before this episode I had never experience a major health problem, the same year my father-in-law had a stroke. Before all this my attitude to health was a bit like your's and the facietious poster earlier on who advised stopping smoking and drinking alcohol (I do neither). When the day comes when you have a serious health problem you may find this thread rather more useful.

Lucky

[Johngoh1111]

Recently i have been admitted into a hospital and after a week stay there i was slapped with a bill of 85,000 baht. My god!!! Just for check-up and admittance charges. Lucky, one of my friends ask me to join a "Health Care Plan" and it ease up 10% of the hospital charges. I wish more of these plans would be raft up by insurance company so that it can eased the high expences in health care.

[Furbie]

Medical costs at the international hospitals are getting out of hand because of the doctors.

BNH's doctor's fee was at 600 baht a couple of years ago for a specialist, but on my last visit three months ago I got a bad surprise at the cashiers' window and saw the fee was 1,000 baht. Ridiculous for the 5 minutes the doctor saw me.

Thinking I would be smarter next time, I went to the Samitivej website, went through the list of doctors and selected one with good qualifications in the specialization I needed. I then e-mailed the hospital and asked how much the consultation with the named doctor would cost. The e-mailed response I received said that the doctor would determine the consultation fee for each patient after the exam on a case by case basis. Unbelievable! A consultation fee should be standard in all cases.

Now it is my understanding that BNH and Samitivej have the same owner, so that would explain how I got socked with a 1,000 baht fee for a five minute consultation if they can charge whatever they want.

Next time I will go in looking like I have 50 satang to my name.