AEK OB GYN

Has anyone taken their GF or wife to see Dr Rachanai (spelling) at the AEK for an OB GYN exam?
We went yesterday and the wife had an examination and ultrasound, was given some medication and told to go back in a week for a follow up, and then we got the bill, bugger me it was near on 5,000bht...... Is this the a normal charge for a 20 minute examination.....?
Translation shows the ultrasound alone was charged at 2,000 bht...

If he's the older bald headed doc, we used him at AEK in 2004. Daughter by C section; VIP suite for 3 days n nights... $1,200 US.


Since then, they appear to be raising prices exponentially and playin stupid about any insurance other than Thai...

I've posted on another topic about my feelings following birth of our baby nearly 5 months back.
We were there again yesterday for 1)baby eye check (free voucher) and 2)fitting of wife's IUT device. Once we got to see the doctor, completed in 15 minutes, 2,200 baht, the device itself costing 1700 baht.

I'm surprised how hard they work this doctor. I understand he had delivered a baby (nurse said operation, but I think that's what she meant) just before he came down to deal with the queue of other patients.

[quote="Brian Davis"]the device itself costing 1700 baht.

Brian
How much do you think that device cost AEK. My lady used to work for AEK ordering medical supplies.She was very disillusioned with the way they ran their business and she left. Just remember it is a business and the purpose is to make as much profit as possible with the minimal expenditure. If you're happy with your treatment then so be it. Glad to hear the baby is doing fine

$1200 for a C section back in 2004 - reckon he bases his charges on Harley street (famous road for London private doctors). Basically got the same service from Military hospital 3 months ago for under 20,000 baht. My wife was paying 400 baht an ultrasound scan at her checkups (in doctors own clinic, rather than hospital). Of course, AEK may provide a better service if problems, but was satisfied with the service we got.

Since I posted this I've been told, by many people, the charge for the ultracan is about 4 times the norm in other hospitals and what others have paid at the AEK. The wife needs to go back next week for a follow up so I'll question the doctor about the charge.
Does anyone know, are the charges set by the hospital or are the doctors at liberty to charge what they want? Think the AEK has an international office, maybe I'll drop in there too.

Pretty much
2000 for ultrasound
1800 for medication
500 Dr fees
the rest in small amounts for nursing etc

I currently have lodged a formal complaint to the management of AEK over an issue of overcharging for pathology that wasnt even needed and when it was reported 2 weeks later, it wasnt even the correct test results !

To date they have not replied despite a formal reminder. 2 weeks ago.

They do overservice, there is no doubt about this. An ultra sound is a normal procedure, but the prices ?????

AEK gave me back some bizarre test results this past year. When I asked the doc if they had crossed up samples, he checked the name at the top of the page and informed me that, "No, they were my results."

I asked him to quickly review my last several tests... He did, and, immediately called the lab... "They had cleaned the testing machine last night and forgot to recalibrate it. Not to worry, several other docs had patients that also got false results..." He then promptly directed retesting, which they tried, unsuccessfully, to charge me for...

They said, "Mai pen rai..."


I say, "caveat emptor".


BR

""They had cleaned the testing machine last night and forgot to recalibrate it. Not to worry, several other docs had patients that also got false results..." He then promptly directed retesting, which they tried, unsuccessfully, to charge me for..."

Any chance you lodged a formal complaint with the international office? Had medication been given for the false results, who knows what might have happened?

I don't mind paying more for my medical services, but I expect more than sub-standard service.

LilRed wrote:
I say, "caveat emptor".
BR

This is extraordinary good advice. You can not base your medical decision making on anything else other than word of mouth recommendations-- preferably from family members. My wife's doctor for our child was the same doctor that a half a dozen family members had previously used. To my surprise, he spoke English and he was very professional. The check-ups were generally about 500 baht and I think the total cost of the C-section was about 20,000 baht. I was extremely satisfied with the quality of care.

I don't believe there is much of a correlation between cost and QOS (quality of service). Find family members who have had good experiences with a particular doctor and go and have a chat with him/her. You might be surprised. I know I was.