Cost of Medical Care - Clinics vs. Private Hospital

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parrot
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Cost of Medical Care - Clinics vs. Private Hospital

Post by parrot » September 30, 2019, 5:28 pm

Over many years, I've been to a variety of street side clinics.....ENT, dermitology, eyes. Several years ago, I had a full up physical at Bangkok Hospital including a thorough exam by the ENT doctor and eye doctor. I realized there's street food and there's restaurant food when it comes to medical care in Thailand. The eye doctor had what seemed to be the latest in tech, at least much more advanced than the street eye doctor, albeit a few years prior. Her eye exam included pointing out a few potential areas of concern on her wide screen monitor where I got to see my eye close up.
Likewise the ENT doctor did a thorough exam of my ears after I told him about a lifetime of ear problems (and hearing aids). All of his equipment was sealed/sanitized and was much more modern than the ENT doctor I had been seeing in a small clinic.
The past few days I've had some soreness in one of my ears. I called BH at noon and asked if there was an ENT doctor on duty. Yes, she said, until 8pm. I made an appointment for 1:30. I got there at 1:10, blood pressure, weight, pulse, have a seat for 2 minutes, then in to see the doctor. He probed and poked....all with sterilized tools, including a tiny mirror that he poked down my throat to examine my eustachian tube. My street clinic ENT kept his tools either in a glass with alcohol or in a drawer containing a variety of open tools. Once he sterilized the tip of an instrument with a lighter.
Ok, all those times with the street clinics, I never died. But I've come to appreciate the higher prices you pay for hospital care. My checkout with the ENT today included antibiotics at 10 baht per capsule and a container of ear drops that I've paid 250 baht for in Somsak's but paid 340 at the hospital. That's fair to me.
Years ago a friend told me I paid too much for my plate of fried rice......40 baht.....arguing that his 25 baht plate off the street was just as good.
Sometimes you get what you pay for.



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semperfiguy
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Re: Cost of Medical Care - Clinics vs. Private Hospital

Post by semperfiguy » October 1, 2019, 8:35 am

Parrot, how much was the fee for the doctor visit? Just want to get an idea of how much the fees are going up. Last time I was there the doctor fees had doubled from the previous year. Having said that, the last time I saw an ENT doctor in his street clinic was on a recommendation from my neighbor who said he never charges more than 250 plus meds if needed. I was in his chair less than 1 minute and he mustered me out to the front desk where he charged me 500 for the visit and nearly that much for a batch of imported antibiotics. I asked if there would be any interaction of his meds with my blood thinning meds, and he said "no problem". I stepped outside with my cell phone and used the interaction checker on Drugs.com and discovered a major interaction with his and my meds. I walked back inside to show him my discovery, and he laughed and said "solly" and gave me the very inexpensive locally manufactured antibiotics that I had asked for in the first place...but charged me the same price as the expensive imports that he tried to pawn off on me initially. So, I think you're right Parrot in that sometimes it's worth it to pay a little bit more and get a better quality of care at the hospital.
Colossians 2:8-10...See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. For in HIM dwells all the fullness of the GODHEAD bodily; and you are complete in HIM, who is the head of all principality and power.

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Re: Cost of Medical Care - Clinics vs. Private Hospital

Post by parrot » October 1, 2019, 2:20 pm

It's worth mentioning that all of the street clinics that I've used over the years do not employ pharmacists. Instead, either the doctor himself prepares the meds for the patient, or more likely, the receptionist prepares the package of meds and maybe gives them to the doctor to double check before handing them to the patient.
In many cases, creams are put into small plastic containers......for example, one dermatologist dispensed dermovate into small round plastic containers. The containers were not marked, no expiration date, no nothing. When I asked, I was told it was dermovate. Who knows? Likewise with many pills......put into small plastic bags with daily dosage marked but often times, no indication of what exactly the meds are.....or if they are, no indication of expiration date.

In answer to semperfiguy's question:
The last time I was at Bangkok Hospital ENT was 30 Oct 2017. Physician charge then was 500, yesterday 400. But yesterday included a physician procedure fee for 400 Baht.
Medication then was 340, yesterday 389. Other medical service charge then 110, yesterday 110.

Rather than compare apples and oranges (street clinic vs. private hospital), consider comparing private hospital here with the cost of seeing a specialist in the US. While I gave the hospital an hour and a half notice that I was coming, I could have just gone and probably seen the doctor just as quickly. Try seeing a specialist like that in the US. I walked out with a total bill of 1600ish Baht, antibiotics and prescription ear drops included. US prices and convenience don't come close.

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Re: Cost of Medical Care - Clinics vs. Private Hospital

Post by parrot » October 17, 2019, 1:21 pm

If you want to know the government price schedule for a variety of drugs/medicines:
http://ndi.fda.moph.go.th/drug_value/index/public/0/220

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semperfiguy
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Re: Cost of Medical Care - Clinics vs. Private Hospital

Post by semperfiguy » October 17, 2019, 2:06 pm

parrot wrote:
October 17, 2019, 1:21 pm
If you want to know the government price schedule for a variety of drugs/medicines:
http://ndi.fda.moph.go.th/drug_value/index/public/0/220
None of the drugs from the Army Hospital that I use are priced anywhere near those on the list. Some are cheaper and some are more expensive. Doesn't surprise me!
Colossians 2:8-10...See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. For in HIM dwells all the fullness of the GODHEAD bodily; and you are complete in HIM, who is the head of all principality and power.

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Re: Cost of Medical Care - Clinics vs. Private Hospital

Post by Lone Star » October 17, 2019, 2:33 pm

.

I think it's like anywhere else where there are price differences. Shop around.

Every pharmacy that I've ever used in the last decade has been less expensive than the cost of the same medication at the hospital pharmacy. That wasn't a big surprise. I expected it to be that way.

However, I have found a couple of pharmacies whose prices are HALF or more in cost than other pharmacies. I just shopped around at my leisure -- when it was time to buy more of the same medication. The pharmacy with the best prices I have found anywhere in Udon is located between the Fountain Circle and the Clock Circle near the service entry to the Clothes Market. Very friendly. Very helpful. Good English. Very large selection, and they have ordered for me if they did not have what I needed.

https://www.google.com/maps/@17.4059273 ... authuser=0
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