The new Bangkok Hospital in Hua Hin

[dtaai-maai]

If you've read many of my posts, dtaai-maai, you'll know that I spend the majority of my time here in an air-conditioned room (set to much like the climate of Finland), and rarely in the sun.

Shirley Bassey: "Gooooooooldfingerrr..."

[littlebird]

I recently had to visit the hospital. I will write a fuller review after my followup visit later this morning.
Whilst I have no complaint over the treatment (albeit being expensive compared to other hospitals), the big downside was the price charged for medication (about 6 x the price from a local pharmacy) and must advise everyone to get the name/dosage and buy elsewhere.

[Johanna]

@littlebird, Wow, that is a lot, 6 times more the price then a local farmacy
And can you just say then to the doctor that you won't buy the medication in the hospital because it is too expensive ?
It seems that you know the farmacy prices very well. Wonder if that is a good sign.

I must see a doctor because I have an infection in my ear.
I recognise the symptones.
Having many ear problems in the past, so I know I have to visit a doctor.
As I am (lucky enough) not familiar with medication prices I understand I should not buy the medication at the hospital.

But do the local farmacy have all the medications
I will need some anti-biotics. BUt ofcource I must visit a doctor first.

[littlebird]

The local pharmacies will have the medication.
I love the way (all of them) hospitals prescribe a few paracetamol for a few hundred baht ! but I guess its a business and they have to make a profit.
Sure I was stupid to pay the drug cost to the hospital - and then I whinge about it. A lesson well learnt I guess
All in all though I was impressed with the hospital
After all I could have gone to San Paulo (I think not !!)

[Johanna]

a few hundred baht for paracetamol I would not pay.
Knowing that in my homecountry I can buy 20 paracetamol for about 50 baht.

Littlebird, may I ask why you would not prefer San Paolo ?

[maccastime]

Just recently had a nasty eye problem,went to the local clinic,eye washed etc,but no good still some grit in my eye,they sent me to the eye specialist near Market Village,he removed some calcium build up from my eye,gave me tabs,eye drops,after a few days no better,went back,he gave me stronger meds,however i had forgotten to advise him i was allergic to Penicillin,i had told the dr in the first clinic.. took two tabs,and broke out in a huge red rash in places on my body i wouldnt wish anyone to get. He was closed on the Saturday,so i went to the Bangkok Hospital,excellent service in and out in 30 minutes,this service in Sydney,would take approximately 2-3 hours wait sometimes longer.
Meds supplied by dr,all good after 3 days,cost was 1,000 bht which included 500 bht for meds,i would have paid any price i think at the time,as the pain,and the itching was unbearable.
Maybe i could have got this service cheaper at Hua Hin Hospital,but possibly the waiting time would be a little longer,not sure.
After working in a large Hospital in Sydney,and seeing large numbers of people waiting for hours to see a dr,and then paying for parking. i Think the system here is a lot better.

[dtaai-maai]

Do most expats here not have health insurance, then? Or is it a question of only being covered above a certain amount, say, 5k baht?

[Dr Mike]

I give a lecture about Health Insurance and have a problem about getting it inot an hour.
There are hundreds of variations--first baht coverage--first 10K deductables---top limits--daily limits--diagnosis limits--geographical liimits--some pay in-patient but not out patient--some pay for drugs, some dont, some pay for rehab, some dont, some pay for repatriation most dont, some pay for psychiatry, some dont etc etc etc
The biggest problem is pre-existing conditions that were NOT declared when taking out the insurance--you havea heart attack now and you had an episode of chest pain in 1999 and did not tell, then they may try to weasel out of the claim.

[littlebird]

Sad to say my previous day's experience was not matched today.
I returned for a dressing change at midday but at 1230 was told the doctor was not available for another hour (I had just seen him walking around), I replied that I do not need to se the doctor, it is just for a dressing change but was met with a blank look.
Needless to say I didnt bother and will do the dressing change myself and save a repeat of the Dr fees

[Homer]

Was it incompetence, deceit or unbelievably bad record keeping?

Last week I stopped at BHHH reception to ask a question. Was holding a paper with my patient number and the name of the doc I'd seen 3 times. Person behind the counter read the paper and said the doc was no longer in HH. I continued with my question because it had nothing to do with the doc.

A few days later I had a follow up due for treatment I received in Bangkok. Figured any internal medicine doc could do it so I called to make an appointment at BHCC. Asked for my doc and was given an appointment.

Arrived this week and was told the doc was no longer with BHHH but that I could see another doc. No problem with that. My problem was that it seemed doc #2 hadn't read my patient history beyond the diagnosis and meds I was on. Next time I'm doing a scheduled follow up I'll contemplate canceling it unless it is with the doc who treated me.

[hhfarang]

dtaai-maai wrote:

Do most expats here not have health insurance, then? Or is it a question of only being covered above a certain amount, say, 5k baht?

Dr Mike wrote:

I give a lecture about Health Insurance and have a problem about getting it inot an hour.
There are hundreds of variations--first baht coverage--first 10K deductables---top limits--daily limits--diagnosis limits--geographical liimits--some pay in-patient but not out patient--some pay for drugs, some dont, some pay for rehab, some dont, some pay for repatriation most dont, some pay for psychiatry, some dont etc etc etc
The biggest problem is pre-existing conditions that were NOT declared when taking out the insurance--you havea heart attack now and you had an episode of chest pain in 1999 and did not tell, then they may try to weasel out of the claim.

No, I do not have health insurance and that is a major problem at 60+ years old with three chronic (20 year) health problems.

Dr Mike pegged it in his last paragraph. I looked into it and none would cover pre-existing conditions, so if I want accident insurance, I'd be fine... nearly every other system or organ in my body is associated with a pre-existing condition so that would rule out coverage for almost everything.

- pre cancerous moles removed ... cancer ruled out
- high blood pressure and high cholesterol (controlled by medications) ... rules out the cardio vascular system
- asthma ... rules out the lungs
- over 60 ... rules out 80% of the insurance companies

I'd pretty much have to be shot, stabbed, or run over by a bus to be covered by any insurance I can get here.

[richard]

dtaai-maai wrote:

Do most expats here not have health insurance, then? Or is it a question of only being covered above a certain amount, say, 5k baht?

Dr Mike wrote:

I give a lecture about Health Insurance and have a problem about getting it inot an hour.
There are hundreds of variations--first baht coverage--first 10K deductables---top limits--daily limits--diagnosis limits--geographical liimits--some pay in-patient but not out patient--some pay for drugs, some dont, some pay for rehab, some dont, some pay for repatriation most dont, some pay for psychiatry, some dont etc etc etc
The biggest problem is pre-existing conditions that were NOT declared when taking out the insurance--you havea heart attack now and you had an episode of chest pain in 1999 and did not tell, then they may try to weasel out of the claim.

No, I do not have health insurance and that is a major problem at 60+ years old with three chronic (20 year) health problems.

Dr Mike pegged it in his last paragraph. I looked into it and none would cover pre-existing conditions, so if I want accident insurance, I'd be fine... nearly every other system or organ in my body is associated with a pre-existing condition so that would rule out coverage for almost everything.

- pre cancerous moles removed ... cancer ruled out
- high blood pressure and high cholesterol (controlled by medications) ... rules out the cardio vascular system
- asthma ... rules out the lungs
- over 60 ... rules out 80% of the insurance companies

I'd pretty much have to be shot, stabbed, or run over by a bus to be covered by any insurance I can get here.

Agree HHF

I'm 66 and have to take warfarin for DVT that occurred 6 years ago. 6 years ago I was hospitalised in Bumrungrad and it took me 6 months to get compensation from my insurance company (they paid up after cancelling my policy. The top grade hospital was not on the recommended list was the excuse and I should have phoned them to ascertain a qualified hospital despite the fact I was in a coma)

Insurance companies, lawyers, bankers, fat cats and media moguls should all be lined up and shot by MY firing squad Sure I could muster a squad from the forum

[Dr Mike]

DERMATOLOGY:
Therec is a Chicken and Egg problem. We do not havea Skin Dr here. Ex-pats inquire either to the hospital or to me and when they learn that go elsewhere, often drive to BKK. Because we do not get many requests foir appointments, no plan to bring a Dr here. BUT I also get enough inquiries and think there is a demand.
SO, if you would seea Dermatologist if one was here--write to me so that I can prove this--- Moreton@bgh.co.th

[Johanna]

Well, as I sais in my previous post, I have an ear infection.
Didn't want to ignore it and when to BHHH.
After filling in a form and a photo was taken I sat down, a few minutes later a nurse collect me for taking my blood pressure, lenght ans weight, also temperature check via my ear. Conclusion, no fever. Well I knew that too. Then wait an other few minutes and I could see the young female doctor.
She looked in my ear and cleaned it, just as I expected and I am used to it at home.
Strainge she asked me if I ever had a surgery because she could have seen it on the scarfs behind my ear and inside my ear a few things are missing. Anyway she want me to come back in 2 weeks and told me I had to taken medication. When I went to the desk to pay the bill and get the medication it was eardrups and paracetamol (500mg). I hoped for anti biotics. Anyway, just see if the eardrups will work. This all took less then an hour. Pretty fast comparing with home where you have to make an appointment first.
Total bill was (only) 1178 baht. Where was 378 baht for medication. When the pain is not away in a few days I see if I can get at a farmacy some anti biotics

[Dr Mike]

I cannot and should not comment on the appropriateness of this treatment in this one case. just a general comment. There is HUGE critism of my profession in that we use antibiotics too quickly and too often. Ear ache is usually quoted as one of the areas of excessive use. The use of antibiotics for ear problems in children has come in for particularr loud protest, but for the mother with a screaming child the arguement that antibiotics MAY not help is not very convincing.
My own children almost never took antibiotics. I took them when I had a hip replacement 9 years ago but before that went over 20 years, antibiotic free.