Interpreting at private hospitals in Thailand
Thailand has long been popular with foreigners seeking medical treatment. There are currently more than a million foreign patients per year, mainly Bangkok, a number that is likely to increase.
Many of these medical tourists speak little or no English or Thai, and leading private hospitals employ interpreters to ensure doctors, nurses and patients can communicate to avoid linguistic misunderstandings.
Liaison Officers
Variously referred to as cultural liaison officers or service center employees, the interpreters are invaluable to both patients and physicians. The ability of patients and healthcare professionals to communicate is fundamental to patient safety and comfort during care, so interpreters are on hand to assist patients at every step of admission, examination, consultation, treatment procedures and more.
Private hospitals
Major private hospitals such as Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital and Samitivej, all of which are popular with foreign patients, provide interpreters in several languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Myanmar, Khmer and Japanese.
Bumrungrad claims to have interpreters available in 17 languages, with Arabic and Myanmar being the most important. Bangkok Hospital attracts many medical tourists from Cambodia while Samitvej is known as the “Japanese Hospital”
The interpreters
The Nation has an interesting article on this topic today, which talks about interpreters at the three hospitals mentioned above. They talk about how they ended up in this difficult profession with a lot of medical terminology and about their experiences. It struck me that the interpreters who speak are all women and I wondered whether there are also male interpreters available at the hospitals. You can read the whole story at this link: www.nationthailand.com/lifestyle/30375333
Dutch interpreters
I cannot say whether medical tourism to Thailand from Belgium and the Netherlands and other European countries is of any importance to Thai hospitals. Although I think that Flemish and Dutch people who end up in a hospital often speak at least a mouth full of English, I can also imagine that an interpreter can be of great service in communication and in other matters. Are there blog readers who have experience with this?
Source: The Nation website
About this blogger
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Bert Gringhuis (1945), born and raised in Almelo in the beautiful Twente. Later lived for many years in Amsterdam and Alkmaar, working in export for various companies. I first came to Thailand in 1980 and immediately fell in love with the country. Been back many times since then and moved to Thailand after my (early) retirement as a widower. I have been living there for 22 years now with my somewhat younger Thai lady Poopae.
My first experiences in Thailand as a kind of newsletter sent to family, friends and acquaintances, which later appeared under the name Gringo on Thailandblog. Many, many articles followed those first stories and that has grown into an almost daily hobby.
In the Netherlands still an avid footballer and football referee, but the years are starting to tell and in Thailand still avid, but the pool billiards is really of inferior quality, ha ha!
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I acted as an interpreter a number of times in a court case in Thailand involving Dutch citizens. Terribly difficult.
Ah, Bumrungrat International Hospital. (pronounce: bamgrograt, tones: middle, middle, descending). It literally means 'Care for the People'. So not nice. Care for Foreigners: Bumrungtangchat.
Opinions differ, but I think that the large increase in medical tourism is at the expense of the care for Thais.
There is a difference between medical tourism (coming to Thailand with an ailment for treatment) and tourists who need medical care (fallen ill in Thailand).
The article doesn't make it clear whether that's all being thrown on the great heap of medical tourism.
Personally, I don't have such a high opinion of the medical standard in Thailand that I would go to Thailand for that.
Except when the standard of care in your own country is even lower.
Indeed. It is estimated that of that million, about half are medical tourists and the other half are foreigners living in Thailand.
The reason is that in Thailand people are operated on the same day and in the Netherlands people end up on the waiting list for months
I spoke to a Thai lady over the weekend, who says 'I will continue to live in the Netherlands, I will never live in Thailand again. Here in the Netherlands I am well helped in the hospital. In Thailand, the care for the common people is not as good as in the Netherlands' . I then said 'but I hear many Dutch people complain about the care here and that it can be done much faster, better and for the same or low price in Thailand. Thailand is much better!' . 'No, only if you have a lot of money for VIP treatment, but as an ordinary Thai, the care is not that good. Too few staff for too many people.
That's true if you ever pop into a state hospital and look around!
It is precisely because of this medical tourism that there is more and better offer for all. The doctors of these hospitals often also work elsewhere and even in the state hospitals, where they take the knowledge and skills of, for example, Bumrungrad with them.
With a better offer, more knowledge and skills, I can agree. But I do not believe that the average Thai patient will receive more, on the contrary. For every kidney transplant in a foreigner in a private hospital, a Thai can whistle for that treatment.
In the Netherlands you sometimes have to wait a long time for proper treatment (but in acute cases you are always helped immediately), in Thailand you have to wait until you die. Have you ever been admitted to a state hospital?
And that good doctor spends an average of half an hour on a foreign patient in a private hospital and an average of three (3!!) minutes on a Thai patent in a state hospital.
What do you think? Good quality in both cases?
Very many state hospitals are in no way comparable to a private hospital where someone with enough financial resources can be treated.
We took my Thai mother-in-law with severe pain to a state hospital in our village on a Friday afternoon, where she only received painkillers without further investigation.
Although some think this is so great under the 30Baht scheme, we were further told that despite her severe pain and her visibly poor condition, she could not count on a diagnosis until next Monday.
Unlike in a private hospital, there was not a single doctor available during the weekend, so we thought it wiser to immediately transfer her to a private hospital 30 km away in the city.
The treatment and, of course, the bill was in no way comparable in quality to the extremely poor and primitive care she received at the state hospital in the village.
A Thai and even an expat without money would have been a very poor sock in terms of medical care in this case.
In an acute case, she was better served all over Europe.
Dear Harry,
The Thai medical specialists are trained by or via the Thai Government and not by a private hospital.
First, the doctors are trained in Thailand, largely subsidized by the Thai government, and then offered the opportunity to train abroad.
It is precisely these Thai specialists who first start working in a state hospital and later work in private hospitals, because private hospitals pay better.
For example, there are specialists working for both types of hospitals AT THE SAME TIME.
So don't take knowledge and skills from a private hospital to a state hospital, but the other way around.
I have now ended up in a state hospital three times. Helped every time and took the time. There is no one there to catch you and you need someone who knows Thai.
But after reporting and taking the blood pressure yourself in a machine and the weight. Is it just follow to the different spots. Doctor, X-ray doctor, Casting and collection of crutches it all went by itself, painkillers and the bill of 1500 bht. Yes, it takes me about 3 hours, but would I have finished faster in the Netherlands? Broken toe must be checked again.
The female doctor did speak English, said that she had done her studies in England for 3 years and therefore also knew where the Netherlands was. No, I have nothing to complain about a state hospital.
Of course I also see that the infirmaries are a bit like the auberge you have on the Camino de Santiago. Large rooms in sections made by screens and curtains on which 6 to 8 people lie.
In my Ban Khwao, a doctor also works in her own clinic in the village after her work in the hospital. Have been treated for free the last three times, just like a Dutch friend who came to visit us. If you ask what does it cost, they say “welcome to Thailand” In the beginning I had to pay 170 bht once. Before Covid-19, there were often as many as 80 patients waiting their turn. I was sometimes ashamed that people cleared a stoeo for me and waited their turn on a mat on the floor. Sometimes came from 300 km away, now I only see a few people every time.
Yes Tino, interpreting in a courtroom is very difficult and extremely tiring. At the time I was paid 1000 baht per hour by the court, but even for 5 times that, I would rather never do that again.
Interpreting during a conversation is usually a bit more relaxed, and unlike in a court hearing, you can also just sit down.
Ha Tino, I have also done that interpreting during a court hearing a few times. Still, interpreting in a hospital seems a bit easier to me. In the courtroom you have to stand next to the witness and then often for several hours. In a hospital you can probably sit next to the patient.
Thailand announced to become the “Medical Hub” for “Asean”… Sorry, but as long as rates are applied that are up to 7X higher than in European countries (I speak from experience for myself and friends) none of this will happen come…
The topic is about interpreting.
Which treatment had to be paid 7x as much as elsewhere and in which hospital?
Bangkok Hospital in Rayong.
My experience in Bumrungrad: about 2/3 to 3/4 of the costs in the Dutch hospitals for a few actions and a certain operation.
In BRR: Waiting 45 MINUTES (Saturday morning) before a neurologist could examine me, and found out in 10 minutes what it was AND NOT AND who I should be with. Couldn't find anything in NL. In addition: 45 DAYS waiting for a neurologist.
Back specialist on Monday, and spent two weeks through the entire “circus”, which takes more than half a year in the Netherlands.
Thailand has been a medical hub for several other countries in Asean for years, including Cambodia & Myanmar.
LS., My experience with Thai private hospitals is a very good one.
Last January while visiting my son in Rayong, I broke my shoulder. I got to
Brought to St. Mary's where the care was excellent, doctor and specialist spoke English,
English is my second language, so no problem. The nursing staff, on the other hand,
spoke no English, if you tried to make something clear they looked on google translate.
Perhaps more attention should be paid to this in the training for nurses,
with so many tourists in Thailand. By the way, the nursing was top notch in St. Mary's; good care
a lot of attention!.
Dear Gringo, I myself have regularly visited private Thai hospitals due to acute problems in the past and was once admitted to the Samitivey, 4 years ago. An interpreter was not offered, although I note that the doctor and I could communicate well in English. Medical tourism from Belgium and the Netherlands will probably only take place by patients who receive no or only partial reimbursement from their insurer, such as for dental technology or certain forms of plastic surgery. Seen quite a few families from the Middle East in the Pattaya-Bangkok Hospital, in my estimation indeed medical tourists. The Pattaya-Bangkok Hospital had/has (?) a special contact person for Belgians and Dutch people.
Dear Leo,
I agree with you. Have used hospital in Thailand 3 times in 10 years.
1st time for cataract surgery in Bangkok Hospital eye clinic in Phuket, referred by doctor in BH on Samui after check-up. Never seen so much state of the art equipment and fantastic treatment by young USA trained specialist. Both eyes treated in 2 days (in the Netherlands there had to be at least a month in between) no waiting times (could be treated within a week) and could see better afterwards than when I was young. Assistants and nursing staff also spoke reasonable to good English. In the Netherlands I would only get standard lenses and the advice to buy a pair of glasses! I paid extra for the multi-focus myself and at the age of 78 I see the ants walking over the fence at a distance of 5 meters. Also read without glasses. In the Netherlands I probably should have bought binoculars. It turned out that there is a competency battle between the Association of ophthalmologists and the umbrella care club. He thinks that the standard lens is sufficient, the society believes that multi-focus is state-of-the-art, so everyone should get the best solution. No, they did pay for the operation, but I paid for the piece of plastic myself! That is Dutch care, unaffordable due to expensive managers, hospitalization costs of EUR 800/day, etc. And what care and attention in these Thai hospitals. Even the food is fine, private shower, sitting area, etc..
2nd time in Lanna Hospital in Chiang Mai where I came with fatigue. The attending physician noticed within an hour that I had dengue after a blood test. Straight to the top of the drip and 3 days later back home and 3 weeks aftercare. He also spoke excellent English, staff less so, but there are always those who speak sufficient English and are called upon if necessary. In the Netherlands I would have undoubtedly died after a few weeks of muddling because they have no experience with dengue.
3rd time, at check-up at Bangkok Hospital in Chiang Mai, a tumor was found on my only kidney. So panic, MRI made and price requested for operation etc. approx. THB 200.000, then approx. EUR 4.800.
Contacted Erasmus for DaVinci (robot) operation, CD with ultrasound and MRI sent. Fantastic specialist who even answered my emails on Sunday. FBTO did not want to pay for the robot, because “not necessary”, Erasmus did. No idea what everything cost, including 5 days of nursing, but estimate between 30-50.000 (not Baht) Insurance does not want to say. Fortunately, the tumor was not malignant.
Have a 3-monthly check-up in consultation between the specialists at Erasmus and in BH. Nephrologist in CM speaks excellent English and owns dialysis clinic. Service and treatment is at a 7-star level at a 3-star price. They can learn something from that in the Netherlands and it has little to do with salary differences, but everything with privatization. No people here who go to the doctor for a pack of cotton wool or plaster because they are paid out of the pot anyway.
No wonder so many people from Asia and the Middle East come here. Singapore has become too expensive because vultures with a doctor's degree live there and India remains at a high risk of infections.
You also see more and more Thai at these hospitals, because the premium is not much higher (approx. THB 6.000/year if you are under 65, unfortunately above that you are screwed.) Have now accommodated my stepson there for that amount. Although he is only 22 years old, you don't get anything for that money in the Netherlands.
And where in Dutch hospitals can you go for THB 30, even if you have to wait just as long?
Dear Dick, nice to read that you are so pleased with the quality and results of your treatments in the Thai hospitals you visited. I fully endorse your conclusion. In recent years I have been treated by Thai doctors for a wide variety of complaints and in different departments and also to my satisfaction. A remarkable difference with the Netherlands is the short term, at least in the private hospitals, where you can go with your complaints and receive help. At the end of last year I had almost sleepless nights in the Netherlands because of pain in one leg, walking was very difficult for me. Got painkillers from my GP, but the first appointment with a specialist in the hospital could not take place until after 9 weeks. Think I would have been welcome at the specialist in Thailand the same day. However, there is another side to the coin. My partner had not even been in the Netherlands for a year when the mother was admitted to the hospital in Chiang Rai with either a cerebral haemorrhage or a cerebral infarction. She was/had to (?) actually leave the hospital quite soon. We went to see her shortly afterwards and found that she was partially paralyzed. Soon after we returned to the Netherlands, she had a second attack, from which she died. I am talking about the year 2000 and I knew very little about Thai hospitals then. However, can I sometimes blame me for not insisting at the time on at least a second opinion from another doctor, where finances would not have played a significant role for us. It may sound boastful, but it was certainly not intended that way and, of course, there was no guarantee that my mother-in-law had recovered or at least would not have died. Besides my ignorance, the language was also a big stumbling block. We did not have an interpreter. Wish you a lot of health and be careful with your kidney! Best.
Do you ever have a German / French / interpreter in Dutch hospitals? meet ?
Or a Dutch interpreter in D / F / It / Sp / UK hospitals? If you don't speak enough the national language or at least English, you're screwed. That's why I always check Google before and after what might be going on. Also to know the English concepts.
In 2001, a telephone interpreter was offered to my Thai partner at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. In Spain, for example, Dutch people can go to Dutch doctors in clinics. Think, for example, of our 'own' doctor Maarten from Thailandblog, who also practiced as a doctor in Spain in the past. Nowadays you can indeed look up anything with translation apps and/or via Google. If you have to visit a doctor abroad, your method of practicing the English translation of what might be wrong with you is a good idea.
I translate for Dutch - Belgians - French - Germans In 2 hospitals in Udon Thani and that happens regularly!
Hello Edmund
Do you do this officially for certain hospitals in Udon and if so which ones?
Doctoral language is always difficult, especially in another language.
The best communication between doctor and patient always takes place when both speak the same native language.
Many Expats, because their Thai is not sufficient, and the Thai doctor prefers to speak in his own mother tongue, are often forced to represent their Thai spouse.
Even if the Thai doctor speaks English, in the presence of this patient's Thai husband, you often see that the doctor conducts about 80% of the necessary conversation in Thai.
Someone who does not speak or understand Thai, and there are still a lot of them among the expats, is at the mercy of the communication skills of his Thai husband, and can only hope that his suffering is conveyed properly and the doctor's advice is well received. translated back to the patient.
Almost the same, although a little less will also happen if the patient is not familiar with the medical terms in the English language.
Speaking normal English in domestic use, which is often very easy in Thailand with a Thai, is for many people completely different from understanding and speaking medical English.
Wouldn't want to give the expats and other suffering people a living who would have preferred to see themselves treated in the Netherlands because of these communication problems.
Small mistake by the interpreter, just call Apeldoorn.
Or even worse, quickly on the way to the eternal hunting grounds.
And I would not rely on google translate at all, sometimes read something about car and motorcycle technology and related subjects from Thai to English or Dutch.
You keep smiling.
Jan Beute.
Dear Janbeute, That is exactly what I meant in my comment above.
Medical and also technical English is completely different from the normal English that most foreigners know from their home, garden and relationship know English.
If a car mechanic, bricklayer or carpenter from the Netherlands has to translate concepts he has learned in the Netherlands into English, most of them already need a dictionary.
In addition, these latter concepts are of course in no way comparable when it comes to one's own health.
or your forgetful interpreter will change the word tonsillectomy for vasectomy due to his inexperience with medical terms (it looks a bit like it, so won't make much difference), you still have a challenge after that.
A few years ago I met a Thai nurse from the San Paulo Hospital in Hua Hin. This man has lived in Groningen for years and also had his education there. I understood from him that he is also used as an interpreter in San Paulo Hospital.
My idea about medical care in Thailand is clear and straightforward. I will continue to live in Thailand as long as I am healthy. From the day I get sick with my health I'm going back to Belgium. You don't speak the language and you don't have an overview of the bills. From the moment you enter private hospitals you can hear the calculators ringing. You depend on the insurance and you have to guess at the intentions of the doctor and his or her training. Don't forget that many doctors would very likely never have been able to complete their training had they studied in the West. That's why the really reputed doctors here have all done their studies in Europe or the US.
Thailand is one who doesn't have too much money but still wants to use plastic surgery, but that's not really medicine in my eyes. Those looking for a lot of silicone for little money have come to the right place in Thailand. All the rest I say thank you to.