Large price differences at hospitals in Thailand
Anyone who has lived in Thailand for a longer period of time or who visits more often will undoubtedly notice the differences in prices in the hospitals. This is also often a topic of conversation. The government is now conducting research into this and the results are remarkable.
There are roughly three types of hospitals with a 'price tag' linked to them.
- The state hospitals.
- The private hospitals.
- And the so-called 5-star hospitals.
These three categories have their own prices. It will now be investigated whether these very large price differences are permissible and what possible consequences this will have for the future.
For example, the removal of an appendix costs between 50.000 and 200.000 Baht in a private hospital, while this operation in a state hospital is less than 17.000 Baht.
The treatment of heart attacks in the private hospitals amounted to between 165.000 and 422.000 Baht, those in the state hospitals to a maximum of 159.000 Baht, not to mention the 5-star hospitals with a price tag of up to 1,15 million Baht.
A cataract treatment cost 30.000 Baht, 85.000 Baht respectively and could go up to 5 Baht at the 656.000-star hospital. In addition, knee operations and flu treatments were examined, and again there were major differences.
The research into these price differences ran between 2009 and 2014, whereby it should be noted that prices in private hospitals increased more than three times during that period and prices in state hospitals fell by four percent!
It is clear that there is still much room for improvement in this area. The same specialists sometimes work in both private hospitals and state hospitals. The fact that this leads to longer waiting times at state hospitals is one of the reasons for this.
The state hospitals suffer losses due to the 30 Baht scheme. In the state hospitals, patients lie in a room with many people, often surrounded by a number of family members, which does not promote the ultimate hygiene. Here too there is still much to improve.
It is clear to see in the state hospitals that they are losing money and when they hear that you are insured, they are in absolutely no rush to intervene. My stepdaughter had an accident with her motorcycle a week and a half ago. She was injured on her knee and at the local hospital an X-ray showed that she was being treated better at a hospital in Korat. This was just before the long weekend on the occasion of King's Day. When I arrived in Thailand 5 days later, she still hadn't seen a doctor and when asked about this, one nurse said that the "big doctor" was not working that weekend and half an hour later it sounded that the doctor, judging by the photo, was still waiting. the cat wanted to look out of the tree. Meanwhile, my sweet daughter was lying there pathetically alone between a lot of old women at about 80 km. va house. I therefore let it be known that I would inquire the next day for transfer to a private hospital. When we left for home, our dear daughter was indignantly questioned why we wanted to take another hospital. The next morning my wife received an early phone call that the daughter was allowed to leave the hospital. Cost price for the treatment (?) Just under 9000 baht. Lots of money if you've seen the hospital. Hygiene zero, the food was really bad and the only thing neat were the nurses. It was therefore very sour to watch the splendor and efforts shown on television in the context of “Bike for dad” the next day. So I have seen the 2 faces of Thailand in 48 hours.
PS it was funny to see that the nurses in this area worked with sterile gauze and ditto forceps and with the cloth in front of the mouth. This will have been used for personal protection rather than for the protection of the patient.
Sorry but your price info is not correct. I've just been treated for a cataract. (Cataract) at a 5-star hospital in Bangkok. The price was not as stated 656.000 Baht but 80,000 THB !!! Had also applied for price in advance in a 5 star hospital in Pattaya and price was also 80,000 THB.
Dear Eddie,
The investigation ran until 2014. Hopefully as a result or under political ? price corrections have taken place. I only refer to the research conducted and do not provide price information in December 2015. (A cataract treatment could amount to …….)
fr.g.,
Lodewijk
I can only give our experience with the Hua Hin hospital the qualification PRIMA, ” never thought ” but experienced that way.
1st experience
As a farang myself, I wanted to undergo a number of medical tests, I had to report to a special office "for farangs" where I wanted to be tested. After some forms work and paying 200 Bath, I was accompanied by a nurse with priority over all waiting and there were many, helped immediately, taking blood, etc. An hour later I was outside again with a good result of the tests for me , great experience, it costs 200 Bath, but it was more than worth it for me.
2st experience
The delivery by caesarean section of my wife. Because my Thai wife was still registered in a village in the north, she could not apply for the 30 Bath scheme for which she would otherwise have been helped. Now she underwent the caesarean section and spent four days in a large private room on the 8th floor. Here too, with regular checks by the surgeon who performed the caesarean section, excellent nursing. Food and drinks are available in abundance on the ground floor at all kinds of stalls and at the well-known 7/11.
The fifth day we were allowed to leave the hospital with our daughter, the bill all-in ……… 17.000 Bath.
It goes without saying that we are very satisfied with this state hospital. Needless to say, considering the very large numbers of pregnant ladies who visit the hospital there day in and day out, I think that the experience of the treating doctors and nurses is many times greater than the few deliveries that take place in the "renowned hospitals such as Bangkok". take place.
Almost 3 years ago, the family doctor took a picture of my hip, which showed that it was in urgent need of replacement.
On the advice went to a surgeon who, in addition to his work in the hospital, also had a practice at home.
This was on a Wednesday night after 5pm and after looking at the pictures he told me I had 2 choices as to the hospital the 1st was the state hospital and the cost was about 100000 Baht (private room 1200 Baht extra per day) and the 2nd option was a private hospital and there it came to about 250000 Baht In both hospitals he was the surgeon for knee and hip operations ..On Thursday I had to go to the state hospital for checkups and in the evening I was told that I was admitted Monday morning and would have surgery on Tuesday morning Due to a misunderstanding with the blood group, this was postponed for a few weeks and so I had some time to inquire at the Bangkok-Pattaya hospital, where my hip surgery was estimated at over 500000 Baht if there were no complications.
I had my new hip placed in the state hospital and had a private room for 4 days and did not reach the 100000 Baht on the bill. Super nice staff and a perfect room with all the trimmings.
Oh yes what is the price difference???
Last year after a heart attack admitted to pattaya Bangkok hospital.
Inserted two stents.
Excellent care and treatment.
The specialist in Belgium claimed that they could not do better.
Price tag was correspondingly 1 million bath.
7 to 8 times more expensive than in Belgium.
Placing two stents is around 600.000 baht, not 1 million (there must have been more to it then). A large part of the costs is the material, which is not cheaper in Belgium. And do not confuse your own contribution in Belgium with what the commercial costs are in Belgium. The factor 7 to 8 times more expensive is therefore, to put it mildly, completely incorrect.
Try in Belgium without health insurance or hospitalization insurance and compare the costs…
Just an example, but it really happened: Bangkok hospital Pattaya. Diagnosing a sinus infection. Are you properly insured? You can pick up the medicines next to the affordable ones.
They turned out to give 5 different medicines, including 6 bottles with a kind of sterile water to rinse. Costs: about € 250,00. Conclusion: just scammers.
We were in Hua Hin with Thai friends. Our daughter stepped into some sharp shells on the beach and her foot on the bottom looked chopped. There to the hospital. 2 nurses 2 doctors.
Child helped a lot. After 2 hours we were done. We were given a large bag with bandages and antibiotics. Converted we lost 65 euros. A really great experience. and for a ridiculously low price.