Reader question: What do you do if you are alone in Thailand and end up in a hospital?

My experience with Thai hospitals and doctors is downright bad. Been living here for three years now and was hospitalized twice after a traffic accident. The first reputable hospital missed the diagnosis completely due to disinterest and the omission of an interview and a simple physical examination. After three weeks of struggling, the correct diagnosis was made within 5 minutes in another hospital and I was in the OR within an hour.
During another incident I turned out to have a bladder infection. If I had followed the urologist's advice, I would have had a bladder scan and he would probably have removed my prostate. All that cost over 40.000 THB. I didn't do it and after a 5-day treatment I got rid of my complaints. I have plenty of examples of falang laymen in this area being financially stripped by the Thai medical mafia. The image that medical care for expats in Thailand is in order is completely incorrect.

I completely agree with Peter. It leaves much to be desired. The accommodation is 5 stars, but the treatment is far from that. Unfortunately, I have many disabilities and hospital visits are commonplace. I will only pick one. Was admitted with cardiac arrhythmias (I am heart patient). On a Tuesday the doctor said, we are going to operate on your heart on Friday. According to my cardiologist in Holland, I could never have the operation and have to make do with medication. I thought, they will be further along here than in Holland. A day later I called my cardiologist in Holland and he said definitely not to have it done. I felt OK again after 2 days (bill 220000 baht) and flew to Holland. I wanted to have surgery and some bypasses. I flew to San Francisco to be sure and asked if I could have surgery. After 2 days I received the answer that I would die on the table, because they cannot (yet) open a heart, because my blockage is in the middle of the heart. In other words, I had simply died. Boudhism says that one comes back, but I had simply been away, because I don't believe in coming back.

Hi Adam
Speaking English will not be a problem but good doctors will be a problem.
My experience is bad and that it is always about getting as much money out of your pockets as possible.
I was in it twice and the first time it was Samonella, they said I was better after a week.
A hefty bill but I was satisfied .
The second time I was a test rabbit, they didn't know what I had.
And I had a fever of 40,5 degrees. They had tested my blood for all sorts of things and after a week they still didn't know.
They gave me 9 different kinds of antibiotics, they kept pumping me full of everything.
I swelled up from all the IVs and I looked like 9 months pregnant.
Every 5 minutes to the toilet and sweating like crazy I had never felt so sick for 3 days.
After a bit of arguing I stopped everything,
I felt better and better and recovered fairly quickly.
When I was allowed to leave after a week, the bill came at 10 in the morning.
I wasn't allowed to leave until the bill was paid, okay I get that.
After contacting Eurocross, who told me that the bill had already been paid.
And that they also stood surety for me, that was already arranged on the first day.
After she emailed the proof, I thought now I can leave.
But no, she said that they had not received the money.
I showed the evidence, they didn't even look.
And then having contacted more than 10 times, I just let them talk to each other.
Nothing helped, I thought check it out, but you'll figure it out.
I left at 17,00 and in the parking lot I was stopped by 5 men and held hostage.
I contacted Eurocross again, who told me that they had to pay the bill again, otherwise they would not release me, yes they did that.
Yes live the thai hospitality.
Now I went to bangkokhospital again 3 months ago.
I fell 6 meters at my construction site, luckily I didn't have much, I thought.
Everything hurt especially my shoulder.
They tried everything, ultrasound pictures, injections in my shoulder, therapy at the last mri.
And maybe they thought this or that, I really didn't trust it it was just gambling (I know thai like to gamble but not over my back)
So I sent the mri to a doctor in aartselaar belgium.
Message back within a few hours, act quickly to prevent further damage.
What turned out to be bod damaged and tendons torn.
After contacting the doctor, I took the first best plane, and he helped me right away, perfect no more pain.
I have just returned from the Netherlands (I am a Dutchman) but we can still learn something from the Belgians.
Where can you still have direct contact with a surgeon and make an appointment right away, hats off to the Belgian health care.
And you know what he hasn't made a fuss about the bill yet, I emailed him if the insurance doesn't pay then I'll pay it myself.
Now I had asked in advance what it costs in bangkok hospital, they said it will cost between 300.000 and 400.000 bath.
What do you think it costs in Belgium € 2200, so you know who the scammers are, and then they guess what you have.
The conclusion is to think for yourself, provide further information and not allow more than is necessary, and take out good travel insurance.
Greetings Rob