Medical care in Thailand

[fruzen]

agree with 1 opinion that the Bumrungrad hospital , be good hospital , but , expenses , tall follow go to too , modern tool is a lot of , ever enter at the website of the hospital with , again as usual go to visit bed hospital this friend , a room hides to are luxurious very much ,

[wilko]

The above post helps to demonstrate exactly why health care in Thailand is a lottery and should be approached with trepidation.
Just because a place has lots of "modern" gadgetry (how does a layman know if it is of any use?) and fancy modernist furniture (and fish tanks) =- is doesn't mean ti is a good hospital.
however it does mean they are very aware of creating a good "FACE" -
Thailand has a largely unregulated medical industry and its ethics, practices and abilities are very much up for question - add to this a highly variable infrastructure - no ambulance service to speak of and ABSOLUTELY NO PATIENT COMEBACK - you are getting into a business where you could find yourself in one hell of a mess.

The best thing to do if you are visiting Thailand is make sure you have "fly-me-home" insurance, there you can be treated by staff who speak your language fluently, they know your medical history, and you have - and understand - the legal redress available to you.
If you're from the US - I'm afraid you're caught between a rock and a hard place.

[dutchboy]

I have been living with my family (wife and 2 small children, born in Thailand) in Thailand for 7 years now.

We had many experiences for all 4 of us with several Private and Public hospitals.

The level of medical treatment we received was always great.
The level of professionalism and courtesy kind of varied, but I guess that is also subject to personal taste/experience.

Comparing the quality of health care with the other 2 countries I have lived for extended periods of time (Netherlands and USA) I find there is nothing to complain.

In Bangkok we've been moving from Bumrungrad --> Sametivej --> (now) Bangkok Hospital. In the latter we now found the for us perfect combination between quality, professionalism, efficiency and courtesy, so it looks like we will stick we that.

In 7 years I will retire and we will move to my wife's home country (Philippines). However, I can assure you that if one of us needs major medical treatment I will book the first available flight to Bangkok, and have the procedure here.

[wilko]

Personal experience is really not a valid argument here.
What I'm trying to point out is that health care in Thailand is a lottery.
You MAY get what you consider to be reasonable care - most people actually don't have enough medical knowledge to know if the care they had was the most appropriate for the problem - but they emerge from hospital "better" and thankful.
hospitals know that patients can be very grateful - even when they have received the wrong treatment - they're happy to be out and alive.

comparing with other countries. monitoring and regulation of Heath care in Thailand is virtually non-existent so figures are conveniently not available. Hospitals resort to their own studies and personal recommendations. They use ads in papers whose language reminds one of those "snake-oil" ads in the back of the Sunday tabloids. they use the patients fears and ignorance to generate new business.

USA - has possibly one of the worst health care systems in the "developed" world - BUT if you are treated incorrectly by a Doctor or institution you CAN resort to litigation AND you may well get a result.

THIS IS NOT SO in Thailand. there is little or no comeback for the patient.
so you don't have any INSURANCE is this respect - you are gambling all or nothing.

I know of serious misconduct by medical people all over the world - it happens - but in Thailand I've come across examples of absolutely inexcusable malpractice, negligence and just plain ignorance by Doctors and other staff - and it looks to be of a frequency tat is way higher than most western countries......and this is the rub - THERE IS NO COMEBACK!

If you are thinking of using the Thai health care system -think carefully - what will you do if - or when - something goes wrong.

[wilko]

THere is an idea repeatedly being put forward here that "private" hospitals are "better" than the govt ones. Unfortunately with poor training ethics and monitoring there is no guarantee of this.
Most private hospitals are all about "face" they have great decor and smart workers in uniforms (PLEASE don't assume that they are fully trained nurses and Doctors) - but the incompetence and lack of customer care is if anything worse.

One poster mentions that he has regular "check-ups" at one hospital. Well again one has to ask what SORT of check ups.???

I've had a few, either paid for by my employer or myself on one occasion and they were a complete waste of time. They are in fact usually no more than a way of getting a quick buck of people who are perfectly healthy. Even worse because the tests aren't coupled to the patients personal needs or medical history they often fail to pick up on any illnesses the patient may really have.

The human body is NOT like a machine and a regular "service" does not mean you have the "all clear". blood tests etc vary from patient to patient from day to day - these tests in general allow for none of this.

[Ian Wensor]

When is enough - really enough? ... I went to arguably the best hospital in Chiang Rai suffering loss of balance and disorientaion and fearing a brain tumor or similar, I requested a cat scan.. After the somewhat costly procedure, I was told to come back in an hour' and I'd be informed of the outcome... On so doing, the doctor I first saw was too embarrassed to tell me the specialist's diagnosis and to save face, suggested I read it... The report which, without any recommendation for treatment or medication, really made my day - It consisted of two words which simply said - PROGRESSIVE AGING.

[mansipa]

I never have been in Thailand but I'm not worry about Medical care in Thailand. I could understand about Thailand, Thailand is amazing & great country so why to worry about Medical care in Thailand. I understand there must be well Medical care in Thailand.