Private hospitals overcharging: 30-300 percent

[Letseng]

12 hours ago, Sealbash said:

These are private hospitals. In business to earn profit. They are not charitable or government run. They will charge what the market can bear. If they price themselves out of the market, they will not make profit due to reduced clientele. If Airbus or Burger King would sell their products at a price the market could not bear, they would soon be out of business. There are alternatives available to any of these products if the purchaser chooses a more economical route.


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St Louis claims to be non-profit being a foundation. 

[Letseng]

10 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

Maybe and I'm not certain about that ;

but is the rule for farang is to go obigatory to private hospitals ?

I'm living here since 14 years and when I need to go to an hospital I always go to the public hospital where nearly all thai people go .

 

Why don't you go to public hospitals ?

They have very good doctors,

the same drugs as in private hospitals ,

often more medics materials ...

One example ,

the public hospital of Sawang Daen Din, in Sakon Nakhon province ( Issan ) has 

two rooms for X-Ray,

one for scintigraphy,

one for Scanner ,

and one for RMI;

When you pay 4 0r 5,000 baht for a chest x-ray, I pay less than 500 baht ..

and so on ...

And a private room with color TV, airco, private toilets and another bed for somebody of the family is at 700 baht the day ...

I would prefer to go to a public hospital. However, my Thai language skills are not sufficient. A Thai friend helped me to register with Chula Hosp. which is the closest hosp. to where I live. Problem now is I can't use the hospital as I have no idea how to get to see a doc. due to language. Tried and got sent from pillar to post. Gave up and go private as little as possible. 

Any idea how to find an interpretor?

[vukovar77]

5 hours ago, bandito said:

The Sirikit Naval Medical Center in Sattahip-Ban Kilo Sip is overcharging Farangs by 100%. Asked by my Thai wife why the bill was high like that (137000 baht) did she get as answer "farangs pay double' the farang being me with a broken leg. She got an itemized bill where after each item was written "not thai".

It is not public hospital .

[DaRoadrunner]

150 posts and counting. We can all let off steam here as much as we like but it won't achieve anything. Therefore I have written to the man whose name is mentioned in the article at the start of this thread. If 150 of us wrote we might just achieve something.

 

Khun Wichai Pochanakit

Director General

Ministry of Commerce

Internal Trade Department 

563 Nonthaburi Rd. Bang Krasor, Nonthaburi 11000

 

Website

https://www.dit.go.th/en/

 

e mail

[email protected]

and

[email protected]

 

[underthesky]

I'm just back from Nonthavej hospital where I saw a doctor who then prescribed me some physiotherapy. The assistant (who takes foreigners around the hospital step-by-step) assured me that the price per physio session would be 550 baht. When the bill came the price was 790 for physio, plus 200 for nursing. The guy then told me that 550 is only the minimum price, and not the actual.

 

I then asked how much my next session of physio would be in 2 days from now, and the only answer was that it would be less than my bill today (2000). Well it's only physio without a doctor's consultation, how is it not going to be less?

 

Small numbers yes, but imagine getting a more expensive treatment and the price is close to double what you expected. Bye bye Nonthavej.

[Drax]

Someone should make a guide with what hospitals are affordable 4 forgeiners in Bangkok. Would be really useful. Thank you. 

[griffon2011]

2 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Incredible... which hospital was this so we can all avoid it?

As I mentioned in post 140 I am reluctant to specify the name of the hospital due to the libel or defamation laws here in Thailand.  It is located in Huaykwang, Bangkok and should not be too hard to find. Think of the top 2 or 3 hospitals. 

[Bastos60]

15 hours ago, faraday said:

Ok, 300% does seem ambitious, but private hospitals are businesses.

 

So as long as it is business for hospitals, it is better to overcharge patients and let those who can not afford DIE?

 

 

[Bastos60]

14 hours ago, Sealbash said:

These are private hospitals. In business to earn profit. They are not charitable or government run. They will charge what the market can bear. If they price themselves out of the market, they will not make profit due to reduced clientele. If Airbus or Burger King would sell their products at a price the market could not bear, they would soon be out of business. There are alternatives available to any of these products if the purchaser chooses a more economical route.
 

They are in the business to earn a profit, but using your explanation, so is extortion a business to earn profit. 

 

[fusion58]

13 hours ago, Sealbash said:

You are correct about the insurance. And if the chosen private hospital charges are excessive, the insurance company ( also in business to show a profit) will remove that hospital from its list of approved vendors. Again resulting in allowing the free market to determine costs. As mentioned, if a customer does not agree with private hospital prices, they can always go to a government run establishment.


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So, in other words, price gouging is OK as long as patients pay up?

 

Nice business ethics (oxymoron, I know) you've got there.

[mommysboy]

3 hours ago, observer90210 said:

One one side they drastically overcharge and cheat foreigners and on the other side foreigners leave and don't pay....a sort of balance one may say ...when a cheat meet with cheets !

'a sort of balance'

 

I doubt that very much!

[observer90210]

11 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

'a sort of balance'

 

I doubt that very much!

why?

[faraday]

1 hour ago, Bastos60 said:

So as long as it is business for hospitals, it is better to overcharge patients and let those who can not afford DIE?

 

 

That's why there is the NHS.

 

However, it's paid for by National Insurance & Taxation...

 

 

 

[Burma Man]

Private hospitals CUT THE NECK of foreigners. I always use government hospital. Long queue but much less fees and you get taken cared of by the same doctor who works at the private hospitals . I would rather get underclass treatment and die in government hospitals than pay the fees that I don't have to the private hospital sharks. I use Paknam Hospital in Samut Prakan. Everyday at 16.00 no queue no waiting , Dr fees 450 baht only and pay super cheap for whatever service you are provided. Long queue only in the morning.

[Brigand]

Best hospitals if you want a good deal are the university government hospitals that aim to be decent government hospitals but are well funded. 

[rabas]

6 hours ago, griffon2011 said:

In February my Thai GF was diagnosed with a type of lupus and initially treated for four days at a private hospital in BKK.  The bill was approximately 240K baht for the doctors, tests, a private room and the medicine. She was tested, diagnosed and in a hospital bed within 2.5 hours of us arriving at the hospital so I was happy with the good if a bit expensive service.  About 3 weeks later she took a turn for the worse and we returned.  The steroids prescribed compromised her immune system and she developed some type of infection.  However, this time instead of dealing with two doctors somehow 8 got involved.  Suddenly the amount of testing went up dramatically and now most of the doctors were dropping in each day with a nurse in tow for some reason.  One wanted to do an MRI (70,000 baht) on her hip due to an indication of inflammation and I mentioned that she had a lung infection detected on an X-ray the previous night, perhaps that was the cause and denied the procedure. I also cancelled the physical therapy they wanted to do as she was so sick.  I became suspicious and demanded a bill updated to that afternoon.  I discovered that a drug used for the lung infection Meronem 1gm injection was billed at 49,428 baht.  The price online was 1148 baht.  The price on other drugs were also overpriced by at least 300%. I demanded that they discharge her and drove her to her hometown government hospital.  Incidentally, they also failed to tell me what her problem was for some reason.  She had pulmonary tuberculosis!  One would think that would be important enough to pass along to me or anyone that entered the room!  The bill for 4 days was 450K baht and would have been close to a million if I had agreed to the other treatments and drugs. I had been a customer for 10 years but will never set foot inside that hospital again.    

I've been here 33 years, in and out of hospitals and I can't believe those prices.  There are enough MRI clinics in Thailand that MRI prices tend to follow market forces, and the medicine price is all wrong. 

 

If it were me, I would consider suing to get my money back. In spite of what some people say, Thai courts can be quite fair. First, make a formal request in writing for all related medical records, forward them to another Dr. if needed, or get the doctor to request them.

 

There could be an even bigger issue, which may be why they used so many doctors after they found the spot in her lung. Their treatment for Lupus (which is very hard to diagnose accurately) may have caused her Tuberculosis.  This may also be why they failed to discuss the issues.

 

Tuberculosis is a common bacteria and people who are treated for Lupus can get TB because of the immunosuppressant agents used.  Here is a medical paper that discusses secondary TB in patients treated for Lupis:

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5376776/

 

If she does not have Lupis and contracted TB in the hospital while being ripped off financially, you may have a very good case. I hope your lady friend is doing well.

 

[DaRoadrunner]

3 hours ago, Letseng said:

I would prefer to go to a public hospital. However, my Thai language skills are not sufficient. A Thai friend helped me to register with Chula Hosp. which is the closest hosp. to where I live. Problem now is I can't use the hospital as I have no idea how to get to see a doc. due to language. Tried and got sent from pillar to post. Gave up and go private as little as possible. 

Any idea how to find an interpretor?

Don't waste your time at Chula. Hours of waiting to see a student. Malpractice is common. The only good thing I found at Chula was their Physiotherapist.

 

If you want a Govt hospital try Ramathibodi. They speak English. Only problem is you will have to go there to get an appointment first and return maybe a week later to see the doctor.

 

If you need to get seen quickly, try Mission. Private not for profit Christian hospital. They have a Farang GP Dr Nick Walters.

 

Other than that it's 'open wallet surgery' at the private hospitals.

[mommysboy]

1 hour ago, observer90210 said:

why?

Overcharging routinely by 30-300% is going to add up to a lot more than a few delinquent debts.  I imagine the debt defaults are greatly outweighed by the paying customers.  In any case, it isn't at all easy just to avoid paying the bill.

[Mace648]

Even if they overcharge its pennies compared to the screwing patients get with the USA medical system.

[Time Traveller]

22 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

"Hospitals accused of over-pricing will be asked to lower their charges."

 

I would think that in other, civilised countries, it would be worded 'TOLD TO', as opposed to 'asked to'. I am sure if the pricing structure is submitted with a certain goodwill gesture (money), no action will be taken against the culprits, and it will be business as usual. 

Wrong,  in civilised countries, people - including businesses - have freedom and can charge what they feel like. That's how market economies work. If customers don't like the price they can go somewhere else.

Maybe you're thinking about totalitarian Socialist countries

 

[inThailand]

We wouldn't have crazy prices if they didn't allow one group to have a monopoly on most of the hospitals in Phuket. 

[petedk]

On 4/16/2019 at 7:32 AM, sailblue said:

In Sydney local residents get certain minor privileges over non-locals like parking. schools will charge foreigners verses free for residents. Nothing like Thailands huge markup but reflecting the assumed income of the tourist.

 

Do you mean all foreigners?

Or only those with dark skin (where they can see the difference). Like in Thailand... those with white skin get the foreign price. Nothing to do with nationality. I know several Americans of thai heritage who come to Thailand occasionally and they get Thai prices everywhere.

 

[Letseng]

10 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Don't waste your time at Chula. Hours of waiting to see a student. Malpractice is common. The only good thing I found at Chula was their Physiotherapist.

 

If you want a Govt hospital try Ramathibodi. They speak English. Only problem is you will have to go there to get an appointment first and return maybe a week later to see the doctor.

 

If you need to get seen quickly, try Mission. Private not for profit Christian hospital. They have a Farang GP Dr Nick Walters.

 

Other than that it's 'open wallet surgery' at the private hospitals.

Thanks for mentioning Mission Hosp. Will give it a go.

[yankee99]

Seems they are really overcharging the insurance companies. My cataract IOL cash price last month 80,000 baht if i turned it in to Aetna thailand 120,000 baht

[elgenon]

Not sure how they figure "production costs". All doctors have the same experience and capabilities for instance? Sounds like a factory. I would like to stay away from being treated in a factory.

[tingtong]

On 4/16/2019 at 7:15 AM, GAZZPA said:

Terrible examples. Can hardly compare buying a burger to getting medical help. For example if BK charged you 1000 baht for a burger you simply would not go. Nobody is hurt and it does not effect anyone. But if you go a hospital for treatment and the market value of you treatment is 100k but when you bill it is 300k how is that right? Hospitals, private or not should be subject to regulation. If they charge what they like and you ignore it because the insurance pays it what will happen to foreign insurance in Thailand? This is a very important point.

 

actually he gave a good example.

there is dozens of hospitals in Bkk alone, 

everyone is entitled to choose the government hospital, or the private, and pay accordingly.

 

there are ppl, by the millions, even in Thailand, who cant afford to eat at Burger King.

should be BK sell their meals for 30 baht to match the noodle soup or the thai omelette price?

[Jimbo1964]

Unless the drugs are restricted to hospital issue, then get a prescription and buy them from a pharmacy. Hospitals mark up drugs far too much. Even acknowledging that they are a business and in business to make money.

[Humpy]

I had a quote from the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital for Baht 160,000 for a skin cancer operation a few years ago. They probably thought I had medical insurance ! So I then went to the Ram Hospital in Khon Kaen and had the op for Baht 39,000 .

[ttrd]

21 hours ago, Hooliganzone said:

I can't believe this it has been going on for years and now you publish it.....Old news

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Not easy to clean up the rubbish if you never lift the carpet and far better later than never ..

[nrasmussen]

Interestingly, some posters here claim that if you have insurance the hospitals charge inflated prices.

My insurance company provides me with a list of hundreds of hospitals all over Thailand that I am free to choose from.

I would have thought that the insurance company would have negotiated some kind of bulk discount with the hospitals in return for having them added to the list. I guess I thought wrong. But what is the purpose of the list then?