COSTS of HEALTHCARE in THAILAND - Post your cost experience with consultations/ tests/ hospitalizations

[hormone]

Finding quality health care in Thailand can be a challenge.  Some BMs have been generous enough to share their experiences with us, including costs.  I want to complement Brutox’s thread : « Finding and managing quality medical care » (LINK below) by building a resource detailing costs of consultations, hospital stays, tests (especially radiology) and medication to help BMs navigate this tricky ocean.  Quoting price and place would not be an endorsement of the service itself...   It is imperative we refrain from accusations and bad mouthing anyone or any institutions; we don’t want trouble with Thai defamation laws, which are much broader than we are used to.  Likewise, it is important to steer away from simply stating a subjective feeling such as « I had knee surgery, all went well, I recommend this doctor/ hospital 100% » : this brings no objective data to the common knowledge base. 

My suggestion to format the posts would be:
1- type of problem / diagnosis
2- where (name of hospital or clinic) and when (year)
3- number of visits or days in hospital if more than one
4- procedure(s) or test(s) done (surgery or radiology mostly, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, labs)
5- costs incurred detailed by bill category preferably* if you can (in thai baht)
6- brief narrative of how things went ( can provide name of doctor if you have it especially if the service or particular competency was outstanding)

*Breaking down costs of consultations or hospitalizations would be ideal, according to the bill items: doctor’s fees; nursing care; room fees (if applicable); specific tests (especially radiology, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds); and medication.  
 

 

[hormone]

Here is my 1st contribution to this thread:

1- possible rabies exposure (bat) - preventative treatment. 
2- in BKK, Vajira hospital (public) ER consultation; late 2019
3- 5 visits total, initial visit for assessment and start post rabies exposure prophylaxis (prevention)
4- Initial consultation with ER doctor, rabies immune globulin and vaccine (series of 5 vaccinations over 1 month, which made the total visits to be 5)
5- less than 1000 thb total all inclusive  (probably less than 500 thb actually)
6- All went smoothly, seen by doctor within 1 hour on 1st visit, then got prescribed the treatment and given the injections on 1st visit; had to go back on a fixed schedule for completing the rabies vaccine doses but each time I was seen + recognized by the nurse (they kept my chart) and given the injection within 30 min of showing up to the ER there.  Much cheaper in public system compared to private hospitals where the price is >15x more costly for nothing …

Edited August 14 by hormone
clarity

[hormone]

And another one, recent:

1- Arm laceration/ cut.  Needed stitches (a close friend who is Thai, not me)
2- In Bangkok, Mission Hospital in Ratchathewi area.  Private hospital. 
3- One visit, Sunday PM for assessment and suturing
4- triage by nurse, brought into treatment area inside 5 minutes, re-assessed by nurse with full vital signs, then visit by the doctor
5- 5000 thb all inclusive
6- The visit was quick, in- out in about one hour;  included suturing and some useless extras: tetanus booster (was up to date) and antibiotics (the wound was fresh and clean, no real risk of infection)… My middle-class friend did not feel like arguing with the doctor/ staff (he has insurance) and he had been to Rajavithi hospital (public) just before but was told the wait would be 3+ hours and he was not impressed by cleanliness… So he chose to go to Mission and get it done asap.  I don’t have the details of the bill, this one would be interesting to see the % of fees for the extras…

Edited August 14 by hormone

[Encora]

I had an ankle replacement, done at Bumrungrad in Bangkok. about 4 years ago. The operation involved opening up my foot, sawing off the bottom bit of the leg bone, and the top bit of my ankle bone (?), filling in some space in my legbone where there were some cysts, then inserting and fixing the Titanium replacement and closing it up again.

The whole lot, including about 4 (maybe 5) days in hospital cost about 700,000 bt, about ⅔ of this covered by my insurance.

there were some costs before and after the op, mainly CT scans and X-rays plus consultation fees. The op was successful, I walked painfree after about 3 months, 4 years later only occasionally a bit of pain, but that is when I forget to use my sandal or boot  with orthoics built in.
No regrets.

[brutox]

Hey, @hormone, good stuff.. nice companion thread to the "...THAI DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS — Finding and Managing Quality Medical Care " thread.

Medical costs here range widely, based on a number of factors that might be unfamiliar to the farang community.

This will be helpful in filling in a gaping hole.

Edited August 15 by brutox

[Pumpuynarak]

Lower back operation 2015 - 3 nights private room, Private Hospital in Korat 116K baht (it took approx 2 hours negotiating  to arrive at this figure and the final bill came out at 106K baht)

Underarm Growth Removal 2012 - Private Hospital in Korat 13K baht

Stroke 2021 - 3 nights private room, brain scan/physio etc 27K baht Government University Hospital in Korat.

TURP procedure 2022 (failed) - Private Hospital in Korat 145K baht

Groin Growth Removal 2023 - Private Hospital in Korat 45K baht

Edited August 16 by Pumpuynarak

[hormone]

2 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

Lower back operation 2015 - 3 nights private room, Private Hospital in Korat 116K baht (it took approx 2 hours negotiating  to arrive at this figure and the final bill came out at 106K baht)

Underarm Growth Removal 2012 - Private Hospital in Korat 13K baht

Stroke 2021 - 3 nights private room, brain scan/physio etc 27K baht Government University Hospital in Korat.

TURP procedure 2022 (failed) - Private Hospital in Korat 145K baht

Groin Growth Removal 2023 - Private Hospital in Korat 45K baht

Thanks for your contribution!   For clarification, could I ask:  growth removal underarm and groin --> was that some skin lesion or more like a cyst/ abscess (which I would suspect it is given the location) ?
Can I also ask: the price negotiation was between you and the hospital or via an insurance company?

TURP for people who don't know is "Trans-Urethral Resection of Prostate" which is usually for a big prostate causing blockage / difficulty with urinating...

I note that the price of the growth removals has increased over 10 years...

[udontony]

Several forays into Thai hospitals over the years here, all seem to have had good outcomes, well I am still here.

Years ago my heart rate dropped to an unacceptable level, so on the advice of a good Thai friend I went to the Queen Sirikit hospital in Khon Kaen.  It is the major heart center for all of Issan.  I was seen by the head of cardiology, she is a professor of cardiology at Khon Kaen university, it was a private appointment but the hospital is a government one.  The doctor advised that I would eventually need a pacemaker.  Over maybe four years I had check ups every three months, always with the same doctor, then out fishing one day everything she had said came true.

My heart rate had slowed too much, I collapsed and fell down a steep slope, injured myself all over but no broken bones.  Managed to get myself home again, slid out of the car covered in blood, my wife nearly had a fit.  Local hospital said they could not treat me, I needed to go to a bigger hospital but they would only transport me to Udon Thani.  My wife rang the Khon Kaen hospital and talked with my doctor there, she said get me down there ASAP, she also said she finished work that day at 6pm.  We had to drive through floods and a real tropical storm so we did not arrive until nearly 6-30.  The doctor was sitting waiting for us.  She had many checks done and decided I needed another hospital to treat all the other injuries and sent me to Khon Kaen Ram hospital where I was treated for three days until it was decided I could go back to the heart hospital.

Ambulance took me there and again the doctor was waiting for me.  She said she had told me I needed a pacemaker and now it was essential.  I asked her when this could be done, she said now.  I was taken to a private room, more checks and tests and shortly after that I was being wheeled into the operating theatre. No idea how long the operation took as I was asleep but I was surprised at how many people were involved.  Back to the room for two more days and then sent home with follow up appointments arranged.  Ten days later back for checks and the dressings removed, no stiches to take out, she had glued the wound.  Regular check ups every three months on the pacemaker and my heart, all has been well so far.  Only problem is that the batteries run out in another two and a half years, so need a replacement then.

Can not remember the exact costs but it was something like 125,000 baht for everything at the heart hospital including the pacemaker and maybe 24,000 baht for the other hospital.  The fee for a private consultation with this brilliant cardiologist was 250 baht each time, but last time it had gone up to 300 baht, best money I have ever spent.  Things are so much cheaper than private hospitals because this a government hospital.  In the past I experienced the care in a private hospital for a heart procedure and the care was no better than the government one, maybe more comfy chairs to sit in whilst you waited.

[Pumpuynarak]

22 hours ago, hormone said:

Thanks for your contribution!   For clarification, could I ask:  growth removal underarm and groin --> was that some skin lesion or more like a cyst/ abscess (which I would suspect it is given the location) ? Cyst/abscess
Can I also ask: the price negotiation was between you and the hospital or via an insurance company? Hospital, i don't have health insurance.

TURP for people who don't know is "Trans-Urethral Resection of Prostate" which is usually for a big prostate causing blockage / difficulty with urinating...

I note that the price of the growth removals has increased over 10 years...

 

[hormone]

15 hours ago, udontony said:

 My wife rang the Khon Kaen hospital and talked with my doctor there, she said get me down there ASAP, she also said she finished work that day at 6pm.  We had to drive through floods and a real tropical storm so we did not arrive until nearly 6-30.  The doctor was sitting waiting for us.  (...)

Ambulance took me there and again the doctor was waiting for me. (...) .  Regular check ups every three months on the pacemaker and my heart, all has been well so far.  Only problem is that the batteries run out in another two and a half years, so need a replacement then.

Can not remember the exact costs but it was something like 125,000 baht for everything at the heart hospital including the pacemaker and maybe 24,000 baht for the other hospital.  The fee for a private consultation with this brilliant cardiologist was 250 baht each time, but last time it had gone up to 300 baht, best money I have ever spent.  Things are so much cheaper than private hospitals because this a government hospital.  In the past I experienced the care in a private hospital for a heart procedure and the care was no better than the government one, maybe more comfy chairs to sit in whilst you waited.

Wow, positively impressed.  Sounds like you found a great dedicated cardiologist, when I read that she took your wife's call and twice she was there, waiting for you.  She really cares, and knows also the limits of HER practice too (when she decides "this is not for me, I need to send you to the trauma hospital first...). 
Costs were EXTREMELY cheap -- the cardio hospital costs convert to about $3600 USD, including the pacemaker, which in itself can cost >$20 000 USD in the US... (if not lots more).

[LOTTELLEE WINNA]

Fortunately I have (so far) been blessed with good health all my life (late 60s). In all my working life I never had a single day of sick leave. I also eat healthily, drink moderately and exercise daily. Consequently when I moved to Thailand from the UK 13 years ago I took a chance and decided not to have medical insurance. I should add that I have significant savings which I can draw upon if I did fall ill . This was partly because of my analysis of cost v benefit v risk. I had been quoted premiums in the range of 80-100K THB. 

Due to a mixture of good genes, good luck and and a healthy lifestyle I haven’t needed medical care, so haven’t been ‘punished’ for not insuring - thus I have saved around 1 million THB (13 years x say 80,000THB). However, my missus has had a good experience with medical insurance so I might reconsider.

Last month my wife and son (who both have medical insurance) came down with a bad dose of the flu 🤧. I was very surprised that my missus decided to admit herself and my lad to a private hospital (for the flu…WTF?). What was even more surprising was the attitude of the Insurance company that my missus is with. They were all over her like a rash, seemingly delighted that she was being admitted… even got them upgraded to a VIP private suite…but there’s more - within minutes of being in the suite the insurance rep was up with a beautifully wrapped basket gift.

So two days in hospital with various flu related medications cost a remarkable 62,000THB…all paid for by the insurance company. Note my missus pays 38,000THB a year for her and 32,000THB for the lad.

My missus got a call today asking how would she like her compensation paid…what compensation? The insurance company has now transferred to her 7,200THB (1800 per day x 2 people). I can’t wrap my head around this…what insurance company would encourage you to get admitted to hospital, would get you upgraded to the best room, would send you a gift, would pay all bills in full and then would send you 7,200THB compensation. Outstanding customer service…only in Thailand 🇹🇭 😀

Edited August 17 by LOTTELLEE WINNA

[article22]

What insurance company does your wife use @LOTTELLEE WINNA ?

[LOTTELLEE WINNA]

34 minutes ago, article22 said:

What insurance company does your wife use @LOTTELLEE WINNA ?

PM sent 👍

[udontony]

On 17/08/2024 at 12:02, hormone said:

Wow, positively impressed.  Sounds like you found a great dedicated cardiologist, when I read that she took your wife's call and twice she was there, waiting for you.  She really cares, and knows also the limits of HER practice too (when she decides "this is not for me, I need to send you to the trauma hospital first...). 
Costs were EXTREMELY cheap -- the cardio hospital costs convert to about $3600 USD, including the pacemaker, which in itself can cost >$20 000 USD in the US... (if not lots more).

The doctor gave me a card with her number on it a long  time ago, she also said call me if you have any problems.  Cut a long story short, I ended up in a hospital in Bangkok where I was diagnosed with a prostate cancer.  The urologist there knew I had a pacemaker and was worried about operating on me, so I suggested he rang the cardiologist and checked with her.  She knew me that well that she told him everything he needed to know without having to refer to any notes.  Urologists attitude changed straight away and started talking about when they could operate.  The cancer was the most aggressive type and the operation needed to be done ASAP, I had ultra sound, MRI, other scans of bones and so many blood tests I can not remember, then after eight days he operated and that was just over four years ago.

The reason I was sent to the other Khon Kaen hospital specifically was because the cardiologist there was a good friend of my doctor and she trusted him to take care whilst I was there.  The heart hospital is just that, a very specialist heart center. 

[Encora]

1 hour ago, udontony said:

The cancer was the most aggressive type and the operation needed to be done ASAP, I had ultra sound, MRI, other scans of bones and so many blood tests I can not remember, then after eight days he operated and that was just over four years ago.

I have been recently through some of this, but chose the radiation option. Would you mind telling us more about your experience with Prostate cancer and the outcome of your operation.? What is your situation now?

[udontony]

20 hours ago, Encora said:

I have been recently through some of this, but chose the radiation option. Would you mind telling us more about your experience with Prostate cancer and the outcome of your operation.? What is your situation now?

Quite a long story but I will try to condense it as much as i can.  My doctors in the UK were personal friends and I also worked with them on a voluntary basis as i had paramedic training many years before.  After a couple of prostate infections one doctor put me on a test regime where I had the PSA test every year after i was fifty.  When I came to Thailand I continued the same check ups.  After a few years here my PSA level was going up steadily and i went to see a urologist in the government hospital in Sakon Nakhon.  He advised that I had a biopsy done straight away, they did not find anything.  Then I had two more biopsies in the next year, also found nothing, but PSA still going up. The cost of the biopsies in Sakon Nakhon were just under 4,000 baht each time and no need to stay in the hospital.   He then made an appointment for me in Bangkok at Siriraj hospital to have another biopsy done, this time with CT scan to guide where to go in the prostate.

He found the tumour and did a biopsy, it turned out to be the most aggressive type of cancer in the prostate.  As I said before, many health checks and tests but eight days later I was operated on with what they call robotic surgery.  One three inch cut above the navel and six pin prick sized holes where they inserted all the instruments.  The three inch hole was so they could extract the whole prostate when it was removed.  Six days in hospital and very well looked after by all doctors and nurses in a decent room, better than many hotels I have stayed in.  Then flew back to Udon Thani for about ten days before going back for a check up and to remove the catheter.

Very little pain all through the procedure and almost no pain relief after the first couple of days and that was minimal when I had some to be able to sleep comfortably.  The urologist ruled out any other type of procedure and said the removal was the only way he could recommend.  At the time there were only two machines in all Thailand that could do the robotic procedure, one in Siriraj and one in Bumrungrad, maybe more now as it was a few years ago.

All functions were resumed but not just as spontaneous as before, but I was continent, no problems after the removal of the catheter, well first day was not easy, but OK after that.  I have been back every three months for check ups and now that is being extended to six months after my appointment in two weeks time.

Costs, difficult to remember everything, the operation was just over 600,000 baht but I also had to pay for many trips to Bangkok and back, MRI scans ( 31,000 baht ) CT scans and biopsy with CT etc 51,000 baht ) , board and lodging in the hospital ( 25,000 baht ), heart check ups and the technician being in the operating theatre to look after the pacemaker.  Also a cardiologist was there in case of problems.  There were so many people in the operating theatre when I went to sleep I could not believe   I know that when I worked it out at the time it was a round a 1,000,000 baht area, but part of that was because I lived so far away and needed to travel and have accommodation in Bangkok.   

I was lucky to have such a caring team looking after me and they still are looking after me.  Head nurse from that department always comes for a meal with me when I am in Bangkok and the doctor never rushes appointments, talks to me in a very genuine way.  I can not emphasize enough the need for men over 50 to get checked out every year with a PSA test, minimal cost that could easily save your life as it has done mine.

[hormone]

On 18/08/2024 at 23:29, Encora said:

I have been recently through some of this, but chose the radiation option. Would you mind telling us more about your experience with Prostate cancer and the outcome of your operation.? What is your situation now?

Thanks to @udontony for your detailed experience.  It's hard to compare treatment option choices between 2 patients for cancer even if it's in the same organ, as the best option is based on the cellular (or molecular/ genetic) analysis from the biopsy. So what @Encora  had (radiation) might be perfectly adapted for his cancer (most likely a less aggressive type of tumor) and removal is best for a most aggressive type...
 

[KyleReading]

The moral of the thread to date is that if you intend to "self insure" make it a big pot !

[britmantoo]

Hit and run driver got me October last year while I was driving my m/c.

Taken by ambulance to SanSai government hospital.

Broken collar bone, 5 broken ribs, collapsed lung, many crush injuries.

In hospital 3 days, portable x-rays every morning and evening (I've never seen a portable x-ray machine before), to check my lung wasn't filling with blood.

Many more hospital visits over the next 4 months, including a month of physiotherapy.

 

Total cost 13,500bht. Which my m/c government minimum insurance paid direct to the hospital.

[Fired Up Paul]

1- Problem: 2 x (separate hernias)
2-Hospital: Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital SriRacha, August 2024
3-Number of Visits: 3 x visits prior to surgery. 2 Nights in a Private Room. I have 1 x post surgery visit scheduled.
4- Pre-surgery tests: cardiogram, blood tests, x-ray. Surgery: Laparoscopic/mesh.
5- Costs: Total 35,781 THB. 2000 pre-surgery for cardiogram, blood tests, x-ray (+500 nurses fee) (pay on the day). 33,281 paid in the room via Scan QR prior to discharge.
6-Background: I had had a hernia near my groin that had both grew and become very uncomfortable over time (read years- yes I know). So there came a point where not even my determination to procrastinate could ignore it for any longer as it was not only dangerous but severely cramped my everyday movement to the point where I became condo bound most days. Not only that, it got lonely until the birth of a second hernia developed around my belly button. Well, at least my hernia wasn't lonely. Procrastinating again, I had failed to take out medical insurance (a long story for another day) which meant that paying for the surgery was going to be an out of pocket expense.

Hernias are commonplace and my thought process was that any competent Surgeon could correct them to a high standard so I decided to save money and go to a government hospital.   

Navigating the hospital process as a Farang: This is where I could easily have come unstuck but thankfully I have a girlfriend that did all of the heavy lifting for me.

Day 1 was about 8 hours door-to-door (I live in Central Pattaya) and was used to register with the hospital and obtain the first consultation, record allergies and schedule future visits. We arrived at about 10 and eventually was in line to see the Dr at 4 but did not know that there were a huge amount of people given an "4pm appointment time" when the reality was that 20 or more people were waiting at 4 and we had to grab a number to be seen a first in, first seen basis.

Each step required going to a different Nurses station and waiting in line, sometimes taking a number and waiting, going to the Cashier, going to the Dispensary. Most of these were on different floors so there was a lot of trapsing about. As a Farang who values being in control and having a plan, this day was quite challenging to me. I generally communicate effectively with my GF but sometimes I have to give in to not really knowing what she is trying to tell me and the same goes for her. So that day, I basically trapsed along behind her trusting she had my best interests in her heart. It felt like the hospital seemed disorganised when I had to go here, go there and that cycle was put on repeat. As a Farang flying solo, I would have found the process difficult if not impossible.

The Consultation, Diagnosis and Waiting Period: The Dr was awesome. He spoke great English, explained everything, was happy to answer questions and provide explanations etc. He looked at his phone to schedule the Surgery and I saw the shocked look on his face when the earliest he could fit me in was not for another 2 months.

Pre-Surgery Tests: We checked in, then went floor to floor for a series of tests and by the end of the day knew how the system worked (arrive at the right nurses station, take a number and wait). Everything on this day was incredibly efficient with all tests taking only about 2 hours cumulatively.

Pre-Surgery - Checking In: By this stage, we had learnt to be early so we arrived at 7:50am and took a number. This was the only time it was possible to opt for a Private Room which I did costing a total of 5000B for 2.5 full days.

Once checked in, my girlfriend was asked not to leave the room unnecessarily which we found strange but there was not explanation given. So it was a long day waiting around in hospital garb for me. Not really unexpected.

The accommodations were top notch. The room was very spacious, on the 25th level with a killer view of the water and a separate pull out sofa/bed my GF was happy with. Of the 5 or 6 options, my gf advised me to select the lowest tier (which a Nurse advised her to do) as there wasn't a marked upgrade in Tiers. I remember leaning toward Option 3 in my mind (about 3000B more per day) so this was another time where my gf has saved me money mak mak (it balances out with times she costs me extra money 555). 

Pre-surgery. I wasn't given food or water the whole day and I was asked to shave my goatee. There was no explanation given for the latter request.

Being in the Dark: I felt in the dark to some extent for most of the process leaving the system to do it's things. In other medical circumstances, this could have been a big problem for me as I would want more control and ability to intervene on judgement calls. This is where having the right Thai Girlfriend would be important as its not in Thai culture to question the medical establishment.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with the way it all went and would choose this hospital again to have a second routine surgery should I need one.

 

[hormone]

1 hour ago, Fired Up Paul said:

1- Problem: 2 x (separate hernias)
2-Hospital: Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital SriRacha, August 2024
3-Number of Visits: 3 x visits prior to surgery. 2 Nights in a Private Room. I have 1 x post surgery visit scheduled.
4- Pre-surgery tests: cardiogram, blood tests, x-ray. Surgery: Laparoscopic/mesh.
5- Costs: Total 35,781 THB. 2000 pre-surgery for cardiogram, blood tests, x-ray (+500 nurses fee) (pay on the day). 33,281 paid in the room via Scan QR prior to discharge.
6-Background: I had had a hernia near my groin that had both grew and become very uncomfortable over time (read years- yes I know). (...) Procrastinating again, I had failed to take out medical insurance (a long story for another day) which meant that paying for the surgery was going to be an out of pocket expense.

Hernias are commonplace and my thought process was that any competent Surgeon could correct them to a high standard so I decided to save money and go to a government hospital.   

Navigating the hospital process as a Farang: This is where I could easily have come unstuck but thankfully I have a girlfriend that did all of the heavy lifting for me.

Day 1 was about 8 hours door-to-door (I live in Central Pattaya) (...)  did not know that there were a huge amount of people given an "4pm appointment time" when the reality was that 20 or more people were waiting at 4 and we had to grab a number to be seen a first in, first seen basis.

Each step required going to a different Nurses station and waiting in line, sometimes taking a number and waiting, going to the Cashier, going to the Dispensary. Most of these were on different floors so there was a lot of trapsing about. (...)
As a Farang flying solo, I would have found the process difficult if not impossible.

The Consultation, Diagnosis and Waiting Period: The Dr was awesome. He spoke great English, explained everything, was happy to answer questions and provide explanations etc. He looked at his phone to schedule the Surgery and I saw the shocked look on his face when the earliest he could fit me in was not for another 2 months.

Pre-Surgery Tests: We checked in, then went floor to floor for a series of tests and by the end of the day knew how the system worked (arrive at the right nurses station, take a number and wait). Everything on this day was incredibly efficient with all tests taking only about 2 hours cumulatively.

Pre-Surgery - Checking In: By this stage, we had learnt to be early so we arrived at 7:50am and took a number. This was the only time it was possible to opt for a Private Room which I did costing a total of 5000B for 2.5 full days.

Once checked in, my girlfriend was asked not to leave the room unnecessarily which we found strange but there was not explanation given. (...)

The accommodations were top notch. The room was very spacious, on the 25th level with a killer view of the water and a separate pull out sofa/bed my GF was happy with. Of the 5 or 6 options, my gf advised me to select the lowest tier (which a Nurse advised her to do) as there wasn't a marked upgrade in Tiers. I remember leaning toward Option 3 in my mind (about 3000B more per day) so this was another time where my gf has saved me money mak mak (it balances out with times she costs me extra money 555). 

Pre-surgery. I wasn't given food or water the whole day and I was asked to shave my goatee. There was no explanation given for the latter request.

Being in the Dark: I felt in the dark to some extent for most of the process leaving the system to do it's things. In other medical circumstances, this could have been a big problem for me as I would want more control and ability to intervene on judgement calls. This is where having the right Thai Girlfriend would be important as its not in Thai culture to question the medical establishment.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with the way it all went and would choose this hospital again to have a second routine surgery should I need one

Thanks for sharing and I wish you an uneventful recovery.  Though you feel recovered easily as this is indeed usually not such major surgery, you DO need to avoid forcing/ lifting any weights for 3-6 months unless you want the mesh attachments to tear and have the birth of a 3rd hernia...

Given all you enumerated, the price seems quite reasonable.  One major difference with private hospitals seems to be the streamlining of the process through the pre-surgery days.  And they probably asked your GF to stay in your room at all times as hospitals here rely on families a lot to help out with what patient attendants do in western hospitals; also in case you want to ask something, she will translate for sure. 

Shaving your goatie: might have to do with a "special" anesthesiologist who wants to have more ease with a face mask if he needs to apply one during surgery (beard makes the seal more dificult).  This is a Thai idiosyncrasy, does not happen in Western countries.  But if that's what is takes to be safer...

About the hernia and discomfort, yes it can be quite uncomfortable banging away doggy style with a big hernia in your groin... best to get that fixed!  😂😂😂

[Fired Up Paul]

23 minutes ago, hormone said:

Given all you enumerated, the price seems quite reasonable.

I was originally quoted "Up to 100,000", had Googled quotes of up to 450,000 in HiSo private hospitals so I was quite astonished by the final bill.

*** If You know me IRL, please do not WK me about this ***

A "funny" event happened post surgery and being wheeled back into the room.

GF had been waiting nervously, was on day 1 (the most difficult) of her period and hadn't eaten or drank anything sugary the day.

Well, she fainted.

4 Nurses attending to her while she is on the floor in the doorway to my room, none for me.

They took her to Emergency for 2 hours, giving her an IV and monitoring her the whole time. I was left to my own devices for the just about the whole period. Cost 2000B. She felt much better on her return.

She is not the drama queen type and was amazing throughout but the irony was that this happened just at the time I really need her 555

Oh, one thing I forgot so let me take care of that for you.

Nurse Hotness Scale Rating: 9/10

I got ridiculously lucky as I was attended to by 2 x very hot Nurses for about 120 blood pressure checks. Both pretty spinners, 1 looked 18-20. Oh my Buddha!

[hormone]

1 hour ago, Fired Up Paul said:

Oh, one thing I forgot so let me take care of that for you.

Nurse Hotness Scale Rating: 9/10

I got ridiculously lucky as I was attended to by 2 x very hot Nurses for about 120 blood pressure checks. Both pretty spinners, 1 looked 18-20. Oh my Buddha!

And of course with each BP check by these hot nurses, your BP would rise, which mandates a further check... and so on!

Ahhh THAT'S the part we had all been waiting for!! 
I think I need to fix a few hernias too now!!  

[udontony]

When I was in Pattaya last week I spent a morning at a nursing home, my Thai sister and I went to visit an old friend there.  He is 70 years old. from England and a fairly recent expat living in Pattaya.  One morning he could not get out of bed or move his limbs at all, he was taken to a hospital and diagnosed with a virus that damages the exterior of all the nerves in his body.  The treatment was expensive and the recovery has already taken many months, but he is now recovering very slowly.

To save on hospital cost friends had him transferred to a hospital in Khon Kaen, about half the price for the same care when he got there.  When he was allowed out of the hospital some of our family took care of him as best as they could alongside running their business.  It was too much for them so they arranged for him to be transferred to this care home in Pattaya where we visited him last week.

That morning we spent a lot of time with the owner of the business, she wants us to help her to write a brochure in English for her business, mainly because she has bought the property next door and is expanding.  At the moment there are no beds vacant so no rush to do the brochure.   Any nursing or care home to me is a depressing place, just because there are so many sick people there and many will never be able leave the place, my friend should be one of the lucky ones and get out again! 

In the place there were some wards with six or eight beds in one room, some with two beds and also several single chalet type rooms outside.  My friend was in one of the outside rooms with en-suite facilities and full time care.  In the few hours we were there I was super impressed at the care that was given by the staff, nothing seemed to be too much trouble for them.  I asked my friend if they were putting on a show because we were there, he said no, it is always like this.  He has to pay 45,000 baht a month for his accommodation, all meals, nursing care and all the other facilities available to him.

The people in the multiple occupancy wards pay less, I think the price started at 36,000 baht a month.  Price varies according to how much nursing care they need.  Included in the price  there are many benefits, several times a week they are encouraged to go swimming with staff in the water to look after them.  Doctor comes round to visit all the patients twice a week, he is on call for them 24/7.  They have a massage lady comes every day, not sure if that was included in the price.  They also have an agent come to do all the immigration things like 90 days and extensions for all the patients.  Place is set in some nice grounds and there are places to sit away from all the other people if you want to.  The qualified nurses test for sugar and dispense insulin as and when needed, cost for that is extra.

Staff there were amazing, I had been to visit my old boss in a nursing home in the UK, standards of care here were far better.  They never left a patient waiting for anything, service with a smile all the time even through some rather dirty jobs.  My friend can not get his wheelchair over the threshold of the door, he rings his buzzer and staff come literally running to help.  The boss there employs many of her family and friends, the rest of them all seem to fit in and care.  Approximately 40 patients there, did not get an accurate count, but I did see 16 staff working.  I asked about night time and was told only 6 staff at night as they hoped most would sleep through the night. 

All in all this was an eye opener for me, the standard of care was far better than I could ever have imagined but it was depressing seeing so many sick people that would never get out of there.  To recuperate after an illness I doubt you could find much better, the care is the best.

[biggles]

Udontony, thanks for the review. I have often thought that such a nursing home in Pattaya, with a private room, is a good care option as you age and if you have no one to take care of you. The cost seems very reasonable after looking at them in Australia. Could you share the name of this place, please?