Is the health care in Pattaya decent?

[bigplumgrits]

I recently have just been released from the hopital due caughting pnewmonia. I have a trip to planned to patts in less than a month. I was wondering if there is a good hospital/clinic that provides adequite health care in patts? The last thing I want is to have a pneumonia flare up and have no health care; and pattaya ending up being my R.I.P. place.

Edited March 17, 2012 by bigplumgrits

[Taeng Mo]

The short answer is yes.

I am a member at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, had my last Pre- Employment Medical done there. Quite extensive for Expats and they had all the facilities/ capabilities. Done by lunchtime.

They are very efficient and competent.

 

The Thai health system for Farangs is at least as good as your home country (I am also a member of Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok), if not better.

Certainly more efficient, just roll up , remember to bring your passport and cash/ card.

[bigbill340]

I had double pneumonia a couple of years ago that nearly killed me! I would think you should be well clear of most of it by then! and I'm sure the treatment would be cheap if you happen to be unlucky enough to have it come back whilst you are there.

 

 

Bill

[logmax]

bangkok pattaya ,,is the place to go ,,first class service

[discoman]

Been to Bangkok Pattaya and it is one of the best hospitals I have been too. Great service.

[dc_publius]

You'll be fine, but don't expect it to be cheap. Costs can get out of hand very quickly in Thailand as well and since you probably don't have health insurance coverage in Thailand, it will be a lot more expensive than in the USA.

[Luv2Phuket]

You'll be fine, but don't expect it to be cheap. Costs can get out of hand very quickly in Thailand as well and since you probably don't have health insurance coverage in Thailand, it will be a lot more expensive than in the USA.

 

My experience was precisely the opposite -- costs were absurdly low compared to the U.S. I split my head open,was taken by ambulance to ER, got 16 stitches, medication, x-rays, and had 3 follow-up visits to have wound cleaned and dressed -- all of that cost me a little over $230. The 3 follow-up visits alone would have cost me nearly half that even WITH my PPO coverage here.

 

I was treated at Pattaya Memorial Hospital and had no complaints re the treatment or costs.

[dc_publius]

Yeah, on the low end for small services like an X-ray, stitches, health check, doc visit, it will probably be cheaper.

 

But if something more serious happens, USA with good insurance will be cheaper. I'm talking about braking a bone and simple procedures like appendix removal.

 

USA costs are getting out of hand in part because the patient doesn't have much skin in the game, so docs and hospitals bill as much as they can to their insurance provider. On top of that, docs tend to over analyze, over-test and do a lot of extra checks to make sure they eliminate every possibility, no matter how small. The risk of overlooking something and getting sued for millions is simply too great. In contrast, when a Thai doc screws up, you don't have much in terms of recourse.

[Pulsar]

The short answer is yes.

I am a member at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, had my last Pre- Employment Medical done there. Quite extensive for Expats and they had all the facilities/ capabilities. Done by lunchtime.

They are very efficient and competent.

 

The Thai health system for Farangs is at least as good as your home country (I am also a member of Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok), if not better.

Certainly more efficient, just roll up , remember to bring your passport and cash/ card.

 

Everything besides mental health is pretty good. ^^ This is right, Couldent of said it better myself.

[dave269]

Many times to Bangkok-Pattaya hospial...it is the place to go...for something more minor (ear infection, ect)...Pattaya International on Soi 4...they do have a good system those Thai's...

[Barry488]

PRIVATE

Bangkok Pattaya,Sukhumvit Rd-Best facilities, very expensive

Pattaya Int'l Hospital, Soi 4-OK facilities,expensive

Pattaya Memorial, Central Pattaya Rd-so and so facilities,less expensive

PUBLIC

Banglamung Hospital-mediocre facilities,crowded,cheap

 

For not complicated problems all are OK

For serious problems even in the best hospital you need the best doctor for best results (only nice clean rooms and the best equppment is not enough to cure your problems)

 

PS: I need to clarify that by very expensive, less expensive etc I take the expat's point of view. It may all seem very cheap for someone residing in NYC,London, Tokyo and so on

Edited April 7, 2012 by Barry488

[Taeng Mo]

Have a real world example.

 

Recently got a food allergy, or so I thought.

 

Had a recurrence of Prickly Heat, all over me and I mean all over, looked like a skun rabbit. Red everywhere and when I scratched it (in my sleep) it came up in big, red welts. Had this last year and it was, I thought, due to ingesting some dodgy food products (beware, Patts imports food from all over, especially frozen seafood, chicken fillets etc).

 

Put up with it a few days as I had it last year, this time of year being the hottest, so most sisceptible to Heat rash then thought, f*ck it, I'm off to the hospital.

 

Rolled up, with passport and previously enrolled health card, was directed (by a very lovely and polite Nurse) to the Dermatology ward.

Waited ten minutes and saw a Specialist. He was very agreeable with what I thought was the problem, though I knew sh*t (I'm not a Doctor), saying he had seen this kind of thing before in Farang Tourists in LOS BUT - here is the thing, he prescribed me medication that was spot on, cleared my allergy up straight away.

I know this because a friend of mine back home had an allergy to some food preservative, by virtue of imported produce and was prescribed the wrong drugs. Her condition persisted for days on end while they figured what was wrong, whilst mine was cleared up post haste.

 

The whole scenario cost me Bt1300 so beat that.