Private Hospitals Face Investigation for Ripping-Off Emergency Patients

[Sumocakewalk]

Bangkok Post
May 10, 2015

Three government agencies have been ordered to examine claims of massive overcharging in private hospitals after emergency patients were handed bills totalling hundreds of thousands of baht.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has told the Medical Council of Thailand, the Public Health Ministry and the Internal Trade Department to launch an inquiry after many complaints were made.

Activists petitioned the government after low-income earners, pensioners and foreigners receiving emergency care were left facing hefty bills. Government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said the prime minister paid close attention to the petitions and wanted the matter treated urgently.

In one case, detailed in today’s edition of Spectrum, a 75-year-old pensioner was taken to Vibhavadi Hospital after suffering a heart attack. Doctors told the woman she needed surgery at a cost of between 600,000 and 700,000 baht, but said her family could get reimbursement from the government.

Her family claimed the hospital failed to say the government would not reimburse the full amount, and they were left with a bill of 857,208 baht.

In another case, the family of a 78-year-old heart attack victim has refused to pay a 480,000 baht bill from Thonburi Hospital, which has led to a landmark court case.

The issue is complicated by regulations governing expenses, with the National Health Security Office acting as a clearing house for three government benefit schemes. “The three agencies are required to meet and discuss the issue and find solutions in the interest of fairness for all,” Mr Yongyuth said.

Hospital rip-offs face investigation | Bangkok Post: news

[Kurgen]

Bangkok Pattaya have a pretty poor track history too.

[BobR]

^ I've read too many stories about people circling the drain in that hospital's Emergency room while some psychopath dressed as a nurse examines their insurance/cash on hand and/or available credit card limits for them all to be false.

Sadly this being Thailand, nothing will change. In a crisis I would much prefer to take my chances at a Government Hospital like Queen Sirikit in Sattahip.

[Loy Toy]

Bangkok Pattaya have a pretty poor track history too.

They ripped off my mate for over 600,000.00 baht to drain an absyss in his hip.

[Gerbil]

Shit, I'm in Bangkok Pattaya Hospital right now getting something checked out. maybe I should do a runner now whil they're not looking...

[Luigi]

If there's one thing Thais excel at, it's fleecing people at their mercy for everything they can via lies, scams and straight-out stealing.

Self advantage and cash profit above everything else. Morals, integrity, honesty, these are the traits of stupid people, to them.

A disgusting people.

[Seekingasylum]

Going to a decent public hospital and paying them is a far better route to avoid the health scams perpetrated by the private hospitals. Bangkok is the best bet.

Thai of course have no morality whatsoever when it comes to business and power. Full insurance by an international company is the only immunity but even this has its limitations.

[Stinky]

Private hospitals are geared up to giving folks the most treatment that they can in order to max out their insurance policy as much as possible, it's not surprising that the same policy is used when treating folks with no insurance policy which is where they come unstuck.
Bangkok Pattaya hospitals do offer terrific treatments but if you're not insured and you don't have the money to pay the bill you should go to a government hospital, most are very good with excellent doctors and nurses.

[BobR]

Going to a decent public hospital and paying them is a far better route to avoid the health scams perpetrated by the private hospitals. Bangkok is the best bet.

Thai of course have no morality whatsoever when it comes to business and power. Full insurance by an international company is the only immunity but even this has its limitations.

I had an inguinal hernia repaired about 4 years ago at the Queen Sirikit Navy Hospital in Sattahip not because of money (I have insurance) but because my co-workers (boss) arranged it and told me it was the best place to go. The cost for 3 days in the hospital, surgeon and anesthesiologist came to 24,000 Baht or around $750 usd and the results were perfect.
Other than disgusting food and a few mosquitos in the private room (which I forgot to mention) it was great, and there was a 7-11 in the hospital so my co-workers could smuggle me edible Farang food.

Yep, I'll take my chances in a Government hospital any day. Let us also not forget that when former Prime Minister Samak was fighting liver cancer, he skipped the fancy Bangkok hospitals and went to Houston, Texas USA. The Thais obviously know best.

[Latindancer]

If there's one thing Western bankers excel at, it's fleecing people at their mercy for everything they can via lies, scams and straight-out stealing.

Self advantage and cash profit above everything else. Morals, integrity, honesty, these are the traits of stupid people, to them.

A disgusting people.

Corrected that for you.

[thefactoryoutlet]

They are always my last choice if the queue is too long in public hospitals...

They deserve to be punished ! Millions $$$ punishment !

[MrG]

Self advantage and cash profit above everything else. Morals, integrity, honesty, these are the traits of stupid people, to them.

So, you've experience American private healthcare.

[citizen33]

Dr Thinakorn Noree at the International Health Policy Program recently completed an interesting doctoral study on utilisation in the five largest Thai 'international' hospitals catering for medical tourists. This is not quite the same issue as that in the OP, but one finding is that large numbers of foreign patients treated in these hospitals are actually expats. Another is that four of the five hospitals charge different prices for Thais and foreigners (though this is dressed up as a charge for extra services rather than a price per procedure). Surprisingly the one that had a single price for all was Bumrungrad, whom I suppose some would say is scrupulously fair in ripping off everybody. You won't find these last bits in this summary, but I think the full thesis will be available soon.

http://ihppthaigov.net/document/aaah...rn%20Noree.pdf

[thaimeme]

As long as there is an evil profit motive regarding health care - will always perpetuate itself.

[Sumocakewalk]

Thai PBS News
May 18, 2015

The Thai Medical Error Network yesterday made another call on the prime minister to ban private hospital from collecting advance deposit or from mandating relatives of patients to sign medical bills acceptance from within the first 72 hours after their emergency admissions

The network, led by Mrs Preeyanan Lorsermvattana, thanked Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha after its first call was quickly responded.

The network on Tuesday filed a petition, signed by 33,000 people, calling on Gen Prayut to impose controls on private hospital’s charging of medical service fees which they said are unreasonably high.

Gen Prayut later instructed the Public Health and Commerce ministries to set median prices for medical care and medicines provided by private hospitals.

In a second statement, the network proposes the government to impose short-term or interim measures within a month which include banning private hospitals from collecting deposit or from mandating relatives of patients to sign agreement to accept responsibility for medical bills within the first 72 hours after emergency admissions.

After the 72-hour period, it proposes that the hospital must transfer the patient to a hospital where his or her healthcare is covered by the universal healthcare scheme.

However, in the situation of no available bed, three agencies which comprises the National Health Security Office (NHSO), Social Security Office and the Comptroller General’s Department must step in to help provide a bed for the patient.

For medium- and long-term proposals, the network called on the prime minister to pass the Medical Malpractice Victim Protection draft law and amend the 1982 Medical Profession Act for better transparency and justice for the public.

It also reiterated its call for the prime minister to execute Section 44 of the interim constitution to dissolve the Medical Council’s elected board and select new board members to avoid conflict of interest.

Prayut urged to ban private hospital collecting charges on emergency patients - Thai PBS English News