Thread: Health check at a government hospital

Antibiotics?
I'm sure they didn't take a culture to prescribe the particularly correct antibiotic...

For minor things I use the nearby district hospital also. The price is right and I don't have to drive into town and fight traffic when feeling under the weather. The doctors and nurses are decent, know me, and will refer me to a specialist if needed.

Wouldn't want to do any brain surgery at the local "buffalo" hospital!

We recently had our annual health check-ups/physicals at work run via a Govt. hospital.

They reported that I was clinically/morbidly obese which I thought was highly amusing.

^ I guess they used BMI for Thais.

Yup, and they recommended that I should be within a 'healthy' 59.9 - 75kg range. Ridonkuluus. Haven't weighed in at the upper end of that since I was about 13.

I should've realized something was amiss when I stepped on the scale and jokingly remarked that I was getting fat and the attending nurse tut tutted in the affirmative.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Have been suffering what I thought to be a heavy cold for over 2 weeks. Being as it's been one year since I had a full medical I decided to go to my local government hospital for a check up.
The check up consisted of a chest x-ray, ECG, a full blood check and a stool check. The x-ray picked up that I hadn't got a cold but pneumonia. A course of medication was prescribed.
Provisionally, my blood and stool checks appear to be okay. I go back for the full print out later today.
The reason why I write this is to inform people of the costs involved. The full check, incl chest x-ray, printout, medication for treatment of pneumonia, doctors consultation etc came to a whopping 1,300 Baht. Time taken at hospital less than 3 hours. Private hospital would be about half that time
I know for sure that if I'd used a private hospital I'd have been lucky to get away with a bill of less than 15,000 Baht. I know posters will be critical of using government hospitals but in 10 years of using them I have no concerns. Fire away.

Hi pragmatic thanks for mentioning..
Do you mind sharing which govt hospital you went to?
Thanks

I went to my local hospital which is more of a medical reception station as it doesn't have specialist doctors and is right out in the fields of Isaan. It has X-ray, dentist, physio and inpatient beds. It has general practitioners who examine you, but they refer you to the nearest big hospital 28km away if it can't be handled there. They have ambulances for transfer in emergencies.
As for the costings, I believe they are set the same to all government hospitals in Thailand.

Sorry maybe my wording was vague..
Does your hospital have an actual name?

There are thousands of big government hospitals that id rather not filter through.. A simple name of the hospital you went to would really help.
Thanks

It's just a normal Ampur hospital. No point in giving you it's name as it's very unlikely you'd visit it due to it's location.
I will recommend Suranaree Fort Military hospital in Korat. Excellent facilities and treatment and fixed government pricing.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

It's just a normal Ampur hospital

Use them all the time. Small efficient, can handle most stuff and seldom a long wait as in bigger provincial hospitals.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Suranaree Fort Military hospital in Korat

So I've heard. Khon Kaen hospital is also one I would recommend.
Like anything they vary in quality but generally government hospitals are good at a tenth the cost of private hospitals.

If having a McDonalds, Starbucks, posh shopping in the lobby and English speaking staff, give gov hospitals a pass.

Originally Posted by Norton

Khon Kaen hospital is also one I would recommend.

Been to that one also with my daughter. It's a teaching hospital.

No problems with the government hospitals as long as you have a Thai-speaking person with you.

Arrangements change sometimes about how they operate - go here one time, next time go to a different place - but as long as you're not the sort of person who objects to sitting with the ordinary Thais and waiting, then OK. If you are that sort of person then maybe you should go to private hospital...or choose to live in another country.

Originally Posted by bobforest

No problems with the government hospitals as long as you have a Thai-speaking person with you.

I don't find that to be a requirement, even in the backwoods. Most doctors and nurses have a smattering of English.