30% upo for farangs in Thai hospitals ???????

[cookie]

I wonder where this economist got his degree???????

Private hospitals oppose fee increase
By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
Published on June 3, 2008

Private hospital operators oppose economist Ammar Siamwalla's recommendation of imposing a 30-per-cent increase in foreign patients' medical bills.


They say Thailand could lose its competitiveness in the battle to become a regional medical hub.

"Who would come here if our medical treatment costs were higher than in their original country or our rival nations?" asked Private Hospital Association of Thailand president Aurchat Kanjanapitak.

He said the Kingdom would lose its competitive edge to rivals like Malaysia and Singapore, which at present provide similar-quality services at higher prices.

Ammar on Sunday suggested private hospitals be forced to increase medical bills for foreign patients by 30 per cent in order to solve the severe shortage of physicians. He said this would increase government revenue as much as Bt6 billion. The extra revenue could be used to fund the national healthcare programme, which is in a poor state from a shortage of practitioners in public hospitals.

He attributed the shortage to Thailand's strategy of becoming a medical hub. Private hospitals provide better services to lure foreign patients, and so they offer high salaries to public-hospital physicians.

One Public Health Ministry study predicts that in 2015, the number of outpatients will increase to 8 million and inpatients to 400,000, due to the medical-tourism scheme. This will require an additional 176 to 303 physicians.

"The private sector will consume a large number of physicians and cause shortages for public hospitals," said Thinakorn Noree, who conducted the study.

Aurchat admitted private hospitals were luring physicians from public hospitals but said that in the past few years the brain drain accounted for only 50 out of 1,800 specialists.

Instead, he said the workforce shortage was a result of mismanagement in medical-worker distribution throughout the country. He suggested the government resolve the problem rather than placing the blame on private hospitals.

[lighspur1]

Just shows that when the government takes over anything in any country they screw up the problem ten times worse than it was to start with and at a hundred times the cost.

[BKKSTAN]

Send Ammar to America,he would make a good democrat!

I just have a hard time with accepting that there many many people in the World that see gov't as an entity that should provide and cure every monetary problem that they face!

Without entrepenuers,there is nothing!They provide the jobs etc.,not the gov't!

[lighspur1]

Did you ever work for a poor man? I haven't, friend of mine said he did once and didn't get paid. The dems want to punish the productive section of society by taxing them to death and that is not the answer. The answer is get off your lazy ass and work or be a sucsessful entrepeneur/bussinessman or do without. just becouse someone got rich or was born rich does not mean he owes you anything. That being said most people will vote for the candidate that promises the most and the way they pay for it is by taxing the hell out everything.

[Bump]

First let me say that if you go to a Private hospital you are going to pay more already.

Personally I have been very impressed with Thai Doctors commentments to the community at large. Even if they do work in Hospital private of otherwise, they all seem to maintain an office available to the public, on the lunch hours evenings and weekends. At rates normally less then the private hospital's.

Here in Udon at least I don't think the facts support these guys position at all.

Recently my wifes Aunt had to have brain surgey, she doesn't have money, she got a specialist provded for her and the complete surgery and doctors appointments were 20K baht. I'm not confused on this one I paid for it. Why did she get that because her doctor went to the hopsital administrator to plead her case. The hospital waived a lot of normal fees to help her. By the way this was done in Bangkok.

After six years I beleive Thai's are in fact treated well by the medical industry here. Certianly better then what I saw in the states. anyone notice that Thai's and farrangs a like going to a private hospital with no money, are stablized then transfered to a public hospital?

What I have seen in the village hospital i they look at that the injury to determine who gets treatment first, not the skin color or bank account.

That is what I see maybe I'm wrong.

[banpaeng]

This is the same ploy used all over the world. Let someone else pay for my problem or want. Then I can say to the locals, "look how good I am as I did this and did not cost you a penny." You would be surprised what you pay for when you travel, from hospitals to sports arenas. That is a world wide issue.

[JimboPSM]

Losing medical staff has been a major problem of third world and Lesser Developed Countries for some time

[aznyron]

I thought this was about 30% increase in your bill if you are a farlong
as American I want to pay the same as a thai in a private hospital
in Government run hospital I expect to pay more because I am not a citizen
of the country. I am no brainiac but I do not see this ruling as economically sound decision
since farlong do have choices and they will go to other countries for medical treatment
I also want to say I think it wrong when Governments interfere with private business
when it comes to gauging people because of there national origin

[Guns482]

What tosh, the hospitals are paid by in the main insurance companies that pay peoples medical bills, govt may wnat increase ins coys will just put those hospitals on the list of not acceptable. hospitals will then shut, problem solved. In udon it is a well known fact consultants and the like work at all hospitals including the public ones and over the population well, as well as their own clinics.
I agree mis-management and the fact that many Thais seem to be hypocrondriacs does not help either.
stomach prob see doctor, ache in bones see doctor. heavt cold see doctor, when less crap whiskey, better food could solve most problems.

[saint]

good point there guns, i think when they got national health, it was like letting your kids loose in a sweet shop. bhuda may save them , but the pills will make them happy till he arrives!!!!!!!

[laphanphon]

First let me say that if you go to a Private hospital you are going to pay more already.

first thing i thought of, and it's way more than 30%.

[Bump]

Jimbo makes a good point, but isn't that just the way of life, get into whatever field you want to. Learn your craft and market yourself to bete yuor life. So many time the way up the laddder isn't up but changing ladders until you get to the top for you.

Personally I pay a lot of money for health insurance here and that is just for major medical not doctor visits. I've used it one time in my six year stint.

I think the timing on this is definetly shooting themselves in the foot. It is much more costly to just get here n much less stay for any length of time. Want a charge more for a product or service much easier to get in good times compared to bad times.

A Friend who was recently here, still in the working world but he has spent up to a year living here. Asked me what I spent to live here, really questioned it. Just before he left he told me Thailand isn't cheap anymore. I guess he totaled up his expenses at then end of his trip.

If this happens at the very least it is terrible timing.

[JimboPSM]

........ I think the timing on this is definitely shooting themselves in the foot. It is much more costly to just get here n much less stay for any length of time. Want a charge more for a product or service much easier to get in good times compared to bad times.

A Friend who was recently here, still in the working world but he has spent up to a year living here. Asked me what I spent to live here, really questioned it. Just before he left he told me Thailand isn't cheap anymore. I guess he totaled up his expenses at then end of his trip.

If this happens at the very least it is terrible timing.

Fully agree on the timing - when you look at all of the problems in the Thai economy and then add the impact of the appreciation of the THB medical tourism would effectively be killed off by such a measure and everyone would suffer.

[Iceman]

Definitely not cheap anymore. What with the exchange rates and inflation.

[cali4995]

In the near future, I think farangs are going to have to show concrete proof of
insurance upon arrival or get turned away at the hospital. I know in the Pattaya
area, there have been a number of cases already where folks were shuffled
around from one place to the next because they were not able to demonstrate
ability to pay. I know Thais even without their 30 baht card can get service but
I'm afraid too many have done runners and this is all getting to be more serious.

[TJ]

It still would be cheap.

[Ricohoc]

I also want to say I think it wrong when Governments interfere with private business
when it comes to gauging people because of there national origin

I think it's wrong unless there is illegal activity.

There are minorities in America who complain endlessly about the US government, but don't realize that their country protects them more than any other country protects their minorities.

[TJ]

There are minorities in America who complain endlessly about the US government, but don't realize that their country protects them more than any other country protects their minorities.

These minorities know there are in fat city. They are just scamming for an endless free hand out.