MEDICAL SYSTEM IN THAILAND...

PRIVATE MEDICINE

It is somewhat undeveloped, especially in the countryside where it does not exist.

In town there are liberal practices but depending on the case they can be fairly rudimentary type dispensary or hyper modern in which case the price can go from simple to quadruple.

In both cases one will have to do to quality doctors or in any case there will be no disparities of competence depending on the modernity of the structure.

The doctors are well trained, in high quality universities and many have completed their studies through internships in European countries.

Also know that liberal doctors do not move and so it is not uncommon to see patients arrive lying in the back of a pick up.

When one consults a liberal doctor this one delivers the drugs himself, except for certain medications that he would not have but it is quite rare.

You will therefore pay the consultation and the medicines in the same package.

The medications are extracted from large plastic jars and put in small pouches for the exact time of treatment, dosage and taking times are indicated on the sachet.

Thus we do not buy a box of 50 tablets to consume finally only 10...

When you arrive at the doctor you will often be surprised by the amount of staff present.

Often two secretaries, an assistant, a person who delivers the medications, one that cashes and a housekeeper... Here the staff does not cost much.

The first thing we will do is to weigh you and take your blood pressure, and then you will wait for your turn.

Here at Nongkhai, the Consultation + medicines returns to more than 400 baht (around 11 euro).

Thai people consult the doctor when it goes wrong because many do not have the means and few are those who have insurance that covers them for liberal medicine.

 

As for the specialists these are practically non-existent in liberal medicine.

As for pharmacies the system is quite disparate between the real and pseudo pharmacies that hold more of the herbalism.

It is better to go to the real pharmacies that are generally in the malls, this both for the skill of the pharmacist and also not to be issued drugs against way.

You will also be surprised to see that almost all of the medications are over the counter and no need for prescription.

Depending on the medications you want it is better to know the single molecule because the same medications in France will have a different name here.

For example for Clamoxyl (broad spectrum antibiotic) you will ask for the amoxyciline which is the name of the single molecule.

Some medicines exist under the name we know as Daflon, Ventolin or aspirin.

To finish on city Medicine we will quote dentists who are generally very good and equipped as at home for their vast majority.

 

 

HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

Here again we will have different structures and in particular 2:

Public hospitals

Private Hospitals (clinics)

Public hospitals:

Public hospitals are present in all cities and are even found on small communes or small islands (as in Koh Kood for example).

They are generally ageing and some are reminiscent of Bush hospitals, most of them recalling the hospitals of the years 60 in France.

For all the doctors who practice are very competent and in fact they are the same as those who practice in private clinics.

The difference will be especially in medical equipment and comfort because if they have individual rooms there are few and in case of emergency hospitalisation you will often have to wait for a room to break free and spend a night or two in the "dormitory" ...

What I call the dorm is actually a great room where there may be 60 beds or more.

These lined up by box of 12 or more on 2 rows per box.

Between the two rows there is a space of 2 to 3m, which allows families to bring the food, a mat and eat at the foot of the patient's bed with the family.

The atmosphere is quite surprising and good child, everyone chatting with everyone and swapping food.

It is on the other hand very noisy, not air conditioned and for the male, if it really is, it does not give to its fast recovery especially that the family does not often realize what it can or not eat.

You should know that in Thailand, day and night there is always a family member who stays at the bedside, it is both a custom but also a request of the hospital.

In the dorms the Companions sleep on a mat and in the individual rooms there is a sofa...

 

Private clinics:

We go there in another world where we feel more like entering a 5 * hotel than in a hospital.

Here everything is done to satisfy the customer and the commercial aspect is actually present and even omni present.

We can find in the hall a pianist who plays soft music or even as I saw at the Bangkok Hospital a string quartet.

When you arrive by car just outside the door, we open the door of the car and carry your bag to the reception.

No waiting or very little about the paperwork, the patient's management is immediate.

The doctors and all the staff are in the small care, you are "the customer".

The facilities are all ultra modern, everything is shiny.

Your room will often make more than 30sqm and you will have big screen TV with all the satellite channels, air conditioning of course, a bed for the accompanying, often a terrace, the phone etc...

 

In some clinics, depending on your condition you may have a dedicated nurse who will stay in the room and even if this is not the case it will never happen more than two hours without being visited.

At the meal level it will bIe very often "a la carte" and you can choose according to a very well prepared menu.

On the ground floor, shops, a restaurant, distributor of tickets of course, hairdresser, lounges and other amenities for the sick and the accompanying.

Obviously the price is not the same...

It would be too much to cite all the private establishments knowing that the most famous is the Bangkok Hospital present throughout Thailand.

 

Also to know that Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in the world in terms of medical tourism.

If his reputation in terms of cosmetic surgery is no longer to be done, it is also increasingly a destination for other surgeries and especially orthopedic.

Many Europeans, especially French, come more and more every year to have a hip or knee prosthesis.

They are taken care of by their insurances, the treatments are perfect and the comfort unequalled compared to Europe with the privilege of being able to reeducate themselves in the sun....