By Mark George
There are actually three sides to the medical tourism story. The first is the endless positive hype coming from the promoters of Thailand as a health care hot spot. Second is all the FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) cultivated by detractors who want you to stay home and suffer quietly with your home country's health care system. Third and somewhere in between is the reality of receiving medical care in Thailand as a medical tourist. That reality is, in general, a lot closer to the hype than it is to the FUD. But there are some common themes in the media repeated over and over again that are really just myths and here we are going to bust them.
- Myth #1: The medical staff at all the big hospitals speak English
Sadly, this is untrue. Many doctors at the major private hospitals in Bangkok have trained and practiced in English speaking countries so they are fluent and communication is normally not an issue. But many other doctors are not fluent in English. Furthermore, the nurses and technicians in most hospitals, even the ones most popular with medical tourists, have a rather basic (at best) command of the English language.
Myth #2: There is no follow-up care if you get medical treatment in Thailand
- This myth seems to be popular with western doctors spreading FUD about medical tourism. Understandably, they are not pleased when a patient presents themselves with complications after returning home from surgery abroad. But this is not because follow-up care isn't available at the medical tourism destination. It is the result of the patient not planning for it and instead cutting short their medical holiday to return home quickly. Most patients don't plan for complications so they do not allow adequate time for follow-up care at the hospital that performed the procedure. Obviously this is an issue with patients, not care givers, since patients cannot be forced to extend their stay in case complications arise.
Myth #3: If you are the victim of malpractice in Thailand you have no recourse
This myth is promulgated largely based on the fact that the Thai courts don't award money for emotional distress. If you are the victim of malpractice you can receive money for your costs to fix the problem. It isn't easy and it takes a lot of time, just as in western countries. There is an existing government organization called the Thai Medical Council which is the first stop in making a complaint against a doctor or hospital. If that produces no results, or moves too slowly (a common complaint), then you can take it to the courts. As a foreigner, that process will be nearly incomprehensible so you will need a competent Thai lawyer (foreigners are not allowed to practice law in Thailand) and it is unlikely you will find one that will work on contingency (since awards are limited to cost only). You will also need to make some appearances so you will need to make additional trips to Thailand as the case proceeds. In the end, the court will award damages if it agrees with your complaint. A recent example was the award of 12 million Thai baht to a couple who sued for 350 million baht because the hospital failed to inform them that their child would be born with Down syndrome. Note the difference in the amounts - you can sue to inflict punishment but the courts will only award what is determined to be necessary costs.
- Wrapping it up, if you are contemplating a trip to Thailand for health care you should not fall for the three common myths. Do your homework on the medical practitioners who will treat you to ensure there are no communication issues, including speaking with them on the telephone (usually possible). Plan for sufficient time on your medical holiday for follow-up care in case there are complications. And don't count on extracting a windfall settlement if something goes wrong. If things are bad enough you can receive compensation but know that it will only be for costs - no monies for emotional distress should be expected.
Mark George is an American expat living in Thailand and utilizing many of the medical services available in the Kingdom. For more information on this subject visit his blog about medical tourism Thailand.
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http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Myths-About-Medical-Tourism-to-Thailand&id=5324381
Medical Tourism in Bangkok Thailand
By Alex A. Smith
- Thailand boasts one of the most advanced medical tourism programs in Asia, if not the world. Governments throughout Asia have invested resources and money into the ongoing education and training of Thai medical professionals. Many physicians and medical staff receive their training and education in the United States and Europe, and after graduation return to Thailand to launch their practices. Due to the increasing number of qualified doctors and surgeons as well as an increase in excellent medical facilities, and fact that the cost of medical care in Thailand is only a fraction of that in The United States, Europe or Australia, Thailand has become THE hub for medical tourism in Southeast Asia.
- More than just major surgery options, routine treatment programs and cosmetic surgery options are becoming commonplace throughout Thailand. Practices such as cosmetic dentistry, LASIK eye surgery, laser teeth whitening, and even sex reassignment (sex change) surgery are becoming more and more prevalent.
Many of Thailand's best hospitals, staffed with overseas educated physicians, cater to the needs and wants of medical tourists who arrive in Thailand solely for medical care. Some of Thailand's leading hospitals include the Bangkok International Hospital, BNH Hospital, Bumrungrad Hospital, and Samitivej Hospital. These medical facilities are leaders in private medical care and provide a dedicated staff to meet the medical needs of their patients.
- The Bangkok International Hospital has a vision to create a comfortable atmosphere for its numerous multi-cultural patients. The hospital is staffed with a large number of translators, speaking over thirty languages. Specialized care facilities including the Bangkok Heart Hospital, the Cancer Center, and the Neurology Center are all affiliated with Bangkok International. With a large emphasis on quality service and customer satisfaction it's no wonder why Bangkok International Hospital has received awards and accreditations from the Medical Boards of in United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia.
The BNH Hospital was formerly the Bangkok Nursing Home and has been operating since the late 1890s. The hospital has a long history of assisting foreign patients and operates a number of medical departments such as the heart center, cancer center, general health and check up clinic, and the Laser Teeth Whitening Service Center. Cosmetic surgery options are becoming more and more available at the hospital and include gender reassignment.
- Another of Thailand's leading hospitals in caring for overseas patients is Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok. Bumrungrad was one of the first hospitals in all of Asia to receive the Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation. The hospital staff is dedicated to assist with the medical conditions of foreign patients and offers a wide variety of medical clinics specializing in different fields of medicine. Some of the available clinic options include neurology, nutrition, endocrinology, and nephrology. A well recognized cosmetic surgery center is available at Bumrungrad and offers packages in reconstructive surgery, hair transplants, skin treatments, LASIK eye surgery, and more. The costs of these packages are far less expensive than those found in the United States or throughout Europe.
Located in the Srinakarin area of Sirracha and Bangkok is the Samitivej Hospital. The hospital is made up of many branches that each offers a series of packages to overseas visitors. The wellness packages offered include physicals, blood cholesterol checks, liver function tests, CBC tests, and many more. Most of the doctors, nurses, and staff have received specialized education in caring for European and other foreign patients. The staff is culturally diverse and numerous translators are available.
- As word continues to spread that excellent and specialized care is available in a wide variety of medical specialties, medical tourism will continue to thrive in Thailand. Visitors from all over the globe arrive in Thailand for their medical stay. Overseas patients have learned that the care they receive in Thailand will be of the utmost quality and cost effective to nearly any budget. Patients in need of medical procedures and cosmetic surgery options are continuing to find their solutions in this captivating land.
Alex Smith maintains and manages the Cheap Thailand Travel website at http://www.cheapthaitravel.com
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http://EzineArticles.com/?Medical-Tourism-in-Bangkok-Thailand&id=5499145