Health Care in Thailand - An Outsider's View

Thailand - as I see it.

Health Care in Thailand – an outsider’s view

On is going to have a baby in August so we are enjoying the time with Rob and On to the fullest. They go to the doctor/hospital for regular check-ups and are given much information about each stage of the pregnancy. They have a book that tells everything that is happening and going to happen. We have been looking at a website that shows the growth of the baby from a poppy seed to a watermelon. She is at the stage of a banana now and the baby is about 10 inches long. What a cool way to watch the progress.

Both Rob and On were tested for all diseases and health issues when she first got pregnant. What a great way to make sure the baby has a good start. They were both perfectly healthy and the doctor writes down everything about the pregnancy in the special book. It is an excellent history for the new parents. When On has an issue or a problem, they go to the hospital and it is free for Thai citizens. Her skin was breaking out a bit so they went to the hospital and the doctor told them that it probably was going to be a boy because of the higher level of male hormones that cause the breakout on the skin. On will go to a special hospital for mother and child when the baby is born.

I have had a bit of a problem also this visit as my asthma has become much worse. I had to go to the hospital and they were very efficient. I had a check-up, xrays, and the doctor gave me medicine as well as the Advair inhaler. He told me that I was going to have to use it for the rest of my life and that if I did I shouldn’t have this problem again. He told me to use the Albuterol puffer when I needed it and to use two puffs at a time. The first puff was to open up my lungs and the second to get the medicine into the lungs. The entire hospital visit with the medications, xrays, doctor and nurse consultations was less than $100. The medications were 80% of the cost.

The hospitals are clean, spotless, efficient, caring and well equipped. Rob mentioned that because we had to go at night, to the emergency room, it was more expensive than if we had just gone during the day. Last year, Willi had gone to the hospital for a problem with his elbow and the doctor and specialist visits, xrays, medications, shot and nurse assistance had only cost $60. We were also very impressed with the hospital last year. The nurses all wear white or light uniforms with little pin cushion hats and high heel shoes. Every aspect of the hospital is very professional.