Private Hospital / Ekachon Buriram Hospital

[Admin]

Private Hospital / Ekachon Buriram Hospital website:

http://www.ekachonhospital.com/

Address:197 ,moo 2,Chumhet,Buriram-Phutthaisong Road,Buriram 31000

Tel:(044)614100-7, 625340
     (044)614110

[Pinto]

the site is down?

[Admin]

the site is down?

yes. and it seems like an internet company took over on it to advertise.

[olavhome]

Seems like  open now, but all in Thai Language .

I plan to take a health check next time in Thailand, have pains in legs and arms, is there a good hospital/clinic in Buriram  or is Pattaya a better choice ??

[isanbirder]

Buriram Private Hospital is OK for fairly routine things ( I get my medication there, and also blood checks from time to time), but for a general check-up probably the nearest is the big private hospital in Korat (I don't know its name).  Otherwise Pattaya, or even better, Bangkok.

[olavhome]

Ok, thanks. 

[nookiebear]

Seems like  open now, but all in Thai Language .

I plan to take a health check next time in Thailand, have pains in legs and arms, is there a good hospital/clinic in Buriram  or is Pattaya a better choice ??

The new smaller branch in Nang Rong is directly across the road from the old now closed building

[Alan]

Buriram Private Hospital is OK for fairly routine things ( I get my medication there, and also blood checks from time to time), but for a general check-up probably the nearest is the big private hospital in Korat (I don't know its name).  Otherwise Pattaya, or even better, Bangkok.

Or better still any hospital thats not in Thailand!!!!

[Prakhonchai Nick]

My experiences with Ekachon, Buriram have not been that good.

1)  Was hospitalised with kidneys stones and after 3 days advised an op was necessary. Since they did not have a suitable specialist on their books, they would bring in the man from the government hospital. He however refused to come, and I was discharged and told to go see him. I didn't - instead went to Pattaya Bangkok where I was told the stone was so small it would pass naturally

2) Wife visited outpatients last week. Sent to wait at Room 8. After a long wait, I investigated and her papers were not there. She was then told to go to another room (Kids doctor)...WTF! Eventually she was fast tracked into the correct doctor.  I duly complained. Problem is that patients papers to see the doctor are placed on a table. A succession of nurses (and sometimes patients) pick them up, shuffle them and replace them in a different order, so there is no sequence. I suggested numbers be allocated to patients - in effect a queue system.  I doubt anyone cares!

3) I have my annual check up at a laboratory in Naklua (Pattaya) when I am there visiting my daughter.. I am given a print out of the blood test readings, and if considered necessary, a note to refer to my doctor. A fraction of Ekachon's price!

[Alan]

A couple of years ago I came back from a road trip to find Rocky in their with the same problem Nick. He had been their for three miserable days where they did bugger all. I popped him in the car and off to Bangkok Hospital Korat and he was out the next day good as new.
It would seem the rule is if you live in Thailand don't get sick or have an accident. Worrying eh!

[isanbirder]

Buriram Private Hospital is OK for fairly routine things ( I get my medication there, and also blood checks from time to time), but for a general check-up probably the nearest is the big private hospital in Korat (I don't know its name).  Otherwise Pattaya, or even better, Bangkok.

Or better still any hospital thats not in Thailand!!!!

No, Alan, that is not true.  Some of the big Bangkok hospitals are actually used for 'medical tourism';  excellent treatment for a fraction of European/American prices.... and you don't have to wait.  Some big provincial hospitals (Ram, Chiangmai, and Bangkok, Korat come to mind) are also excellent.

[Alan]

I understand this is big business for certain procedures. But put these same people and hospitals in an A&E situation and its a very different ball game. And thats the problem. Expats are not medical tourists. Expats and Thais need real health care.
Firstly in my experience it would appear that the majority of health care workers in Thailand choose this career for position and salary without any passion or calling for health care. The better they are at their job then the more likely they move to the top hospitals or leave Thailand altogether.  They will not admit to a bodged job as that looses face and also resticts learning plus you must remember there is no refunds or sueing in Thailand.
For general every day A&E Thailand health care is a worry and something expats should consider. Unfortunately it seems to matters little on how much insurance cover you have or in which area you are located as I doubt the expertease or facilities are adiquate enough in the situation you find yourself in. The attitude that an injection will cure everything may be enough to satisfy most doctors in believing they have done their bit for society. And unfortunately the locals seem to accept this without question, Its all wrong.

My situation would have been very different had I been able to get the medical care in Thailand that I have received in the UK.
Its very likely I would have been all fixed up six months ago without all the complications, trauma and hardship that I am still having to endure. Inicial medical responce and pain control is vital in all serious trauma emergencies. From the time of my accident to medical care ariving 10 mins. Time from accident to recieving any medical care and "pain relief" with my lower leg hanging off was an agonising 24 hrs. I was allowed to go into shock and lost 10kg in weight in less then three days. Several operations and 4 weeks later I was discharged with a metal pin fitted through my Tibia, several failing skin grafts and undeknownly a leg still full of infection. Three days later saw the start of another hospital stay at Korat BH for infection removal and skin grafts to be done again. Discharged 3 weeks later to spend the next 3 months with my tee ruk cleaning open wounds daily as these skin grafts failed also. Ongoing check ups at Korat reveeled the fractures were not mending and they recomended bone grafting ( expensive, very painful and slow proceedure).
April I was fit enough to return to England. Early hospital inspections revealed the treatment I received in Thailand had left my Tibia bone still badly infected, the metal pin was pushing up through my knee cap and a broken drill bit was left in the bone. Bone alieghnment was hopeless. I was advised a bone graft would have failed due to the infection, my knee was soon to be dislodged by the pin and the broken drill bits would cause other future problems. My leg still remained limb threatening. 
Retificational treatment started 3 days later. Everything the Thai doctors had done was taken out and a external Spatial frame fitted along with a heavy 4 month corse of antibiotics. The Spatial frame is 30 yr old technoligy and used commonly throughout the UK and many other countries. Thailand still ops for traction in beds with weights. Archaic, costly system with poor results. Considering the high rate of complicated fractures resulting from road traffic accidents in Thailand this should be an area of expertease and economics importance in Thailand. Unfortunately it would seem not, which begs the question of what Thailands health care policy really is?
How do I protect myself in Thailand in future? I can't nor can I protect loved ones. I have no answers other than if we choose to live in Thailand then we have to accept this risk. Sad really when so much could be improved through proper fund dispersment, education and removal of lost face syndrome plus employing people that all have the passion to be carers first.   
Just something to think about but not to much eh!

[isanbirder]

OK, Alan, you've had a bad series of experiences and I fully sympathise.  I have only second-hand knowledge from Chiangmai, where I lived for 16 years.  In general people were very satisfied with the treatment they got at Ram and also at the Sripat Clinic (the specialist wing of Maharaj General Hospital, which is the teaching hospital for the north.).

[olavhome]

Been thinking about this "loose face-aspect". Have pain in legs and arms, Norwegian doctors cant find anything and my wife belive Thai doctors better ( no big surprise) andI should visit a clinic in Thailand. However, I worry a little that they may just say some kind of sickness, just for giving me an answer, being afraid to tell me "dont know"......

[isanbirder]

Been thinking about this "loose face-aspect". Have pain in legs and arms, Norwegian doctors cant find anything and my wife belive Thai doctors better ( no big surprise) andI should visit a clinic in Thailand. However, I worry a little that they may just say some kind of sickness, just for giving me an answer, being afraid to tell me "dont know"......

If Norwegian doctors can't find out what is wrong, I would advise you not to go to any hospitals except the ones I mentioned in Chiangmai, or the big well-known hospitals in Bangkok.  It sounds to my inexpert ears like a circulatory problem... even in the big hospitals you have to make sure you're going to the right kind of specialist.  There aren't any real GPs here.

I don't think you need worry about face.