We arrived back in Bangkok after our wonderful trip to all the points of interest to see in the Northern part of Thailand. It feels really good to be back, even though our perspective was changed a little. What was changed was we now know Thailand is so much more than its capital city. Thailand is rich in culture and has a deep sense of history.
When in our 5 star hotel Bangkok seems like such an international and modern city. It’s so easy to forget, as we stayed in the city that there are those people whom we visited during our Northern journey that were so excited and extremely grateful to have a fluorescent bulb or a karaoke machine inside one of their thatched bamboo huts.
My sinus infection, one that occurred at the beginning of our trip, has been manifesting into a thick congestion with a mild fever. I was leery about going into a medical facility, because I heard horror stories about the ones in Cambodia, a majority of them are not up to international standards, but I really needed some relief, so we check out a medical facility in Bangkok. I’ve heard that Thailand’s private medical system, where they’ll even perform transsexual operations, was supposedly a pretty good system. But, I only had the sniffles and a little fever, I wasn’t looking to have any vital components snipped or altered.
We went to Bumrungrad International Hospital, whose reputation I had heard more about. It was an impressive facility. The lobby of the hospital was in comforting wood tones and all the chairs were over-stuffed and very comfortable. Believe it or not, there was a Starbucks and an Internet cafe, plus a small drug store. It really did live up to it’s name as being an International Hospital. I must have seen dozens of different kinds of people in ethnic dress walking right through the lobby, Sikh, African, Hindu, Muslim and Westerners. I felt like I was attending an International conference of utmost importance.
We went upstairs to register, my photo was taken and from then there on, I was stunned to find my photo appeared at the top of all my paperwork. Then I was taken to the Ear, Nose, Throat clinic and met with my assigned doctor, a Thai man in his early 50′s. The consulting fee to see him was about 700 baht ($18 US), plus the hospital administration fee of an additional 5 dollars. He recommended an x-ray, where he discovered I had slight sinus infection and his presrciption of antihistamines and decongestants, plus an antibiotic was all that was necessary. All in all the whole trip to the International Hospital cost less than $100 U.S., including the prescription drugs!
What a great health system! So efficient and inexpensive! I wish back in the U.S. we could come up with something as grand as Thailand’s Healthcare System. It was so beautifully executed and as soon as I left, I was already feeling better.
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