Hospitals 'bribe rescue teams for patients' | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

Hospitals 'bribe rescuers for patients'

Published: 8 Mar 2013 at 20.22
Online news:

Many private hospitals bribe rescue volunteers to bring in patients so that the hospitals can collect treatment expenses from public funds, a medical forum heard on Friday.

Private hospitals receive up to 15,000 baht from the Road Accident Victims Protection Fund for each patient treated, said Dr Paibul Suriyawongpaisal of Ramathibodi Hospital.

Sakawarat Somsakulroongruang, a member of the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, said the rescue group tried to prevent misconduct because it increases the risk of errors and mistakes.

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Alloctoon

Discussion 18 : 10 Mar 2013 at 14.2618
If these problems are hard to solve, I fear the worst. Seems like Thai are collectively suffering from a case of Helsinki Syndrome where bad governance and corruption are the hostage takers.
from iPhone application.
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bluebottle
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Discussion 17 : 09 Mar 2013 at 20.1617
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Those of you who disliked my comments I suspect you must live in Bangkok.You need to take a close look at national hospitals in the sticks .I had occasion to visit two recently in different districts and was shocked at the hygiene for starters.I certainly hope I never have the need to de taken to one of those two in an emergency, that I an taken to a private one even if the driver is "bribed"for doing so.
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Claude108
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Discussion 16 : 09 Mar 2013 at 12.4516
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Most problems in Thailand boil down to greed and corruption. Even the ill and dying aren't safe from exploitation - neither are the dead, as we saw in the aftermath of the tsunami and the Lauda plane crash many years ago. As long as those in power are equally corrupt, nothing will ever change.
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JustHuman
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Discussion 15 : 09 Mar 2013 at 12.0015
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Everyone knows this is a century old Thai story? Those private ambulances, some even with road-unworthy vehicles, running around with siren like the king of the road. Are they really have 'saving life' in their mind? Or $$$? I have seen some even argue among themselves when more than 1 arrived at an accident scene, that who is the one first and should have the right to take the victim. Stories about Victims lost their private possession like watches, mobile phones, cash, etc. Well, it's just another 'License' for day light robbery and making money. Nothing more! With the kick-back encouragement from hospitals.... just imagine!!!!
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yik
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Discussion 14 : 09 Mar 2013 at 10.0214
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"The problem is very difficult to solve and has been an issue for several years" TiT, it is difficult, we simply ignore it ...
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phetpeter
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Discussion 13 : 09 Mar 2013 at 08.4213
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What is sick! is in Phetchabun is they will take you to the private hospital, who will then put you in their own 'pink' ambulance and take you to the government hospital because they don't have the right person to take care of you! But, you will get a bill for the treatment and the ambulance, plus if you are able to see it they will give you a pricelist for the rooms on offer and everything you have they always recommend an overnight stay....Isn't that sooo caring!I wonder if my life would be safe in a low slung, hot rod pick-up that throws up so much black soot when they change gear, then waiting for the bus!
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samurai
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Discussion 12 : 08 Mar 2013 at 22.2212
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What the Potecktung and Ruam Katanyu need is a proper audit of their ambulance service outcomes and set proper protocols. It's obvious that we can't rely on the government to provide a decent Ambulance service like in the west without allocating billions only to find that the allocated money had been siphoned off into an offshore account. The mentioned chinese benevolent societies are well endowed financially - they only need to clean up their act in terms of professionalism, which means hiring full time paramedics with the requisite skills for basic life support and doing the right thing for the patient - rather than for bribes.
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Bangon
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Discussion 11 : 08 Mar 2013 at 22.1611
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pkik: Responsible? How long d'you live here? Not for anything, and surely not for that! Guess the only accepted responsibility in the LOS is a winning lottery ticket, but not even sure... LOL
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crismango
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Discussion 10 : 08 Mar 2013 at 22.0910
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ummm, Derrr... this has been going on for decades, grown from 2,000 baht back in early 90's to now over 15,000 for some rescue victims... I pray never to be in an accident in Thailand because the rescuers dont care what treatment you get, just what "commission" they receive and in fact sometimes dead bodies are worth more to them than injured victims....
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Renaissance
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Discussion 9 : 08 Mar 2013 at 22.069
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If the politicians were not such a hopelessly corrupt lot, perhaps the disease of corruption would not have spread like a virus through Thai society. Hospitals bribing and stealing patients! People copy their leaders.
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Hospitals 'bribe rescue teams for patients' | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

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