Khmer Dr's & Western Dr's!
Khmer Dr's & Western Dr's!
Now I'm sure that many expats feel the way I feel about the corruption within the health system!
You pay a Khmer Dr who doesn't know is arse from his elbow say $30 for a consultation (Naga Clinic, Dr Heng Pouv) and he gives you a wrong diagnosis because he's A. incompitant and his qualitfication is half of a western doctors (at the best of time's GP's aren't on the ball!) Or B. He deliberatly gives you a wrong diagnosis and then gives you his card for His clinic and says if you still have problems contact me here its cheaper! Either he's fed you lies about your health so you go to his Clinic and he strings you along more to milk you for more money not giving you the right diagnosis or he's Just useless! Not giving a care about your health and the state of your mental health due to your illness!
On the other hand you have places like SOS and others who offer a western Dr for the outragous price of $80 a consultation and that's not including a second consultation and perhaps a bunch of tests on top of that! Its seems that Doctors western or Khmer in Cambodia are making a killing taking the piss out of patients! Because there are no decent doctors or health system here in Phnom Penh so they have us over a barrel! Charging what they like and giving us incorrect diagnosis so we return to pay again or pay through the nose from the off!
Cash over health! Either stay sick or pay stupid money for a possible wrong diagnosis and further milking of you cash for more treament that may not even be accurate! If your paying you should be given and exact medical diagnosis!
You pay a Khmer Dr who doesn't know is arse from his elbow say $30 for a consultation (Naga Clinic, Dr Heng Pouv) and he gives you a wrong diagnosis because he's A. incompitant and his qualitfication is half of a western doctors (at the best of time's GP's aren't on the ball!) Or B. He deliberatly gives you a wrong diagnosis and then gives you his card for His clinic and says if you still have problems contact me here its cheaper! Either he's fed you lies about your health so you go to his Clinic and he strings you along more to milk you for more money not giving you the right diagnosis or he's Just useless! Not giving a care about your health and the state of your mental health due to your illness!
On the other hand you have places like SOS and others who offer a western Dr for the outragous price of $80 a consultation and that's not including a second consultation and perhaps a bunch of tests on top of that! Its seems that Doctors western or Khmer in Cambodia are making a killing taking the piss out of patients! Because there are no decent doctors or health system here in Phnom Penh so they have us over a barrel! Charging what they like and giving us incorrect diagnosis so we return to pay again or pay through the nose from the off!
Cash over health! Either stay sick or pay stupid money for a possible wrong diagnosis and further milking of you cash for more treament that may not even be accurate! If your paying you should be given and exact medical diagnosis!
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You've pretty much got the situation covered. One point I'll add is that at least the Khmer doctor is unlikely to kill you due to the adverse publicity he'd receive. Khmers aren't so lucky.
Last year a student of mine who has 2 kids did some research into the experience of ordinary Cambodians who have sick kids. The cynical stunts doctors pull to screw money out of vulnerable parents with more than a few fatal results is absolutely scandalous.
Last year a student of mine who has 2 kids did some research into the experience of ordinary Cambodians who have sick kids. The cynical stunts doctors pull to screw money out of vulnerable parents with more than a few fatal results is absolutely scandalous.
I came, I argued, I'm out
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Well I've got to say that my experiences with Gavin Scott have been very good. British Doctor, specialist in Tropical Medicine.
I ve been there with 3 other people over the past 10 years and he has been a normal western doctor and got it right each time. This includes taking the wife there a couple of times as well.
I have only used him once myselfand that was to look at some stiches I had put in in Laos after an accident to make sure everything was done right.
With the wife one tiime he sent her for an ultrasound that cost a whopping $12 and some cheap blood tests.
He charges a hell of a lot less than $80 for a visit and never a waitto get to see him.
He is as good as the GP we see in Melbourne and is about the same price, even a bit cheaper (if I was to pay .. the Govt pays in OZ).
As for Khmer Doctors .. I believe that $14k was the right qualification to be accredited as a doctor. When relatives have seen a quack in Snooky, I usually throw half the pills away for them .. they will generally get about 10 different antibiotics etc for something that Azithromicyn or paracetamol can cure.
Friends still have good things to say about Gloria's clinic .. personally I prefer a real doctor, but I would go to Gloria (herself) over a Khmer Doctor if they were my only choices.
For anything serious.. Bangkok can be reached in a few hours.
cheers
LaudJohn
I ve been there with 3 other people over the past 10 years and he has been a normal western doctor and got it right each time. This includes taking the wife there a couple of times as well.
I have only used him once myselfand that was to look at some stiches I had put in in Laos after an accident to make sure everything was done right.
With the wife one tiime he sent her for an ultrasound that cost a whopping $12 and some cheap blood tests.
He charges a hell of a lot less than $80 for a visit and never a waitto get to see him.
He is as good as the GP we see in Melbourne and is about the same price, even a bit cheaper (if I was to pay .. the Govt pays in OZ).
As for Khmer Doctors .. I believe that $14k was the right qualification to be accredited as a doctor. When relatives have seen a quack in Snooky, I usually throw half the pills away for them .. they will generally get about 10 different antibiotics etc for something that Azithromicyn or paracetamol can cure.
Friends still have good things to say about Gloria's clinic .. personally I prefer a real doctor, but I would go to Gloria (herself) over a Khmer Doctor if they were my only choices.
For anything serious.. Bangkok can be reached in a few hours.
cheers
LaudJohn
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I was going make a post about the so-called Khmer Dr. a while back. Met this guy a few time from a wealthy family in Siem Reap, his parents sent him to PP to study to be a doctor...his time is often occupied at Spark nightclub, and karaoke joints. Now he's back in Siem Reap and employed at a large hospital in Siem Reap..could be Angkor International hospital. I wouldn't be surprise if others like him are able to buy their way in as long as one has connection. So be careful folks. I also think its pretty evidence considering the low income earners willing to spend their hard earn money travelling across the border for treatments.
Come on guys - you can see a well qualified Cambodian or Thai doctor at Rattanak hospital for $15-20 dollar fee - the only trouble is that you have to pay for everything else used or thought about, and the fees for drugs etc are high so you always end up paying $50 or so in total. When I say well qualified, the surgeon I saw last time there had 30 years experience in Florida after completing specialisation. At least they post pics of all their doctors on the wall with their CVs underneath so you can see where they studied and what jobs they have had since graduation. This is something I would like to see in the west in waiting rooms. The standards for equipment etc are first class
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I consider myself an expert on Cambodian health care services. Life-threateing road accidents aside, Ive also had my fill of biodiesel chemical exposures, and the normal malady of sicknesses that affect people in SE Asia.
Ive been to Calmette (and lived!!!), SOS, Gavin Scott, Evil Witch Aussie Chick, and a few expat-recommended local services.
Hands down I say that SOS is the best. What the foreign doctor cant fix, they will honestly admit "I cant fix this" and recommend an evacuation to BKK (yes, accept it, there are NO.... NO.... NO.... 1st-world-standard medical facilities in Cambodia).
It is ridiculous to bitch and whine about paying the cost of being treated by a foreign doctor... who is the only person in the country who is going to be honest enough to say "I can't help you, you need to go to Bangkok".
Dont get caught in that situation. GET MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE that covers the cost of this kind treatement if needed. From my own example... I have been hit by cars, trucks, infected by tropical diseases, and suffered factory chemical injuries.. Ive been medically evacuated from Cambodia 3 times.... the total cost of all the medical expenses I have incurred over 7 years is about $35,000... and I have never paid 1 SINGLE CENT, apart from a total of insurance premiums of about $5,000 over those 7 years.
Medical and travel insurance REALLY pays for itself. At the very least the peace of mind it buys is golden... but in my case... obviously it saves a lot of money too....
Ive been to Calmette (and lived!!!), SOS, Gavin Scott, Evil Witch Aussie Chick, and a few expat-recommended local services.
Hands down I say that SOS is the best. What the foreign doctor cant fix, they will honestly admit "I cant fix this" and recommend an evacuation to BKK (yes, accept it, there are NO.... NO.... NO.... 1st-world-standard medical facilities in Cambodia).
It is ridiculous to bitch and whine about paying the cost of being treated by a foreign doctor... who is the only person in the country who is going to be honest enough to say "I can't help you, you need to go to Bangkok".
Dont get caught in that situation. GET MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE that covers the cost of this kind treatement if needed. From my own example... I have been hit by cars, trucks, infected by tropical diseases, and suffered factory chemical injuries.. Ive been medically evacuated from Cambodia 3 times.... the total cost of all the medical expenses I have incurred over 7 years is about $35,000... and I have never paid 1 SINGLE CENT, apart from a total of insurance premiums of about $5,000 over those 7 years.
Medical and travel insurance REALLY pays for itself. At the very least the peace of mind it buys is golden... but in my case... obviously it saves a lot of money too....
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off hand, out of interest, no real reason for asking; was just wondering if your medical insurance covers you being hit in the spine with a pick-axe ???Doctor Seuss wrote:I consider myself an expert on Cambodian health care services. Life-threateing road accidents aside, Ive also had my fill of biodiesel chemical exposures, and the normal malady of sicknesses that affect people in SE Asia.
Ive been to Calmette (and lived!!!), SOS, Gavin Scott, Evil Witch Aussie Chick, and a few expat-recommended local services.
Hands down I say that SOS is the best. What the foreign doctor cant fix, they will honestly admit "I cant fix this" and recommend an evacuation to BKK (yes, accept it, there are NO.... NO.... NO.... 1st-world-standard medical facilities in Cambodia).
It is ridiculous to bitch and whine about paying the cost of being treated by a foreign doctor... who is the only person in the country who is going to be honest enough to say "I can't help you, you need to go to Bangkok".
Dont get caught in that situation. GET MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE that covers the cost of this kind treatement if needed. From my own example... I have been hit by cars, trucks, infected by tropical diseases, and suffered factory chemical injuries.. Ive been medically evacuated from Cambodia 3 times.... the total cost of all the medical expenses I have incurred over 7 years is about $35,000... and I have never paid 1 SINGLE CENT, apart from a total of insurance premiums of about $5,000 over those 7 years.
Medical and travel insurance REALLY pays for itself. At the very least the peace of mind it buys is golden... but in my case... obviously it saves a lot of money too....
"We, the sons of John Company, have arrived"
Is the Rattanak the Royal Rattanak? Sister hospital of the Angkor International?
If it is I'm very surprised about the price. The AI in Siem Reap charges 70USD per consultation and is staffed by either Thai interns, Thai doctors on a 3- month rotational plan, or youngish Cambodian doctors.
Use it as a holding station, not a place to get treatment. They'll always find a seat for you on the next Bangkok Air flight to take you to their headquarters in Bangkok, Bangkok hospital.
Recommend Dr. Scott in PP.
If it is I'm very surprised about the price. The AI in Siem Reap charges 70USD per consultation and is staffed by either Thai interns, Thai doctors on a 3- month rotational plan, or youngish Cambodian doctors.
Use it as a holding station, not a place to get treatment. They'll always find a seat for you on the next Bangkok Air flight to take you to their headquarters in Bangkok, Bangkok hospital.
Recommend Dr. Scott in PP.
Not denigrating Dr Scott, whom I have consulted, but his expertise and equipment are somewhat limited. So he is good for run of the mill medical treatment and first aid, consultations on tropical diseases and STDs, sure. But I am not certain he is much good for minor ops, deliveries and large scale emergency traumas [or even 24 hour consultations]. Royal Rattanak is equipped for such things and on the whole well equipped and staffed. And I am sure about the fees as I regularly use the hospital for myself and family. I know nothing about the staffing or fees in any hospital in Siem Reap.
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I agree completely, but I let mine lapse when I went back to the States for awhile and keep forgetting to start it up again. It sounds as if you are paying about the same as I was, but I never had to use my last insurer to find out how good they were if they had to pay a claim. Since you have, would you please share the name of your insurance company, and if you know it, the name of the particular plan you are on?Doctor Seuss wrote:Dont get caught in that situation. GET MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE that covers the cost of this kind treatement if needed. From my own example... I have been hit by cars, trucks, infected by tropical diseases, and suffered factory chemical injuries.. Ive been medically evacuated from Cambodia 3 times.... the total cost of all the medical expenses I have incurred over 7 years is about $35,000... and I have never paid 1 SINGLE CENT, apart from a total of insurance premiums of about $5,000 over those 7 years.
Medical and travel insurance REALLY pays for itself. At the very least the peace of mind it buys is golden... but in my case... obviously it saves a lot of money too....
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I agree.Spad wrote:Not denigrating Dr Scott, whom I have consulted, but his expertise and equipment are somewhat limited. So he is good for run of the mill medical treatment and first aid, consultations on tropical diseases and STDs, sure. But I am not certain he is much good for minor ops, deliveries and large scale emergency traumas [or even 24 hour consultations]. Royal Rattanak is equipped for such things and on the whole well equipped and staffed. And I am sure about the fees as I regularly use the hospital for myself and family. I know nothing about the staffing or fees in any hospital in Siem Reap.
It is a good thing that the OP did not ask about Emergency Medical services/hospitals as I would have been at a loss to help.
The OP was asking about normal doctors and diagnosis.
If I have an accident or emergency I don't make an appointment to see my GP, I go straight to a hospital that has the right equipment, just like when my wife gave birth, we didnt go to a GP for the delivery either.
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