A Day in Bangkok

Ok so it’s not the way I would have chosen to spend the day in Bangkok, but after two weeks in hot dusty Uttar Pradesh, I collected more than a few pesky intestinal pets. Thank goodness for Thai hospitality and especially Thai hospitals.

I walked in to what might otherwise have been the lobby reception of a 5 star hotel, handed over my passport and received a little membership card and a slip of paper admitting me to the Gastro-intestinal private room. After a wait of, oh, 2 minutes, I was taken to see the doctor, who informed me in fluent English what my options were. After a few tests and a half hour wait with a fresh juice at the nice coffee shop, I was taken back to the doctors office for the results, given a prescription and sent down to pay my bill. Total cost, US$40, including the medication. The whole visit took exactly one hour.

This same process in my country would have taken a week, at least, to make the appointment, long waits, pages of forms, and hundreds of dollars. How is it that every hospital I’ve ever been to outside of the US surpasses my expectations? Perhaps it is because my expectations have been formed by a health care system that operates for profit, instead of for people. What a difference to approach health care from a perspective of health, instead of poverty mind. I actually feel better already, just from all the nice smiling people at the hospital. Amazing the power of a smile and a positive environment to help the healing process.