How I had a HIV test at Bumrungrad

[Guest]

On my last trip to Bangkok I went to get an

HIV test in Bumrungrad Hospital. The country in

which I reside is not exactly supportive of

anonymous testing of foreigners. The yearly

renewal of the residence permit requires a

medical examination including an HIV test,

and my impression is that a positive test result

would be grounds of immediate termination

of residence and work permits. I did not want

to be suddenly out of a job in addition to

being given an unpleasant HIV status. As

a result, I had postponed getting a test.

Bumrungrad seemed like an attractive option,

since it was reported to provide results in

an hour.

 

This was my first visit to Bumrungrad. A surprise was

that the taxi actually drove to Sukhumvit Soi 1,

although the hospital is officially at Soi 3:

they have a back entrance for both cars and

pedestrians. Getting to the right place was

easy enough. The signs for outpatient clinics

were clear enough, and the customer service

desk at the ground floor gave quickly instructions

on where to go.

 

Since this was my first visit, I had to register

at the 2nd floor. It turned out that they wanted

to scan my passport, which I had not with me.

Since the copy of the info page that I had was

good enough for them, I did not try to find out,

if you could negotiate around this requirement.

You were also expected to provide address information

both in Thailand and abroad. I considered this

somewhat excessive hassle, but I was not in the

mood to try and balk the system. The end result

was a patient registration card, which was

later to be presented at each counter.

 

The system was rather different compared to

home: there appeared to be a different counter

for every step in the process of handling a

patient, and each and every counter seemed to

have a few persons hanging around, not doing much.

I could see not the point in measuring my weight,

height and blood pressure in order to get an

HIV test... The waiting times were not at

all bad, but taking some entertainment with you

is not a bad idea.

 

Finally I got to see the doctor and to sign

the paper authorising them to draw blood for

the test. I think it was about half an hour

after walking in when I finally was having

the sample taken. The technician would have

wanted to see at that point my passport,

but did not make a fuss when I said that

I did not have it with me. As you can see,

Bumrungrad is not the easiest place to get

an anonymous HIV test.

 

The waiting time for the result was an hour

and half. I chose to stay at the hospital and use

one of the food outlets for lunch. Nice touch

to have real restaurants (Japanese and Italian)

in addition to fast food places.

 

The result was delivered in the promised time.

You actually had to pay before you got to

see the doctor again. Total cost was 890

baht: 200 for the doctor, 50 admin cost and

the rest for the lab work. Negative result

as expected, since I had not had any accidents.

 

I was overall happy with the service, but felt

that it was a bit too many hassles just to

get a test. However, all the red tape turned

out to be useful in the end, since I had to come

back later to get an eye infection treated.

Once you have the patient registration card

you can walk directly to the reception of

the appropriate clinic and just ask to see a doctor.

 

Wagner

 

[Guest]

Says wsvinja:

---

The waiting time for the result was an hour

and half. I chose to stay at the hospital ...

---

I also made a HIV-test in Bumrungrad. The waiting time was one of the longest of my life.

 

I also payed approx. THB 1000, but what I have read, HIV tests can be had much cheaper in BKK.

 

Bumrumgrad is not the cheapest option, but imo a trustworthy.

[jitagawn]

 

Glad everything turned out rosy. Board members getting HIV tests are like a coal miners canary-something to watch...