Clinics in Hat Yai - Page 1
Introduction
Hat Yai is well known locally for its many clinics. Why does the town have so many?There is a strong emphasis on medicine at the Prince of Songkla University campus in Hat Yai (Mor Or). There are faculties of medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmaceutical science and traditional Thai medicine.
The Prince of Songkla Nakarin hospital in the same complex as the university is the biggest, best equipped, and most important hospital in southern Thailand.
There are many fancy private hospitals in southern Thailand, which look like 5 star hotels, but the doctors working there normally come from Mor Or and when the private hospitals need more expertise or equipment they go to Mor Or.
Many doctors have a regular job at Mor Or, work part-time at one or more of the private hospitals in town, and also run their own clinic in the evenings and at weekends. Some also lecture medical students. There are many poor people in Thailand but you won't find any poor doctors or dentists in Hat Yai.
You might think that the best service you can get is at one of the fancy private hospital. Admittedly, the buildings are very plush and the nurses and reception staff very pretty, but many doctors only work in these places as a part-time job and they work as employees. However, a doctor's clinic is his own private business and the market is competitive.
Also, when you see a doctor in a private hospital you will most likely see a generalist. The clinics all specialise in one branch of medicine and so the doctors working there are very specialised.
As a result, I have often received better service from one of the small clinics. For example, I once had an ear infection that was producing lots of wax and I could hardly hear. My ear was constantly wet and leaking.
The doctor at the private hospital simply assumed it was a bacterial infection and gave me antibiotics. It didn't get better. I went back again and saw a different doctor. He made the same diagnosis and prescribed the same medicine. It didn't work. I went back and the same thing happened.
Eventually, I gave up and went to an ear clinic in Supasarnrangsan Road where the doctor quickly and efficiently diagnosed a fungal infection. He gave me one treatment and my ear was cured.
The clinics are small and have few overheads. There are no large buildings to maintain. There is normally one nurse who performs the role of receptionist, doctor's assistant, pharmacist and cashier. The doctor doesn't need to pay a bevy of pretty girls who just greet patients at the door. The prices, therefore, are a lot lower.
If you have medical insurance the doctor can write you out a proper receipt with which to claim. You need to claim through the insurance company yourself. One advantage at the large private hospitals is that they will process insurance claims directly.
If you have a medical problem, clinics are a good deal in Hat Yai. There are just a few problems.
Firstly, because they are all specialised you need to know where to go. Secondly, because the doctors only work at their clinics part-time you need to know the opening times. Thirdly, at most clinics everything is written in Thai. This is a big problem if you don't read Thai.
The purpose of this page is to try to provide the relevant information to help foreigners find clinics in Hat Yai.
What to do if you have a health problem in Hat Yai
There is no General Practioner (GP) system in Thailand. For someone with a problem - unless it was an emergency - seeing a GP would normally be the first course of action in the UK, but it isn't the same in Thailand.If you have a minor problem, go to a pharmacy. There are pharmacies everywhere in Thailand and in most cases the pharmacist will be able to make a diagnosis and prescribe medicine. Many drugs that would need a doctor's prescription in other countries are available over the counter in Thailand.
If you have a specific problem, visit a clinic where the doctor specialises in the problem you have. If you're not sure of the problem or can't find a suitable clinic, go to somewhere like Roengsak Polyclinic which is for general problems.
In the UK people only go to hospitals for emergencies. In Thailand people go to hospitals for minor ailments. I thought this was strange at first, but this is how it works.
In emergencies, of course, go straight to the emergency room of a hospital. These are open 24 hours, of course, and the staff are very efficient at dealing with incoming cases.
Chinese Medicine
The vast majority of clinics and pharmacies in Hat Yai follow Western medicine practices. However, Hat Yai is a very Chinese town and you will also find a few Chinese style pharmacies and doctors.
Chinese medicine, Hat Yai, Thailand
After a long running eye infection several years ago I went to see Dr Tang Ken Leang after he was recommended by a Chinese pharmacy. It was a very interesting experience.
His 'surgery' was located near to Gim Yong market, but unfortunately he has now passed on. His shop was unlike any doctor's surgery I had ever visited before. There was no receptionist and he sat behind a large desk at the back of the shop.
The shop was filthy and on his desk were scraps of paper, old photos, stationery, tea cups, teapots and a kettle. He chain-smoked and there were ashtrays full to the brim with cigarette ends. On the wall were old photos of Chinese men standing in front of Chinese temples. Presumably one of them was him when he was a younger man.
Chinese medicine, Hat Yai, Thailand
In addition to chain-smoking he used a spittoon that sat on the floor to his right fairly frequently. He spoke some Thai but very little English. I was warned not to say much to him, not to tell him about my condition, and not to ask questions.
On his desk was a small pillow. Patients rested their arm on the pillow while he felt their pulse. This was his main method of diagnosing problems. He asked me a few basic questions in English - my age, where I was from, and what I did for a living. He took a good look at me and asked me to stick out my tongue which he looked at with the aid of a small torch.
After feeling my pulse on both wrists for about 10 minutes he took out a writing pad. He then dipped an old-fashioned fountain pen into a pot of black ink on his desk. In the top right-hand corner he wrote my name, underlined it and wrote the date underneath. He filled the rest of the page with Chinese characters, writing from top to bottom and from right to left.
He had no set fees and how much you paid him seemed to be optional. My girlfriend accompanied me when I went and sorted out the payment. She took an envelope, put Bt100 into it, and gave it to him.
Taa Dtree Chinese pharmacy, Hat Yai, Thailand
I took his prescription back to the Chinese pharmacy where they prepared my medicine. This included double doses of ginseng for six days which really bumped up the price. Even in Thailand ginseng is not cheap, especially the best variety that comes from America. The herbs I was given needed to be boiled in water and the resulting juice drunk like tea. The ginseng was soaked in the tea, chewed and swallowed.
I don't know whether it helped. At the same time I started taking the medicine, I stopped putting nasty drops in my eye which had been making things better rather than worse for a while.
I heard some time in 2008 that the doctor had died.
If you wish to see a doctor who works in a similar fashion, there is one located near to the Siang Dteung Rescue Centre on Suphasarnrangsan Road (Map 2) near to where the evening aerobics sessions take place. This place is well known locally.
Traditional Chinese doctor, Hat Yai, Thailand
Just opposite the centre is a large Chinese pharmacy called Taa Dtree. The doctor is located in a small clinic in the road that runs alongside the clinic. His prescriptions can be fulfilled at the Chinese pharmacy.
The Chinese doctor works between 9am and 7pm from Monday to Friday and between 9am and midday on Saturdays and Sundays. His telephone number is +66 (0)89 653 9590.
Here are the GPS coordinates for the Chinese doctor.
Latitude: N 07° 00' 30.6" (N 07° 00.515')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 33.3" (E 100° 28.563')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
The clinic looks a bit cleaner than the one I visited many years ago. Each visit costs from Bt100 to Bt200.
Chinese medicine pharmacies are very distinctive and quite different to regular pharmacies. Look for the red lanterns outside and the drawers full of strange looking herbs. If you wish to see a Chinese doctor who specialises in traditional Chinese medicine I would suggest asking at one of the Chinese pharmacies.
Acupuncture
The verb to perform acupuncture in Thai is fung kem.
ฝังเข็ม
Acupuncture as a noun is garn fung kem.
การฝังเข็ม
The Chinese doctor referred to above practices acupuncture. One of the doctors listed below, Dr Pat, doesn't seem to be at his clinic any more. A friend went to visit and although the clinic is still there no one has seen the doctor for a long time.
The same friend had previously done some research on acupuncture in Hat Yai and gave me the following information. As is the case with all information on this site, it may no longer be current. Things change very quickly in Hat Yai and keeping information always up to date is impossible.
- Prince of Songkhla University Hospital. 074-455000. Bt100 per treatment. In 2016 the hospital advised that acupuncture treatment was only available in the after hours clinic from 4.30 pm. Acupuncture may only be available one day per week on Wednesdays. Please check with hospital.
- Hat Yai Hospital. 074-273100. Mon and Thurs only, 8:30-10 am. electric needles Bt200, normal needles Bt100.
- Bangkok Hat Yai Hospital. 074-365780, Electric needles Bt800 (20 min), normal needles Bt600. No specific times. With doctor fees Bt1,400. You should do at least 10 treatments.
- Rajyindee Hospital. On Wednesdays.
Language
Doctors and dentists in Thailand do a six-year degree course and a lot of their study material is in English. Many also study or work abroad for a while to get experience.Most Thai doctors and dentists, therefore, speak reasonable English and some speak excellent English. Being understood shouldn't be a problem.
A big problem for foreigners regarding Hat Yai clinics is that in almost all cases what is written outside the clinic is in Thai. This isn't much use if you can't read Thai.
Conveniently, Thais have borrowed the English word 'clinic'. Therefore, if you tell someone 'clinic' and point to a part of your body they will understand what you need.
When written in Thai script, 'clinic' becomes:
คลินิก
Transliteration from Thai into English and English into Thai is a perennial nightmare. Most of the time it is phonetically inaccurate and it is always inconsistent.
For some completely unknown reason, some clinics spell the word in Thai with a long first vowel when they do the transliteration. Thus, the word becomes 'cleenic':
คลีนิก
Clinic Listings
The following listings are a work in progress. I will add more later and if the list grows too large I will provide the information over multiple pages. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me and I will try to help.I have listed Dental Clinics, Beauty Clinics and Hospitals separately.
If you have been treated at one of these clinics, please consider providing some patient feedback. If you are the owner of a clinic and would like to add more information, please contact me.
Address: 137 Sripoovanart Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Telephone: +66 (0)74 801037
Mobile: +66 (0)62 583 4198
Map: Map 4
Latitude: N 06° 59' 53.6" (N 06° 59.893')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 42.6" (E 100° 28.710')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: This Chinese doctor's clinic is located directly opposite Diana department store. In addition to acupuncture, he also offers cupping therapy and herbal treatment.
From Tuesday to Friday the clinic is open from 11:00 to 20:00. On Saturday and Sunday it is open from 10:00 to 20:00. It appears to be closed on Mondays.
Patient Comments: No patient comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've been a patient here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments: I am not a doctor or dentist, and neither am I affiliated with any clinics in Hat Yai. If you have any questions about procedures or prices please contact the establishment directly using the information provided. Use this form only if you have used a clinic and wish to give some feedback.
Address: 129/4 Niphat Uthit 3 Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Mobile: +66 (0)83 123 4729
Map: Map 3
Latitude: N 07° 00' 14.2" (N 07° 00.236')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 14.5" (E 100° 28.241')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: I mentioned Chinese medicine above and acupuncture is another branch of Chinese medicine that is available in Hat Yai.
I spoke to the receptionist at this clinic and not the doctor. She told me that the doctor was Chinese and can treat anything. His business card mentions acupuncture for strokes, cerebral palsy, acne, aches and pains, obesity, and other ailments.
I have never been treated myself but if you go there I would be very interested in your comments about the treatment and its effectiveness.
The clinic is located in Niphat Uthit 3 Road quite close to Odean department store.
Update January 2016: A friend tried to visit Dr Pat and although the clinic is still there, the doctor hasn't been seen for a long time. There is a strong possibility that he has stopped practising at this clinic. It would be advisable to call before you visit.
Patient Comments: No patient comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've been a patient here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments: I am not a doctor or dentist, and neither am I affiliated with any clinics in Hat Yai. If you have any questions about procedures or prices please contact the establishment directly using the information provided. Use this form only if you have used a clinic and wish to give some feedback.
Address: 20 Pracharak Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Telephone: +66 (0)74 243959
Map: Map 2
Latitude: N 07° 00' 28.5" (N 07° 00.474')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 23.7" (E 100° 28.395')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: This lab will take a blood sample and tell you anything you want to know about your blood. There are other labs in Hat Yai that provide a similar service.
You may want them to test for a specific disease or condition, or you may just want a general check to assess your health. They offer special packages where they will test for a variety of specific things.
From Monday to Friday the clinic is open from 07:30 to 20:00. On Saturday it is open from 07:30 to 16:30, and on Sunday from 07:30 to 12:00. It is located just opposite the Golden Crown hotel.
Patient Comments:
- Will perform single analyses and 6 different promotion sets including sugar, cholesterol, liver, kidney, and more altogether 17 items price approx. Bt550. INR test Bt250. Results will be sent a few hours later per e mail or you can pick it up. The report also shows if the results are normal high or too low. Polite service I can recommend it. Another lab is near Robinson same prices. I dont know if there is a third lab. (November 2018)
To add your comments, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments: I am not a doctor or dentist, and neither am I affiliated with any clinics in Hat Yai. If you have any questions about procedures or prices please contact the establishment directly using the information provided. Use this form only if you have used a clinic and wish to give some feedback.
Address: 195/1 Niphat Uthit 2 Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Telephone: +66 (0)74 354355-7
Map: Map 3
Latitude: N 07° 00' 04.5" (N 07° 00.075')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 6.0" (E 100° 28.100')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: This is another blood test lab where blood can be checked for a specific disease or you can get your blood checked to assess your general health.
A package is on offer for Bt1,500 that will give you an overall health assessment. They will measure your blood pressure, weight, height, and calculate your Body Mass Index.
Many aspects of your blood will be checked (not being a doctor myself I don't claim to understand all of the checks). Check glucose level for diabetes. Check uric acid. Check cholesterol and tryglyceride. Check HDL and LDL. Check kidney and liver function (BUN, Cr, SGOT, SGPT, ALP, total protein, albumin, globulin). Check for cancer cells. Check for urinary tract infections.
Many other checks are available at different prices. Check directly with the clinic for details, please don't send me e-mails asking medical questions.
From Monday to Friday the clinic is open from 07:30 to 20:00. On Saturday it is open from 07:30 to 16:00, and on Sunday from 07:30 to 12:00.
Patient Comments: No patient comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've been a patient here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments: I am not a doctor or dentist, and neither am I affiliated with any clinics in Hat Yai. If you have any questions about procedures or prices please contact the establishment directly using the information provided. Use this form only if you have used a clinic and wish to give some feedback.
Address: 198/2 Niphatsongkhro 1 Road, Soi 7, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Telephone: +66 (0)74 261605
Map: Map 1
Latitude: N 07° 01' 02.2" (N 07° 01.037')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 03.9" (E 100° 28.065')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: I guess that Dr Umnaat is an orthopedic specialist. However, his business card says bones, throats, sinews, tendons, nerves and general diseases so it looks like he does most things.
From Monday to Friday the clinic is open from 07:30 to 08:30, 12:00 to 13:00, and 17:00 to 20:00. On Saturday it is open from 09:00 to 16:00 and closed on Sunday. On public holidays and special days it is open from 09:00 to 12:00 and 17:00 to 20:00.
The clinic is located very near to Hat Yai hospital. It is also close to a heart clinic run by another Dr Umnaat.
Patient Comments: No patient comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've been a patient here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments: I am not a doctor or dentist, and neither am I affiliated with any clinics in Hat Yai. If you have any questions about procedures or prices please contact the establishment directly using the information provided. Use this form only if you have used a clinic and wish to give some feedback.
Address: 20 Chee Uthit Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Telephone: +66 (0)74 244476
Map: Map 3
Latitude: N 07° 00' 12.3" (N 07° 00.205')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 18.5" (E 100° 28.304')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: Dr Prachaya is an interesting man. If you're in Hat Yai and just fancy talking to an interesting Thai person who can communicate well in English, he enjoys talking to foreigners and will most likely invite you into his clinic for a chat.
At the time of writing he is 78 and trained at Siriraj hospital in Bangkok in the days before Mahidol University existed. His father was Chinese and his mother Thai. His family live in Yala and he goes back and forth between Yala and Hat Yai.
He doesn't like the way that doctors these days have full time jobs but also have clinics where they work evenings and weekends. I can see his point of view. He doesn't think this should be allowed.
The profession now seems to be all about making a lot of money. Dr Prachaya said that when he started out many years ago he didn't even think about money.
He spent seven years in the United States and I guess this is the reason why his English is so good. His speciality is actually pediatrics but he gave that up and now treats people with drug addictions. He describes himself as a general practitioner and can treat most things.
His clinic is open every day of the week from 10:00 to 17:30.
Patient Comments:
- this clinics is very nice , clean and no waste much time for wait doctor and he is very very friendly and listen when you finish, not same other doctor , he treat like your family. i love this doctor, great (January 2015)
To add your comments, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments: I am not a doctor or dentist, and neither am I affiliated with any clinics in Hat Yai. If you have any questions about procedures or prices please contact the establishment directly using the information provided. Use this form only if you have used a clinic and wish to give some feedback.
Address: 83/1 Supasarnrangsan Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Telephone: +66 (0)74 351515-6
Map: Map 2
Latitude: N 07° 00' 28.3" (N 07° 00.471')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 18.1" (E 100° 28.302')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: I have only used this clinic for ear problems. The doctors here (I've seen two) have fixed problems in one visit that weren't fixed after several visits to a private hospital.
From Monday to Friday the clinic is open from 17:00 to 20:00. On Saturday it is open from 09:00 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 20:00. On Sunday it is open from 09:00 to 12:00.
Patient Comments: No patient comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've been a patient here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments: I am not a doctor or dentist, and neither am I affiliated with any clinics in Hat Yai. If you have any questions about procedures or prices please contact the establishment directly using the information provided. Use this form only if you have used a clinic and wish to give some feedback.
Address: 192/1 Supasarnrangsan Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Telephone: +66 (0)74 235737
Map: Map 2
Latitude: N 07° 00' 31.1" (N 07° 00.518')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 27.2" (E 100° 28.453')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: This little, unassuming clinic in Hat Yai is home to one of Hat Yai's leading eye doctors. If not for him, I could have been writing this with one eye. He treated me after I contracted a nasty fungal infection in 2004.
As with many doctors in Hat Yai, he is based at Mor Or and works part-time at the local private hospitals. He also runs this clinic in the evenings and at weekends.
If you see him at a private hospital you will pay a lot more than if you see him at his clinic, but the service will be the same. Also, if you see him at one of the private hospitals he will be ethically bound not to tell you that he has his own clinic where you can get cheaper treatment.
The clinic opening hours are 17:00 to 20:00 (Monday to Friday) and 09:00 to 12:00 (Saturday and Sunday).
Patient Comments: No patient comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've been a patient here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments: I am not a doctor or dentist, and neither am I affiliated with any clinics in Hat Yai. If you have any questions about procedures or prices please contact the establishment directly using the information provided. Use this form only if you have used a clinic and wish to give some feedback.
Address: 226/25/1-2 Supasarnrangsan Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Telephone: +66 (0)74 351615
Map: Map 2
Latitude: N 07° 00' 31.8" (N 07° 00.487')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 33.2" (E 100° 28.313')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: This is another eye clinic on Supasarnrangsan Road, where many Hat Yai clinics are located. I believe that Dr Suren works full time at Hat Yai hospital.
From Monday to Friday the clinic is open from 17:00 to 20:00, and on Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 13:00.
Patient Comments: No patient comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've been a patient here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments: I am not a doctor or dentist, and neither am I affiliated with any clinics in Hat Yai. If you have any questions about procedures or prices please contact the establishment directly using the information provided. Use this form only if you have used a clinic and wish to give some feedback.
Address: 112-113 Supasarnrangsan Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Telephone: +66 (0)74 243767
Map: Map 2
Latitude: N 07° 00' 29.2" (N 07° 00.487')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 18.8" (E 100° 28.313')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: Dr Wichai treats eye problems, performs eye surgery, and prescribes eyeglasses.
From Monday to Friday the clinic is open from 17:00 to 20:00, on Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00, and on Sunday from 09:00 to 12:00.
Patient Comments: No patient comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've been a patient here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments: I am not a doctor or dentist, and neither am I affiliated with any clinics in Hat Yai. If you have any questions about procedures or prices please contact the establishment directly using the information provided. Use this form only if you have used a clinic and wish to give some feedback.
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