BANGKOK'S BEST CARE

 The Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun, a private hospital under Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine – Siriraj Hospital, recently celebrated the opening of the first phase of its services.

This first phase will see the launch of the general medicine clinic, heart and vascular clinic, neuro and brain clinic, as well as departments dealing with the respiratory and urinary systems and diabetes and digestive systems. 

Specialised clinics cover surgery, orthopaedics, cancer and radiation therapy and diagnosis using state-of-the-art medical equipment.

What sets SiPH apart from other hospitals is a new concept that allows every patient to become a “receiver and a giver”, as the revenue generated by SiPH goes to the Faculty of Medicine of Siriraj Hospital.

While SiPH is a general hospital, its speciality is complex diseases. With a cadre of talented doctors – some recruited from Siriraj Hospital – SiPH is aiming to serve as the centre for more complex diseases that require specialist treatment.

“We are seeing more cases of complex disease as a result of the changing environment, poor lifestyles and, of course, the ageing population,” says Clinical Professor Pradit Panchavinnin, the hospital’s director.

The new hospital aims to take the pressure off Siriraj Hospital, which is seeing more than a million outpatients every year and is operating at a deficit. 

“SiPH will increase access for people who can afford to pay higher fees but still want to receive Siriraj-standard services,” says Prof Udom Kachintorn, dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

The success of Siriraj’s first private venture – a special department called The Heart by Siriraj – convinced the Faculty to extend the services into a full general hospital. The clinic specialises in cardiac conditions and offers speedy and comfortable services at fees on a par with Bangkok’s private hospitals. 

After the press preview in March, the SiPH launched services by taking patients from The Heart, but only officially opened on April 26, coinciding with the anniversary of the hospital’s founding.

The grand opening is planned for September when more complete services will be offered.

The SiPH is part of the Sayamindradhiraj Medical Institute, which comprises the research centre, the traditional Thai medical centre, the Thai herb garden and the medical museums. The institute is located in the Siriraj Hospital area and was once home to Bangkok Noi train station.

The SiPh sees itself as one of Bangkok’s leading private hospitals but offering treatment with Siriraj integrity.

Prices are 20 per cent cheaper than Bumgrungrad, Bangkok Hospital and Samitivej and all the revenue will be used to support the Faculty of Medicine and Siriraj Hospital.

While the prices are high compared to Thailand’s other private hospitals – with the exception of the three mentioned above – the advantage is that patients will be able to see a specialist and benefit from quick and accurate diagnosis thanks to the up-to-date medical technology.

Doctors’ fees starts at Bt500, while all inpatient rooms are private with prices starting at Bt6700 net for a standard. The 14-storey SiPH Building houses 177 outpatient rooms, 17 operating theatres, 284 inpatient rooms and 61 intensive care units, as well as a huge parking lot that can accommodate more than 1,000 cars. Unlike other hospitals, the ICU is divided into separate rooms for each patient and is spacious, with a view of either the Chao Phraya River or Bangkok Noi Canal.

So far only 49 inpatient rooms are available. The ICU and operating theatres are partially open.