ItDontMeanAThing
Full time employment: Posting here.
I have had the misfortune of getting sick a couple times and developing a joint condition in my first year of retirement. Thought y'all might be interested in seeing what care costs here. I also describe in detail the process and waiting times to get X-ray and labs done at a hospital.
My shoulder problem is being treated in a regional capital, Dumaguete, where I live. The other two illnesses were treated in Cebu, the country's second largest city with better care and higher costs. These excerpts are from my blog Four Letter Nerd
Frozen Sholder - Increasing Pain
Consult with existing doc: zero pesos. We spoke during my twice weekly 90 minute physical therapy session which costs P 300 ($ 6.38)
Twenty minute office visit with second doc, including case history, physical exam, local anesthetic injections, deep steroid injection: P 700 ($ 14.89)
Twenty pain meds: P 1010 ($ 21.49). Drug is not available in the states so no comperable cost.
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Acute Bronchitis
On the other hand a 10 minute exam and discussion with the doc cost me P400, or about $8.25. The drugs cost about a third of what I found from the US discount mail order places.
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Flu & Lung Infection
Getting the Flu is no big deal. I have also had lung infections. Not both at the same time, however.
Taxi to Doctor’s office: P 30, $ 0.63
Ten minute visit: P 400, $ $8.33.
Taxi to hotel to get more cash and ATM card because hospitals require cash up front: P 30, $ 0.63
Taxi to Chong Hua Hospital: P 30, $ 0.63. It’s a short walk but didn’t want to do it in the rain.
Get Patient ID because I’ve never been treated at hospital: Two helpful clerks, a two minute stand in line.
Digital Chest X-Ray: P 330, $ 6.88. No line at the radiology department. Took the bill to the cashier where about 15 people were waiting for their priority number to be called. Took my priority number and checked the board. Saw that priority numbers started with one of four letters. Didn’t bother to sit down because I had the next number for my letter. It’s good to be a foreigner.
Back in radiology I was directed to the door of the X-ray room. Three techs and no customers meant no waiting.
Next to the lab for the blood work, CBC: P 120, $ 2.50. Five minute line this time but again front of the line at the cashier’s window and for the blood work, drawn by a tiny, sweet, young brown angel all in white who’s smile I was not too sick to appreciate.
Next stop was the pharmacy. One course of Tamiflu: P 1044, $ 21.75. Cost at drugstore.com: $92.99 plus tax and shipping.
Antibiotic: P 1747, $ 36.02. Cost at drugstore.com: $ 180.43 plus tax and shipping.
Walk to hotel. It’s only 300 yards and the rain has stopped. Pick up a chocolate torte (P 8, $ 0.17) along the way.
My shoulder problem is being treated in a regional capital, Dumaguete, where I live. The other two illnesses were treated in Cebu, the country's second largest city with better care and higher costs. These excerpts are from my blog Four Letter Nerd
Frozen Sholder - Increasing Pain
Consult with existing doc: zero pesos. We spoke during my twice weekly 90 minute physical therapy session which costs P 300 ($ 6.38)
Twenty minute office visit with second doc, including case history, physical exam, local anesthetic injections, deep steroid injection: P 700 ($ 14.89)
Twenty pain meds: P 1010 ($ 21.49). Drug is not available in the states so no comperable cost.
----------
Acute Bronchitis
On the other hand a 10 minute exam and discussion with the doc cost me P400, or about $8.25. The drugs cost about a third of what I found from the US discount mail order places.
-----------
Flu & Lung Infection
Getting the Flu is no big deal. I have also had lung infections. Not both at the same time, however.
Taxi to Doctor’s office: P 30, $ 0.63
Ten minute visit: P 400, $ $8.33.
Taxi to hotel to get more cash and ATM card because hospitals require cash up front: P 30, $ 0.63
Taxi to Chong Hua Hospital: P 30, $ 0.63. It’s a short walk but didn’t want to do it in the rain.
Get Patient ID because I’ve never been treated at hospital: Two helpful clerks, a two minute stand in line.
Digital Chest X-Ray: P 330, $ 6.88. No line at the radiology department. Took the bill to the cashier where about 15 people were waiting for their priority number to be called. Took my priority number and checked the board. Saw that priority numbers started with one of four letters. Didn’t bother to sit down because I had the next number for my letter. It’s good to be a foreigner.
Back in radiology I was directed to the door of the X-ray room. Three techs and no customers meant no waiting.
Next to the lab for the blood work, CBC: P 120, $ 2.50. Five minute line this time but again front of the line at the cashier’s window and for the blood work, drawn by a tiny, sweet, young brown angel all in white who’s smile I was not too sick to appreciate.
Next stop was the pharmacy. One course of Tamiflu: P 1044, $ 21.75. Cost at drugstore.com: $92.99 plus tax and shipping.
Antibiotic: P 1747, $ 36.02. Cost at drugstore.com: $ 180.43 plus tax and shipping.
Walk to hotel. It’s only 300 yards and the rain has stopped. Pick up a chocolate torte (P 8, $ 0.17) along the way.