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I have been in a running discussion with the French Hospital in criticism of their maintenance of a dual pricing policy for Vietnamese and foreigners in the present socio-economic climate.
The general manager, Mr Lucien Blanchard, initially only proved able to respond by email that "Our hospital has instituted a 2 tier tariff policy from the beginning to help Vietnamese patients access to our services." So do we assume the higher price for foreigners could thereby be interpreted as a deterrent?
After failing to respond to my email asking for just one reason to justify the price structure I decided to call up directly. On the phone with Monsieur Blanchard today he refused to make any comment or provide any justification for this 2-tier structure. Instead I was ushered off the phone.
So what do you think? Dual pricing for medical services - immoral or our duty to shell out more?
french hospital immoral (add tags) Why? Details of tags
answered about 7 months ago by mnguyen
Maybe because I'm American and I'm used to paying exorbitant fees and also I have health insurance here (luckily), but I think it's fine. Let's say you have same pricing. Pricing would become higher, not lower. Fewer Vietnamese could then afford to go there, although I'm sure very few people can afford to go there now already. I think the 2 tier system helps subsidize help for Vietnamese natives, and this hospital really is meant to be a hospital for Vietnamese people, unlike SOS. My feeling is that the government would not allow them to do a single tier structure anyway.
Also, to say immoral might be a little too much, but I understand where you're coming from.
answered about 7 months ago by Kurtz
Interesting but let me counter. SOS is not a hospital. It's more a clinic. They are not able to perform surgery or a host of other activities but instead operate more as a postage & packaging service to Singapore/Bangkok or wherever else your insurance company/pain barrier may request/demand. After all there's a stack of cash to be made in international medivac or repatriation, n'est ce pas? These private medical services are (naturally) businesses first but compassionate medical services by a distant second although it would be nice to see the 2 sides on more of a par. This is no direct attack on the medical staff as such but more a staunch criticism of the decision making body at the so-called top of the heap. The French Hospital claimed to me that 90% of their clientele is Vietnamese in which case that's a small minority being laden with a financial burden to provide for a wider group. However, the French Hospital is not a charity but a company making profits and paying extremely fat salaries in order, in my opinion, to extend the scope of La Francophonie rather than to reach out and "heal the masses". If these "immoral" financial imbalances caused the so-called subsidising group to dwindle to nothing then pray Sir where would the support then come from? Asterix and Obelix?
answered about 7 months ago by teacherman
The "dual price" system is just one of those life of whitey-in-asia things you either get used to, or roll up into a little ball until it explodes. Kepp it in perspective ... shure you're paying double or triple the "Vietnamese Price", but that price is still far, far lower than what you'd pay in a Western country. Myself, I shrug it off and have a laugh with my Vietnamese friends that I have to pay double for everything even though as a teacher I actually make far less than them.
And in this case ... the whitey "Dual Price" system subsidising health care for poor Vietnamise Hanoians. I'll sign up for that.
answered about 7 months ago by bigfella
Umm... I don't think that ANY 'poor Vietnamese Hanoians" go to the French Hospital. I think they're the ones who drive Mercedes around and own the houses at Siputra. So I think they probably can afford to pay more... Friends who lived here a few years back tell me that the hospital very nearly shut down after the SARS outbreak (in 2003? or 2004?) but the expat community raised funds to help it survive. Yes, its a business, but it's been helped by charity.
answered about 7 months ago by letsgoeverywhere
The French Hospital is notorious for its shit service and DIRTY facilities. It should be avoided at all costs unless you're looking for a staph infection. For foreigners and Vietnamese alike, the Korean Friendship Clinic is the best (most modern and well equipped) and most affordable option going. It also has a two tier pricing system, but foreigners aren't gouged to begin with. I pay around $7 to see a great (and handsome) Korean doctor, and Vietnamese pay $3.5. Fine with me.
answered about 7 months ago by Stosskraft
The French hospital is way over priced and likes to run un-needed tests to maximize the insurance kick back. I have ask a few of my Vietnamese about the price for this place and they say it is too expensive for the majority of Vietnamese, meaning the dual pricing is just another way to rip off uninformed foreigners. Really, is treating Vietnamese really cheaper that foreigners? no are they built differently ? No, but they feel foreigners should provide an extra revenue stream for what? I have used the Korean clinic in the past a few times and found the service great and well-priced. However I was not aware that they also had a dual price system, and I normally try my best not to get caught up in that scam. Recently I had some work done at a clinic on Ton Duc Thanh..a Vietnamese clinic and I payed the normal price...I was also surprised by the modern equipment (donated from Japan) and the professional attitude from the staff. They don't really speak E too well but my basic Vietnamese got my through fine. It would be great if you could post the answer from the French hospital, it might be interesting.
