PHUKET: Young Russian tourists Kamila and Alexandr Razdobarov flew out of Phuket yesterday after a nightmarish finish to their holiday that exposed Phuket's language flaws and insurance shortcomings.
When Alexandr developed heart palpitations as the couple sat in the departure lounge at Phuket International Airport on Tuesday waiting to board their charter aircraft, Kamila feared her husband might die on the flight.
So she cancelled their passage home and called for help instead. A guide took them to Phuket International Hospital in Phuket City, where 27-year-old Alexandr was treated and found to be healthy.
When it came to pay the bill of 950 baht, it emerged that the couple's Russian insurance company nominates just one Phuket hospital for treatment - the public Vachira Phuket Hospital, which is also in Phuket City.
The couple had to use their last 1000 baht note to pay the bill, leaving them with just 200 baht as Alexandr was transferred by ambulance to Vachira.
The hospital has no contract with the Russians' insurers, but being a general public hospital it does accept all patients, regardless.
Alexandr didn't require admission. It appeared the couple were to be cast out into Phuket's streets, with just 200 baht to their names, when Vachira Phuket's international matron Methavee Maneesri intervened.
Using sign language, she took them down Yaowarat Road to the Tourist Police Headquarters, where there are two bedroom units for visitors in distress.
Kamila and Alexandr were alarmed at being handed over to police until much later when, eventually, a translator is found.
Russian-language speakers are rare on Phuket so the message that went to the tour operator was that Vachira were taking two of their customers to the police for not paying their bill of 2646 baht.
The Phuket tour operator sounded the alarm by calling Public Health's head office and alerting a Bangkok newspaper and other media to the terrible treatment of the Razdobarovs by Vachira Phuket.
Suddenly, kindly Khun Methavee and the Good Samaritan Phuket Tourist Police were fielding telephone calls asking ''Why are you treating these Russian tourists so badly?''
Yesterday, despite the bad attitude of one foul-mouthed representative of the tour company, the Razdobarovs resumed their journey home, leaving Phuket to ponder the mess.
Not enough people on Phuket speak Russian, so confusion is always going to happen until the tourism skill deficiency is overcome.
Another case involving Russian Nikolai Nefedov, who was struck this month by a speedboat propeller while swimming at Kata beach, exposed the travel insurance problem.
He could not pay the bill for his emergency treatment at Phuket International Hospital because his Russian insurance company specifies all treatment must be at Vachira Phuket, the island's overcrowded and overworked large general public hospital.
The same Russian insurance company, Phuketwan understands, has racked up a debt of 300,000 baht at Vachira Phuket, where cash flow is always vital.
What the Russian insurers are doing contravenes standard international practice and exposes all Phuket's hospitals - private and public - to a difficult situation.
Ambulances take people in emergencies to the nearest hospital, and they all respond by treating emergency patients. But who eventually foots the bill?
Russians heading for Phuket would be wise to carefully examine the fine print of their insurance contracts, and change their holiday plans if necessary.
Bon voyage, Kamila and Alexandr.
When Alexandr developed heart palpitations as the couple sat in the departure lounge at Phuket International Airport on Tuesday waiting to board their charter aircraft, Kamila feared her husband might die on the flight.
So she cancelled their passage home and called for help instead. A guide took them to Phuket International Hospital in Phuket City, where 27-year-old Alexandr was treated and found to be healthy.
When it came to pay the bill of 950 baht, it emerged that the couple's Russian insurance company nominates just one Phuket hospital for treatment - the public Vachira Phuket Hospital, which is also in Phuket City.
The couple had to use their last 1000 baht note to pay the bill, leaving them with just 200 baht as Alexandr was transferred by ambulance to Vachira.
The hospital has no contract with the Russians' insurers, but being a general public hospital it does accept all patients, regardless.
Alexandr didn't require admission. It appeared the couple were to be cast out into Phuket's streets, with just 200 baht to their names, when Vachira Phuket's international matron Methavee Maneesri intervened.
Using sign language, she took them down Yaowarat Road to the Tourist Police Headquarters, where there are two bedroom units for visitors in distress.
Kamila and Alexandr were alarmed at being handed over to police until much later when, eventually, a translator is found.
Russian-language speakers are rare on Phuket so the message that went to the tour operator was that Vachira were taking two of their customers to the police for not paying their bill of 2646 baht.
The Phuket tour operator sounded the alarm by calling Public Health's head office and alerting a Bangkok newspaper and other media to the terrible treatment of the Razdobarovs by Vachira Phuket.
Suddenly, kindly Khun Methavee and the Good Samaritan Phuket Tourist Police were fielding telephone calls asking ''Why are you treating these Russian tourists so badly?''
Yesterday, despite the bad attitude of one foul-mouthed representative of the tour company, the Razdobarovs resumed their journey home, leaving Phuket to ponder the mess.
Not enough people on Phuket speak Russian, so confusion is always going to happen until the tourism skill deficiency is overcome.
Another case involving Russian Nikolai Nefedov, who was struck this month by a speedboat propeller while swimming at Kata beach, exposed the travel insurance problem.
He could not pay the bill for his emergency treatment at Phuket International Hospital because his Russian insurance company specifies all treatment must be at Vachira Phuket, the island's overcrowded and overworked large general public hospital.
The same Russian insurance company, Phuketwan understands, has racked up a debt of 300,000 baht at Vachira Phuket, where cash flow is always vital.
What the Russian insurers are doing contravenes standard international practice and exposes all Phuket's hospitals - private and public - to a difficult situation.
Ambulances take people in emergencies to the nearest hospital, and they all respond by treating emergency patients. But who eventually foots the bill?
Russians heading for Phuket would be wise to carefully examine the fine print of their insurance contracts, and change their holiday plans if necessary.
Bon voyage, Kamila and Alexandr.
Good account of interesting story. I presume that no Russian natives are members of the Tourist Police nor in the Honorary Consul group? A company I take to be Russian (from a look at their website but I could be wrong, available in about 6 languages none of them mine) is much in evidence on San Sabai these days. Perhaps it would be in its interests to organise filling these gaps?
Posted by ssresident on December 23, 2011 12:47