Living in Thailand

[Spider916]

Afik, you need written and spoken fluency in Thai to sit on the exam. Almost no foreign md passed those exams.

Satyr9,

American-trained emergency physician. Living and practicing in Israel the last seven years.

Thinking of settling in Thailand.

Any MD's here who can give me some hints about the ins and outs of procuring a license to practice which I will not find from the Thailand medical board website or other official sources?

Thanks in advance.

So, are you a doctor or a paramedic? I think your first stop would be the international hospitals who may also need your language skills.

[LittleBigMan]

odd question to ask on a sex board.

This shouldn't be odd at all... Although a sex board it contains lots of threads just like this one. Although we are here basically as mongers we do get sick just like everyone and need attention. Just look at the hospital alone in Pattaya that cater to the Expats and Tourist and charge us a arm and a leg to service our needs though still cheaper abroad in our own countries.

I for one like to see him get license open his own practice and cater to Expat, Tourist and their families so that we can get the type of service like home without looking like a ATM to these hospital. Wouldn't it be refreshing to go see a Doctor in his or her office to get a basic checkup, X-Ray, minor surgery, blood test and pills dispense without going to a hospital and they telling you " you need to stay overnight "! and charge you Farang prices.

Aussiedoug,

By the way he clearly identify himself as a American Train Physician so he isn't a paramedic! Yes, his first move should be at the International hospitals and working for one he most likely will be paid better but have less say how he interacts with the patients since they control the schedule and patient load. For example at BPH, the physical has 10 minutes to spent with you and anything more than that you can feel them staring at the clock while you are talking.

LBM

[Redcurry]

Totally agree. Many Fortune 500 companies and/or major multinational companies have very keen and growing interests in Thailand. The manufacturing base is increasing.

Several women I met told me that the factories in Chom Buri are always hiring and looking for good workers. Unfortunately the wages are not enough to sustain japanese, or western standards of living. So the girls are well accustomed to supplementing their income. Even those who have working class jobs in Bangkok.

Bangkok has greatly improved compared to Manilla for example. Where I understand the poverty is much greater.

Quality of life wise. I would take BKK over Manila at all incomes. I'm not going to say the depths of Klong Toei are "safe" but they are much safer then many lower-middle class parts of Manila. Bangkok has slums but nothing like the sprawling slums around Manila, outside Q. City near Manila boundary, Tondo in Manila, etc.

I read a report that due to rising wages/land zoning/people not wanting heavy industry near their village/town. Thai heavy industry is looking to jump over to Myanmar's new deep water port/dev complex.

[AussieDoug]

Satyr9,

American-trained emergency physician. Living and practicing in Israel the last seven years.

Thinking of settling in Thailand.

Any MD's here who can give me some hints about the ins and outs of procuring a license to practice which I will not find from the Thailand medical board website or other official sources?

Thanks in advance.

So, are you a doctor or a paramedic? I think your first stop would be the international hospitals who may also need your language skills.

[Siam Dreamer]

Firstly. Bangkok is the major city/capital city of a dev. Country and like many other mid sized growing countries, its major city tend to have a disproportionate amount of the wealth/educational/leisure/retail, etc venues in the country.

Totally agree. Many Fortune 500 companies and/or major multinational companies have very keen and growing interests in Thailand. The manufacturing base is increasing.

Several women I met told me that the factories in Chom Buri are always hiring and looking for good workers. Unfortunately the wages are not enough to sustain japanese, or western standards of living. So the girls are well accustomed to supplementing their income. Even those who have working class jobs in Bangkok.

Bangkok has greatly improved compared to Manilla for example. Where I understand the poverty is much greater.

[DirkDingy]

American-trained emergency physician. Living and practicing in Israel the last seven years.

Thinking of settling in Thailand.

Any MD's here who can give me some hints about the ins and outs of procuring a license to practice which I will not find from the Thailand medical board website or other official sources?

Thanks in advance.

odd question to ask on a sex board.

[Len Worthington]

Hi Guys,

Just retired here in Pattaya.

Could someone please let me know the best way to transfer money from England to here.

Also cheapest or best car hire.

Lenny

[Redcurry]

There seem to be a lot of rich people in Bangkok - I mean at upper end night clubs there are a lot of really nice cars in the parking lot (Porches, BMW, etc..), and there are the luxury malls like Siam Paragon and Emporium. There is a ostentatious display of wealth in this area which seems totally out of place in this region.

Where does all this "noeveau riche" wealth come from? Thailand is not a rich country, the only well-known export is rice or maybe textiles. If you see it in Moscow or the Middle East, it is oil money, Hong Kong or Shanghai it is from finance, Tokyo - industry, India - IT, etc.. so what industry is driving so much wealth to Bangkok ??

Firstly. Bangkok is the major city/capital city of a dev. Country and like many other mid sized growing countries, its major city tend to have a disproportionate amount of the wealth/educational/leisure/retail, etc venues in the country.

Of the really rich, I am sure BKK leads by far far more then its % of Thailand's population, then Phuket, Chiang Mai and maybe Khorat(lots of industry). I'm assuming the industrial barons near the Eastern seaboard consider their "home" to be in/around BKK, not Chonburi/Rayong.

Secondly, next to Singapore. Bangkok has grown as the sort of regional center for Regional/Global businesses, logistics, etc.

Its a mistake to think, Thailand's largest exports are based on rice alone. Industrial based like cars, car components, mid level machine production are larger % then agri-business. Not to say Agricultural is not a major employer, it is the biggest but as an earner its not.

Thailand is not rich, but certainly not poor. Hence why hundreds of thousands of neighboring peoples try to come to Thailand to work, legally or otherwise. Below the surface there are lots of Burmese, Thai Yai(Shan), Lao, Khmer working in jobs that many Thai's would prefer not to do(cleaning fish all day long, dangerous construction jobs, stripping copper/other components out of junk/tossed out things.

[Smartbuy]

Thailand's economy is driven.

Corruption and speculation. Big money comes from land deals and the real estate bubble, and to some extent little monopolies. Cement, rock, and government largess. But a young growing population means local demand is strong.

By high value exports. Automobiles, small engines electronics, machinery, rubber based medical implements, etc.

Wishful thinking, China is taking some of those exports, but a few smarter operators pick Thailand because

1) In China, you can't relocate back out to another country

2) Deal is great at first, but then costs rise (In China)

3) Your advantages / trade secrets soon 'migrate' to a copy shop

4) Thai's are good hard workers, and sometimes they can match Chinese prices.

5) Population size is optimum at present (for exports); given local protections.

Future. Thailands Exports are a a bit bruised as China's Yuan is fixed to US dollar, Vs Thai Baht appreciation. That 18% appreciation is nasty. So expect some high value industries to move back to screwdriver shops.

In the meantime the hand to mouth peasants in the North are livid about not getting a fair deal, and voter numbers are huge. The whole Thai political scene can't cope, and can't strike internal deals the old way. Only change is certain.

Somehow I expect Thailand to pull through better than other countries.

[Hermescali]

Fon Tok gave you the low-down and also remember that the money generally stays in the family. Rich marry rich and do business with their friends. This isn't all new wealth. This is driving much of the political unrest. Are you aware that Thailand is part of the G20? Seems you have a wrong impression about Thailand.

Thailand is not part of the G 20 but of the G 22 (G 20 plus Thailand, HK, Poland, Malaysia ad Singapore minus Türkey, Saudi-Arabia and the European Union) But the G 22 last met in the late nineties.

[Giotto]

...
Are you aware that Thailand is part of the G20?
...

Pita123,

That's new to me.


Giotto
http://www.livingstones.co.th

[Pita123]

There seem to be a lot of rich people in Bangkok - I mean at upper end night clubs there are a lot of really nice cars in the parking lot (Porches, BMW, etc..), and there are the luxury malls like Siam Paragon and Emporium. There is a ostentatious display of wealth in this area which seems totally out of place in this region.

Where does all this "noeveau riche" wealth come from? Thailand is not a rich country, the only well-known export is rice or maybe textiles. If you see it in Moscow or the Middle East, it is oil money, Hong Kong or Shanghai it is from finance, Tokyo - industry, India - IT, etc.. so what industry is driving so much wealth to Bangkok ??

Fon Tok gave you the low-down and also remember that the money generally stays in the family. Rich marry rich and do business with their friends. This isn't all new wealth. This is driving much of the political unrest. Are you aware that Thailand is part of the G20? Seems you have a wrong impression about Thailand.

[Fon Tok]

There seem to be a lot of rich people in Bangkok - I mean at upper end night clubs there are a lot of really nice cars in the parking lot (Porches, BMW, etc..), and there are the luxury malls like Siam Paragon and Emporium. There is a ostentatious display of wealth in this area which seems totally out of place in this region.

Where does all this "noeveau riche" wealth come from? Thailand is not a rich country, the only well-known export is rice or maybe textiles. If you see it in Moscow or the Middle East, it is oil money, Hong Kong or Shanghai it is from finance, Tokyo - industry, India - IT, etc.. so what industry is driving so much wealth to Bangkok ??

Thailand's economy is driven by high value exports -- automobiles, small engines electronics, machinery, rubber based medical implements, etc.

Thailand's Export Partners: US 10.94%, China 10.58%, Japan 10.32%, Hong Kong 6.22%, Australia 5.62%, Malaysia 5.03%, Singapore 4.97% (2009)

Contrary to common belief, tourism is a relatively small segment of the economy, about 8% of the total economy.

The following quote is from the US CIA Word Factbook:

"With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, generally pro-investment policies, and strong export industries, Thailand enjoyed solid growth from 2000 to 2008 - averaging more than 4% per year - as it recovered from the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98.

Thai exports - mostly machinery and electronic components, agricultural commodities, and jewelry - continue to drive the economy, accounting for more than half of GDP. The global financial crisis of 2008-09 severely cut Thailand's exports, with most sectors experiencing double-digit drops. In 2009, the economy contracted 2.8%.

The Thai government is focusing on financing domestic infrastructure projects and stimulus programs to revive the economy, as external trade is still recovering and persistent internal political tension and investment disputes threaten to damage the investment climate."

Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...k/geos/th.html

Combine a healthy economy with a minimum wage of about 200 baht a day (which is what most workers get), and you can imagine why there is a relatively small, privileged, wealthy class, and a lot of poor folks barely getting by.

For more on poverty in Thailand, see the recent Bangkok Post article,
"Reality bites workers hard: As industry resists minimum wage hikes, life's a struggle for many at the bottom of the heap"

Link to article: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...s-workers-hard

[Amjeck]

There seem to be a lot of rich people in Bangkok -

Where does all this "noeveau riche" wealth come from? Thailand is not a rich country, the only well-known export is rice or maybe textiles.

Try not to judge all of Thailand just by looking at Bangkok. Go out into the provinces and you will see a lot less wealth. You say Thailand is not a "rich" country, but it's certainly not a poor one either.

[Blourghus]

There seem to be a lot of rich people in Bangkok - I mean at upper end night clubs there are a lot of really nice cars in the parking lot (Porches, BMW, etc..), and there are the luxury malls like Siam Paragon and Emporium. There is a ostentatious display of wealth in this area which seems totally out of place in this region.

Where does all this "noeveau riche" wealth come from? Thailand is not a rich country, the only well-known export is rice or maybe textiles. If you see it in Moscow or the Middle East, it is oil money, Hong Kong or Shanghai it is from finance, Tokyo - industry, India - IT, etc.. so what industry is driving so much wealth to Bangkok ??