Thailand pushes demand for MRI Second Opinion

'MRI and CT second opinion demand has been on constant rise from Thailand in last decade', says TeleradiologyHub Analytics. Thailand had 6.3 Computed Tomography (CT) scanners and 0.8 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) units per million population in 2009. According to unofficial estimates, Thailand conducts on an average approx. 30,000 MRI scans and 150,000 CT in a month. 

 Radiology Service Work-flow in Thailand

The work-flow is similar to other countries- patients are referred by general physicians and consultants for the scanning to determine the diagnosis. The scanning centers are at the places where it becomes commercially viable location and population density is higher as follows:
Silom, Bangna, Bang Khae, Phitsanulok, Prachachuen Thaksin, Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Ratchaburi, Surat Thani, Hatya, Mahasarakham, Nongkhai

 MRI or CT Second Opinion Platforms in Thailand

In Thailand, an MRI Scan or CT scan costs 6500 Baht typically for small studies (as defined by TeleradiologyHub). For larger studies, it may cost 14,000 Baht. Thailand is well ahead of many Asian countries with its health security and public health system. It has better disease prevention programs and rapid response teams. However, the number of radiologists per thousand Thai people is far less than the neighboring countries like Singapore or Malaysia. The patients had to rely on the reporting skills of a radiologist of a particular diagnostic set-up limiting the exchange with sub-specialists in radiology. The advent of online second opinion platforms like TeleradiologyHub can do miracles for patients who are seeking quality MRI or CT reporting in Thailand. TeleradiologyHub team interviewed some of the prominent radiologists from Thailand like Dr.Thunnawat Wattanaseth, MD, PhD, ABAARM.

 Huddles in seeking MRI Second Opinion in Thailand

The external hurdle is pertaining to patient awareness and diagnostic facility inertness. There remains invisibility of expert opinion platforms in Thailand. The diagnostic facilities need to create competitive structures for radiologists. Patients should not feel captive to the facilities and radiologists. Due to the public health system, generally there is a reverse impact on buying behavior of health services; sometimes referrals create new markets. The reverse impact is decreasing slowly as the Private sector is pulling investments in the healthcare sector - currently it spends 1% of the country's GDP, helping public spending to limit at 3% of GDP. Due to public budget and healthcare demand pressures, democratization of radiology may eventually lead to more MRI and CT scan facilities with more demand for quality reporting or second opinion in the country. TeleradiologyHub Analytic does not believe that extra budget for second opinion is as much of a constraint today, as that of difficulty in getting Dicom Images from those Thai Diagnostic facilities. Thai MRI Diagnostic Facilities undertake following MRI modalities that definitely demands careful reading:

ตรวจทั้งร่างกายแบบพิเศษ (MRI Whole Body) 

 Second Opinion helps longways..

The second opinion improves the radio-diagnosis and radiology outcomes as elaborated by Dr Klitzman, MD in his book "When Doctor Becomes Patient". It states that 18-30% of consulting doctors or radiologists disagree with earlier opinions recommended for surgery to therapy. He heads Bioethics Department at Columbia University, USA. He thinks that second opinions have a role in the emerging medical ethical framework.