Friday, May 30, 2008
Medical help?
Many times over the last year I get asked what do I do for medical insurance or medical help. To be honest, and I know its not an excuse, I have good health so I rarely have to go to a doctor for help, but as the years roll by , I know this will have to change.
Recently I had suffered for many weeks with a parasite infection that I had felt had spread to my lungs, and naturally I began to panic and cough!! and cough!! Lucky it was not serious and seems now to be under control.
I was lucky as a fellow expat
Now this being the Philippines
Now that compares bad with an experience last year when i picked up a rash that would not go and many visits to a hospital specialise I finally figured out from the Internet the medication and treatment I was getting made no sense, she was prescribing medication to make money and had no interest in my welfare. In short I was an ATM to her,and that is their of having treatment here.
I am lucky as Davao has many good hospitals and other private medical institutions, so my choice is good, however when you are in more remote areas you really are forced to be treated by people who may not know what they are doing and who want cash.
I came across this website that seems to have a comprehensive list that have been sanctioned by TRICARE.
KEEP IT SAFE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MAY NEED IT.
http://tpaoweb.oki.med.navy.mil/TGRO/providers/Provider_Directory.htm
# 1 Klaus Doring said:
Hi John, sad to hear this. We wondering already that you missed our last appointment. You are right, we can be very happy to have very good doctors and hospitals here in Davao. What you really need is a good medicare
.Get well my friend and hopefully see you soon again… 
# 2 Migs said:
Hi John: I’ve had my share of awful experiences with doctors who don’t seem to know what they’re doing. Well, to be more precise, who are very careless with prescriptions. Stricter controls need to be imposed: that’s what will help patients in the long run.
# 3 rick b said:
John
is this yr excuse to miss my speach at the friends of Mindanao meeting, come on you can do better than that (joke…..) not very funnny i know, get well and see you soon
# 4 Ron W said:
hello john
i have had some experiences in the provinces myself.the first time i was there my fiancee became very very sick.her mom tryed some old home remedy and it didnt work at all.i demanded that we find a local doctor so i did seek the advise of my landlord.actually she is like an aunt.she told me of her family doctor in panabo.so i got a trycle and carried my fiancee to this doctor.it was amazing that he found her problem very fast..what she had was typhiod and this doc told me she would have died in another 24 hours without proper treatment.wow i was so relieved when he helped us.i think the cost was 1,000 p and i was shocked how low rates he charged.we still have this doctor currently for our family and son there.the last time i was in mindanao i decided to see a dentist because my teeth were very bad condition.i have to say cheers to her for sure.i had 9 bad teeth extracted and the cost was 36usd.we did find a man who make dentures there also.the cost was 125usd delivered here in the usa.wow a great job for sure.i would reccomend anyone needing operations or dental work to come to mindanao because very professional and much cheaper then usa.i never thought i would say im exited to retire but now i have a paradise waiting for me in mindanao.
thanks john
# 5 Ron W said:
oh by the way typhiod is from drinking stale water or stagnent water,very common in philippines.i reccomend bottled water from the supermarket.as well be careful of the ice there as well.thanks again john
# 6 Klaus Doring said:
Hi Ron W - i agree with you after living here since almost ten years. Not everybody can “survive” tap water…
# 7 Ron W said:
hi klaus
i think u can drink the water in davao from the tap but if u try that in panabo you might as well move into the hospital. im not really sure i know what you mean by your comment here.next time your in panabo try to drink the tap water and let me know how well you feel after a couple of days huh
# 8 graham said:
3 years ago in Davao i fell off a small wall and had a trapped sciatic nerve in my back. It was hurrendous pain i could hardly walk or sit. I went to Davao docs and MRI scan confirmed the trapped nerve. Saw a doctor there he took one look at the MRI scan and said Operaion! I said what if i try Physio Therapy he said it will not help, you need an operation to free it. He said having physio therapy could make it worse. I ignored him and had physio therapy took 3 months then i was good as new. BEWARE of docs even in hospitals here. I knew an older man 80 years old 4 years ago in Davao he had a bad back and was told he needed an op, i saw him a day before the operation walikng arround a mal,l after his op infection, 1 week later dead!
# 9 Neal in RI said:
John,
I have been reeding your comments/and video’s here for some time now and I just wanted to send out a Thank You for all your effort and excellent video’s you submit.
# 10 john said:
The water here is in the main safe!! But I moved and no one told me that the part of Davao I was in was a different water supply. Needless to say I have lost a few pounds now,slimmer and back to health. That was a hell of a diet plan.
# 11 Klaus Doring said:
Hi Ron W, I wouldn’t try it, neither in Panabo nor somewhere else. I did it some time ago in Davao Oriental and on Samal Island. And? I got the same result like John. To be honest: I don’t like this kind of diet plan… I will be on tour again tomorrow and I am sure, I will my gallon of drinking water…