Dimitry Ivanov had been living in Thailand for almost five years when he began to experience an intense pain that caused him to seek urgent medical assistance. Having used various hospitals for routine medical services, he was never convinced that he would use any of those hospitals if he ever required surgery.

Now living in Bangkok and experiencing severe pain, the urgency of his situation meant it was time to place his trust in a hospital. He headed to Samitivej Sukhumvit, the hospital he and his wife had chosen when they moved to Bangkok. After being advised that he needed to undergo immediate surgery, Dimitry was naturally filled with concerns. However, thanks to the great work of Dr Pornthep and the medical teams at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital in Bangkok, Dimitry now knows that he has found a hospital that he can trust.

Dimitry tells us about his experience at Samitivej in his own words.

Having used the services of various hospitals in Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui, Dimitry knew that he wanted to pick a hospital he could really trust when he moved to Bangkok with his wife. “When my wife and I came to Bangkok, we didn’t know where to go,” he recalled. “We went to many different hospitals, including some very expensive places and some not so expensive. Finally, we determined that Samitivej was the best choice for us.”

Choosing a hospital was one thing, but soon Dimitry would find that it was time to put his trust to the test. “When I came here, I was in pain, a very strong pain,” he explained. “It was very scary for me, so I went to Samitivej Hospital because I felt like this hospital was high quality. There are a lot of professionals at this hospital.”

Even though Dimitry and his wife had picked Samitivej Sukhumvit as their hospital in Bangkok, it was still a worrying time when he found that he needed the hospital’s services sooner than he had expected. “As a foreigner, it’s a bit scary to have any kind of surgery in another country,” Dimitry explained. “When you go to see a doctor, normally you’re scared, especially if the doctor tells you that you need immediate surgery. You’ll want to think for two days, maybe a week, because it’s important to you. It’s your health. Your life.”

Faced with the first surgery of his life, Dimitry’s mind was soon put at ease by the man overseeing his treatment, Dr Pornthep. As Dimitry explained, “If you are a foreigner, for sure you will want to seek another opinion, ask another doctor. But Dr Pornthep is a very good doctor. Believe me, you can trust him. When I talk to him, I feel that he’s listening. He cares about me. He told me that I needed surgery right away, but that there was no need to worry. I decided to do it immediately.”

Once Dimitry placed his trust in Samitivej and accepted the doctor’s recommendation to undergo surgery, things began to move very quickly. “Even though it was already 5 pm when I agreed to have the surgery, by 8 pm I was in surgery,” he explained.

To Dimitry’s delight, the trust he placed in Samitivej was rewarded and the surgery went well with no complications. “It was the first time that I ever had surgery but at this hospital, it was really quite safe,” he explained. “Of course, it hurt a little bit, but I feel the pain was OK. It was normal, just normal,” he added.

Dimitry was on the road to recovery in no time at all. “The recovery was very fast,” he told us. “I visited the doctor for a few days, but actually, for my surgery, I was surprised that the recovery was so fast, so safe and not very painful, to be honest. So, for me it was good. I’m happy with this doctor and with this hospital. Also, Thai people are very friendly so they help you recover. You feel safe in this place.”

While Dimitry was very impressed by the full experience at Samitivej, he reserved a special mention for the doctor who oversaw his treatment throughout his stay. “I really want to say “thank you” to Dr Pornthep because he’s a very good doctor,” he told us.  “Dr Pornthep is a very honest person and he is very highly certified, so you can trust him.”

As much as his medical expertise, it was Dr Pornthep’s genuine concern for his patient’s welfare that impressed Dimitry. “He came to me before surgery when I was worried. My heart was beating and it was good that this doctor came to me before the surgery, right before I was put to sleep,” Dimitry recalled. “And he also helped me a lot after surgery. He just came to me and he cared for me. It was very important to see my doctor before and after the operation.”

Both Dimitry and his wife have now had positive experiences with the service and care at Samitivej. “My wife went to Samitivej for a dental problem, and she also found that the service at this hospital is at a high level. That’s why I can surely recommend this hospital to everyone,” explained Dimitry. “We have both had good experiences here. I will recommend this hospital and this doctor.”

While Dimitry was very thankful to Dr Pornthep for handling his case, he was also impressed by his entire experience with the hospital. “I also want to say some words about the very friendly staff and highly experienced professionals,” he told us. “Here there are a lot of good professionals.”

Dimitry has not only chosen Samitivej Sukhumvit as the hospital for himself and his wife, but he would also recommend it to his friends and family. “If my family needs medical care while visiting Thailand, they will surely go only to this hospital,” he told us. “I think it’s very good value for the price. I can say that they provide 5-star service. It’s a 5-star hospital. Believe me, I am a very honest person. I like to compare. I like good quality. I can recommend Samitivej Sukhumvit. I like it very much.”