The Falling Cost of Medical Care?

Today I took Maranatha for a visit to a neonatologist (not just a pediatrician, but a specialist that focuses on newborns), and had about 25-30 minutes with the Doctor (who speaks great English). After discussing her congestion and giving her a thorough check-up, he prescribed a light medication that I can try if her sniffles get worse. The hospitals here have pharmacies inside, so it's one-stop shopping. You see your doctor (in the hospital), get your meds, and pay for it all in one building. (And if you needed lab work or an x-ray, that would be easily done as well-- which makes me wonder why don't we do it that way in the US?... anyway, I digress...). So all of this- a visit with a specialist, medicine, and a bottle of saline drops to help her nasal congestion- cost 337 baht. At the going rate of 37 baht to $1 USD, that comes out to NINE DOLLARS AND TEN CENTS!

While medical costs are growing more and more outrageous in the states (largely do to our litigious society), medical costs here (at the same level of medical care) are outrageous-ly low!