What was the total cost of Laparoscopic gall bladder removal at MediClinic?

[saor]

Thank you for your quick response. I budgeted ±R10k for the anaesthetist.

It's not an emergency at this stage (fortunately). I asked the surgeon what to expect and he said I shouldn't worry about it at this stage as he and the anaesthetist will see how they can "make it work". The surgeon and anaesthetist are both incredibly well know and respected, so I am pretty confident that they're not trying to milk me, but the comment left me without answers or an estimated idea and I would really like some sort of idea. Am I in for more than R60k or less than R60k?

Just...be careful about the surgeon you choose. You want this person to communicate properly with you and this seems like a swak start. These are routine surgeries and they know exactly what the cost will be.

 

[AriGold]

Hi @AriGold , I had to pay privately for my gallbladder removal - let me not start on why it was not covered by my medical aid.

I did mine at Tygerberg and cost me R11K in 2016. I went to Tygerberg at the recommendation of the surgeon who was treating me in MediClinic Somerset West - I suffer from acute pancreatitis.

Private:

Why you don't want to do it privately:
* You get charged per hour for the surgery theatre, and if they go one minute over the time, boom, another hour. The most expensive cost. This happens during a complication. Keep in mind surgeries are booked in advance and time is critical. Do triple-check that they cap the surgery fee if something goes wrong.

* Your surgeon does not care where you get it done, will often do it pro-bona like in my case. So no need for a private hospital.

* Your surgeon will also get the anaesthetist to do it at a reduced rate. So no need for a private hospital.

* Post-operation complications is where it gets scary, in a private hospital you will end up bankrupt as there is no capped fee. Bile duct injury is a high-risk complication.

Please see his research here on the injury and some data on costs: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefan-Hofmeyr

A cost analysis of operative repair of major laparoscopic bile duct injuries​

A cost analysis of operative repair of major laparoscopic bile duct injuries | Hofmeyr | South African Medical Journal

One patient spent R1million on hospitalisation.


Why you want to do it privately:
* Minimal waiting period for elective surgery
* Minimal waiting period for emergency surgery
* Nice food and TV in a hospital ward
* Tea and coffee whenever needed.


Public:

Why you don't want to do it publically:
* Waiting period for elective surgery.
* Waiting period for emergency surgency (my case and caused a lot of stress over those four months).
* Admin process to get admitted, that is if you don't have a state patient hospital number (in my case)
* Food is good but minimal
* No coffee
* No TV in the ward.

Why you want to do it publically:
* Capped fees
* Fees based on income, so lower-income people will pay less.
* Academic staff, many are supervised by the top surgeons.
* Top surgeons, many split their time between public and private sector. My surgeon for example.
* Same operation outcome.


I'm not here to give you or anybody else medical advice, I'm only here to share information. I've can only praise the wonderful staff at Tygerberg hospital and had no complications from the operation or recovery.

You can also see a surgeon privately for cheaper than a Nandos family meal. A lot of people don't release you can just pick up a phone and make an appointment. Dr Hofmeyer consultations were cheaper than my GP visit. I do it all the time, see specialists privately without referrals (or the cost of having to go through multiple doctors for a referral).

Rather speak to the surgeon before the time so you can understand the risk and then make an informed choice.

Thank you so very much for this absolutely thorough and brilliant answer! I really appreciate it and will take everything into consideration.