An Australian who sought medical help during a bout of “Bali belly” was shocked to receive an eye-watering bill for his treatment on Saturday.
The Perth man, 52, was travelling on the island of Gili Air when he came down with traveller’s diarrhoea, which is commonly caught by tourists travelling from developed to developing countries, and often caused by ingesting contaminated food or water.
The doctor’s diagnosis — acute gastroenteritis (gastro) — and the eight different treatments the Perth man was prescribed were listed on the bill shared to a popular Facebook group for Bali travellers on Wednesday.
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With about $50 for the doctor’s fee, $100 for medicine, $170 for injections, and $350 for further treatment, all up it cost the unlucky traveller Rp- 6.75 million ($A662.15).
“This was a LOT more than I expected,” the Perth man wrote.
“When people are getting Bali belly and calling in a doctor what is it costing?”
More than 100 comments were left on the Perth man’s post, with hugely varying responses.
“Where I was staying they got their doctor in, $40, (and they) gave me antibiotics, bum-stop tablets and a doctor’s certificate,” one person wrote.
“I went to a clinic in Legian in January 2020, (I) was there for hours, got IV fluids, antibiotics and vitamins. (I) was given extra meds to take with me. (It) was $600,” another added.
“Cost us about $400 to get a doctor out for my partner at about 4am,” another said.
“I paid $150 in January 2023 for two injections and medication,” commented someone else.
“$160 for a doctor in Sanur called out to the hotel room,” a fellow traveller said.
“We recently paid just over $600. (We) used the medical centre in Hard Rock Hotel,” another wrote.
“It cost us loads last time, about $500, he charged me $250 for children’s antibiotics. I’ve had doctors before (who) usually (charge) around $200 with medicine included,” another wrote.
While the Perth man’s bill seems steep in comparison to some of the costs listed in his responses, it is unclear exactly where he received his treatment, and whether remote location, locum doctor services or accessibility impacted the price.
He confirmed that he had travel insurance and would be making a claim when he arrived home.
Other Bali-frequenting netizens also commented on his post, claiming their travel insurance was also used to foot the majority of their Bali belly bills.
“Had no problems getting the money back, except for a $100 excess,” one person wrote.
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