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Health Care in Thailand For Phuket-specifics, click
here
Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Seree Wangpaichitr, says that given the size and quality of the local health-care industry, there is huge potential for the country to attract health-conscious international travellers. For visitors who need more specialised attention, leading private hospitals are promoting their expertise, and stepping up efforts to serve the international community. Their services include physical check-ups, internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics, dentistry, orthopaedics, cardiology, emergency treatment and more. A good way for private hospitals - which mushroomed like hotels during the boom years of the early 1990s - to remain on a sound financial footing is serving more tourists. Because private hospitals have been losing business to less expensive public hospitals they recognise the need to shift their focus to tap the international market. Cheap, world-class facilities and technology, and Thai hospitality are at the heart of the sales campaign. According to the Bangkok Post, Thai private hospitals say they can offer the same service standard as in developed countries, but at much lower prices. It is estimated that the cost of medical care in Thailand is about one-half to one-third of that in Singapore, one-fifth of the cost in Europe and one-eight of that in the United States. Jindarat Ongvarasopone, assistant public relations director at Bangkok Nursing Home (BNH), said her hospital was in discussions with inbound tour operators and hotels to attract foreign clients. The hospital has designed a special programme aimed mainly at business travellers who come to Bangkok for meetings. "Some businessmen have chronic illnesses that require frequent check-ups at hospitals, and we can provide the services for them," she said. Japan has the world's highest proportion of elderly people, and most have high spending power. "These elderly people need special attention but because the cost of living in Japan is so high, even they cannot afford it," Prof Narong told the Bangkok Post. "Therefore, they are looking to go to countries that are less expensive. Thailand has strong potential to accommodate this group." Elderly Japanese usually stay longer, up to three months in many cases, and spend more money than other tourist groups. Many are repeat visitors, and most come when it is winter in Japan, from October to March. In an interview with Bangkok Post, Curtis Schroeder, CEO at Bumrungrad Hospital, said the promotion of health tourism had even better potential in tourist destinations such as Phuket, Chiang Mai, Rayong or Pattaya. But to make it a success, sports and health-related activities need to be combined.
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