One could not speak of medical tourism without discussing Thailand. In July 1997, the Thai government chose to no longer peg its currency to the U.S. Dollar and decided to float it, which at that time was 25 Baht per $1 U.S. Dollar. A major financial meltdown ensued, which also affected most of Asia. The Thai Baht plummeted and by the end of the year, dropped to an all-time low of 48 Baht per $1 U.S. Dollar. Businesses and government leaders had to find a way out of the financial crises and they did so by capitalizing on Thailand’s excellent medical infrastructure to attract international patients first by nearby countries such as Japan, Korea, and China and later from Europe and the U.S. Thailand’s medical tourism industry is now so robust and mature that over 1.5 million international patients traveled to Thailand last year alone to seek medical treatment. Out of this number, Americans were the largest group followed by Europeans.
The reasons Thailand has become a leader in the medical tourism is low cost treatment, the many high quality medical facilities that cater to international patients, and the highly developed tourism industry. Thailand’s medical tourism industry is driven largely by the private hospitals where doctors earn much more than in public hospitals. There are currently 15 hospitals in Thailand that are JCI accredited. JCI stands for Joint Commission International and is a nongovernmental organization that provides hospitals worldwide with accreditation. They are the international standard. Bumrungrad International Hospital is at the center of Thailand’s medical tourism. Bumrungrad has over a million square feet and sits at the heart of Bangkok. It looks more like a shopping mall than a hospital. Virtually every major language is spoken or translated there and even assistance with travel arrangements can be found within the hospital. Bumrungrad has set the standard in quality and quantity in contemporary healthcare throughout Asia and the world. Other hospitals that are just as impressive include the Dusit Medical Group that owns and operates 17 hospitals throughout Thailand.
Thailand brings in an estimated 1 billion U.S. Dollars from medical tourism yearly. There are currently over 1,000 doctors that are dedicated solely to international patients. The Thai government also has ambitious plans to increase revenues from medical tourism by 10 folds by 2014. Therefore, patients from around the world will have access to even more high quality medical resources than ever before.
The infrastructure in Thailand is also one of the many reasons why Thailand has experienced such growth in medical tourism. Unlike India, Thailand’s infrastructure is advanced and getting around a city as large as Bangkok is easy for anyone. Whether you jump on the Skytrain or ride in a Taxi, you will have the comfort knowing you will reach your destination without a hassle (unless you get stuck in traffic!)
One cannot speak of Thailand without talking about the beautiful Thai people and their culture. Known as the “Land of Smiles”, this phrase can never be overused. It has been said that the Thais have a smile for every emotion. From the time you exit the plane at the airport until the time you board to return home, you will see and feel this naturally occurring warmness that permeates their environment. The Thai people are warm and friendly and have a way to make one feel comfortable in any setting. Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that had never been colonized. Their instinctively good will and exceptional diplomacy skills kept countries like Japan and the UK at bay. That is why Thailand’s formal name is “The Kingdom of Siam”.
With all of these advantages, why not make Thailand your destination for your medical treatment?
Antonio Frattaroli
Owner & CEO, medcarelink.com
