Thailand is transforming into the leading medical hub of Asia
From the peaceful silence of Buddhist temples, to the inviting shores in Koh Samui, or even a spot of retail therapy in Bangkok, Thailand is a place where travelers come to restore a sense of well-being, to feel whole again.
These experiences make the country an ideal setting for recovery, especially for those who head to Thailand for medical services and wellness retreats. Close to 40 million travelers will step foot in Thailand this year, with medical tourism becoming increasingly important.
When patients can unwind in five-star resorts, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants or hop over to tropical islands after medical treatment—all at the same price of the potential medical costs alone back home—then the incentives to come here are clear.
DID YOU KNOW?
Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism & Sports, and the Ministry of Health are offering more visas to foreign citizens for medical-related travel. Those coming from Japan, China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal and more can now stay up to 90 days for medical travel, allowing for more comfortable recovery periods and better, more personalized treatment for patients.
Asia’s leading destination for medical tourism
In Asia, Thailand has arguably fast become the leading destination for this burgeoning market.
Estimates vary on the total number of people traveling abroad for medical services, but according to Patients Without Borders, a US consulting firm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the market is currently worth US$45-72 billion, a figure based on approximately 14-16 million cross-border patients.
Factor in high-quality medical care, clinics that resemble luxury resorts and new technology offering more and better healthcare choices, it is easy to see why Thailand’s investments in personal care have attracted so many medical travelers over the past decade.
In 2007, Thailand became the first country in Asia to earn accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI), a US non-profit organization whose certification serves as a gold standard for healthcare quality.
That year, an estimated 450,000 foreign patients traveled to Thailand for medical treatment. According to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) officials, that figure has now climbed to over four million.
Today, over 61 Thai hospitals are accredited by JCI. The country’s largest private hospital network, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), has:
- 45 hospitals across Southeast Asia
- Over 12,000 physicians, as well as partnerships with leading medical institutions across the world
- 26 out of 45 JCI-accredited clinics and hospitals
- A flagship facility, Bangkok Hospital, that has received eight Gold Seals of Approval from JCI over the years—more than any other hospital in Asia Pacific
Thailand’s popularity among medical travelers goes beyond seals of approval.
Laura Backe* is a translator and frequent traveler based in Canada. She’s also a Type I diabetic who has spent more than her fair share of time in foreign hospitals.
For her, Thailand has distinguished itself from other countries where she has been treated, primarily for the healthcare quality and financial advantage.
“Thai doctors and nurses are focused on keeping patients comfortable, and providing as pleasant an environment as possible,” she shares. “That’s great when you’re in a hospital in a foreign country and feeling anxious and uncertain.”
Backe spent four days in intensive care recovering from a severe illness. “The nurses were so unbelievably kind. On one day, they even braided my hair. The gesture really meant a lot to me, when I was otherwise feeling absolutely terrible.”
*Patient’s name has been changed by request
The BDMS hospital network has put great focus in elevating its human resources.
Doctors have been trained at top medical schools worldwide and have decades of international experience. Staff interpreters can speak many languages, including Russian, Burmese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Arabic and English.
Underlying this high professional standard is the Thai people’s estimable reputation for hospitality. The network also offers patient-family services in multiple languages, as well as facilities and services such as prayer rooms, and catering options to help address different cultural needs.
With over a two million visits within its entire network and increasing yearly, the BDMS group continues to serve more international patients seeking quality care and services, include cancer treatments and emergency services.
“It’s important that our doctors and physicians understand specific needs from overseas patients and are able to communicate in their local languages,” says Buranut Limjitti, who works in international marketing with BDMS. “It’s important to make everyone feel at home.”
“I’ve experienced medical care in Canada, Colombia, South Korea and a few countries in Eastern Europe, and none has approached the quality of Thailand. I haven’t been anywhere else where they try so hard to make the experience comfortable for patients.”
Laura Backe
Patient at Bangkok Hospital
From top-notch tourism to advanced technology
Thai hospitals are becoming increasingly high-tech, assigning massive resources to constantly upgrade their equipment and facilities.
For BDMS, the latest technology is especially important in determining diagnosis; making the best possible assessment is crucial in the success factor of treatments. The combination of BDMS’ world-class medical professionals, equipped with advanced medical equipment and laboratories, means those seeking treatment experience the highest level of care.
Scanning Technology
BDMS has introduced technology that allows for full-body 3D images of the patient’s skeleton in the standing position – the functional position you live in (as opposed to the position you will be on for operations). Developed by EOS, this helps doctors create roadmaps for reaching and treating the precise locations in the body that need medical attention.
Cancer Treatment Technology
The Edge Radiosurgery System lets oncologists perform pinpoint treatment on tumors with only minor effects on surrounding healthy tissue. That means faster and better tailored care for patients, especially those who need treatment in delicate areas, such as the brain, lungs and spine.
Longevity Care
BDMS offers well-equipped facilities for patients in need of neurological, orthopedic and spine care, as well as room longevity care and rehabilitation.
Senior Healthcare
BDMS has invested in purpose-built facilities for elderly care and rehabilitation, accommodating patients who need extended recovery. The hospital group is collaborating with Oregon Health and Science University on occupational health, rehabilitation, and clinical simulation, among other fields.
Preventive Care
Dedicated and well-appointed facilities provide comprehensive medical services aimed at longevity and disease prevention.
The Road to Wellness
Representatives from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health have laid out their intentions to turn the country into a hub for better health within the next decade. But they aren’t limiting their scope to just medical services. From promoting traditional Thai massage, developing Thai herbal products and offering numerous options for wellness, Thailand aims to get ahead of the curve in every dimension of medicine.
The BDMS group is also stepping up its efforts to provide preventive care. For patients with specific needs, the hospital network has certified experts analyzing their respective DNA, and from the results, develop custom exercise and meal plans to improve health. There are designated clinics for Regenerative, Musculoskeletal, Neuroscience, Cardioscience, Dental, Breast, and Digestive Wellness.
A Holistic Approach
to Better Health
More than just medical treatments, good health comes from a combination of mindfulness and prevention. The state of well-being plays a vital role as well, especially in the recovery stages of treatment.
After having significant dental work done at the Bangkok Hospital Dental Center, Thomas Mueller* is laying down beside an infinity pool at an upmarket hotel in Phuket, looking out over the sea, and enjoying the holiday of his dreams
“When I added it all up, I could travel to Thailand, get my medical work all done, and enjoy a two-week holiday,” he says in comparison to his experience in Europe. “Being able to unwind on a tropical beach between treatments made it easier to handle having so much dental work done, too. The combination of quality and value for money is really hard to beat.”
*Patient’s name has been changed by request
“Thailand doesn’t just excel in Western medicine, but also Oriental and Traditional Chinese Medicine, which have been developed over thousands of years. Thailand is a shining example of what lifestyle medicine should be: integrating lifestyle practices into the modern practice of medicine both to lower risk factors for chronic disease, or if disease is already present, serving as an adjunct to it.”
– Tourism Authority of Thailand
Thailand has always ticked all the boxes beyond its hospital doors, and it has cultivated an international reputation for excellence in patient-centered medical care in barely over a decade.
“We aim to bring world class healthcare services that give the best possible medical outcomes,” adds Limjitti. We have focused in getting ever more advanced technology and the highest qualified staff, to meet the optimal experience for all of the hospitals in our network. Whether it is preventive care by means of health check-ups, to treatment of serious illness, the best possible choice is available for our patients.”
With more and more investments in primary, secondary and tertiary care, as well as preventive medicine and wellness, Thailand is proving to offer the whole package for better health.
2 comments
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