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HEALTHCARE IN THAILAND:
Hospitals in Thailand: Providng Quality Healthcare for Middle East Visitors
An increasing number of visitors are travelling to Thailand for medical treatment...
By Naved Hasan in Dubai
 The Kingdom of Thailand has long been known as an attractive tourist destination in the Southeast Asian region. The promise of a dream tropical island holiday with powdery sands, crystal blue waters, sultry sun, rowdy night scenes and a lot of opportunities for fun remains the prime lure of the land. The quality of hotels and the standard of service are equally famous.
But what is less known about Thailand is the exceptionally high standard of its private health services. Highly skilled medical staff, state-of-the-art facilities, modern technology and extensive services yet inexpensive rates that have attracted a growing number of long, as well as short staying tourists coming into country year after year. In fact, Thailand’s excellent private hospitals add a new dimension to the country’s well known traditional hospitality.
“The high standard of Thailand’s medical services especially in private hospitals is at par with the best in the world,” says Dr. Surapong Ambhanwong, president of the Private Hospital Association of Thailand in an exclusive interview with Business & Tourism Guide Series.
Indeed, from the outside, some hospitals look almost like luxury hotels. Once you enter some of these hospitals, the atmosphere is friendly yet business like.
Many foreign expatriates, and executives of international organisations will vouch for the efficiency of the medical services, the professionalism of the doctors and the excellence of the nursing care provided in Thai hospitals.
 “As a patient in any Thai hospital, you can be assured of round-the-clock service, friendly nurses and staff and world class facilities. Some of Thailand’s private hospitals even provide immediate emergency services including helicopter and aircraft charters. Latest computer technologies are also harnessed to access patients records via satellite,” says Dr. Surapong Ambhanwong.
“An additional advantage is that almost all physicians in Thailand’s private hospitals speak English and many are familiar with French, German, Japanese, Korean and other Asian languages. Arabic speaking translators are also at hand to bridge the communication gap for visitors from the Middle East,” he says.
Moreover, it comes as a pleasant surprise to find how low the fees are, when compared to those in many western countries.
Elaborating further on the healthcare facilities in Thailand’s private hospitals, Dr. Surapong Ambhanwong said: “Patients seeking medical care in Thailand’s private hospitals can be sure about the quality of medical services available in Thailand since all our medical professionals are highly trained and experienced in many specialised fields. Most of our doctors are certified by healthcare institutes from internationally-recognised bodies in the UK, USA and Australia.”
Little wonder then that a growing number of visitors from the Middle East are seeking medical care in Thailand’s many private hospitals. “The high quality and relatively competitive pricing of healthcare services in Thailand has attracted many people from the Middle East countries,” said Rahamatullah manager for UAE and the Middle East at TAT’s UAE Representative Office based in Dubai. “Whether it is a regular medical check-up or specialised treatment, many visitors from the Middle East are now seeking healthcare in Thailand’s private hospitals,” he says.
Some of the private hospitals that are popular with Middle East visitors include Bumrungrad Hospital, Bangkok Hospital, Vibhavadi Hospital, Phyathai Hospital and Praram 9 Hospital.
 Undoubtedly, the Middle East travellers are made to feel at home in private hospitals in Thailand. “The availability of halal food and Arabic-speaking staff at most hospitals has further added to the attraction,” says Darryl Maytom, chief executive officer of Bangkok-based Phyathai Hospitals. “We strongly believe that it is qualified doctors, nurses and other staff members that are of utmost importance in any hospital. By attracting the best minds in the industry, Thai private hospitals have been able to provide world-class facilities to their patients. Of course, state-of-the-art machinery and equipment has also helped in raising the standard of Thai healthcare facilities. However, in the end, it is the experience and expertise of our doctors and nurses that matters,” he says.
Dr. Viroon Mavichak, deputy managing director of Praram 9 Hospital airs similar views when he says. “The comparatively low cost of world class healthcare services in Thailand has contributed significantly in promoting health tourism into the country. As more and more people realise the benefits of healthcare facilities available in Thailand, we are sure to see an increase in overseas patients seeking specialised treatment in private hospitals in Bangkok.”
His observations are particularly relevant from the Middle East perspective. Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok has already doubled the number of patients it receives from the Middle East countries. “Our hospital has become a favourite choice for visitors from the Middle East,” says Ruben Toral, director of International Programs at the Bumrungrad Hospital.
The Department of Export Promotion (DEP) has also been actively promoting Thailand’s health services sector in the international markets with the aim of further popularising the country’s healthcare sector. “With increasing demand for healthcare services worldover, DEP has made the promotion of the country’s healthcare sector, one of the country’s leading niché products. This is a key marketing objective reflected in our overall promotional plans,” says Songchai Saisavetvaree, deputy director-general of DEP.
 The Private Hospital Association of Thailand has been working very closely with the Department of Export Promotion on the Longstay and Healthcare Project since its inception. With members of over 185 hospitals from all over Thailand, the association has been working hand in hand with the Thai Longstay Management Corporation to promote health tourism into Thailand.
For example, visitors going to Thailand may carry their medical records or choose to have a thorough medical check-up on arrival. They can also choose to get some other medical treatment such as dentistry, ophthalmologic surgery, plastic surgery – at one of the association’s member hospitals. Moreover, the concept of natural medicine is also being widely practiced in Thailand and many medical establishments have started to integrate the holistic approach to wellness together with conventional medicine.
The combination of traditional wisdom and state-of-the-art hospital facilities has attracted many patients from around the world. “The new concept of facilitating longstay and combining it with healthcare is sure to revolutionise the health tourism industry in Thailand,” says Pratak Simapichaicheth, chairman of Thai Longstay Management Corporation. “Our aim is to provide visitors with a combination of security, safety, healthcare, happiness and satisfaction,” he says.
WHY CHOOSE THAILAND?
Standard: Healthcare organisations (public and private) in Thailand have vastly improved their standard of care and are accepted by international healthcare community. As a result, an increasing number of international patients are seeking healthcare in Thailand.
Service: Thai culture believes in serving other people. The Service sector in the Kingdom has been enjoying top rankings in the world. Many leading hotels and restaurants of the world are in Thailand. The service culture, coupled with the internationally accepted standard of healthcare facilities, has strengthened Thailand’s position as an internationally acclaimed provider of quality healthcare services.
Cost: Right after the economic crisis started in Thailand in 1977, the Baht devalued. The effect of the decline of the Baht along with the basic inexpensive charges of healthcare in Thailand has made cost of medical services in the Kingdom very competitive compared to the same services available in other parts of the world.
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