History of medical tourism in Thailand in brief

 

การท่องเที่ยวเชิงการแพทย์หมายถึงการที่พลเมืองที่อาศัยในประเทศหนึ่งเดินทางไปรับบริการทางการแพทย์ในอีกประเทศหนึ่งโดยมีเงื่อนไขว่าค่าใช้จ่ายทางการแพทย์ต้องถูกกว่าและบริการต้องเท่าเทียมหรือดีกว่าที่ได้รับใน their own country.

 

Thai government's policy strategy to promote Thailand as a hub for medical services in the year 2547. Since then it has been used a lot, and in 2549 the number of subscribers increased from 1.28 million in 2548 to 1.4 million by increasing the evacuation rate of 14 percent in 2551 estimated that the number of users. will increase to 1.45 million people and generating revenue for the country amounting to 45 billion Baht

 

At present, Thailand has been widely discussed among the foreigners who want to be treated as a medical hub in Asia. Major factors that promote the advanced medical equipment and medical professionals. To enter the country without difficulty. At an affordable cost. And courteous service provider. In addition, Thailand is a major tourist center, with travel by sea, mountains, arts and culture, food, entertainment and shopping information. The capacity of these tourists who come for medical treatment as well.

 

Trends in the business of providing medical services in Asia and prospects of the tourism industry in Thailand.

 

Asian market of medical tourism has the potential to make money as a value 3.4. Billion in 2550, accounting for 12.7 percent of worldwide market share. Factors promote the growth of medical tourism industry in Asia comes from the aging population in developed countries has grown rapidly along with the medical services are limited. And employers with health insurance companies began relying on the medical tourism with the aim of reducing the cost of welfare and medical costs of treatment increased the growth of the tourism industry. medical in Asia was estimated at 17.6 percent during the year 2550 to year 2555.

 

In Asia there are countries that can serve the needs of an aging population in developed countries, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.

 

Government of India has projected revenues in the year 2555 at U.S. $ 1 to $ 2 billion. By a private company in India with investments in medical equipment and support facilities required. India's advantages in low-cost medical services in developed countries but continues to question the cleanliness. Singapore is targeting revenues from medical tourism in 2555 at U.S. $ 3 billion. Which will come from the estimated number of visitors who come to the 1 million people, Singapore has been providing medical services called SingHealth, which is a partnership between the government and the hospital involved, but the obstacles that Singapore faced the charges. Medical costs are high as in western countries. Malaysia and the Philippines had become the country's potential in this industry and is expected to grow rapidly in a period of 5 years.

 

In Thailand, opportunities, advancement of industry, medical tourism is dependent on the development of industry, medicine and health care in the country is the attention to travelers who use the service as important as experience. These visitors will get to decide whether to re-use of medical services in the next time or not.

 

Tourists who come for medical treatment in Thailand.

 Group. 1. : Tourist, not for medical treatment (Leisure Tourist) tourists are willing to come to their experience in Thailand, but it may have medical conditions that need to be treated at the hospital.
Groups. . 2 : Package tour visitors to buy from a travel agent (Wellness Tourist), which may include travel to receive medical services such as travel together and then to get a dental spa.
Group. . 3 : Foreigners who have lived in Thailand for reasons of diplomacy, or is sent from the parent company abroad. (Expatraites) user group may be a problem in health and access to medical services in Thailand.
Group. . 4 : Foreigners who have lived in Asia for reasons of diplomatic or is sent from the parent company in another country (Expatraites in Asia) who use this group may have a health problem in countries where they reside. I choose to get medical services in Thailand.
Group. . 5 travelers who intend to obtain medical services (Medical Travelers) who use the services this group has an appointment directly with a hospital or doctor in order to receive services. In this case, the hospital must provide Package Tours after treatment or during recovery. In contrast, consumers can contact the travel company to provide all

The role of the Embassy at Washington, and related agencies of Thailand, the United States to promote Thailand as a hub for medical services in the region.

           Embassy at Washington has been promoting the policy to make Thailand a hub for medical services in the region by organizing seminars on medical business opportunities between Thailand and the United States. Chamber of Commerce has invited the various states. Attended a seminar with representatives of the country.

           Apart from seminars to business negotiations. The Embassy has encouraged dialogue between the representatives of Thailand's private companies, states such as. Consumer Directed Health Care (CDHCC) company Kereon HSA and its Global Health Direct MedRetreat by U.S. companies are showing interest in doing business with hospitals. In Thailand because there is a need to reduce the cost of health benefits provided to employees. The negotiations with the hospital's potential in such hospital. Rat ฏs hospital care. Phayathai Hospital 2, and so on.

           Embassy. Have been meeting with. National Institute of Health (NIH), an agency under the Ministry of Public Health of the United States. To promote medical capacity-building and human resource development in Thailand. And collaboration with the NIH guidelines for the development of respiratory medicine and infectious disease. In Thailand, as well as research on avian influenza. Grants and awards for research. The staff of the NIH Training and preparation of agreements on cooperation in research and development (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement - CRADA).             The Embassy. The push to promote Thailand as a hub for medical services in the region as a national agenda for economic support funds. The Embassy has also asked the ministry for consideration. Is central to the relevant agencies are invited. Ministry of Public Health Private Hospital Association. Private hospital services. Department of Export Promotion TAT Thai Airways International. Tourist Association. To co-promote the long-term strategy focusing on market potential and purchasing power such as Japan, UK, Middle East and the Embassy. The government has also offered to set up national committees to promote medical services in particular. And coordination arrangements. Road to the Show.

Progress in promoting Thailand as a hub for medical services in the region, Asia          , hospital maintenance, Rat, and the company. BlueCross BlueShield and BlueChoice HealthPlan of the State of South Carolina, U.S. have become partners in promoting medical tourism. BlueCross members will enhance the Company's interests shall be used for medical tourism in Thailand. The alliance of two healthcare companies for the first time in Thailand and the United States, why BlueCross Rat hospital care because of advanced tools. Professionalism. And quality of services, BlueCross can be recommended to member service company, United Group Programs, an insurance company a small business of the State of Florida has proposed a policy which will be used to provide hospital care Rat In order to reduce cost to the employer in the U.S. reached 50 percent.           Hospital Care Rat and Hospital held a visa within the hospital through the provision of office facilities for staff, immigration and patient Immigration officials will arrange a visa to travel to once per week. Visa services in this hospital has the advantage of leading hospitals in Thailand to attract visitors and promote the services of foreign and development of medical tourism in Thailand.           Ministry of Commerce has forecast growth. The export of health and beauty industry is that 20 to 30 percent, driven primarily by the service spa. Exports of industrial health and beauty to earn at least 40 billion baht in 2549, with the proportion rising to 30 percent, this figure will rise when they include income generated from the tourism industry. Medical. Department of Commerce estimates that revenue from health and beauty are not a hundred million of foreign currency. Health and beauty business and the business of medical tourism can promote each other very well, which will result in significant revenue for the country.

 

Embassy at Washington.