Medical Tourism Drop Hits Core of Thailand’s Bumrungrad Hospital

Suttinee Yuvejwattana, Bloomberg News

 

BC-Medical-Tourism-Drop-Hits-Core-of-Thailand’s-Bumrungrad-Hospital , Suttinee Yuvejwattana

 

(Bloomberg) -- Bumrungrad Hospital Pcl said the plunge in medical tourists traveling to Thailand amid the coronavirus pandemic has squeezed its business, as the majority of the health-care operator’s revenue typically comes from international patients.

 

“The Covid-19 crisis is a very tough test for all businesses,” Chief Executive Officer Artirat Charukitpipat said in a written interview on Monday. “More than 50% of our patients used to come from overseas. They’ve now disappeared. The most important question is how we will get over this crisis. At Bumrungrad, agility runs in our blood. We have great staff, and they are ready to adjust.”

 

The hospital helped pioneer Thailand’s medical-tourism industry about three decades ago. With it’s core patient base closed off, Bumrungrad has stepped up telemedicine as well as conducting at-home blood tests, vaccinations and drug deliveries, according to Artirat. The hospital operator, whose flagship is in Bangkok, also implemented new residence programs for those requiring quarantine or physical distancing, she said.

 

Full story: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/medical-tourism-drop-hits-core-of-thailand-s-bumrungrad-hospital-1.1434355

 

-- BNN Bloomberg 2020 05-11

They have been screwing over patients for eye watering amounts for decades. Should be enough in the kitty for the next 50 years

Edited May 11, 20206 yr by madmen

Bumrungrad recently offered 50% of inpatient rooms  and 20% off on medications, medical supplies, laboratory tests and x-rays for 3 months to celebrate its 40th year anniversary.

Maybe now is the time to expand the discounts to help revive its medical tourism for out patient care.

Where's gofundme link? 

Tourists Should Be Really Needy To Come To Thailand For Medical Care

1 minute ago, Borzandy said:

Tourists Should Be Really Needy To Come To Thailand For Medical Care

Why?

 

People come from all over the world for medical treatment here, it's tenfold better than their home countries and affordable.

 

You comment is very wrong.

My heart goes out to this hospital ( NOT )

Over priced health care that employs some really stupid staff.

I attended there with a severe leg infection, the nurse told me to wash the leg in the toilet before the doctor would see me.

My wife claims half of Bangkok heard what I called her

2 hours ago, Borzandy said:

Tourists Should Be Really Needy To Come To Thailand For Medical Care

In the US there is no national healthcare programs like all other developed countries provide for their citizens. It had been cheaper to fly to Thailand, have the operation, recoup erase at the beach and fly back to the US for about the same amount that the operation alone would cost in the US.

What they are not over run by Covid patients?

3 hours ago, Borzandy said:

Tourists Should Be Really Needy To Come To Thailand For Medical Care

 

What?

 

Many wealthy Middle East citizens come here for medical tourism. I personally know several from the UAE who bought condos here, come over a couple of times per year with their families, and always have medical check-ups and/or treatments whilst here. That's despite them having VIP Free Medical Cards for treatment at home from their government. 

 

I know Bumrungrad also have close links with hospitals in the UAE; in a mentoring type roll.

 

Bangkok Hospital is also usually crowded with Middle Eastern customers whenever I've been there.

 

 

23 minutes ago, Henryford said:

What they are not over run by Covid patients?

 

Why do you think?

 

Perhaps because there aren't the huge number of people infected needing medical treatment in Thailand?

 

 

46 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

What?

 

Many wealthy Middle East citizens come here for medical tourism. I personally know several from the UAE who bought condos here, come over a couple of times per year with their families, and always have medical check-ups and/or treatments whilst here. That's despite them having VIP Free Medical Cards for treatment at home from their government. 

 

I know Bumrungrad also have close links with hospitals in the UAE; in a mentoring type roll.

 

Bangkok Hospital is also usually crowded with Middle Eastern customers whenever I've been there.

 

 

 

It's true, sure. Every time I stay at holiday Inn Express near bkk hospital it is (was) full of Arabs. 

 

Means nothing to me as I trust specialists in Canada more than Thailand. There are some good specialists in Thailand, but the price of hosputal and a hiso lobby has nothing to do with it. 

Edited May 12, 20206 yr by Pravda

A racist troll post has been removed.

Increase the price of paracetamol from 100baht/pill to 200baht/pill. Problem solved!

4 hours ago, Grumpy one said:

My heart goes out to this hospital ( NOT )

Over priced health care that employs some really stupid staff.

I attended there with a severe leg infection, the nurse told me to wash the leg in the toilet before the doctor would see me.

My wife claims half of Bangkok heard what I called her

Yet, I had a rare condition that threatened the loss of my leg. Went to four different hospitals and they all got it wrong. The specialist at BumRunGrad nailed it and saved me from possible amputation.

2 hours ago, timendres said:

Yet, I had a rare condition that threatened the loss of my leg. Went to four different hospitals and they all got it wrong. The specialist at BumRunGrad nailed it and saved me from possible amputation.

You were lucky he guessed correctly.

1 minute ago, Letseng said:

You were lucky he guessed correctly.

It was no guess, and he knew the problem immediately after proper analysis. He had dealt with this particular problem a number of times.

5 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Why do you think?

 

Perhaps because there aren't the huge number of people infected needing medical treatment in Thailand?

 

 

I was being sarcastic. You would think with all the fuss Thailand is making that the hospitals were overflowing with Covid cases.

That is kind of true but 90 percent of Americans have health insurance and it wouldn't be true for most of them.  I know at least two people that could get health insurance from their employers and they have chosen not to because they would rather take the gamble. 

 

Also there is Medicare for the poor. This sucks but it is a form of health coverage for the disadvantaged. 

 

There is Medicare for the old.  I have good private insurance but medicare becomes the primary insurer when I turn 65.  Again kind of a universal system.  Most people are happy with medicare by the way.

 

And if you need emergency treatment hospitals are required to treat you even without insurance.  This is totally inefficient but people aren't just dying in the streets.

 

I have been to doctors in a number of countries with single payer systems.  Good for many things but I get better treatment and have more say over who I see and when with my insurance.   

 

The American system is different and in many ways not as good but it is also better in many ways.

 

But there is no denying you pay for it dearly. 

 

I don't seem able to quote the comment about it being cheaper for Americans to take a health care vacation from above.

 

Edited May 12, 20206 yr by AKJeff
Missed quote

The most overpriced hospital in the region, not just in Thailand. They will survive, and hopefully learn about being humble.

“Boomerang” used to be a good value, but pricing a spinal fusion in the US vs there it actually came out better in the US (with a faster recovery period).  Same for the medical checkups; my last one about 12 months ago will be my last— quite expensive now and really not much more value in comparison to the US, only faster.

 

At my last visit I was actually surprised by the dearth of middle easterners.  Most that were there seemed to be in bad shape vs the more typical “checkup” type visits.

22 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Why?

 

People come from all over the world for medical treatment here, it's tenfold better than their home countries and affordable.

 

You comment is very wrong. Affordable ?   I think that depends on the size of your bank account,  I was given a quote for a medical procedure, upon paying the bill after  2 night stay that quote was 150,000 baht  extra

 

On 5/11/2020 at 10:48 PM, Grumpy one said:

the nurse told me to wash the leg in the toilet

Obviously a misunderstanding on your part.  Nobody would tell you to wash your leg in the toilet but probably meant or said, "Go to the toilet and wash your leg...".  As you should be aware, many things change between what is said, what should be said, what you hear being said, and what was meant to be said.

'nuf sed.

On 5/12/2020 at 8:54 AM, Srikcir said:

Bumrungrad recently offered 50% of inpatient rooms  and 20% off on medications, medical supplies, laboratory tests and x-rays for 3 months to celebrate its 40th year anniversary.

Maybe now is the time to expand the discounts to help revive its medical tourism for out patient care.

As Thailand is locked and closed to the majority of international travelers, how will the international patients get into Thailand. At least they could get in they could spend 14 days confinement in the hospital. Whether they can get out and back home again is another matter.

come on you guys ... Bumrungrad is doin it tough now so how bout a few of you take a fall for a hip replacement or a couple of surgeries. 

It's not cheap running a hospital you know.

On 5/12/2020 at 12:21 PM, wwest5829 said:

In the US there is no national healthcare programs like all other developed countries provide for their citizens. It had been cheaper to fly to Thailand, have the operation, recoup erase at the beach and fly back to the US for about the same amount that the operation alone would cost in the US.

Considering the hospitals and doctors don't really stand behind their work I don't think that an especially good deal. Gained a two week holiday while recouping in unfamiliar surroundings. Lose medical insurance and the right to sue.

39 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

Considering the hospitals and doctors don't really stand behind their work I don't think that an especially good deal. Gained a two week holiday while recouping in unfamiliar surroundings. Lose medical insurance and the right to sue.

With having had 5 by-passes in the US in 2005, world class medical care was one of my criteria for retiring here in Chiang Mai. I had a heart attack here in 2015, had a stent placed and 2 additional angioplasties performed. My experience and the global ratings of Thai medical care has served me well. True, US Medicare, for which I continue to pay is not extended outside the US like US military retiree medical benefits.

2 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

With having had 5 by-passes in the US in 2005, world class medical care was one of my criteria for retiring here in Chiang Mai. I had a heart attack here in 2015, had a stent placed and 2 additional angioplasties performed. My experience and the global ratings of Thai medical care has served me well. True, US Medicare, for which I continue to pay is not extended outside the US like US military retiree medical benefits.

Well, hat's off to you. You're certainly the authority. I'm questioning whether all that surgery was cheaper than Medicare. If you say so. You also seem to have the money for good care. What if you couldn't afford the best hospitals and care here? That 3 week recoup ten days instead of thirty?

 

I've read a lot of horror stories about plastic surgery here despite it supposedly a Mecca.

 

I used to go to Dental Hospital for 15 years. Great treatment. As good as US. They kept jacking the rates. Finally I told them it's just ridiculous. The is nearly what you'd pay in US if dentists were stupid enough not to carry a dozen different types of insurance. I left.

 

I don't think I could live in CM. Prolly drink myself to death.

 

Stay well dude

2 hours ago, Number 6 said:

Well, hat's off to you. You're certainly the authority. I'm questioning whether all that surgery was cheaper than Medicare. If you say so. You also seem to have the money for good care. What if you couldn't afford the best hospitals and care here? That 3 week recoup ten days instead of thirty?

 

I've read a lot of horror stories about plastic surgery here despite it supposedly a Mecca.

 

I used to go to Dental Hospital for 15 years. Great treatment. As good as US. They kept jacking the rates. Finally I told them it's just ridiculous. The is nearly what you'd pay in US if dentists were stupid enough not to carry a dozen different types of insurance. I left.

 

I don't think I could live in CM. Prolly drink myself to death.

 

Stay well dude

Experiences vary sO I can report only my own experience. As to Medicare, I do not know how the co-pays and deductibles would have played out. One thing for sure is that I would not be able to get on a plane and return to US while having a heart attack. As to cost? One week, intensive care and then regular room, procedures mention and the bonus of a “floater” clot causing a Minnie stroke cost $11,000.00 USD. $5000.00 covered by insurance, $6000.00 covered by me (big ouch!). You are correct, Thailand will screw itself if prices get anywhere near world cost averages. As US costs are twice other countries, Thailand and other countries will remain a bargain. Hope you and yours are well.