Business Booming At Thai Private Hospitals

[george]

Business booming at Thai private hospitals

Health insurers also benefit from govt's efforts to make Bangkok Asia's medical hub

THAILAND'S aim to make the country a regional hub for medical care, plus greater health awareness, have resulted in Thai private hospitals and health-insurance firms seeing increased business from both locals and foreigners, The Nation reported yesterday.

The newspaper quoted BNH Hospital director Krittavith Lertutsahakul as saying that his facility now provided check-ups to between 80 and 100 people a day.

About 20 per cent are expatriates from Europe, North America, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Bangladesh.

He said that the number of check-ups at Thai private hospitals is expected to grow by about 15 per cent this year, compared to just 8 per cent annual growth five years ago.

Ruben Toral, the marketing director for Bumrungrad Hospital, said that check-ups not only let private hospitals evaluate incoming patients but gives the patient a chance to see the hospital's diagnostic capabilities and medical and support staff.

'There is a higher demand for our check-up services among international patients, especially those living abroad, than among local residents,' he said.

He said that Bumrungrad Hospital performed between 100 and 120 check-ups daily and every year that volume increases by 20-25 per cent.

Paisal Chantarapitak, deputy director of Bangkok Hospital, said that the Thaksin government's efforts to make Bangkok the medical hub of Asia have encouraged private hospitals here to upgrade their services so to better serve foreigners.

'We've set up our own health promotion centre as a one-stop-service,' he said, adding that the number of check-ups had increased by 20-25 per cent over last year.

Health insurance agencies are also recording dramatic growth in business.

Karen Carter, managing director of BUPA Health Insurance (Thailand) Ltd, said that the market was worth about five billion baht (S$210 million) in 2002, indicating year-on-year growth of 15 per cent since 2000.

There is still concern, she said, because people paying from their own pockets face huge costs for private medical care.

Cardiac bypass surgery at a Bangkok private hospital can cost 600,000 baht, and chemotherapy and radiotherapy, up to two million baht.

'Health-insurance protects against the cost of unexpected sickness or accident,' Ms Carter said.

'For as little as 10 baht a day, you can be covered for up to 300,000 baht of medical expenses.'

--Agencies 2004-06-23