Health Ministry Highlights Medical Tourism Potential

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has emphasized the potential benefits of its "Health for Wealth" concept in enhancing Thailand’s economy through medical tourism promotion.

 

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that according to the Medical Tourism Association, Thailand ranks 5th among the world’s most popular health tourism destinations in 2021. High medical care standards, quality treatments, reasonable rates, and affordable cost of living for long-term patients have made the kingdom one of the most popular medical destinations.

 

According to the Department of Health Service Support, a ministry survey conducted in collaboration with the Bank of Thailand (BOT) on 30 hospitals last year revealed that tourists who came for medical treatment spent around 11.9 billion baht. This represents a 47% increase over the previous year. The top five treatments generating the most revenue for hospitals were cardiovascular issues, metabolism, cancer, bones and joints, and neurological systems.

 

Foreign medical tourists spent an average of 35,000 baht on treatments, with the majority of patients coming from Kuwait, followed by Cambodia, Myanmar, Japan and China. Visitors primarily sought treatment for their bones, joints, cardiovascular system, metabolism and teeth.

 

The minister said he has been working to implement the Health for Wealth concept, with a focus of promoting Thailand as a medical tourism and wellness retreat destination to strengthen the nation’s economy.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221214123709827

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-12-14

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

[ikke1959]

Sure...

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Foreign medical tourists spent an average of 35,000 baht on treatments, with the majority of patients coming from Kuwait, followed by Cambodia, Myanmar, Japan and China. Visitors primarily sought treatment for their bones, joints, cardiovascular system, metabolism and teeth.

Huh... Myanmar and Cambodia have so amy rich people that they come for medical treatment for an average of 35.000 THB???? Amazing....

[Megasin1]

He needs to stop talking crappe and concentrate on becoming the ganga hub of Asia, he can then move on to the really lucrative drugs ????

[RichardColeman]

 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Foreign medical tourists spent an average of 35,000 baht on treatments, with the majority of patients coming from Kuwait, followed by Cambodia, Myanmar, Japan and China.

Laughable - just about the same as a foreign TOURIST that does not WANT a treatment - just call them what they are, tourists

[Scouse123]

I know a lot of British people that are now favoring Turkey and India for medical procedures and treatment over Thailand.

 

I had work done in this region regarding my teeth ( porcelain veneers),  Phnom Penn, Cambodia, a great service, strict hygiene standards, state of the art dental procedures and a lot cheaper than Thailand but the work was exceptional.

 

Thailand has got very expensive for most things, however, I still find annual health checks reasonable if you don't allow them to talk you into unnecessary procedures.

 

https://roomchang.com/

 

 

 

 

Edited December 14, 2022 by Scouse123

[Scouse123]

8 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Sure...

Huh... Myanmar and Cambodia have so amy rich people that they come for medical treatment for an average of 35.000 THB???? Amazing....

Usual routine, the haves have, and the have nots do not.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 14, 2022 by Scouse123

[jcmj]

The health costs here are considerably cheaper than the US for both dental and medical. But I don’t know many just coming for that. It may be an add on to their holiday but I guess it is what it is. 

[sammieuk1]

Will they have to have to get to the hospital for 6am for a queue number wait 3 hours and be told its the doctors day off come back tomorrow ????

[nobodysfriend]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

High medical care standards, quality treatments, reasonable rates,

 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

tourists who came for medical treatment spent around 11.9 billion baht.

Yes , medical treatment in a quality hospital in Thailand is expensive .

 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The minister said he has been working to implement the Health for Wealth concept, with a focus of promoting Thailand as a medical tourism and wellness retreat destination to strengthen the nation’s economy.

That says it all ... strengthen the national economy ...

I went to BKK Hospital for a minor health problem , consulted a doctor who told me that he will need to do an operation on me urgently .

I refused , I know that they need to make money for the hospital and they do not really care for the patient's well being ...

Took some pills from a Pharmacy , everything was ok again within a few days ...

With an ( unnecessary ) operation , there might have been complications and more problems coming up ...

I understand , they need to make money , but that is no way ...

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, nobodysfriend said:

 

Yes , medical treatment in a quality hospital in Thailand is expensive .

 

That says it all ... strengthen the national economy ...

I went to BKK Hospital for a minor health problem , consulted a doctor who told me that he will need to do an operation on me urgently .

I refused , I know that they need to make money for the hospital and they do not really care for the patient's well being ...

Took some pills from a Pharmacy , everything was ok again within a few days ...

With an ( unnecessary ) operation , there might have been complications and more problems coming up ...

I understand , they need to make money , but that is no way ...

That is the fear. It certainly appears they are very much incentivized to perform unnecessary procedures and actions ang generally promote tests and treatments to earn the hospital money, plus, I am sure, commissions for themselves. 

[brommers]

This is the man who was ranting about kicking dirty farangs out of this country. Now he wants to hug and kiss them while he has his hand in their pockets. He is a totally contemptuous example of life.

[StayinThailand2much]

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Sure...

Huh... Myanmar and Cambodia have so amy rich people that they come for medical treatment for an average of 35.000 THB???? Amazing....

Probably more like necessary treatments that are not easily available in Myanmar or Cambodia. - Time for a new tourism campaign to lure thousands of  Burmese and Cambodian billionaires to Thailand??

Edited December 15, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[Clarkey611]

Some of my school reports talked about potential as well.

[Tropicalevo]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

High medical care standards, quality treatments, reasonable rates,

Speaking to my insurance company, the rates in Thailand are not reasonable. Friends have had similar conversations with their insurance companies.

Costs in Thailand are well padded once the hospital knows that an insurance company is involved.

eg I went for biopsy at a very well known hospital in Bangkok. When I told them that I was paying privately, the quote/cost was 70,000 to 80,000 baht.

When I asked for a detailed bill (and inadvertently said 'for insurance) the bill lept up to 120,000 baht.

'reasonable rates'? More untruths from politicians.

[Tropicalevo]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

tourists who came for medical treatment spent around 11.9 billion baht. This represents a 47% increase over the previous year.

Not a very big increase seeing as borders were effectively closed in that previous year.

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Will they have to have to get to the hospital for 6am for a queue number wait 3 hours and be told its the doctors day off come back tomorrow ????

We are referring to medical tourism which is private hospitals not government facilities.

[Scouse123]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

Speaking to my insurance company, the rates in Thailand are not reasonable. Friends have had similar conversations with their insurance companies.

Costs in Thailand are well padded once the hospital knows that an insurance company is involved.

eg I went for biopsy at a very well known hospital in Bangkok. When I told them that I was paying privately, the quote/cost was 70,000 to 80,000 baht.

When I asked for a detailed bill (and inadvertently said 'for insurance) the bill lept up to 120,000 baht.

'reasonable rates'? More untruths from politicians.

 

Correct,

 

And the insurance companies know this too. Thailand is well known for this kind of ' sharp practice '

[sambum]

"High medical care standards, quality treatments, reasonable rates, and affordable cost of living for long-term patients......"

 

Obviously Anutin "talking the talk" again! 

 

Without naming names (possible defamation claim?) a hospital in the tourist resort where I live was going to charge a tourist 19,000 baht for 1 stitch in a cut to his finger - yes that's right - nineteen thousand baht for one stitch!!!

 

Obviously Anutin has a different interpretation of "reasonable rates" than I do!

[sambum]

3 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

I know a lot of British people that are now favoring Turkey and India for medical procedures and treatment over Thailand.

 

I had work done in this region regarding my teeth ( porcelain veneers),  Phnom Penn, Cambodia, a great service, strict hygiene standards, state of the art dental procedures and a lot cheaper than Thailand but the work was exceptional.

 

Thailand has got very expensive for most things, however, I still find annual health checks reasonable if you don't allow them to talk you into unnecessary procedures.

 

https://roomchang.com/

 

 

 

 

I had a problem with a very sore shoulder/arm, and after an MRI scan, the local (most expensive) hospital said that I needed a spinal operation costing up to 500,000 baht. Prior to this I had undergone some physiotherapy at a practice recommended by a local orthopedic doctor. It didn't seem to help, hence the MRI scan, but 3 or 4 days later the pain miraculously disappeared, and left me with a slight numbness in my finger and thumb. Maybe it was the scare to my wallet that did the trick!!!

[jacko45k]

21 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

 

Correct,

 

And the insurance companies know this too. Thailand is well known for this kind of ' sharp practice '

Perhaps why my previous insurance company insisted I pay myself up front, and submit a claim to them with receipts later. I had tried just handing my insurance card over. 

I can appreciate if it reduces their costs, but it also reduces the benefit of my having insurance, if I still need to keep money here readily available.

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

 

Yes , medical treatment in a quality hospital in Thailand is expensive .

 

That says it all ... strengthen the national economy ...

I went to BKK Hospital for a minor health problem , consulted a doctor who told me that he will need to do an operation on me urgently .

I refused , I know that they need to make money for the hospital and they do not really care for the patient's well being ...

Took some pills from a Pharmacy , everything was ok again within a few days ...

With an ( unnecessary ) operation , there might have been complications and more problems coming up ...

I understand , they need to make money , but that is no way ...

Yes, medical care in a private hospital is a business, like any other business and what they want to do is make money, patients come in second place?

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Ministry of Public Health has emphasized the potential benefits of its "Health for Wealth" concept in enhancing Thailand’s economy through medical tourism promotion.

I'm sure all the newly opened ganja shops are doing brisk business.

[DJ54]

Admittedly Thailand has very good medical…. Unlike US you don’t have to leave your wallet and atm card on the way out ie expensive…

[jacko45k]

45 minutes ago, DJ54 said:

Admittedly Thailand has very good medical…. Unlike US you don’t have to leave your wallet and atm card on the way out ie expensive…

Oh do not be too sure... retention of passports is not unheard of!

[Lorry]

"Medical tourists seen as cash cows"

Wasn't  something very similar the headline in the BP?

Quite honest. 

[Gknrd]

I have been lied to about dental problems here. I don't trust Thailand what so ever. Passssss

[Burma Bill]

3 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

necessary treatments that are not easily available in Myanmar or Cambodia. -

Yes indeed. I can only relate to Cambodia where I now live in Siem Reap. My landlord with his extended family and friends regularly cross into Thailand at the O'Smach border crossing to get tests and treatment in the Government and Private hospitals in Ubon Ratchathani - but, I can assure you, not at 35,000 baht!!

[Burma Bill]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

through medical tourism promotion.

"Mister Concrete" trying to save face after his marijuana debacle???

[Tropposurfer]

I started to come back here (after not being in-country since the early 80's) for medical tourism (dental)  and have had many subsequent medical procedures here pre and post emigration and can say there has been no better treatment delivery anywhere in the world than that which I received here ????????

[Lamphen]

I was quoted THB 790,000.00 for a revised knee replacement surgery in a BKK private hospital.

Twice the price of a hospital in India

I do not believe that Thailand is a very competitive destination for medical tourism.