Phuket Medical Hub Sets Sail for New Frontiers of Wellness

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A superb holiday getaway with state-of-the-art medical services? Thailand’s southern province of Phuket, “where health is wealth,” is renowned for its holistic approach to wellness. Its robust medical & wellness industry has caught the eye of policymakers, and Thailand has moved to position the tourist destination as a world-class medical hub.

 

Global medical tourism at a glance

 

Medical tourism is both a high-value and high-growth segment of the tourism market. The average medical tourist will spend 50% more per trip than other travelers, and Grand View Research puts the industry’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) at 32.51% from now until 2030. 

 

A combination of several factors is driving this growth, from greater health concerns and aging populations to an anticipated rebound in global travel and the availability of affordable elective medical treatments, which are not covered by insurance.

 

The Asia-Pacific region stands to benefit from these trends, particularly Thailand. For instance, the cost of fertility treatments in the United States is generally double that of Thailand. Similarly, a lifesaving heart bypass would cost US$123,000 in the U.S. versus only US$15,000 in Thailand.

 

 

Thailand as a medical hub

 

Thailand’s ambitions to become the medical hub of Asia are well founded. The Land of Smiles ranks fifth for its medical tourism industry out of 46 destinations and boasts up to 61 JCI-accredited organizations, compared to 43 in India, 46 in China, and 63 in the remaining ASEAN member states combined. The Southeast Asian nation also serves as the production base for several major medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical firms.

 

Its healthcare bona fides are further complemented by a mature wellness industry as the spa capital of the world, with traditional Thai massage or Nuad Thai earning a spot on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

 

Thailand’s world-class medical facilities, spas, and meditation retreats make it uniquely attractive to medical tourists who are looking for quality post-operative care and recovery.

 

The medical frontier in Phuket

 

 

Thailand’s southern province of Phuket has been singled out for its potential to cater to the medical & wellness segment of the tourism industry. Government initiatives are bringing greater investment into its healthcare sector, such as the Phuket Smart City Project and the Andaman International Medical Center Project.

 

As part of a suite of technical upgrades to public administration, Phuket hospitals under the smart city initiative have implemented a common patient ID system to facilitate referrals and transfers between medical institutions. Efforts to completely digitalize hospital administration are being pioneered at the island’s Vachira Phuket Hospital.

 

 

In late 2022, the Thai government approved the Andaman International Medical Center project aimed at transforming this leading resort island into a world medical hub. Aside from serving as a training center for doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel, the center will also function as a research & development base for healthcare and wellness.

 

With plans already in place to develop the chosen expanse of almost 23 hectares of land in Mai Khao subdistrict, the people of Phuket were delighted to float the idea of bidding to host the Specialised Expo 2027/28. Thailand has proposed a theme of “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity,” with a venue that exemplifies the co-existence of forest, sea, people, and manmade developments in keeping with the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economic Model. 

 

Should Thailand win the bid, it would be the first time the Specialised Expo takes place in Southeast Asia or South Asia.

 

 

Future living for all

 

Regardless of whether Thailand wins the bid to host the Specialised Expo, Phuket has much to look forward to. More than Mai Tais, the resort destination is quickly becoming a frontier for creative gastronomy, smart city development, and now, an international medical hub. For many who arrive on its shores, Phuket is redefining what it means to live well.

 

By Sandra Sue Hanutsaha

 

Top photo caption: A Hindu Ramayana giant statue dons a face mask to remind passengers to keep COVID-19 precautions at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Source: Nelson Antoine / Shutterstock.com

 

Second photo caption: Representatives of Vachira Phuket Hospital holding a banner supporting Expo 2028 Phuket as part of Phuket Sports Day 2023. Source: Vachira Phuket Hospital Facebook Page

 

Third photo caption: The proposed convention center would later be adapted into the Andaman International Medical Center. Source: Expo 2028 Phuket Thailand website

 

Source: https://www.thailandnow.in.th/country-facts/phuket-medical-hub-sets-sail-for-new-frontiers-of-wellness/

 

-- © Copyright THAILAND NOW 2023-06-14

 

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