[August 23, 2006]

Brunei: Brunei takes a look at Thai medical tourism

(Borneo Bulletin Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Thailand's medical tourism generates US$1.5 billion annually, sharing the largest pie of the Asian medical tourism market, and outweighing the combined share of Singapore, Malaysia and India.

However, Thailand has not been the main choice for Brunei patients seeking treatment overseas. Their traditional destinations are Singapore and Malaysia.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dato Paduka Serbini Ali and delegates from the health ministry, travel agencies, RTB and the Borneo Bulletin, recently took a closer look at Thailand's 26.4 billion baht medical tourism industry.

The delegates visited a number of private and public hospitals in Bangkok, and medical and research institutions that have given Thailand the title 'The Medical Hub of Asia'.

The invitation came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand to gain an insight into Thailand's medical tourism project.

The Brunei delegates included Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital CEO, Dr Hjh Norlila bte Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Jalil, CEO Dental Department Hajah Norsiah bte Hj Johari, CEO Renal Department Hajah Nora'alia bte Pehin Datu Perkerma Dewa Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Rahim, Principal Nursing Officer of RIPAS Hj Abdul Rani bin Mohd Yusof, Acting Head of News and Current Affairs RTB Hj Abdul Manap Hj Adam, Straits Central Agency Manager Ms Nancy Lim Guat Choo and Senior Sales Exec Freme Travel Ms Sheila Hassan.

Singapore and Malaysia have been the traditional destinations for Brunei patients who get require medical treatment and surgical operations for the heart and kidney.

The delegates learned Thailand is now the best place offering medical tourism as it is receiving patients from all over the world.

It is offering highly competitive advantages in costs and expertise and even in new medical fields such as the application of stem cell technology.

Medical costs in Thailand can go as low as 1/8th of similar quality treatment in the USA and more than half the cost of similar quality treatment in Singapore.

The number of foreign patients seeking health services in Thailand is on the rise. From 630,000 patients in 2002, the number rose to 970,000 in 2003.

Among the foreign health service clients, Japan came first, followed by the United States of America, United Kingdom, China and Taiwan, Germany, Indochina, India and the Middle East.

Much is owed to the encouragement given by the Thai government to the private and public sectors to develop their health service businesses to international standards.

Thailand earns substantially from medical treatment and other related services, dental care, annual medical check-up, spa services, traditional Thai massage, long-term health care, food, medicine and cosmetics.

The private hospitals in Thailand are comparable to those in the top categories in Singapore. The hospitability and lower medical costs will make Thailand the future destination for Brunei patients seeking treatment overseas.

Some hospitals offer excellent services for foreign patients, from consultation to visa services. Some top hospitals also provide quality halal food for Muslim patients.

Most hospitals provide interpreters in Arabic and even Malay for patients who are not fluent in the English language.

Some of the popular medical treatments for foreign patients are heart surgery, kidney transplant, basic surgery, cancer treatment, and cardiac surgery. Thailand is also known for plastic surgery.

Most hospitals are equipped with up- to-date and state-of-the-art technologies such as 64-slices PET CT Scan and the use of radiation to treat brain cancer.

Azaraimy HH

Copyright 2006 Borneo Bulletin. Source: Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Intelligence Wire.

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