Thailand's medical industry welcomes new opportunities
2020-08-26
Thailand is gradually unblocking it and will continue to promote medical tourism projects. A total of 124 hospitals and private clinics have begun to welcome the first batch of foreigners entering the country to use medical services. Thailand's New Crown Epidemic Management Center decided on July 22 to open entry to foreign personnel (non-COVID-19 patients) and their accompanying persons (not more than 3) in medical and health projects. According to the anti-epidemic regulations, they must be quarantined for 14 days in an alternative hospital isolation facility (AHQ). After that, they can travel freely in Thailand.
The Health Service Promotion Office of the Ministry of Health of Thailand is the main department that manages and promotes the strategic plan for building a national medical center. In an interview with our reporter, Dr. Thaler stated that in order to promote the balanced development of public health and the economy, strict public health measures Thailand is ready to adopt alternative hospital isolation methods to receive Thai citizens who use medical services and foreign personnel of medical health projects and their entourages, so as to achieve integrated medical services for treatment and isolation (14 days) to stimulate Thailand's healthcare economy.
According to the Ministry of Health Service Promotion, it is estimated that after the alternative hospital isolation method is adopted, about 160,000 domestic and foreign patients (including new and old patients) will be received in the next three months, which is about 5% of the total number of 3.2 million last year; revenue generation is 180 Billion baht, about 30-40% of the total 45 billion baht last year. If the medical service personnel has one accompanying person, during this period, including accommodation and other consumption expenditures, the average daily consumption is 3000-8000 baht.
Chinese are the first medical travelers
Thailand gave the green light to medical tourists from countries with low risk of the epidemic. The first batch of medical tourists came from China, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Therapeutic services include ophthalmology, musculoskeletal diseases, assisted reproductive treatments, beauty care, etc. Among the medical and health items, the above are Thailand's high-level medical services that can attract medical tourists.
Leap over medical care, trust Thailand
There have been no new confirmed cases in Thailand for two consecutive months.
As of August 5 this year, the number of people infected with the new crown virus has exceeded 18 million globally, and Thailand's global ranking of the number of infections has continued to decline, from the original second to 111th.
In view of the strength of Thailand's medical and public health system in responding to the epidemic, in the global 184 countries' new crown pneumonia epidemic index rankings, Thailand's corresponding indicators in the global recovery index and global severity index have won the world's first proud performance.
In addition, in the 2019 Global Health Security Index rankings, Thailand’s comprehensive health security capabilities rank 6th in the world and 1st in Asia. “Thailand has always been an important health center in Asia. After the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia, Thailand can effectively control the epidemic and has a high cure rate. This has sent a strong signal to the world that Thailand is capable of becoming a leader in this field.” Thale The doctor said.
Medical travelers must make an appointment in advance with the hospitals that replace the hospital isolation program. At present, 98 hospitals and 26 clinics have passed the qualification review and are allowed to receive medical travelers, a total of 124 hospitals. Up to now, the first batch of medical tourists totaled 920, plus accompanying family members, totaling about 2,000 people from China, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
According to regulations, no more than 3 persons should be accompanied by a patient. When entering the country, they must present a negative nucleic acid test certificate issued within 72 hours before boarding and a certificate of incurring medical expenses.
After arriving in Thailand, you must observe epidemic prevention measures such as isolation and observation. A total of 3 COVID-19 tests are required during the hospital, which are on day 1, day 5-7, and day 14. If the test result is negative, the patient and accompanying persons can be discharged from the hospital and obtain a 14-day isolation certificate. Arrange your own itinerary.
The target medical tourists of the medical and health project are mainly from GCC countries, CLMV countries (ie Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam), as well as China, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan, Australia, New Zealand and South Asia.
In response to the new opportunities in the Thai medical industry after the epidemic, Dr. Thaler believes that the adoption of alternative hospital isolation methods can build confidence for Thai citizens and medical tourists, thereby boosting the country’s economic growth and accelerating economic recovery. It is also the construction of a medical center in Thailand after the epidemic. An important part of the strategic plan.
Recently, the National Medical Center Thailand Development Command Committee approved measures to help Thailand become a global medical tourism destination. Take this opportunity to strengthen the online publicity work through the "Medical Center" logo and the slogan "Across Medical, Trust Thailand", including airlines, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and overseas tourism agencies to build confidence for medical tourism and long-term residents in Thailand. Committed to promoting the development of 10 types of medical and health services that have the potential to attract medical tourists.
1. Anti-aging and health preservation, medical SPA
2. Alternative medicine
3. Heart disease treatment
4. Bone and muscle diseases
5. Dental treatment
6. Infertility treatment services
7. Cancer treatment
8. Surgery, plastic surgery, degeneration
9. Cataract
10. Precision medicine
Dr. Thaler also said that according to the medical center strategic plan (2017-2026), Thailand will be positioned as a global medical and health center development in 2026 through four main aspects.
1. Medical Service Hub (Medical Service Hub)
2.Wellness Hub
3. Health Learning Center (Academic Hub)
4. Drug and Health Products Center (Product Hub)
At present, many medical center strategic projects included in the quick win plan have made significant progress. For example, medical travelers from GCC countries, China, and CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) can enjoy 90-day visa-free treatment in Thailand , This policy also applies to entourage who accompany patients for treatment.
Thailand opens a 10-year long-term visa to foreigners; people who enter non-immigrant O-A (1-year) visas participate in health insurance, and this provision has been officially implemented in the target population.
Dr. Thaler believes that Thailand has the strength and is ready to become a medical center in many aspects, including providing medical services that meet international standards, as well as having advanced medical teams and modern medical equipment.
Many hospitals in Thailand have been certified by the Joint International Commission (JCI), ranking first among ASEAN countries, indicating that Thailand is committed to enhancing its competitiveness in this field.
In addition, many public hospitals have obtained the HA Thailand National Medical Certification. Not only that, private hospitals in Thailand rank among the top five in the world's best medical institutions. On the other hand, Thailand's medical expenses are relatively cheap compared to many countries, which has become one of the reasons for attracting medical tourists to visit Thailand for medical treatment, and has made a positive contribution to the national economy.
Thai assisted reproductive technology is popular among Chinese
According to a research report on the quality of healthcare by the Thai Medical Center Information Database, Thailand received 632,000 medical tourists in 2019, generating revenue of approximately 121.917 billion baht, an increase of 8.5% compared to 2018.
Medical tourists spend about 1.43 billion baht on purchasing health products, an increase of 0.6% compared to 2018.
In summary, the total value of consumer spending on medical services and healthcare products is approximately 123.348 billion baht, an increase of 8.4% compared to 2018.
In the survey of medical services used by medical travelers, health examinations ranked first, accounting for 50.21%; bone, joint, tendon and muscle related treatments, accounting for 8.58%; cancer treatments, accounting for 8.37%; cardiovascular related treatments, accounting for 4.08 %; dental services, accounting for 4.08%. It is worth mentioning that assisted reproductive treatment services are the most used by Chinese medical travelers.
In response to the opportunities and potential of the Chinese market, Dr. Thaler said that China is one of our target markets, and the relationship between Thailand and China has a long history. China is not only a big market, but also one of the countries that enjoy the 90-day medical visa-free treatment in Thailand. Entry for medical service personnel and their accompanying persons).
Not only that, after Thailand reopened medical tourism, China was one of the first low-risk countries to use medical services in Thailand.
Among the 10 types of medical services that Thailand attaches great importance to, there are many services that meet the needs of the Chinese market, such as assisted reproductive treatment, surgery, and aesthetic medicine. Today, many Thai private hospitals have begun to expand into the Chinese market, such as Thonburi Hospital Group, and Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Group (BDMS), which has recently reached a cooperation with Ping An Health Insurance of China, to once again upgrade the medical service system and open up the Chinese market .
