Chinese medical tourists boost Thailand's private sector
15-Sep-14, Global Times
Thailand is best known for its white sandy beaches, bustling nightlife and tasty cuisine. Now, however, international visitors have more than tourism on their minds when visiting the country, with Thailand's healthcare system earning a reputation which rivals Western standards.
In Thailand, over 1,000 public and 4,000 private hospitals operate in compliance with international standards, employing a high number of internationally trained physicians. While public hospitals still maintain high standards of treatment, it is the private hospitals that have become the platform of changing in Thailand's medical system.
With its medical treatments attracting more patients from abroad, China is becoming a major focus of their market.
When Emily Soo, the head of the Chinese marketing department at Bangkok Nursing Home Hospital (BNH), started at the hospital in 2007, Chinese patients only counted for a small proportion of the hospital's overall intake. "There was only me when I started to work in BNH," said Soo. "Now, we have six Chinese-speaking staff in total to deal with Chinese patients."