16-Nov-16 "Even though positioning Thailand as a medical hub of ASEAN has brought about rising income from medical tourism, the internationalisation of private hospitals means higher fees for medical treatment, care and services. Unfortunately, the trend has triggered a wave of copycat hikes among most private hospitals, the majority of whose customers are Thais." [image: Weerawong Wongpreedee / Bangkok Post]

16-Nov-16 Taking inspiration from Thailand, a sound information technology platform could enable effective universal health coverage in India. Thailand has leveraged technology extensively. Its national registration database forms the backbone of all health schemes in the country, ensuring that a beneficiary cannot enrol in two schemes - something India could learn from as the National Health Protection Scheme launch approaches. [image: AFP]

15-Nov-16 MetLife Hong Kong has announced the launch of its new MetLife Borderless Best-in-Health Benefit, which provides seamless overseas access to world-class medical advice and treatment. The plan connects customers to overseas medical experts for a case review and second opinion, and pays for overseas medical treatment costs, as well as travel and accommodation. [image: MetLife Hong Kong]

07-Nov-16 Ping An Insurance is adding a network of clinics in China to its range of services. It has signed 10,000 clinics to its Wanjia Clinics platform since Jul-16 to serve the 110 million users of its Ping An Doctor health portal. China’s network of 200,000 private clinics could more than double to half a million over the next decade. [image: Xiaomei Chen / SMCP]

24-Oct-16 The world is getting older, richer and more connected, and there are enormous variations between countries in quality of care. It is no surprise that medical tourism is more substantial every year. A related phenomenon is the rise in insurance that includes cross-border medical treatment. This is mostly ‘bottom-up’ demand from local nationals who are upgrading from a local health insurance policy. [image: IHMT / Getty Images]