subject: Thailand Medical Tourism Scenario and Statics [print this page] Thailand Medical Tourism Scenario and Statics
Medical tourism is a term coined around the practice of travelling across international borders in order to acquire cheap healthcare and medical facilities. Significant cost differences occur between Australia, U.S., and few European countries to medical facilities available at medical tourism destinations. This is due to skyrocketing costs for treatment in these countries and robust medical development in private sectors which comprises of hospitals and clinics equipped with the latest technology and best practitioners. As a result more and more people are looking forward to acquire cheap medical facilities at destinations that interest them too.
On the other hand, several countries are promoting medical tourism as it brings them potent foreign currency in order to derive positive influences on their economy. Countries like Thailand, India, Malaysia, Costa Rica and few North American countries are becoming hot shot medical tourism destinations.
Medical tourism statics too indicate that by 2012, the medical tourism is expected to grow into a $100 billion dollar industry worldwide.* The report also suggests that nearly 40 per cent of medical travelers seek advanced technology, while 32 per cent look for better healthcare facilities, 15 per cent seek quick medical facilities, while only 7 per cent of travelers ask for cost effective medical facilities as their primary requirement while looking for medical facilities abroad.
Taking an example of Thailand, Thailand medical tourism industry has expanded significantly over the recent years. The Tourism Authority of Thailand states that Thailand attracts nearly 14 million visitors every year, with majority including leisure and business visitors. Owing to critical differences in the prices and ready accessibility of medical services in the West and the Middle East, Thailand has witnessed a rapid increase in foreigners demand for medical treatments in Thailand. Bangkok's very prestigious Bumrungrad International Hospital registered maximum medical tourists from countries around the world.
Other areas with high concentration of foreign medical tourists in Thailand include Pattaya, Hun Hin, Samui and Phuket. Cosmetic surgery and breast implants are some of the most popular medical procedures in medical tourism industry in today's age which was not the case few years down the line. It was reported that nearly 15 per cent of medical tourists sought breast implants and breast augmentation in Thailand.
Thailand government is also taking considerable measures in promoting the trade for profits. In order to attract foreign patients, leading hospitals are raising their medical standards, hiring internationally qualified doctors and investing in state-of-the-art medical equipments. They are also working to transform their facilities into more friendly and attractive places.
*Statics as produced by Confederation of India and the McKinsey Company.
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