Asia has become the most sought after destination for many medical travelers seeking affordable, high quality medical treatment abroad. The healthcare cost in countries like the US and the UK has become very high and most people find it hard to afford many specialized surgeries and treatments. Several countries in Asia, with their highly competent healthcare professionals and advanced medical facilities are capitalizing on this trend of increasing medical costs in developed countries. They offer highly specialized surgeries, diagnostic facilities, therapies and any medical treatment not just at a fraction of the cost, but with better facilities in terms of patient comfort and hospitality. It is no exaggeration to say that it is five star customer service, but at a hospital.
Needless to say, medical tourism has also helped the growth of hotel industry too and several thousands of people travel to Asian countries every year for medical treatments and to recuperate in its beautiful beaches. Medical travelers say that the combined travel and medical expense is still cheaper than treatment alone in their own countries.
Deloitte Consulting conducted a study in 2008 which estimated the number of medical tourists to Asia to reach 10 million by 2012. Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are the hot favorites among medical tourists. It is not just because of the significantly cheaper health care, which is almost as little as 10 percent of the comparable cost in the US, but also because of the expertise of the medical professionals who have been trained in the UK, US, and other western countries.
Thailand is one of the top tourism destinations of the world, so the country is long accustomed to foreign travelers. English is understood in all big cities and Thailand has much to offer as a regular tourist destination. The US Dollar to the Thai Baht exchange rate is quite favorable and makes medical treatment available at an incredible value to visitors. The cost of a flight ticket, accommodation, food and the procedure can sum up to less than the price of just the procedure itself, if performed in the US. When the medical costs are cheaper, it means that your friends and family can accompany you for the duration of travel.
Thailand is a beautiful place, well known for its warm hospitality and many attractions. The medical community boasts of high educational qualifications and experience, and the facilities are state-of-the-art. Bumrungrad Hospital of Bankok, with its patient base of 50 percent foreign nationals, was the first Asian hospital to receive JCI accreditation. JCI (Joint Commission International) focuses on “improving the safety of patient care through the provision of accreditation and certification services as well as through advisory and educational services aimed at helping organizations implement practical and sustainable solutions.”
There are other areas of Thailand besides Bangkok where there is a high concentration of foreign tourists who travel for medical treatment. Pattaya, Hua Hin and Phuket also witness heavy influx of medical travelers. Thailand Medical Tourism extends secondary benefits to the related travel and hotel industry as well. Almost 30 to 40 percent of the guests of premier hotels in the cities are either medical tourists or their family and guests. The travel and hotel industry of Thailand have also seized this opportunity by customizing their facilities for medical tourists, like making it easy to find hotels near popular hospitals and providing long stay discounts.
As the interest in medical tourism grows, so does the number of hospitals advertizing their services. Tourists must exercise due diligence in researching the hospital, reputation of the doctor and the legal framework available to protect patient rights before making a monetary investment. South East Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, with their competent professionals, hospitality, scenic beauty, modern medical facilities and well situated hotels for friends and family, are most suited to promote this upward trend of medical tourism.
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