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Cover
story
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10 June 05
Vol.
22 No. 5 |
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Thailand...a
Hub of Asia's Health Services |
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Visiting
Thailand, you can get more than pleasure
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By
Arokhaya
Photos by courtesy of
the Ministry of Public Health
and
Bangkok Hospital
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| Today,
Thailand is the destination not only for vacationers,
but also for those who want to have cost effective
medical services. With world-class medical facilities
and specialists, and warm hospitality of hospital
staffs, patients from all around the world come
to Thailand's leading private hospitals to get
medical treatments which cover |
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| health
checks, optical services, dental services, rejuvenation
and skin care, knee or hip replacement, face lifting,
rhinoplasty, breast augmentation or reduction,
ear and digital hearing aid, etc. Moreover, some
hospitals even offer sex change surgery! |
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The world-renowned medical services
in Thailand draw a number of foreign patients
to this country.
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| According
to the data of Office of Export Services, Department
of Export Promotion, in 2003, there were 973,532
foreign patients receiving medical treatments
from private hospitals in Thailand, drawing 27
billion baht which is about US$ 675 million to
the country. |
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| In
the near future, Thailand's medical science is
expected to advance considerably since the government
of Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra pays great
attention to the development of life sciences. |
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Herbal medicine and products are produced by
state-of-the-art technologies. |
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a result, Thailand, in cooperation with the USA's
Asean Business Council, has set up the Excellent
Life Science Center in Thailand in order to support
research in biotechnology and to develop the related
business in every aspect, ranging from health
services to herbal medicine. Moreover, the government
has recently introduced a policy to combine tourism
with medical services. This will make Thailand
one of Asia's health tourism centres. |
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| Foreign
patients coming to Thailand in recent years have
largely been people from Asian countries, such
as China, Japan and Korea. They mostly come for
plastic surgery. It is very popular with young
Chinese to have double eyelid or rhinoplasty surgery
while the elderly prefer face lifting surgery.
As for Japanese and Korean women, breast augmentation
seems to be the most popular choice. |
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High standard services and
the Thai hospitality
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| Apart
from Asian people, Westerners also have trust
in Thailand's masterful surgeons. They usually
come to have liposuction or to reduce the size
of the breasts to avoid backache. |
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Dental care in Thailand costs
less than that of
overseas countries.
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| Moreover,
it is reported that more and more foreigners have
come to have treatments for heart attack, cancer
and other illnesses or even a brain operation
in Thailand, in stead of Hong Kong and Singapore
as they did formerly. |
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| Top |
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Why do foreigners love to make
use of medical services in Thailand? There are
many good reasons. First of all, Thailand boasts
large numbers of skillful surgeons and physicians,
and the standards of treatment are as good as
those in other advanced countries.
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Another reason is that the costs of treatment
are only a fraction of those abroad. For example,
in the advanced countries, a teeth arrangement
treatment costs over US$ 3,750 (150,000 baht),
but in Thailand it costs only about US$ 1,250
(50,000 baht). For rhinoplasty, Thailand's costs
start at only US$ 250-500 (10,000-20,000 baht),
while the overseas rate may start at US$ 2,500
(100,000 baht). |
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| Not
only the prices are attractive, but Thai hospitality
is also one of the important elements that have
impressed foreign patients with the medical services
in Thailand. The well-trained, English-speaking
medical staffs are so attentive to all needs of
the patients and make them feel at home. |
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most pleasant reason for foreigners to get medical
treatments in Thailand, however, is that they
can use the savings from the treatment fees to
travel around the country and enjoy its beauty
and experience its unique culture. |
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| At
present, it is very easy and convenient to get
a treatment and travel in the country as there
are many Thai travel agencies that can arrange
a health tour program for you. You can do so by
just visiting the websites of such agencies or
those of private hospitals. |
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| Then
you can read all information and choose a medical
vacation package from the list ranging from annual
check-ups to teeth whitening, from double eyelid
surgery to knee or hip replacement, and many more
packages. |
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A list of doctors with their educational background
and work experience is available for you to study
before making a decision. Moreover, you can also
choose your favourite hospital and accommodation
where to stay during the period of treatment,
and even a holiday destination after the treatment. |
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In addition to Bangkok which is Thailand's most
important tourist city and important medical centre,
the southern island of Phuket--the Pearl of the
Andaman Sea--is now fast becoming a medical holiday
destination. |
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| Imagine,
how nice it would be to recuperate or have a peaceful
rest in this lovely tropical island after getting
a beauty treatment or an operation! Besides Phuket,
Chiang Mai is another interesting destination
for such relaxation. |
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Choose your favourite hospital
and accommodation and enjoy yourself.
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With all these excellent potentialities, Thailand
is soon becoming a new hub of Asia's health services.
And if you are thinking of having a beauty treatment
or operation, why don't you choose Thailand as
your medical holiday destination? |
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