Medical Tourism in the World –
Medical tourism has been defined as the practice of traveling abroad or in another country to seek medical treatment. Hence, medical tourism is part of the tourism industry which definitely has a big impact on the economies of destination countries.

The first recorded instance of medical tourism dates back thousands of years to when Greek pilgrims travelled from all over the Mediterranean to the small territory in the Saronic Gulf called Epidauria. This territory was the sanctuary of the healing god Asklepios. Epidauria became the original travel destination for medical tourism.

Spa towns and sanatoriums may be considered an early form of medical tourism as well. Patients visited spas because they were places with supposedly health-giving mineral waters, treating diseases from gout to liver disorders and bronchitis.

World Medical tourism statistics revealed an anticipated growth of the industry from about $40 billion in 2004 to $100 billion by the year 2012. The estimate was made by the Confederation of India and the McKinsey Company.

Medical tourism in Thailand –
Thailand offers the best of both forms of Medical Tourism and Medical Tourism in Thailand is estimated to bring in close to $2 billion per year.
The number of medical tourists that come to Thailand has been steadily increasing since early 2000’s. As per statistics the Medical Tourist arrivals in 2009 reached approx. 1.4 million and is steadily rising (exceptional circumstances, such as the recent political unrest in the country and the natural flood disaster did however dent the flow of Medical tourists just as it affected the regular tourist arrivals into the country) . Despite these deterring circumstances Thailand is still placed amongst the top global medical tourism markets of the world and is regarded as a leading medical tourism destination in Asia.

The major reasons that have enabled Thailand to dominate this growing market are: Low cost of medical treatment, Quality treatment provided by hospitals and private clinics, and highly developed Tourism industry.
The national language of Thailand is Thai, but English is very widely spoken, particularly in establishments that cater to tourists. There are particularly a high number of service providers catering for Cancer treatment, Cardiology, Cosmetics, Dental, Eye, Hair transplant, Infertility, Neurology, Obesity, Orthopaedics and Spinal procedures .

Each treatment carries a general description along with information relating to the length of treatment or surgery, benefits, ideal candidates, planning, preparation, recovery and potential risks, complications and side effects. A similar level of detail is provided for all other major headings.

Destinations within Thailand for Medical Tourism –
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Phuket and Rayong
The main sources for medical tourists in Thailand –
Japan, Middle East, US, China, United Kingdom, Western Europe, Australia

General guidelines for Medical Tourists seeking treatment –

Research –
It is important to conduct research about one’s own medical condition, potential complications of each treatment option and the recovery processes following particular medical treatments. Please read patient testimonials, compare different services, treatments, prices and credentials of various medical providers before selecting a doctor and/or hospital.

Process of selecting a Hospital and Doctor –
Trust and personal comfort are important factors in the decision making. It is important to ask the right questions about the treatment being considered especially the competency of the physician and potential alternatives or complications. Because this decision is an important one, it is best to avoid dealing with medical service providers who act impatiently or unsympathetically.

It is important to get accurate information not only about the hospital facilities and the physician who will perform the treatment but also the costs involved and the time frame for scheduling your treatment and recovery process.

It is advisable to make sure one will be under medical supervision for as long as is necessary to ensure that potential complications are no longer a threat to your health.

Many medical holiday packages may offer enticingly brief hospital stays, but one should be aware of the recommended times necessary for a physician or surgeon to confidently discharge a patient who has undergone medical treatment. Hospitals and physicians are often unfamiliar with the logistics of arranging travel plans before and after medical treatment and may unknowingly schedule follow up appointments for dates that are unreasonable for those traveling on a medical holiday.

Consequently, it may be advantageous to use a medical travel broker who is familiar with such issues, provided they take into account proper safety concerns.

it is important to do adequate research about one’s desired medical treatment and potential medical facility or physician.

Asking the right questions and medical appointments–
Major hospitals in Bangkok have 24 hour emergency rooms, but doctors’ appointments should be scheduled between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday – Friday. Some larger hospitals offer off-hours and weekend services. A number of Hospitals feature internet appointment scheduling while others continue to rely on telephone or walk-in scheduling. Depending on the nature of one’s medical condition and the treatments being considering, it is advisable to contact a hospital several weeks to several months in advance to guarantee a treatment from the doctor one prefers for treatment.
Personal safety is of utmost importance, so one needs to make sure to prepare adequately and not be afraid to ask tough questions regarding the physician’s skills or the potential complications that may arise during or after a medical procedure.

Initial travel into Thailand –
After deciding upon which doctor and hospital, and having made an appointment one could:

1. Schedule return air travel, reserve accommodation, and book tour packages. Make sure to give plenty of time to rest post treatment, and take this into consideration when booking return flight. Patients with heart problems, in particular, should not fly immediately after treatment.

2. Contact the hospital to determine what medical information/documents they will require and prepare these documents as well as the following documents that one should keep conveniently located while traveling to Thailand.

Emergency contacts, including relatives, friends and one’s home physician:
1.Map of the locations and telephone numbers of one’s home embassy in Thailand, the hospital where one will receive medical treatment and the hotel at which one is intending to stay.
2.Copies of passport, air tickets, medical prescriptions and other essential medical paperwork.

Post treatment care –
After the medical treatment, there are a number of options for post-treatment recovery period. Depending on the level of care and follow up required, one may opt to remain in the area where the treatment was provided to schedule follow up examinations at the hospital. If possible, one may also take advantage of time in Thailand to do some shopping, visit a spa or check out some of the country’s cultural or historical attractions.
Those undergoing dentistry or cosmetic surgeries that are less invasive may choose to travel around Thailand to participate in various activities such as golf or visit one of Thailand’s spectacular beaches and islands or mountain retreats, which are ideal for rest and relaxation.

Whatever medical treatments one opts to undergo, there are numerous options for post-treatment therapeutic care as well as a wide variety of recreational activities, allowing one to make the most of a medical holiday in Thailand.

Healthcare System in Thailand –
There are approximately 400 hospitals in Thailand offering advance healthcare services. The country takes pride in having the largest private hospital in Asia, as well as having the first Asian hospital to receive the ISO 9001 certification and JCI accreditation. To date, 14 hospitals in Thailand have been accredited by the JCI.

Thailand’s Medical tourism industry is largely driven by private hospitals. Thai doctors are attracted to the international hospitals as they can earn as much as 70% more than in the public hospitals.

Leading the list are the Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok Hospital Group, and Samitivej Hospitals. These hospitals are widely becoming renowned globally. They are known to cater mostly to foreign patients and have been actively seeking medical tourists since 2004 or earlier. Around 30-50% of the patients in these hospitals are foreigners, due to the fact that, to a greater extent, they find the hospitals cheaper than that of their home countries. However, most Thai locals still find the prices in these hospitals too costly.

Medical treatments offered in Thailand –
Thailand’s world-class medical facilities offer a wide variety of medical treatments and procedures. Whether one is looking for cosmetic surgery, dermatology, dental work, a medical check-up or more invasive medical procedures such as orthopaedic or cardiovascular surgery, Thailand’s hospitals and clinics have qualified doctors and surgeons using state-of-the-art equipment while offering first-class service.

Popular treatments –
More popular Medical treatments and procedures include the following -Cosmetic / plastic surgery, Dermatology, Dental, Lasik, Holistic/ Anti-aging, sex reassignment surgery, medical check-ups, and Orthopaedic surgeries.

Cosmetic / plastic surgery –
Thailand offers a wide variety of cosmetic procedures for both men and women. Cosmetic surgery, including breast augmentation, implants, reductions and lifts are performed in both Thai hospitals and specialized clinics. Botox injections, facelifts and eyelid surgery are also common procedures performed by experienced Thai doctors, as are rhinoplasty (‘nose jobs’), abdominoplasty (‘tummy tucks’), hair transplants and liposuction. In addition to information about the aforementioned procedures, the hospitals and clinics also include treatments such as chin augmentation, lip augmentation and ear pinning.

Dermatology –
Dermatology is a well-developed medical specialization widely practiced among doctors in Thailand, and is very popular with Thais who look to take good care of their skin. Often trained abroad and employing the latest techniques and applications, skilled doctors and specialists operate in environmentally controlled clinics in both private and public hospitals, with entire wings in several large hospitals dedicated exclusively to dermatology.

Treatments commonly received by medical tourists in Thailand include Botox, cellulite treatment, dermabrasion (skin refreshing), chemical peel, laser skin resurfacing, facial revival & nourishment, facial lines correction, skin rejuvenation, skin pores tightening, blemish removal, as well as Ultherapy anti-aging face-lifting using noninvasive ultrasounds to lift skin and stimulate collagen.

Dental –
Thailand is one of the world’s leading destinations for medical tourists seeking dental treatment. Because of the high degree of skill, professional service, reasonable prices and advanced technology found in Thailand’s dental clinics and hospitals, tourists from many countries take advantage of seeking dental care during their vacation.

Thailand offers international patients a wide variety of treatments including laser teeth whitening, composite and porcelain dental veneers, crowns, implants, dentures, bridges, and fillings at clinics all around the country.

Lasik –
Lasik, an innovative type of vision corrective eye surgery is offered to people suffering from near-sightedness, farsightedness, myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism.

Holistic treatment –
Holistic health is concerned with integrating all aspects of one’s life into a healthy whole. For example, rather than prescribing a bag of pills, a holistic practitioner would meet and discuss all the different elements of a person’s life before making any recommendations. These recommendations often focus on the integration of a person’s lifestyle, diet, fitness and stress management procedures.

Sex Reassignment Surgery –
Thailand is one of the leading centers in the world for sexual reassignment surgery. Both male to female and female to male surgeries can be performed in Thailand by some of the most experienced surgeons in the field and at costs much lower than in western countries. Treatments offered include breast augmentation, facial feminizing, body contouring and gender reassignment surgery, all of which are performed by surgeons utilizing some of the most advanced techniques in the field. The surgical discipline is part of a treatment regime for gender identity disorder/gender dysphoria in transsexual and transgender people, and the range of treatments include sex reconstruction surgery, genital reconstruction surgery, gender confirmation surgery, as well as feminizing genitoplasty or penectomy, orchidectomy, vaginoplasty and masculinizing genitoplasty for trans men.

Orthopedic surgeries –
Foreign patients fly to Thailand to get different kinds of orthopaedic procedures. Many orthopaedic surgeons in Thailand have been trained overseas and equipment used for the procedures are assured to be modern and innovative, including the Computer Assisted Surgery (CAS) Micro Invasive Surgery (MAS). Common orthopaedic surgeries that take place in Thailand are hip and knee replacement, as well as spine surgeries.

Medical check-up programs–
Medical check-up programs are a growing trend in the global medical tourism market. These programs are recommended for everyone, and the frequency would depend on the patient’s age and condition. They are particularly recommended for patients in their 40’s or 50’s. Every major hospital in Thailand has inclusive check-up packages.

General treatments in include the following –
Cardiovascular, ENT, Liver & digestion, Diabetes, Bone marrow and stem cell therapy, radiology, pulmonary treatment, spine, fertilization, neurology and breast cancer program

Medical providers in Thailand–

Hospitals –
Hospitals and other medical facilities in Thailand pride themselves on their high standards, and many have subjected their premises and systems to the most rigorous classification by applying for accreditation and certification, whereby a qualified standards organization – distinct from the healthcare organization under review – assesses the hospital or facility to determine if it meets a set of standards and requirements designed to improve the quality of patient care.

This voluntary process provides a tangible and visible commitment by the hospital to continually ensure a safe environment for its patients and staff.

Top Hospitals for Medical Tourism in Thailand –

Bumrungrad International :
Bumrungrad International is known to have excellent facilities for medical tourists. It attracts more foreign patients than any other hospital in the world. Over half of the hospital’s doctors have international training and/or board certification, including 200 who are US board certified.

Bangkok Hospitals Group:
The Bangkok Hospital Group is a leading group of hospitals with specialized services for overseas patients. It has a network of 15 hospitals scattered all over Thailand. The Bangkok International Hospital in Bangkok tops the list. It has an International Medical Centre which caters especially for medical tourists, and is completely employed with multilingual interpreters. It even has a Japanese Medical Centre with Japanese speaking physicians and nurses.

Samitivej Hospitals:
The Samitivej Hospitals are a well-known chain in Thailand. The group has expanded and developed world class healthcare facilities, including 3 JCI accredited hospitals. Samitivej Hospitals are equipped with advanced medical equipment that compares to the hospitals in the North America and Europe.

Cost of Medical Treatment in Thailand

Accreditations –
Thailand was the first country in Asia to achieve JCI accreditation in 2002, and 17 hospitals are now accredited. Hospitals and other medical facilities in Thailand pride themselves on their high standards, and many have subjected their premises and systems to the most rigorous classification by applying for accreditation and certification whereby a qualified standards organization – distinct from the health care organization under review – assesses the hospital or facility to determine if it meets a set of standards and requirements designed to improve the quality of patient care. This voluntary process provides a tangible and visible commitment by the hospital to continually ensure a safe environment for its patients and staff. This is also one of the major reasons why International Medical Tourists (largely from developed countries) feel a sense of safety and security in trusting the foreign doctors and hospitals with their bodies and lives.
Prestigious Medical Accreditation such as JCI has proven their value in public and private organizations of all sizes in Europe, South America, Asia, and the Middle East.

They ensure:
1. Coverage from patient entry to discharge, assessing the quality of patient care from the time a patient enters a facility to discharge and utilizing this data to plan and implement changes that create optimal care.
2. Assessment for all aspects of management to bring efficiency and best practices to all phases of management, from clarity of leadership’s responsibility and accountability to critical facility management.
3. Two Levels of Compliance – Measurement of performance against both the core requirements needed to achieve accreditation and additional standards that lead organizational best practice levels.
4. Creation of a culture of patient safety, implementing standards that focus on patient safety and risk reduction in clinical processes.