Medical Tourism, Hospitals in Bangkok Thailand
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Medical Tourism, Hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand
Some people travel because they're sick of work, sick of their friends or their routine. Medical tourists travel because they're sick of the cost of health treatment in their home country. Medical tourism is a multi-billion dollar global business that has extended beyond the confines of face-lifts done in Mexico for Hollywood movie stars. Thailand has established itself as a leader in this market, surpassing its competition in Singapore, which is regarded as Asia's pioneer in medical tourism. Things are not that much better in Hong Kong, which has many Chinese residents willing to sit on an airplane for hours in route to another country just for cheap dental treatment. This is all good news for Thailand, as The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports that last year almost 1.3 million foreigners received medical treatment while in the kingdom, more than double the figure for 2002. This special breed of tourists spent in excess of 40 billion Thai baht (about $1 billion USD) on procedures ranging from laser eye surgery to joint replacements to face-lifts. However, surprisingly the majority of patients visited Thailand for annual health checkups in combination with a holiday in the country. As medical tourism grows, more and more of Bangkok's private hospitals are competing for foreign business, which arguably created better value and more choices for customers.
Costs
Several factors contributed to Thailand's medical tourism success. Bangkok offers medical services at a fraction of the prices in Hong Kong, Japan, or the US. Heart bypass surgery that would cost in excess of $100,000 USD in the US can cost under $8,750 USD at a state-of-the-art hospital in Bangkok, often providing better service than in the more expensive countries. The bill for a three or four hour physical exam with cancer screenings, chest x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, mammogram, body chemistry analysis, and a cardiac stress test at a leading Bangkok hospital would cost under $150 USD, including lunch, consultation with a doctor that speaks your language and all the information about your diagnosis. You can speak with top specialists as an out-patient for less than $10 USD. Hospitals in Thailand also offer therapies that are hard to find in many other countries, like procedures such as stem cell treatment. Bangkok, Thailand's capital city, has always been a popular tourist destination for its close proximity to beaches and islands, spas and resorts, shopping, temples, and nightlife. The city is easier to navigate than ever with the recent addition of the SkyTrain and the new subway system, helping people bypass the popular traffic congestion. "The land of smiles" isn't just a slogan. You can easily see the Thai traditions of hospitality in its hospitals as well as its resorts. But the most important Thai tradition in medical tourism may be the connection between health care and the country's revered royal family. Prince Mahidol of Songkla, the father of Thailand's current King earned a medical degree from Harvard, and is referred to as the patriarch of modern medicine in Thailand. Before his death in 1930, Prince Mahidol worked to upgrade the level of health science and medical education in Thailand by founding the Sirraj School of Medicine. He also practiced at an American missionary hospital in Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand, and secured Rockefeller Foundation support for medical and nursing education. Prince Mahidol not only increased the esteem of physicians, but also paved the way for Thai people to study medical care overseas.
Hospitals in Thailand:
Bangkok Hospital
Competition for foreign-trained Thai physicians has helped accelerate growth and improvement of Thai medical facilities. "We recruit them back with the promise to build a better hospital for them," explains Thirachai Jotikabukkana, director of Bangkok Hospital's International Medical Center. Bangkok hospital offers medical and nursing staff capable of speaking a total of twenty-six languages, including Russian, Swahili, Arabic, as well as English, Japanese and Mandarin. Bangkok Hospital has evolved into the largest health care institution in South East Asia. The complex includes Bangkok Heart Hospital, offering robotic cardiac surgery and angioplasty packages at less than $3,600 USD as well as a state-of-the-art Neuroscience Center. Golf carts transport patients and staff around the complex. "I had high expectations but they were met," says Peter Mork, a 29 year old male from southern California who made a checkup part of his Thailand vacation. "The medical devices were more high tech than I expected. It was really impressive." After learning about medical tourism in Thailand from a US television report, he searched the Internet and emailed the hospital to set up an appointment. In-patients can select suites with plasma televisions and high speed Internet access. Menu options range from Thai and Chinese food, from Middle Eastern to Western cuisine. Rooms with balconies, internet access, refrigerators, extra beds for family members and kitchenettes are easily available. Medical institutions will also assist with visa arrangements and offer services such as airport pickup.
Bumrungrad Hospital
"The whole medical tourism movement started with this hospital," says Ruben Toral, director of Bumrungrad Hospital. "We pioneered it, and we lead it." Opening in 1980, Bumrungrad targeted wealthy Thais and had just opened a new building when the 1997 Asian economic crisis hit Thailand. "Patients in the area no longer had disposable income for our services, so we went international," explains Toral. With over 500,000 foreign patients, Bumungrad refers to itself as the number one international health care destination in the world. Visitors from the US grew by 40% last year after a television report aired featuring a Louisiana resident who saved over $87,000 USD on cardiac surgery by going to Bumrungrad. The hospital's senior level management is from the US, and its services have been approved by the US based Joint Commission on International Accreditation. Bumrungrad also employees over 200 US certified physicians. It's "...the best American hospital you've ever been to that's 10,000 miles away," quips Toral.
In addition to checkups, international patients come for "mechanical elective surgeries," such as joint and hip replacements, as well as other orthopedic procedures. Insurers often won't pay for these types of procedures, insisting on cheaper alternatives. Neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, and plastic surgery are Bumrungrad's top categories. The patient reception area features translations in dozens of languages, catering to customers from 150 different countries. Bangladesh provides so many medical tourists that a few Bengali restaurants have even popped up around Bumrungrad. Located in the Sukhumvit tourism district, Bumrungrad is convenient to many hotels, restaurants and shopping centers, and accessible by skytrain and the new subway as well. Bumrungrad's lobby hardly looks like a hospital. It is complete with a Starbucks, McDonald's, and Au Bon Pain, plus Italian and Japanese cuisine on the mezzanine level. One downside could be that that the hospital deals with 30,000 patients each day. With US-style management come US-style complaints about impersonal treatment and a priority on sales over service. Several hospitals are currently undercutting Bumrungrad's prices and are becoming more friendly to foreigners, while others are moving to outflank Bumrungrad on luxury and service.
Phyathai 2 Hospital
Phyathai 2 Hospital is located near the Sanam Pho skytrain station, close to the Victory Monument. With government backing, Phyathai began promoting medical tourism in 2004, targeting the Middle East, US, Scandinavia, as well as countries nearer to Thailand, mainly through overseas travel agencies.The lobby doesn't look like a hospital or a world class star hotel, but more like a modern airport. It flaunts ceiling-mounted plasma TVs, and a range of shops including a Black Magic Coffee outlet, yet there is not a foreigner to be seen. This is because foreigners don't wait in the lobby. They are directed by an English speaking guide to the "Platinum Club" with free Internet access, coffee and tea, padded recliners, and more televisions.
To prepare for the foreigners, the hospital has actively recruited Arabic, Chinese, and English speakers to offer translation services in 17 languages. The hospital has also trained staff to deal with overseas patients. There are Muslim prayer rooms, halal food, and even a Chinese website. Phyathai is publicly traded network of four hospitals with services ranging from dentistry to interventional radiology. Phyathai 2 specialises in heart treatment, joint replacement and checkups, while Phyathai 1 features advanced neurosurgery and Phyathai 3 offers specialization in fertility issues. The hospital also offers weight loss programs that run in conjunction with a neighboring hotel. It offers what is sure to become an industry standard along with the post exam brunch: checkup patients get a one hour massage in Phyathai's spa while awaiting lab results. The full physical costs $75 USD less for men and $150 USD less for women than the comparable Bumrungrad checkup without the included massage.
For more information visit: Information on Phyathai 2 Hospital
BNH
Another of the competing establishments, BNH, looks like a good five star hotel, with a beige-jacketed staff member posted at the main entrance to open car doors. During my visit, a blue-suited concierge and a man in naval-style dress whites with no apparent function was also in attendance. "It's a good place for certain people to come because it's discreet." Founded originally as the Bangkok Nursing Home Hospital by British expatriates in 1898, BNH built its reputation among Bangkok's foreign community and naturally expanded its services into the international market. It's smaller than all of the other private hospitals, with 120 beds versus 500 and up elsewhere, and around a thousand outpatients daily rather than thousands. It seems as if this hospital is looking to stay small and offer a more exclusive service.
Samitivej Hospital
Samitivej has built a reputation on neonatal care and maternity care, and has been awarded certification for being a "mother and baby-friendly hospital" by UNICEF, the United Nations children's agency. Samitivej has water birth facilities, prenatal classes in English, Thai, and Japanese, birth suites with monitors to watch the birth, aromatherapy, and even walls decorated in 'calming' colours. For western expatriates in the region, Samitivej offers an alternative to flying back to Europe or the US for a hospital delivery there. Expectant mothers can safely fly to Bangkok provided they leave no later than six weeks before their due date. The hospital will even arrange a serviced apartment nearby while awaiting delivery.
Saint Louis Hospital
Saint Louis Hospital offers the largest Chinese medicine clinic among private hospitals targeting foreigners, though the majority of patients are Thai Chinese. The clinic has three staff doctors from Mainland universities and offers herbal treatments in specially ventilated rooms, plus acupuncture, 'tuina' therapeutic massage, and non-surgical hemorrhoid removal. Saint Louis offers on-site accommodation costing from 900 baht ($22.50 USD) per night and up. It also has a medical spa with hydrotherapy as well as a sauna, and a variety of massage treatments.
Thailand Hospitals: at a quick glance
These are major private hospitals in Bangkok handling international patients whom are all members of the Thai Private Hospital Association. Checkup results are based on visits and reports from patients, but check with each hospital regarding details on medical specialities
Bangkok Hospital
www.bangkokhospital.com
+662 2-318-0066
contactcenter@bangkokhospital.com
A new International Hospital, Heart Hospital and Rehabilitation Center has helped Bangkok Hospital (soon to be re-branded Bangkok Medical Center) grow into the largest private hospital complex in South East Asia, supplanting Bumrungrad. It has more than 1,000 beds in five buildings with a full menu of services, including robotic cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, joint replacement, sex change surgery, and a 120,000 baht (US$ 3,000) face-lift package. Rooms include guest sofa-bed, microwave, refrigerator, free Internet access, cable television, safe, free English language newspapers, and what it describes as "premium bathroom amenities". It is off the tourist track and best reached by taxi, though there is a hospital shuttle bus from the SkyTrain's Thong Lo station. (Don't mistakenly take the SkyTrain shuttle, which leaves you a lengthy walk or cab ride away.)
Checkup results: There are sparkling new facilities with plenty of glass and light and lots of nice touches, like tangerines for snacking in the checkup area. Dusit Medical Group, the country's market leader that also owns Samitivej and BNH, aims to be the best in the medical tourism market. But there's no mistaking that it's a big Thai hospital making the transition to an even bigger international hospital.
Checkup prices: medium to high
Bangkok Christian Hospital
www.bkkchristianhosp.th.com
+662 2-233-6981
surapoch@bkkchristianhosp.th.com; info@bkkchristianhosp.th.com
Founded by the American Presbyterians and Church of Christ in Thailand, this 300 bed hospital has been treating foreign patients since it opened in 1949. Specialities include a sleep disorder centre. It is located on Silom Road next to the Patpong nightlife, conveniently close to the Sala Daeng SkyTrain station and Silom Road subway station.
Checkup results: Expatriates rave about both inpatient and outpatient care, but you need to leap over some pretty high barriers to get to it. The hospital's English website isn't great even after you get past the Thai home page featuring an illustration of the sacred heart of Jesus. Responses to emails proved patchy and reception staff seem more suspicious than welcoming of foreigners.
Checkup prices: low
BNH Hospital
www.BNHhospital.com
+662 2-632-0550
info@BNHhospital.com; info@bnh.co.th
This is a 120 bed facility that prides itself on service. Established by British ex-pats, it still maintains a British flavour with an annual hospital bed push to raise funds for local charities. It offers interpreter services in Mandarin, Japanese and six western European languages aside from English, which is spoken by most staff. There's no Arabic service however. It caters to local expatriates. Specialities include a Women's Health Centre, and a Heart Centre but no cardiac surgery facilities. It is a short walk from Sala Daeng SkyTrain station and Silom Road subway station.
Checkup results: It is the most beautifully decorated hospital you'll ever see, with impressive art on the walls, real orchids and other fertility symbols from various cultures in the infertility clinic among designer touches, plus a roof garden. BNH really does feel like a five-star hotel, down to the pastry buffet for patients to break their fast after blood testing, and in-patient rooms with cable TV, high speed Internet, and a sofa bed for family members. BNH is a smart choice for a long stay in the hospital, especially if someone else is paying, and might not want to leave.
Checkup prices: high
Bumrungrad Hospital
www.bumrungrad.com
+662 2-667-1000
appointment@bumrungrad.com
Bumrungrad is still by far the most popular hospital with overseas patients. It is a 550 bed facility in the midst of the Sumkumvit tourist district, near the SkyTrain's Nana station. Joint replacements, neurosurgery and cardiac procedures, along with cosmetic surgery, are the most popular services among the comprehensive offerings. It is the only hospital in Thailand with US accreditation from JCI.
Checkup results: No one who's been to Bumrungrad can doubt that the hospital sees more than 30,000 patients a day. Once you get past the lobby area, the place no longer looks like a five star hotel, but a rather ordinary, busy hospital. A decade ago, an ordinary Western hospital in Bangkok might have been considered a miracle but now it's below par, testimony to how much Bumrungrad has raised the game. Whether it's the American business management or a consequence of Bumrungrad's size, it's hard to forget you're in a for-profit institution. Nevertheless, it's a top quality facility with US endorsement in a location that can't be beaten.
Checkup prices: medium to high.
Phyathai 2 Hospital
www.phyathai.com
+662 2-617-2444
onestop@phyathai.com
A newcomer to the medical tourism market, Phyathai 2 is a 500 bed hospital with a pair of sister facilities in Bangkok that provide a full range of treatments. In addition to its international services, Phyathai 2 also features a Heart Center with angioplasty and bypass packages, plus a Joint Replacement Center. Checkup packages include a spa massage while waiting for lab results, and it has reception areas for Japanese and Arab patients, plus a luxurious lounge. I is a short walk from SkyTrain at Sanam Pho.
Checkup report: Phyathai 2 brings a convert's enthusiasm to international care, but it's still a Thai hospital--not necessarily a bad thing. While it's learning the ropes with international patients, its website is way behind its brochures. Phyathai offers good value in brand new facilities.
Checkup prices: medium.
Samitivej Hospital
www.samitivejhospital.com
www.samitivej.co.th
+662 2-711-8181
email: info@samitivej.co.th
One of Bangkok's top four in medical tourism, along with Bumrungrad, BNH and Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej (pronounced Sam-eet-tee-way) is a 270 bed, full service facility. UNICEF certified as a "Mother and Baby Friendly" hospital, Samitivej is noted for its maternity services and paediatrics (including a global reputation for bone marrow transplants). It's one of the few hospitals that promote cancer treatment. In-patient rooms have balconies and order forms for Pizza Hut. The checkup clinic includes VIP areas for royals, diplomats, and celebrities. Located in the trendy Thong Lo area, especially popular with Japanese and Thai yuppies, the hospital has a shuttle bus service from the Phrom Phong SkyTrain station.
Checkup report: Samitivej targets the regional ex-pat market with classy touches such as a string quartet in black tie playing in the lobby. It is currently seeking endorsement from the Joint Committee on International Accreditation, the same US certification Bumrungrad now has exclusively in Thailand. It sells services along with health care.
Checkup prices: medium
Saint Louis Hospital
www.saintlouis.or.th
+662 2-675-5000
info@saintlouis.or.th
Saint Louis Hospital is a non-profit 500 bed facility run by the Catholic Church. It was Thailand's first private hospital to perform open heart surgery back in 1979, and it features a Heart Institute and Chinese medicine clinic. It is a short walk from the Surasak SkyTrain station.
Checkup report: Leave it to the Catholics to feature intelligent design. The checkup centre is next to the main entrance, eliminating the sort of potentially stressful searching required to find departments in many hospitals. Foreigners are still something of a novelty, but staff English is comparable to other hospitals. The on-site accommodation and top floor spa indicate Saint Louis wants to get more international. There is retail therapy available at the women's and children's clothing stalls adjacent to the main building.
Checkup prices: low.
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