*

**

(Medical Hub)

(medical hub)
.. 2546

medical tourism


2540

2540
high-end
(
* .
..
2552

medical tourism

**
118 10240
E-mail: anchana@nida.nida.ac.th
NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

47

48

) (
)
()

medical tourism
()

( stem cell)
()
( )

road show
(
)
medical hub
()

( medical hub )
(

) (

)
(externality)

51 1/2554

Economic Crisis and Thailand Medical Hub*

Anchana NaRanong**

Abstract
This article reveiws the development of medical tourism in Thailand since
2003 and also makes comparism between Thailands medical hub and other
countries in Asia which also implement medical hub/medical tourist programs.
The growth of medical tourism in Thailand faced a significant turning
point after 1997, when the private sector attempted to solve the problems resulting
from the economic crisis. After the economic crisis, the Bed Occupancy Rate (BOR)
in many private hospitals significantly declined and many hospital beds became
vacant. Some upmarket private hospitals adjusted themselves by inducing medical
tourists from high purchasing power countries (such as Japan, the EU and East
Asian countries) to visit Thailand.
The main drive mechanism on medical tourism in Thailand is the private
sector. Health care services improvement by private hospitals appeared in many

* This article is a part of research entitled The Development Guideline for Thailands Medical
Hub with Dr. viroj NaRanong and Associate Professor Dr. Sirachai Jindarak, funded by
National Economic and Social Advisory Council. The research receives Good Research
Award in Political Sciences and Public Administration, National Research Council, Thailand,
2009.
The writer would like to thank Khun Nontalee Wuttimanop for her assistance on searching
data on the implementation of medical tourism in various countries amd khun Panlada
Tripittayakul in collecting data on medical travel agents
** Professor and director, Doctoral Program of Public Administration, Graduate School of Public
Administration, National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) Graduate School
of Public Administration, 118 Anekprasong Building, Seerethai Rd., KlongJan, Bangkapi,
Bangkok 10240 THAILAND
E-mail: anchana@nida.nida.ac.th, anchana@gmail.com
NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

49

50

forms (partly depending on hospitals specialization) such as treatments with high

technology, new treatments in experimental stages (such as stem cells) and dental
care. Various marketing plans have been launched to attract international
customers. While the Thai government does not provide much needed help, it
facilitates and liberates the operations of private sector. These compounding
factors enabled Thailand to become medical hub of Asia and strengthened
competitiveness until it exceeds the leading country, Singapore, in term of number
of patients within a decade.
Under limited resources, a surge of medical tourists in Thailand (in other
words, the success of Thailands medical hub) would generate both positive impacts
(e.g., on the domestic economy, doctors and health care providers income, and
relevant businesses revenues, and possibly improvement in medical care services in
Thailand) and also negative impacts (e.g., shortage of human resources, increased
medical fees, and reduced health services accessibility for Thai people). Thus the
government needs to regulate these negative externalities to acceptable levels.
Keywords: Medical Hub, Medical Tourism, Economic Crisis

51 1/2554

(
.. 2540)

()

(
) medical tourism


highend (
)
()
()
.. 2544
30 (
) (
)
(medical hub)


(Thailand: Centre of Excellent Health Care of Asia) 5 (.. 2551)
(, 2546; , 2548 2549)

1

7
2551
30 2551

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

51

52

medical hub

)
()
) (
)2

(medical hub) .. 2546

1)

(medical hub)
2)

3)

()
(follow up)

( 2541)

51 1/2554

53

(medical hub)

(medical hub)
.. 2546
(medical tourism) (health tourism)

/

(medical tourism)
.. 2540
.. 2540

2534-2542 14,927
40,825 173.5 ( 2535
47 ) (, 2546: 4)
(Bed Occupation Rate)
( high-end
)
(
)


()

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

54 (
) medical
tourism
(, 2541: 1)

(Center of Excellent Health Care of Asia)
2546 4


5 (2547-2551)
30

(, 2546)

1:

2547
19,635
4,996
1,500
26,131

2548
23,100
6,754
2,000
31,845

2549
27,433
9,185
3,000
39,618

2550
32,898
12,492
4,000
49,390

(: )
2551

39,833
142,899
16,989
50,419
7,000
17,500
63,822
210,815

: (2546)

19 2547
(, 2547)


2547-2551
564.5
(Medical Service) (Health Service)
(Herbal Products) 2

51 1/2554

2:

(: )

2547
20.0

2548
55.0

2549
70.0

2550
85.0

2551
100.0

330.0

11.0
13.5

20.0
25.0

20.0
30.0

20.0
35.0

20.0
40.0

91.0
143.5

44.5

100.0

120.0

140.0

160.0

564.5

: (2546)

(medical hub)

(
2544-2550 3) 3
2544-2548
2546 50

4
2541-2546

(55 )
(20 )

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

55

56

3: ..
2544-2550

2545

2546

2547

2548

2549

2550

44-48
50

2544

118,170 131,584

162,909

247,238

185,616

n/a

233,389

1,078,906

49,253

59,402

85,292

118,771

132,239

n/a

136,248

581,205

34,857

47,555

69,574

107,627

98,303

n/a

85,412

443,328

36,778

41,599

74,856

95,941

108,156

n/a

110,286

467,616

n/a

20,004

34,704

71,051

98,451

n/a

169,091

393,301

n/a

n/a

36,708

93,516

74,178

n/a

115,561

319,963

26,893

27,438

46,624

57,051

57,279

n/a

29,783

245,068

19,057

18,923

37,055

40,180

42,798

n/a

41,313

199,326

14,265

16,479

24,228

35,092

40,161

n/a

42,688

172,913

10

16,102

17,679

25,582

32,409

36,175

n/a

37,251

165,198

11

14,419

14,877

19,588

31,303

26,571

n/a

26,259

133,017

12

n/a

n/a

19,851

20,990

22,921

n/a

49,817

113,579

13

n/a

n/a

12,909

18,144

18,177

n/a

22,907

72,137

14

n/a

n/a

8,634

6,728

6,120

n/a

9,413

30,895

15

220,367 234,460

315,018

127,054

302,834

n/a

264,389

1,464,122

550,161

630,000

973,532

1,103,095 1,249,948

1,330,000

1,373,807

7,210,543

(%)

14.55

54.53

6.40

3.29

16.48

13.31

13.32

:
: 1/ ( 55 2550)

2/ 2546 (revisit)

51 1/2554

57
3 2547
(1.1 ) 1.25
2548 1.33 2549 (
25495) 1.37 25506

.. 25517
8

SingaporeMedicine ( Economic
Development Board, Singapore Tourism Board International Enterprise Singapore
www.SingaporeMedicine.com) Newsweek September 24, 2007
2549 400,000
55
2550 30 2546 (
1 4
1 )

( 60) 10
30

SingaporeMedicine 2540

( 1)

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

58

4: 55 2550
/

-
-
- ()

-
-
-
-
-
-
- ( )

-
- ( )

-
-
-
-
-
-
- ( )

-
-
-

() ()
159,755
136,248
22,907
600
1,278
1,026
1,948
286,336
110,286
41,313
37,251
14,218
12,395
21,056
49,817
9,413
9,293
120
169,091
91,859
34,356
6,205
3,304
18,709
2,763
11,894
963
85,412
32,313
36,645
3,826

11.69
9.93
1.68
0.08
0.13
0.11
0.18
21.01
8.04
3.02
2.72
1.05
0.90
1.54
3.74
0.71
0.69
0.02
12.46
6.70
2.52
0.47
0.25
1.39
0.25
0.88
0.01
6.26
2.35
2.67
0.28
51 1/2554

4: 55 2550 ()
/
-
-
- ( )

-
-
-
-
-
- ( )

-
-
-
-
- ( )

-
-
- ()

() ()
1,660
5,690
5,278
115,561
28,080
40,338
5,080
7,448
13,498
21,116
295,650
233,389
24,392
26,259
5,391
6,219
51,863
42,688
8,774
401
195,511
1,373,807

0.12
0.45
0.39
8.48
2.06
2.95
0.38
0.56
0.98
1.55
21.59
16.99
1.79
1.95
0.39
0.47
3.84
3.15
0.65
0.04
14.24
100.00

:
: ( 55 2550)

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

59

60

: Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore

1:

2001 (
)
4.5 4.3 0.79 (Ministry of Trade
and Industry Singapore. The Healthcare Services Working Group, n.d.(c).)
()
2-4

1.4

2.5-3

51 1/2554

2549 354 36,323

63% (29.1% )
14.7% 11.9% 10.4% 2547
250 28 101-250 71
( 2547, 7-10 )

17
2545
(Bed Occupancy Rate) 60.45 (, 2545
, 2546)
70
2545-2548

8-9

Joint Commission
International Accreditation (JCIA) Joint Commission International (JCI) (
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
JCAHO The Joint Commission)
2545
JCIA 2550
( BNH

)



Stem Cell


NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

61

62
(
)




Stem Cell

()

(Customize Marketing)

-

500

1 2550

12


..

51 1/2554

63

(Agent)

(Agent)

(agent)


(agent)


(/
10)

-
(City Tour)

(
Patients Beyond Borders (Second Edition 2008)
(
Travellers Guide)

10

(
Companion Global Healthcare Inc Blue Cross Blue Shield)

(Woodman, J., 2008)

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

64

Hygeia Healthcare


Hygeia Healthcare Destination Beauty
www.destinationbeauty.
com

50-60
7-10 () (Plastic
Surgery) (Cosmetic Surgery)
Medical questionnaire


contract




medical report
-



MedAsia Healthcare

Red Hare Communications

300 Siam Society
Hotel & Resort -

51 1/2554

Marwin Tours


3
- City Tour
City Tour


Electronic Health Card Network



()
8
solution provider
()
(healthcare provider)

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

65

66

5:

Hygeia
Healthcare
Co., Ltd.

- Medical
questionnaire



- Medical

report Inquiry
form
-

-


1,500-3,500
1,000
- 7-10

-

brochure

contract
- contract


TRSC Lasik Center
- Medical
check-up surgery

51 1/2554

5: ()

MedAsia
Healthcare

- Private Consulting
-

Inquiry MedAsia Healthcare

profile


-

9



-

-

- 50,000

-

MedAsia Healthcare

Red Hare
Communications

NIDA Development Journal

- Siam Society Hotel & Resort

- -
-

Vol.51 No.1/2011

67

68

5: ()

Thailand
Vacation
Tour
Corporation

- contract

-
- Round trip transfer (BangkokHospital) 1-2

- $187-2,557

Marwin Tours -
- -
- City tour
Thailand
Health &
Travel
Co., Ltd.

MTA Korea
Co., Ltd.

Lemongrass
Medical
Consulting &
Invest AB

Body Treat &

Travel Co.,Ltd

Nat Marr Parr

Tour Co., Ltd

- Medical tourism

4 .
-
-

51 1/2554

medical tourism
()
medical hub


2549
The Heart by Siriraj
Excellent
Center/Medical Research Building One-stop service 300 (
) 11

MEDS ( UCLA) (
)
(
)

Hospital
Accreditation HA ( . )
Joint Commission
International Accreditation JCIA (
JCIA )
..
(
)

()


12

11
12

80
14 2551

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

69

70
( UCLA MEDS)
JCIA

.. (
)



( )

(
)



(
)





(
)
(

)

51 1/2554

71
:

()
medical hub 13
(
)
(
) (
) (

) (
) (
)
medical hub
(

)
()


(





medical hub
medical hub

13

internet ()

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

72

medical tourism ( medical

hub14)
(
) (
medical tourism )


()
(follow up)

(medical hub)
(tourism)
(
)

( )


medical tourism

2540
( )
( 15 16
()

14
15

16

hub
Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore. The Healthcare Services Working
Group, n.d.(a) (Appendix 1 p. 6)

30% ( 2547, 7-10 )

51 1/2554

73
)
17

18

position medical hub/tourism

medical hub
(
)
( third party payer
)19 medical tourism
volume

()

mass ( margin )
()
(
)
17

18

19

medical hub

()

mass
profit margin

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

74

-
medical hub (
()
mass

()

( medical hub )
(

) (

)

()

51 1/2554

75
()
(
)

(
)

. . (2549).
. 26 http://
www.depthai.go.th/go/document/59?level=1
________. (2548). . 13
2550 http://www.depthai.go.th/go/content/download/attach?contentId=
2817&name=.doc
. (2546).
(.. 2547-2551). 19 . http://www.moph.go.th/
ops/spa/center%20health%20ASIA.ppt
. . (2550).
2550. 19 2550 http://203.157.19.191/
strategy/strategy1.html
. (...).
(.. 2547-2551). 26 2550 http://www.moph.
go.th/ops/spa/product_spa.ppt#310,5,Slide5
. (21 2547). . .
. (20 2547). . .
. (9 2549). 2 .
. (28 2551). 4
. http://www.bangkokbiznews.com/2008/02/28/
WW17_1701_news.php?newsid=234301

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

76 10. ( 2550).
10 .. 2550-2554 (27 .. 50 ). 19
2550 http://203.157.19.191/Plan10/Plan10-50.pdf
10. ( 2550).
10 .. 2550-2554. 19
2550 http://203.157.19.191/Plan10/Plan10-50.pdf
9. (2545).
9. 19 2550 http://203.157.19.
191/Plan10/plan9.pdf
. (31 2 2550). - .
19 2550 NEWScenter.
. (20-22 2549). :
.
. (20-22 2549). .....
. (29 2547). : Medical Hub of
Asia (1): .
. (30 2547). : Medical Hub of
Asia(2)-.
. (1 2547). : Medical Hub of
Asia(2)- - ().
. (3 2546). . -
.
. (14 2546). 5 2 Medical Hub of Asia.
. (12 2548). .
. (7-13 2550).
. 19 2550 NEWScenter.
. (7 2548). Medical Marketing .
17 2550 http://www.businessthai.co.th/content.php?data=
411710_
. (8 2548). Clinical Medical Hub. 17
2550 http://www.businessthai.co.th/content.php?data=409389_
Mice%20Market

51 1/2554

77
. (21 2546). Medical Wing Air Ambulance
..
. (31 - 3 2546). ..
-.
. (11-13 2546). ! . 10%
.
. (5-7 2547). 47 --
.
. (15-18 .. 2547).
.
. (1-4 2547). .. . 2.6
.
. (29 - 2 2547). ..
.
. (3-5 2547). ...
.
. (23-26 2547). .-.
.
. (7-10 2547). .. !! 5
Medical Hub Of Asia.
. (14-16 2550). .. ..
!!.
. (10 2550). - UCLA
.
. (27 2550). ! 1
. (14 2550). - -.
. (21 2547). ...
. (26 2547). . 500 3 -!.
. (20 2549). .
. (21 2549). : : .
. (5 2550). . Medical Hub
of Asia.
NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

78 . (3 2547). Medical Hub .

. (28 2547). . .. - .. ..?.
. (28 2547). .
. (29 2547). ?.
. (27 2550). ! 1 .
23 2550 Http://www.thaivi.com/webboard/viewtopic.php?t=
25824
. (22 2549). . 19 2550 NEWScenter.
. (...). : . 11
2550 http://www.boi.go.th/thai/download/publication_boi_
today/94/boitoday_aug_21_06.pdf
. (2541).
2540-2550. :
. ()
. (2547).
( Agenda based).
26 2550 http://www.cabinet.soc.go.th/soc/Program2-3.jsp?
top_serl=198153&key_word=&owner_dep =&meet_date_dd=&
meet_date_mm=&meet_date_yyyy=&doc_id1=&doc_id2=&meet_date_dd2=&
meet_date_mm2=&meet_date_yyyy2=
. (2550). 2549.
. (2547). : .
27 2550 http://www.bangkokbank.com/download/SRHealth.
pdf
Agency for Science, Technology and Research. (Febuary) (2004). Singapores
Biomedical Sciences Initiatives on Track to Meet Targets. Retrieved
September19, 2007 From http://www.a-star.edu.sg/astar/about/action/
pressrelease_details.do?id=0f9ff8fb01FQ
The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM). (n.d.). About APHM.
Retrieved August 16, 2007 From http://www.hospitals-malaysia.org/
index.cfm?menuid=3
The Boston Consulting Group. (2008). Overview of Medical Tourism. February.

51 1/2554

79
Economic Development Board (EDB), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and
International Enterprise Singapore (IE). (2003). Singapore Set To Be
Healthcare Services Hub Of Asia. Press Release 20 October 2003.
Medical Tourism: Sun, sand, scalpels. The Economist. March 10, 2007.
Charles J. Runckel. (2007). Where to go for medical tourism? Retrieved June 27,
2007 From http://www.business-in-asia.com/asia/medical_tourism2.html
Chee Heng Leng. (2007). Medical Tourism in Malaysia: International Movement of
Healthcare Consumers and the Commodification of Healthcare. Asia
Research Institute Working Paper Series No. 83. Retrieved August 18, 2007
From http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/showfile.asp?pubid=642&type=2
Expat Web Site Association. (n.d.). Singapore Healthcare Services. Retrieved
September19, 2007 From http://www.expat.or.id/medical/singaporehealthcare.
html
Medical Tourism India. (n.d.). Medical tourism. Retrieved August 16, 2007 From
http://www.indiamedicaltourism.net/medical_tourism_india_medical_
tourism/index.html
Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore. The Healthcare Services Working Group.
(2002). Developing Singapore as the Healthcare Hub of Asia. Retrieved
August 14, 2007 From https://app.mti.gov.sg/data/pages/507/doc
Developing%20Singapore%20as%20the%20Healthcare%20Hub%20of%
20Asia.pdf
Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore. (2007). ERC Report. Retrieved August 14,
2007 From https://app.mti.gov.sg/default.asp?id=507
Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore. The Healthcare Services Working Group.
(n.d.a). Annex1: Paper1: Developing Singapore as the Compelling Hub for
Healthcare service in Asia. Retrieved August 14, 2007 From https://app.mti.
gov.sg/data/pages/507/doc/ERC_SVS_HEA_Annex1.pdf
_______. The Healthcare Services Working Group. (n.d.b.). Annex2: Paper2:
Potential Implication on Domestic Policy. Retrieved August 14, 2007 From
https://app.mti.gov.sg/data/pages/507/doc/ERC_SVS_HEA_Annex2.pdf
_______. The Healthcare Services Working Group. (n.d.c.). Annex3: Foreign patient
flow and trends. Retrieved August 14, 2007 From http://app.mti.gov.sg/data/
pages/507/doc/ERC_SVS_HEA_Annex3.pdf
NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011

80 _______. The Healthcare Services Working Group. (n.d.d.). Annex 4: HSWGs

recommendations to the ERC Human Capital Subcommittee. Retrieved
August 15, 2007 From http://app.mti.gov.sg/data/pages/507/doc/ERC_SVS_
HEA_Annex4.pdf
_______. The Healthcare Services Working Group. (n.d.e.). Executive Summary Developing Singapore as the Healthcare Services Hub In Asia. Retrieved
August 14, 2007 From https://app.mti.gov.sg/data/pages/507/doc/SHS_
Executive%20Summary.pdf
Ministry of Public Health. (2006). Health policy in Thailand. Retrieved June 19,
2006 From http://203.157.19.191/HealthPolicy6.pdf
Ray Marcelo. (2003, July 2). India Fosters Growing Medical Tourism Sector. The
Financial Times. Retrieved August 15, 2007 From http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/
display.article?id=2016
Recover Discover. (n.d.). Healthcare System in India. Retrieved August 16, 2007
From http://www.recoverdiscover.com/healthcare_system.php
Singapores Biomedical Sciences. (2003). Singapore Set To Be Healthcare Services
Hub Of Asia. Retrieved August 17, 2007 From http://www.biomed-singapore.
com/bms/sg/en_uk/index/newsroom/pressrelease/0/singapore_set_to_be.
html
Singapore Medicine. (2003, October). Singapore Set to be Health Care Services Hub
of Asia. Retrieved September 19, 2007 From http://app.singaporemedicine.
com/asp/new/new0201c.asp?id=881
Singapore Medicine. (n.d.) World-Class Healthcare: Why International Patients
choose Sinapore. Retrieved August 14, 2007 From http://app.singaporemedicine.
com/asp/wor/wor01.asp
Singapores Biomedical Sciences. (n.d.) About Biomedical Sciences. Retrieved
August 14, 2007 From http://www.biomed-singapore.com/bms/sg/en_uk/
index/about_biomedical_sciences.html
Singapores Biomedical Sciences. (2006, November). SingaporeMedicine - Making
Singapore a Regional Medical Hub. Retrieved September 20, 2007 From
http://www.biomed-singapore.com/bms/sg/en_uk/index/business_resources/
business_spotlight/year_2006/singaporemedicine.html

51 1/2554

81
Shyam Bhatia. (2003, December 6). India can earn $1 billion from medical tourism.
Rediff.com. Retrieved August 16, 2007 From http://us.rediff.com/money/
2003/dec/06health.htm
Supriya Saxena. (2004, September 3). India gears up for medical tourists.
Domain-b.com. Retrieved August 16, 2007 From http://www.domain-b.com/
industry/tourism/20040903_medical_tourists.html
Woodman, Joseph. (2008). Patients Beyond Borders. Second Edition. Chapel Hill:
Healthy Travel Media.
Wong Chaynee. (2003). Health Tourism to drive earnings. The New Strait Times, 19
April.
Y. Bhg Dato-Dato, Tuan-Tuan dan Puan-Puan. (2002). Speech by YB Dato Chua
Jui Meng, Ministry of Health Malaysia. Retrieved Sebtember 20, 2007 From
http://www.hospitals-malaysia.org/index.cfm?menuid=26

NIDA Development Journal

Vol.51 No.1/2011