THAILAND: Thailand medical tourism back on track

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas surgery, treatment and healthcare providers.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has told tour operators that Thailand tourism and medical tourism are back to normal following political clashes that took place in May. The country has welcomed 10 million tourists for the first eight months of 2010, a 30% increase over 2009. 

TAT has launched its e-marketing campaign for medical tourism in Thailand. Suraphon Svetasreni of TAT said, “The online campaign will boost the number of medical tourists as well as increase the average time they stay in Thailand. And this will help other tourism related businesses, such as hotels, spas, and restaurants. It will benefit all the tourism industry and follow the Thai government’s strategy of promoting Thailand as the medical hub of Asia.”

TAT has just launched “Healthy Beauty Holiday in Thailand”. This sales promotion offers exclusive rates for dental treatments, Lasik corrective surgery, cosmetic surgery, holistic and anti-aging treatments, and medical check ups. For this campaign, TAT has joined with partners including Royal Orchid Plus, which offers 1000 mileage bonus points when booking medical services under the campaign. Websites are also taking part, including Asia Web Direct andPhuket Hotels and Travel Guide. December sees the launch of a “You are in Good Hands” campaign to emphasize the credibility and safety of medical services offered in Thailand.

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A Heady Mix at Yanhee Hospital Bangkok

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas treatment, operations, healthcare providers and much more.

The Yanhee Hospital in Bangkok is an internationally recognised centre of excellence particularly for plastic surgery,indeed its tag line is, “a destination for beauty,”  although it is also a first rate general hospital favoured by Thais and foreigners alike.

My visit, as part of the familiarisation trip on the Thailand Medical Tourism Blog Contest, was late in the day and besides a tour of the facilities was to include a physical check-up, detox and hyperbaric oxygen experience.  Unfortunately because we were running behind schedule I eventually settled for a comprehensive tour of the hospital and its facilities under the attentive eye of a charming Thai nursing manager, who incidentally stayed behind after work in her own time to show me round, such are the Thai people and their treatment of guests.

Meanwhile, my travelling companion, Victoria, decided to indulge herself with a detox, but somehow the thought of a colonic irrigation just didn’t appeal to me after the hearty lunch I had consumed earlier.

So I left the toxins in place and headed off to visit the various departments of the hospital. There are 36 treatment centres around the hospital that deal with 2000 outpatients each day, these are manned by 130 full time doctors and 125 part time specialists supported by over 1500 staff.  Given the huge range of departments at the hospital it would be impossible to do them all justice in this article, however I would like to mention a couple that I found very interesting.

The first of these was the hyperbaric oxygen treatment area. The hospital has several chambers, which look just like the those you might find on a large dive industry vessel(but slightly smaller). Indeed the primary use of such therapy was until fairly recently aimed at helping divers recover from the bends(decompression sickness).  However the Yanhee Hospital also uses the chambers and treatment to help people with Autism since research has indicated that it can be beneficial for suffers. Indeed the use of hyperbaric oxygen at the hospital is not just limited to Autism since  is also thought to benefit such things as wound healing and the treatment of certain abscesses.

As someone who has snored all my life(well that’s what others tell me) I was also fascinated by the area set aside  for the study and treatment of snoring and Sleep Apnea or sleep apnoea.  As the brochure says, “snoring can be a nightmare-a threat to your health and a hitch to a happy life.”  The middle part, a threat to your life, grabbed my attention. Since it seems that sleep apnoea can indeed be life threatening and associated causes can include high blood pressure!

The Yanhee has a specialist sleep laboratory that runs various test programmes to help diagnose the reasons for sleep apnoea in an individual and offers  several different treatments including but not limited to, continuous positive air pressure (CPAP), where a patient wears an oxygen mask whilst sleeping and breathes increased oxygenated air.

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Getting A Dental Implant

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas treatment, operations, healthcare providers and much more.

A few hours after my dental check-up at Dental 4 U, I received in my inbox a file of the panoramic x-ray taken that showed my teeth. True, there were no signs of inflammation or infection but there were many gaps between teeth.

The dentist explained to me that mine was an ideal subject for dental implants. They offer the latest technology from Nobel Biocare. This implant replaces the tooth root and secures the crown in place. The implant is safe because it is biocompatible and integrates naturally with the body, allowing full functions of the new tooth.

There are also porcelain laminate veneers that make the teeth look all natural. The porcelain crown depends on the material preferred by the patient. Generally, porcelain crowns cost starting from 8,000 Thai Baht (THB). The whole Nobel Biocare Replacement system costs at 45,000 THB.
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Medical tourism in Bangkok, Thailand | Tooth Whitening

Medical Tourism Information Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas treatment, operations, healthcare providers and much more.

Thailand has one of the most advanced programs of medical tourism in Asia and around the world. Governments across Asia have resources and money invested in today's education and training of health workers in Thailand. Many doctors and medical staff are educated in the United States and Europe, and return to Thailand after graduation to start their practices. Due to the increasing number of qualified physicians and surgeons, and increases the quality of medical facilities, and the cost of medical care in Thailand is only a fraction of that of the United States, Europe or Australia, Thailand has become the center of medical tourism in South Asia .

For more options, a major surgery, treatment programs and options for routine cosmetic surgery is commonplace in Thailand. Practices such as cosmetic dentistry, LASIK, laser bleaching, and even sex change (sex change) surgery is more and more.

Many of the best hospitals in Thailand, with doctors trained to meet the needs and requirements of medical tourists arriving in Thailand for medical treatment just adequately. Some of the major hospitals in Thailand are Bangkok International Hospital, BNH Hospital Bumrungrad Hospital, Samitivej Hospital. These medical facilities are leaders in the field of private medical care and a committed team to the medical needs of patients to meet their needs.

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Cosmetic Surgery Thailand

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas surgery, treatment and healthcare providers.

Medical Tourism Thailand

Thailand is known as the “Land of the Smiles.”  Once you arrive it’s easy to see why.  Everyone is happy and smiling.  It’s a beautiful paradise with modern facilities.  The health care in Thailand is second to none.  This is why Medical Tourism Thailand is such a growing industry.  Hundreds of thousands of foreigners from around Asia, the US and UK, and around Europe flock to Thailand every year for their world class medical procedures.  Bangkok has built a reputation around the globe as being a hub for cosmetic surgery, including sex-change operation surgery.

It is highly recommended that one get their cosmetic surgery in Thailand.  This is because you will find clean modern hospitals, often with newer and more advanced technology than in the US, and for a fraction of the price.  If you want to get something like a face lift, breast augmentation or major liposuction, then it’s likely that you can come to Thailand to do this, enjoy a nice vacation, and still save money compared to what it would cost in the states or the UK.

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Congratulations to king Bhumibol!

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas treatment, operations, healthcare providers and much more.

The whole of Thailand is currently in the midst of celebrating its beloved king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who turned 83 on the 5th of December. The king, who is theworld’s longest reigning monarch, left the hospital where he has been staying for over a year to join in the elaborate celebrations held in his honour throughout the nation on Sunday.

King Bhumibol is admired and loved by all Thais for his continuously hard work in bettering the conditions of his subjects. Over the years, he has effortlessly created hundreds of “Projects Undertaken Through Royal Initiative”, ranging from artificial rainmaking to reafforestation.

The Thai king is known for constantly seeking personal contact with as many of his subjects as possible, and to exercise a stabilizing influence in Thai politics. His many-sided talents are seen in his keen interest in art, sports, language, music and science.

With the birthday being celebrated across the country, the capital is the center of celebrations, where the king joined the ceremonies at Grand Palace, with thousands of spectators shouting “Long live the king” and waving with Thai flags along the cortege passageway.

Every year, this special event is celebrated enthusiastically, in particular in Bangkok. Buildings among Ratchadamnoen Avenu and many of the main roads are decorated with thousands of colourful lights, flags, and portraits of the king. At night, the crowd celebrate with a candle-lighting show of devotion led by the prime minister, fireworks lighting up the sky, and the release of thousands of small hot-air balloons. The ceremony ends with a night-time boat procession on the Chao Phraya river, with one boat doing its best to outshine the next through showing off as many neon lights as possible. It’s a must see!

Even though the major event is on the 5^thof December, the birthday is celebrated for more than a week, with various festivities going on in the king’s honour. The birthday is a national holiday, and works as a perfect event for families to get together and celebrate the virtues of the nation and its much-admired ruler.

King Bhumibol has been on the throne for more than 64 years, and we all hope to celebrate his birthday for many many years to come!

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Filipina makes it to Thailand tourism contest finals

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas treatment, operations, healthcare providers and much more.

A former resource mobilization manager at Hands On Manila makes it to the final stage ofTourism Authority of Thailand’s medical tourism blog contest.   Claire Algarme, who today works as capital campaign and youth movement officer at Habitat for Humanity, is one of two finalists from the Philippines.  

“Should I get the top prize, I’m planning to donate a portion of the winnings to Habitat for Humanity and Hands On Manila,” Claire, author for travel blog First Time Travel, said.  She shares the spotlight with Ivan Henares, one of the foremost travel bloggers in the Philippines with Ivan About Town.

More than 200 applicants from 24 countries signed up within two months of the project’s launch in October 1, 2010.  The TAT Selection Committee has selected the 12 Finalists based on reputable profiles relevant to tourism and medical tourism to compete in the final round in Thailand.

Throughout their seven-day stay in Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has arranged visits for the 12 final contestants to over 50 health and tourist establishments, ranging from hospitals and clinics to spas in six destinations: Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Samui and Hua Hin. Furthermore, the 12 finalists will get to experience a variety of Thailand’s world class Medical & Wellness services, including medical check-ups, dentistry, skin laser treatments, botox courses and health spas.

The 12 Finalists will then submit their blogs promoting medical tourism in Thailand referring to their experiences during the seven days. The blog with the most votes during the two-month voting period will win an assortment of prizes presented by the Tourism Authority of Thailand worth up to US$ 20,000. The finalists came from the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.

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5 Myths about Medical Tourism

Medical Tourism Information Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas treatment, operations, healthcare providers and much more.

Medical tourism is a fast-growing industry in Australia, and has been the topic of a lot of media stories lately. Media exposure is mostly a good thing for the industry - it educates people about an option they might not have been aware of, having high-quality medical treatment overseas at an affordable price.

But the media don't tell the whole story. Not all medical tourism providers and facilitators are the same. Here are some common beliefs about medical tourism that might be true in a few cases, but certainly don't apply to the industry as a whole.

1. Healthcare overseas is always riskier than healthcare in Australia

Yes, there are some unscrupulous medical practitioners overseas. But if you do some preliminary research - and preferably get some advice from a reputable medical tourism facilitator - having a medical procedure overseas needn't be any riskier than having it in Australia. (Bear in mind that there are risks associated with any medical procedure, no matter where you have it.)

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Bangkok Laser Surgery

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas surgery, treatment and healthcare providers.

The Bangkok Laser Surgery(BLS) opened its doors in January 2003 to provide skin treatments using the latest technologies, however the clinic had already been operating for 18 years when it was known as the Pruksa Clinic, which was recognised as one on Thailand’s leading skin care centres.

The BLS is now  recognised worldwide, conforming to international standards and delivering advanced cosmetic surgery techniques with plans to establish a research and development branch along with laboratory facilities.

At BLS Dr Setthakarn Atthakornpan and his colleagues bring patients the full benefits of the latests innovations in skin care sciences.

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Healthy Beauty Holiday in Thailand: Get Special Deals!

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas treatment, operations, healthcare providers and much more

Healthy Beauty Holiday in Thailand launched by TAT at 1 December 2010. The deals concentrate on 6 medical tourism destinations in Thailand: Bangkok, Huahin, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Koh Samui, and Phuket. You will get service in international standard with more affordable cost.

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Bangkok Hospital Pattaya Praises HM the King.wmv

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas treatment, operations, healthcare providers and much more.

S Medical Spa: Patient, Heal Thyself

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas surgery, treatment and healthcare providers.

For Dr. Pakpilai Thavisin, the quest to bridge the gap between Western and holistic medicine is personal.

Now president of Bangkok’s S Medical Spa, Thavisin began her career as a dermatologist more than 25 years ago. But when a pair of unfortunate health events shook her family early last decade, she began to question the very foundation of medical knowledge on which she built her career. “I remember,” she said, “when my brother became sick with pancreatic cancer–an incurable cancer, which they don’t understand and can’t treat. He was becoming so thin as he struggled through the sickness and I remember asking the doctor what to feed him. ‘Cakes,’ he said. ‘Candies. Sweets, fats, junk food.’”

Dissatisfied with the care her brother was receiving, she began investigating more traditional medicine and found out something shocking. “When we gave him all those unhealthy foods–under the advisement of his doctor–we were actually feeding the tumor, which thrives on sugars and fats.” Around the same time, her mother fell ill with multiply myeloma, a malignant disorder which renders bone marrow functionless.

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How to Select the Best Thai Hospitals and Doctors

For those of you that have been waiting for your quotation and recommendations for the procedures in which you are interested - our sincere apologies. 

Normally we can provide full details within 24 hours, less for the standard procedures, but I have been in and out of hospital myself for the last 4 weeks, including 4 days of diagnostics in a British hospital - not such friendly nurses and doctors as in Thailand or anything like the luxurious accommodations but everything (x-rays, CT scan, bone scan etc.) at no charge. 

It seems I either have contracted some strange bug in Thailand or possibly cancer from my exposure to asbestos during my 10 year service in the Royal Navy. 

So for the next few weeks I will be running the business from England and then from the USA where they have some more advanced options.Sai is in Pattaya of course, taking care of all of our patients Thailand can provide some of the best healthcare available anywhere in the world at a price that will pleasantly surprise you. And the expertise, friendliness and caring support provided by the doctors and nurses is world renowned. 

However, just as in your home Country, you must do the research to make sure you select the best  doctor’s and hospitals for your particular medical procedure at the best price.

So how do you find the very best doctors and hospitals for your treatment? After all, it's a huge leap of faith to travel half way round the world to meet a doctor you know nothing about - and put your life in his or her hands, at a hospital that you can picture only from their web site!

But here's where our Company, Thailand4Healthcare (or T4H) can help, because we have done the research for you and continually check and update our database of fine doctors and medical facilities.

Not only by peer review, but also by recommendations and testimonials from patients, and our regular visits to the Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Sriracha and Chiangmai hospitals and doctors with our patients. So we have the chance to assess the doctor's expertise ourselves and receive instant feedback from our clients.

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Bangkok Hospital Doctor Receives International Attention for His Work

The knowledge, skills, care and expertise of Bangkok Heart Hospital's director, Dr Kitipan Visudharom, have been recognized and venerated in an international publication.  This has raised awareness of the superior standard of doctors at Thai facilities in general, as well as Dr Kitipan's particular skills.

Dr Kitipan was recognized and commended in January 2009's Prestige Magazine, under the title 'On Call for Life'. The long article examines Dr Kitipan's work history, skills, and the achievements of he and his team in the seven years since he took over management of Bangkok Heart Hospital. 

The article also reports glowingly on Dr Kitipan's manner, which is typical of Bangkok medical tourism facility staff - "His character is ... disarmingly mellow and soft spoken".  The Minnesota Heart Institute, Dr Kitipan's previous work, is written up as a world-class facility, and the miraculous effect of his treatment on patients is recounted. 

Dr Kitipan Visudharom returned to Thailand after 30 years of practicing overseas as part of a program to provide 72 free heart operations to needy patients, in honor of the 72nd birthday of Thailand's King.  Dr Kitipan received his MD from Siriraj University, then did residency training in the US. He went on to gain a PhD in surgery from the University of Minnesota. He co-founded the Minnesota Heart Institute, a similar center to Bangkok Heart Hospital. 

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Loy Krathong at the Chow Phraya River

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas surgery, treatment and healthcare providers.

Loy Krathong, though it sounds foreign, I had no clue to what actually happened at this massive festival held throughout Thailand on the full moon of the 12th month according to the lunar calendar. I knew that people would light lanterns and float them into the skies but only though magazines and newspapers so when I was told that today would be the day I will witness this first hand, I was all excited.

While today was my official first day of the Medblog Contest here in Thailand, we were treated to a fabulous dinner organised by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) at one of the famous restaurants along the Chow Phraya River. Getting here was a little adventure as after the van had picked the entourage from the respective hotels, we were sent to a jetty to take a boat across the Chow Phraya river to the restaurant. Called the Supatra River House, this well designed award winning restaurant served out authentic Thai Cuisine with a great river view.

Judging from the manager who greeted us on arrival, I expected the place to be a little upmarket and it was indeed a stylish establishment. We were met by the local TAT representatives at the restaurant and was taken on a tour around the place before adjourning upstairs to a special room with a private viewing deck.

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Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic

Medical Tourism Thailand – Tourism Authority of Thailand with medical travel information on overseas surgery, treatment and healthcare providers.

Ever since I was a child I have had a morbid fear of dentists.  As I have got older I have tended to view dentists as a necessary evil that I endure rather than enjoy. However more recently here in Thailand my attitude towards my six monthly trip to the dentist has changed somewhat. Well it actually  changed when I visited a dental clinic in Phuket back in 2007 whilst I was on holiday. That clinic with the services and standards of care offered made me realise that a trip to the dentist in Thailand is nothing like my early childhood experiences at all.

So when I attended the Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic for a check-up, clean and polish as part of the Medical Tourism Blog Contest I already had a fair idea of what would be on offer. Well I wasn’t disappointed since the level of care, comfort, treatment and advice I received were top class. All delivered in very pleasant surrounding by English speaking staff.

The Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic(BSDC) is actually part of a larger group of dental practices that fall under the mantle of  the Bangkok Smile Dental Group with several branches in Bangkok and Phuket, in fact I am fairly certain that my first experience of dental care in Thailand was at one of the companies practices.

Nowadays the services offered by these dentists goes far beyond a check-up, extractions and fillings, although these are still available of course. Now there are a huge range of procedures available including implants, veneers and bridges to name but a few. Teeth whitening is also popular and like many of its competitors BSDC offers this service using the latests high quality lasers.

 

BSDC has over 40 dentists and dental specialists working in its branches that to date have treated over 20,000 customers 65% of whom come from overseas. Prices are extremely competitive and include several promotions. I did however notice that the treatments offered in Bangkok are generally slightly cheaper than those offered in Phuket.

You can view video interviews with former patients of BSDC here.

You might also want to check out the latests promotions being offered through the Tourism Authority of Thailand which includes dentistry on their Healthy Beauty Holiday site.

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Thailand - Asia's medical hub

There are many reasons why foreigners travel across the ocean to Thailand, and recently, one more reason has been added to the list -- medical tourism. Thailand has always been famous for its sun, sand and sea, but now surgery is another S that draws tourists to the Land of Smiles.

Thailand has the largest hospital in Southeast Asia and is the first ever to receive ISO 9001 certification. In 2006, the number of medical tourists reached 1.4 million and Thailand is now aiming for a target of 2 million medical tourists by the year 2010, according to the Board of Investment.

What appeals to foreign patients is the quality of Thai doctors, the cost saving, the hospitality, the aftercare services and the fact that the procedure can be combined with a relaxing vacation. An Australian patient of Bangkok Plastic Surgery Clinic said, "From the moment we arrived, Dr Pichet and his staff were very helpful and always smiling. My girlfriend and I were picked up and dropped off from airports, hotels, hospitals and Dr Pichet's clinic at no extra charge."

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TAT Presents The 12 Finalists Of Thailand Medical Tourism Blog Contest Who Will Be Competing For Prizes Worth Up To US$ 20,000

Thailand, December 1, 2010 - The Tourism Authority of Thailand has organized the Thailand Medical Tourism Blog Contest to promote medical tourism in Thailand with prizes worth up to 20,000 USD. This contest was launched on October 1, 2010, attracted 219 applicants from 24 countries signed up in just two months. The TAT Selection Committee has now selected the 12 Finalists based on reputable profiles relevant to tourism and medical tourism to compete in the final round here in Thailand.

Throughout their seven-day stay in Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has arranged visits for the 12 final contestants to over 50 health and tourist establishments, ranging from hospitals and clinics to spas in six destinations: Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Samui and Hua Hin. Furthermore, the 12 Finalists will get to experience a variety of Thailand's world class Medical & Wellness services, including medical check-ups, dentistry, skin laser treatments, botox courses and health spas.

The 12 Finalists will then submit their blogs promoting medical tourism in Thailand referring to their experiences during the seven days. The blog with the most votes during the two-month voting period will win an assortment of prizes presented by the Tourism Authority of Thailand worth up to US$ 20,000.

The 12 Finalists arrived in Thailand on November 21, 2010 and attended TAT's welcoming reception held at Ballroom A of the Westin Grand Hotel Sukhumvit on November 22, 2010.

The 12 Finalists came from the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. Their profiles can be viewed at http://www.MedBlogContest.com website.

The Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Asia and South Pacific) of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mr. Sansern Ngaorungsi explained, "From our research into the world wide web blogs on tourism and medical tourism, there were few that mentioned Thailand and the services we offer. This meant medical tourists were not able to access information on Thailand's comprehensive healthcare and tourism offerings. Therefore, the Tourism Authority of Thailand decided to launch this promotional campaign to encourage bloggers to write about their experiences in Thailand as medical tourists and serve as sources of reliable information for potential medical tourists around the globe.

This campaign aims to create awareness and increase online information and on medical tourism in Thailand to make it more readily accessible. It will also serve to inspire confidence in the standards and quality of Thai medical tourism."