| Unfounded fears | | | | these problems aside, compared with many |
| I recently put out a question on the internet | | | | countries including the US, Thailand can now boast |
| about having some medical treatment in the Far | | | | that the 30B plan shows the world that even |
| East. | | | | developing countries can implement a universal |
| The answers weren’t very positive, most of | | | | health plan. |
| them were discouraging, other-scare stories but | | | | Tourism |
| the main bulk of them were comments like “I | | | | On the other side of the coin, worlds apart from |
| just want to wish you the best in your | | | | the crowded public hospitals, are Thailand’s |
| decisions!!”. Not very helpful, but then again, | | | | private hospitals. Treatment for medical tourists |
| most people (no offence to them) know little | | | | range from organ transplants to cosmetic and |
| about foreign countries-let alone foreign medicine, | | | | cardiac surgery, treatment also includes spa, |
| they focus and center around fear mongering and | | | | physical and mental therapies- and in 2006 the |
| enjoy the “I knew a girl that...” stories. | | | | numbers of treatment seekers coming from |
| But let’s have a look at the facts about | | | | abroad topped 150,000 patients. The hospitals |
| health care, health centers and surgery in | | | | themselves boast of 5-star hotel like service but |
| countries like Thailand for example. Apart from | | | | also offer very high quality care that westerners |
| the medical tourism widely available, let’s | | | | can easily compare to good hospitals back home. |
| firstly take at a brief insight into the public health | | | | Even the US embassy in Bangkok gives the Thai |
| service available there. In 2001, a low cost health | | | | health care system high marks especially for the |
| program was introduced in Thailand. Known as the | | | | hospitals in Bangkok. And because of their high |
| 30 baht plan because patients could pay just 30B | | | | standards and latest technology, Thai hospitals are |
| per visit, it has won plenty of support among the | | | | also popular destinations for other Asian countries |
| rural population of Thailand because now millions of | | | | like Japan and Korea. Hospitals like the famed (ISO |
| poor Thais all the over the country can afford | | | | 9002 accredited) Samitivej Hospitals, two in the |
| health care. The program covers most basic | | | | center of Bangkok and another in the center of |
| illness plus many expensive surgeries and | | | | Sriracha (130 km south of Bangkok) which are |
| treatment for more serious illnesses like aids and | | | | comparable to any of the best in the world. |
| cancer. People who were afraid to go to hospital | | | | Boasting the latest equipment, they offer services |
| because they thought that it would be too | | | | from dentistry through a range of practices |
| expensive can finally go and get treatment. The | | | | including the Heart Institute and the Children’s |
| downside of this however, has been the fact that | | | | Hospital, most doctors hold US or UK professional |
| many hospitals and doctors complained that not | | | | certifications, speak fluent English and are |
| enough thought was put into it, resulting in huge | | | | accompanied by a range of bi-lingual nurses that |
| hospital debts and overworked doctors. Putting | | | | can handle many other languages too. |