A GLOBAL WORLD MEDICAL HEALTH TOURISM CONFERENCE

 

Press Release September 10, 2009

All necessary arrangements had been completed and the stage is set for the World Medical Health Tourism Conference: A New Way Forward in 2009 at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa in Phuket, Thailand scheduled for the 16th– 18th September 2009.

 

With the unlimited support of the newly established Asian Medical Tourism Association (AMTA) and the comprehensive support and sponsorship of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the conference is set to be a success. Even if our numbers are down due to the H1N1 (Swine Flu) outbreak and the global economic downturn, the conference will be proceeding with speakers from throughout the world.

 

This is proven to be a plus to local medical tourism operators as there’s still unexpected available spaces both for conference delegates and exhibitors who can still register and participate in the event. For local operators, this will give them a once in a lifetime chance to meet and secure contracts with overseas agents worldwide.

 

In the most recent report on “Asian Medical Tourism Analysis (2008-2012)”, the revenue from the Asian medical tourism industry is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of around 14% during 2009-2012. Various Asian countries such as India,Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have been investing huge amounts in their healthcare infrastructure to meet the demand for quality-assured medical care through cutting-edge technology, world class facilities and highly trained medical specialists, including tertiary hospital care. Countries like such as Singapore,Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, India and South Korea are among the major key players in the region. These six Asian markets have vast differences in terms of cost, infrastructure, human resources, patient perceptions, competencies and level of government support.

 

The medical tourism industry in Asia is growing at double-digit growth rate, outstripping the 4% to 6% growth in general travel bookings. Thailand, India andSingapore dominate the region’s medical tourism industry, with a combined market share of around 90% in 2008.

 

AMTA’s research identified projected growth within the medical tourism industry.

 

Ø      Thailand’s medical tourism business is growing at 30% per year, forecasted at US$4.4 billion by 2012. More than 1 million tourists receive healthcare inThailand

 

Ø      India’s medical tourism industry is growing at 30 per cent per year and is forecasted to generate at least US$2.2 billion a year by 2012

 

Ø      Singapore is targeting to attract one million foreign patients annually and push the GDP contribution from this sector above US$1.6 billion

 

Ø      Malaysia’s medical tourism is expected to be in the region of US$590 million in five years’ time.

 

Another advantage for local attendees is that Vicki Murray, Director of SclerologyAustralia is on hand to conduct a workshop/introductory course in Sclerology right after the conference dates. Sclerology is the science and art of observing the markings and colourings of the whites of the eyes as signs of compromised health. 

 

For further information on registering to attend the World medical Health Tourism Conference or to enrol for the sclerology workshop, please feel free to contact us at (+66)869738074 / (+66)836421511 or by email: sosmedical@ymail.com

 

 

                             PRESS RELEASE

 

August 12, 2009  The World Medical Health Tourism Conference: A New Way Forward in 2009 has added a list of exciting new speakers. In addition to this, a great opportunity has emerged for doctors, medical tourism operators, insurance companies and the likes. Delegates will have the chance to not only make face to face meeting with the executives from both world famous medical facility in Phuket, Thailand - the Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Phuket International Hospital but also have the chance to do in-depth onsite inspections and attend workshops that shall be presented in both hospitals’ premises.

 

This is a unique experience and the first for an event such as this. Attending this event presents an opportunity for medical tourism industry players to form new alliances and business opportunities at the same time gaining an intimate working knowledge of both these finest hospitals. When coupled with the excellent range of speakers from various countries, this event is a must for companies involved in the medical tourism industry.  

 

Medical Tourism is becoming one of Asia’s fastest growing industries, projected to be worth at least USD 4 billion by 2012. The promise of low-cost, high quality healthcare is attracting more than 1.3 million tourists a year to key locations such as Thailand where a medical tourist spends an average of USD 362 a day, compared with the average traveller’s spending of USD 144. Bangkok Post 2004 Mid-Year Review states that healthcare costs in Thailand are 50 % cheaper than in Singapore, three times cheaper than in Hong Kong, and five to ten times cheaper than in Europe and the USA. A segment of the CBS investigative news program 60 Minutes that was aired in September 2005 featured Thailand as the leading medical tourism destination where patients were given first-class service at third-world prices.

 

Phuket’s Main Medical Tourism Key Players

 

Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Phuket International Hospital are the pioneers of medical care in Phuket, serving local and foreign communities with international medical standard in world-class facilities at reasonable prices. Both hospitals also tied up with different resorts and hotel partners as recuperation centres to promote medical tourism in this island paradise.

 

Ingredients for a Competitive Medical Tourism Hub

 

With the strong and aggressive drive for Thailand to be a regional healthcare hub, The Thai government and the provincial sectors in Phuket have moved and encouraged Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Phuket International Hospital to boost up Phuket as a “Health and Wellness destination”.  

 

The qualifying factor to be an ideal health tourism hub is the combination of beautiful and natural tourist’s spots and the quality of healthcare services. We’ve summed up four medical factors to make a destination ready for international medical services.

 

1^st Factor: Quality of Medical Personnel in Thailand. Thailand’s Ministry of Health requires all medical personnel to have medical license in order to be able to perform medical services.

 

2^nd Factor: Advance technology of medical infrastructures

 

3^rd Factor: International Standard. To gain the confidence of international patients in the medical personnel, healthcare system and infrastructure, the Ministry of Health has issued the quality program called Hospital Quality Improvement Accreditation (HA) for every hospital both in public and private sector to ensure and maintain quality in the healthcare services. Some hospitals have processed to a more international recognition level such as JCIA (Joint Commission International Accreditation) and ISO.

 

4^th Factor: Customer Service. The warm nature of the Thai people’s hospitality or so called Thai-ness coupled with international medical training, cutting-edge technology, excellent nurse-patient ratio puts Thailand ahead in the line up of medical tourism destination.   

                                                                                          

                            

 

 

                            MEDIA RELEASE

 

At a recent meeting in Phuket, Thailand, a new association was formed – the Asian Medical Tourism Association (AMTA). It has been formed because of the growing medical tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region. In the past, Asia Pacific has been the benchmark in the setting of standards for both medical facilities and patient’s care. With the emerging trend of more people entering into the medical tourism industry in the region, it seemed to be only prudent that the Asia Pacific must have its own medical tourism association to maintain the high standards that has already been achieved.

 The Association is to be non-profit

• The association shall not show favoritism to any one member over another
• The association shall produce an information flow (online newsletter)
• The association shall network with other organizations with only the best interests of its members in mind.
• The association shall act as a database coordinator with research relevant to the medical tourism industry

 Aims and Goals of AMTA

• To foster and grow the medical tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region
• To act as an advocate for members to develop a better understanding of medical tourism
• To help develop standards in line with the culture and economic needs of its members
• To lend advice and provide information that may help our members further grow the interest in medical tourism industry
• To provide a forum for our members to openly discuss issues relevant to all sectors of medical tourism industry
• To act as a voice of medical tourism industry throughout all Asia

 

During this meeting, it was decided that the Asian Medical Tourism Association will fully endorse and support the upcoming conference, The World Medical Health Tourism Conference: A New Way Forward in 2009 to be held locally at Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort in September 16-18, 2009. Furthermore, it was announced that a 30% discount on the conference registration fee will be extended to certified members of the AMTA; therefore, all members are encouraged to attend the said event and they can register by directly contacting the event organizer at sosmedical@ymail.com.

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

TCEB sponsors the World Medical Health Tourism Conference in Phuket, Thailand

In September 2009, Phuket will cater to more than 1200 delegates of The World Medical Health Tourism Conference: A New Way Forward in 2009. Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)’s participation and sponsorship in this internationally diverse networking event aims not only to promote Thailand as medical tourism destination but also as a preferred venue for international meetings, conventions, exhibitions and conferences to the worldwide audience. Securing major sponsors such as TCEB and Thai Airways aid in the early commencement of international marketing campaign of the conference and major speakers had been recently secured, both through Call for Papers and by special invitations.

The whole of Phuket Island is getting behind the conference. Local supporters range from local community groups, tourism operators and many of the major hoteliers and resort owners namely Woraburi Phuket Resort, Millennium Resort Patong, The Moevenpick Resort, Karon Beach Resort of Kata Group, Aquamarine Resort, Cape Panwa Hotel and Andaman Seaview Hotel group. With another eleven month’s preparation ahead of us, the outlook for the success of the conference is looking extremely good and promising.

Phuket, dubbed as the medical tourism hub in Asia, is the ideal location to hold the conference because of its infrastructure, its capacity to host massive number of international guests and the availability of cutting-edge technology, internationally trained medical experts manning their world class medical facilities. The World Medical Health Tourism Conference 2009 is one of the initiatives in propping up Phuket as the major destination not only for tourism but also for medical, health and wellness services in Thailand.

Within the next four weeks, the floor plan or lay out for exhibitors at the venue, Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, will be publish online and application forms will be available for the exhibitors to download from our website. The exciting part of the exhibition is that it will be located adjacent to the conference hall and to the coffee break station, giving the conference delegates a great opportunity to interact with the exhibitors and giving the exhibitors a bird’s eye view of the conference proceedings which can only lead to greater promotion of Thailand. Although the formal conference runs only for three days, many pre-conference and post-conference activities had been planned, expecting to bring a windfall to Phuket of about US$10 million over the two weeks period.

Interested parties may visit our conference website: www.sosmedicaltourism.com for more information.