Medical Tourism Outline

Name: Sornvara Kho-Udom Date: May 13, 2010 Period: 2 Is Medical Tourism Beneficial to Sustain Thailand's Economy? In the past decade, the number of tourists who are interested in going abroad for medical tourists has gradually increased. Every year, a countless number of patients have been flocking to nations like Thailand to undergo medical treatments at a cheaper cost. Thailand is one of the popular places, and is well-known to foreigners as having a very technologically advance health care and deluxe accommodations. Paul Vehorn, from the United Sates, who has encountered fees of $40,000 in order to receive facial surgery, decided to travel to Thailand for cheaper medical costs. This decision saved him nearly 80% of the amount he would have spent in the United States, and left him remarkably satisfied with the outcome (Martin). Like Paul Vehorn, many patients have returned to Thailand to receive additional procedures. This is a major source of revenue for Thailand, especially for Bumrungrad hospital, as the number of patients keeps on growing. Although some oppose that medical tourism has creates problems doctor shortage and benefit only a few people, it is valuable in the long run. Medical tourism is exceedingly beneficial to sustain Thailand’s economy. Medical tourism helps increase foreign investment, is a strong-selling point for economic growth, and allows sustainable tourism in Thailand. ARGUMENT #1: Medical tourism helps increase foreign investment into the country. Foreign investment is essential to Thailand, as the country currently has an unstable economic and political crisis. Because of this, foreign investments to Thailand in some areas, such as business expansion and mergers or Thailand’s product import, have decreased. It is known that medical tourism is growing very rapidly in Asia, and still has not reached maximum potential. A large percent of money that are spent by foreigners who visit Thailand are used on medical tourism. In 2007, foreign patients from more than 190 countries came to Thailand’s Bumrungrad Hospital for medical tourism, which produced revenues of about US$54 million (O Velasco). This high income rate continues to increase every year. A year later, Thailand gained an average of around US$1 billion in revenue per year from just cosmetic surgery tourists (Shan). About 1.5 Americans travel to another country for medical care. Analysts predict rate is expected to increase. Thailand is prepared to face and deal the this great growth of demand (“Thailand 's Medical Tourism”) Therefore, as statistics show, medical tourism needs to be further promoted to help Thailand sustain its economy. Because the number of foreign investment in Thailand is decreasing due to the political crisis, medical tourism is needed as a source of incoming investment to the country. COUNTER ARGUMENT: More problems of doctor shortage for Thailand’s people will occur. Supporting details: Doctors are turning toward taking care of foreign patients rather than Thais (“Thailand Expects”) Most Thais can’t afford the cost of care (“Thailand Expects”) This doctor problem has been long-lasting but yet unresolved. Doctors who have great skill move from public hospitals to private (Hamilton) Siriraj is a hospital, the it lacks enough doctors (Hamilton) Shortage of 4 million doctors The ratio in Thailand of doctors to patients is a doctor per 2,800 patients. This is a thousand more patients that was is considered the standard (“Thai Press Reports: UN”) ARGUMENT #2: The strong selling-point of economic growth relies immensely on medical tourism. Supporting details: The healthcare in Thailand plays a major role in the high level of income (“Private Hospitals”) Thailand extricated Singapore seven years ago, and became one of the world’s top medical tourism destinations (O Velasco) Medical tourism has helped Thailand in various parts of the country, not just Bangkok in other provinces such as: Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Samui, and Phuket (“Thailand: Health and Medical”) Creates new job opportunities for people (“Thailand’s Medical Tourism”) In 2007, there were over a million international patients who came to Thailand for medical tourism (“O Velasco”) COUNTER ARGUMENT (Refute): The benefits are only received by certain people; hence it does not reduce the income gap. Supporting details: People of Thailand not covered by Thailand’s basic health plan (“Thailand Expects”) Doctors from public hospitals are moving to private hospitals (Hamilton) Medical tourism only benefits public doctors who have changed to private (Hamilton) ARGUMENT #3: Medical tourism allows Thailand to have a sustainable tourism and development. Supporting details: “Plus, you can have the surgery, and a week of exotic vacation.” (Martin) Travel agents see that the 3-6% commission rates that are offered by hospitals for medical tourism is too low, but this is predicted to increase (“Thailand: Health and Medical”) ,[object Object],CONCLUSION Restated thesis: Medical tourism brings numerous benefits to Thailand and clearly helps the growth Thailand’s economic development. Helps bring revenue to much of Thailand’s total income Strong-selling point the attract tourists to come to Thailand Part of sustainable development “Economy is the method by which we prepare today to afford the improvements of tomorrow.” Calvin Coolidge

Medical Tourism Outline

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Medical Tourism Outline