Unrest in Thailand, Growth in Jordan, Fertility in Barbados
Unrest Could Hurt Thailand’s Medical Travel Industry
Bloomberg Business Week’s “Eye on Asia” blog reported this week that Thailand’s medical tourism industry has not yet been impacted by the deadly political unrest in Bangkok. But that could change soon – and for the worse.
“Since the Red Shirt demonstrations started last month, the stock price of Bumrungrad Hospital, probably the premier destination in Thailand for international patients, is only down about 8%; meanwhile, Bangkok Chain Hospital is down just 1% and Bangkok Dusit Medical is actually up by 0.8% (The benchmark Thai index is down 1.7%.),” writes Eye on Asia blogger Bruce Einhorn.
He quoted one Thai financial analyst who noted that the second quarter is low season for the health-care sector, which means less international patient traffic.
“The situation could get much worse soon, given the huge political and economic divide between Bangkok’s upper and middle-class Yellow Shirts and the Northeast’s poor Red Shirts,” writes Einhorn. “If and when it does, I would expect the Thai hospitals to take a big hit. Medical tourists from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and America have plenty of other options for their hip replacements or tummy tucks without having to brave turmoil in Thailand.”
Jordan Sees 10% Increase
The number of foreigners seeking medical treatment in Jordan rose by 10% in 2009 compared to 2008, according to a study by Jordan’s Private Hospitals Association (PHA).
PHA reports that 220,000 foreign patients traveled Jordan in 2009 to receive medical treatment compared to 200,000 in 2008, and these medical travelers generate about $1 billion in revenues annually.
PHA president Fawzi Hammouri said that the increase in foreign patients shows that Jordan’s medical travel market was not affected by the global financial crisis. Iraqis were the top market for Jordan’s medical travel industry in 2009, accounting for 19% of the total, according to the PHA survey.
Palestinians were the second-largest market at 16%, followed by Saudi nationals (15%), Yemenis (14%), Sudanese (13%), Libyans (9%) and Syrians (3%), according to the study.
The PHA said that majority of Jordan’s foreign patients were treated for heart and brain diseases, followed by kidney implantation, and spinal and nervous system diseases, among others.
New Guide Focuses on Barbados Fertility Center
Patients Beyond Borders, the consumer reference guide for medical tourism, has released “FOCUS ON: Barbados Fertility Center,” a 32-page, full-color interactive digital publication and eBook.
The Barbados Fertility Center (BFC), in Christ Church, is a JCI-accredited center of excellence, specializing in all aspects of infertility management.
According to Patients Beyond Borders, the BFC’s “unique approach offers couples a stress-reduced, holiday-style experience with state-of-the-art IVF and related procedures that have resulted in high success rates for couples unable to conceive a child for a year or more.”
Dr. Juliet Skinner, BFC’s medical director, opened the clinic in her native Barbados in 2002, according to the guide.
It states, “BFC is the only fully American-accredited fertility clinic in the Caribbean, and one of the few such clinics in the world. Its high standards of excellence are coupled with cost savings of 30% – 60% on comparable treatments in North America and Europe.”
The BFC is a key part of Barbados’ strategy to develop the medical travel and wellness travel sectors of the travel market.
