Political Rift Bodes Well For Thailand Medical Tourism Industry
Bangladesh is a large country with a population nearing 200 million people – It also is a country in which substantial numbers of its citizens go abroad for medical care. The medical infrastructure and doctors in Bangladesh is not bad, but many wealthy patients prefer to find top doctors and hospitals in neighboring countries. In the past, the country of choice has been India, however that is no longer the case. The ability for Bangladeshis’ to get visa to India has been restricted to due political tension, leading many of its citizens to go elsewhere for quality healthcare. The major beneficiary of this political rift has been Thailand, which is now welcoming scores of Bangladeshi patients for health tourism purposes. Thailand is only a 2 hour flight from Bangladesh, and many of the country’s elite are taking the trip to go to the best hospitals in Bangkok such as Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital, Vejthani and Samitivej.
Health Tours Thailand Welcomes its first Bangladeshi Patient
Towards the end of April, Health Tours Thailand had the pleasure to welcome our first Bangladeshi patient – a young boy suffering with a rare genetic skin disease along with his parents. We arranged for the family to visit Bumrungrad to see the top pediatric dermatologist in Thailand for a consultation, do blood work and genetic testing, as well as get medication and tour Thailand (The family went on shopping adventures (MBK center) and took a trip to Phuket in-between visits to the hospital). The family is muslim, which is the majority religion in Bangladesh and they felt completely comfortable during their visit. We booked them to stay in a 4 star hotel only 200 meters from the hospital for maximum convenience. The neighborhood they were in during their stay is the district of Bangkok known for its wide range of halal food (Arabic food, Bangladeshi food, Pakistani Food & Indian food) which was critical important for them (Bumrungrad hospital also has a beautiful food court with halal options as well). The area is known as the “Arab District” is also just a short walk from the BTS Skytrain with easy access to all of Bangkok, and is lined with shops, hookah lounges, and nightlife – As well as within a few kilometers of the famous Bangkok Mosque.
Thailand’s medical tourism industry is a premier destination for travelers from the Gulf Arab States with infrastructure built to cater to muslims visitors (Prayer rooms in the hospitals, arabic translators, halal food options, coffee lounges, separate wards for IPD and long term stays, female doctors or guides for female patients, and more) – Needless to say Thailand it is a great fit for muslim medical tourists from any country who can seamlessly benefit from all the infrastructure that is already in place.
Health Tours Thailand Adding Value by Expediting Visa Issuance For Bangladeshis
One issue that Bangladeshis’ are facing when attempting to visit Thailand is the process of getting a visa. While Thailand is accepting visa applications and granting visa to citizens of Bangladesh, often the wait time is taking up to 45 days for issuance. Accordingly, many of the Bangladeshi applicants who need medical care urgently give up during this time and wind up going locally in their country. However Health Tours Thailand works directly with the hospitals to get Visa Invitation Letters, which speed up the process and cut down the time to 1 week for visa issuance.
To expedite visa issuance the general process is as follows:
1) We get the medical records and passport from the patient.
2) We review their needs in confidentiality and find them them the best hospital and doctor for their needs.
3) We register the patient with the hospital and book an appointment for them.
4) The hospital writes a VIL (Visa Invitation Letter) for the embassy which includes the appointment date.
5) The Bangladeshi Patient requests a Visa online or at an Embassy in their home country & us provides proof of payment (PIS) which we share with the hospital.
6) The hospital staff visits the embassy to deliver & submit the visa invitation letter.
7) Visa will be issued typically within 7 days.
The Future looks bright between Thailand and Bangladesh
While in the past, India was the coveted destination for large numbers of Bangladeshis seeking healthcare abroad, Thailand is now assuming that role. Bangladeshi medical tourists are now visiting Thailand in droves and understanding just how amazing it is for medical care and vacation. Thailand’s hospitals are a step above India with world-class international doctors, JCI international hospitals, and cleaner more modern facilities. The infrastructure in Thailand is particularly geared for muslim visitors which makes the Bangladeshis feel right at home (Legendary Thai hospitality also goes a long way to make guests feel welcome and comfortable). There are also so many tourist opportunities in Thailand for health tourists from Bangladesh, offering them wonderful experiences not possibly in places like India.
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If you are interested in visiting Thailand for healthcare contact us!
📞+66 090-985-2023 (phone call or WhatsApp)| 📧Derek@healthtoursthailand.com