Thailand: The price of health
Thailand attracts medical tourists from all over the world with high-quality low-cost hospitals.
Thailand has a thriving medical tourism industry. For a fraction of the price back home, foreign patients enjoy five-star facilities in private hospitals. Many of them come for treatment and then stay for an exotic vacation to recover.
Thailand raked in more than $1bn last year from medical tourism and plans to increase that revenue ten-fold by 2014.
But healthcare for most locals paints a different picture. Critics say private hospitals drain resources much needed in the public sector, with medical tourism perpetuating the problem.
This week on 101 East, we explore the disparity in Thailand’s healthcare, between those who can afford it and those who cannot.
This 101 East episode airs from Thursday, December 23, 2010 at the following times GMT: Thursday: 1230, 2330; Friday: 0630; Saturday: 0030; Sunday: 0330; Monday: 0830; Tuesday: 0730, 1430; Wednesday: 0300.