The number of patients travelling to Thailand for treatment and medical check-up is increasing every year as hospitals in Bangladesh, patients claim, fail to provide them with proper treatment and quality services.
Around 29,000 patients from Bangladesh went to Thailand for treatment and medical check-up last year.
Of them 15,000 sought Thai visas on medical grounds, according to the Thai Embassy in Dhaka. The rest 14,000 people went to Thailand on different purposes but took treatment or had medical check-up.
The number of patients visiting Thai hospitals was 13,500 in 2006 and 11,000 in 2005, embassy officials said.
Bangladesh-born Dr Shakti Paul, who is an assistant director of Bangkok Hospital where he has been working since 1981, said advanced medical technology, trained doctors and technicians, better nursing and teamwork are the main reasons why patients from Bangladesh go to Thailand.
A survey among 207 patients who went to Phyathai Hospital in Bangkok from 57 hospitals in Dhaka city reveals that the average rate of their satisfaction about these hospitals was only 4.85 percent.
In Thailand, 90 percent patients taking treatment at private hospitals are satisfied, renowned Phyathai Hospital physician Surapong Ambhanwong told a delegation of newsmen, businessmen and other professionals from Bangladesh recently.
The study also reveals that when the duration of patients' average stay at both private and public hospitals is 9.9 days in Bangladesh, it is just 3-4 days in the Bangkok hospitals.
The Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka organised the trip to demonstrate that Thailand can offer Halal (Islam approved) ways of life to people for Muslims from different countries including Bangladesh.
During the week-long tour the delegation was showed a number of facilities where Halal foods are prepared for hospitals including the Bangkok Hospital.
The tour also sought to enhance the interaction between Bangladesh and Thailand through promotion of health tourism and other products and services from that country and promote people-to-people contact between the two countries.
"You may have good doctors but they will not be able to do the best without advanced technology and training for doctors, technicians and nurses," Dr Paul said in reply to a question.
He said the Bangkok Hospital has 15 branches in 11 Thai provinces and two branches in Cambodia. It also has separate units for preparing meals for Muslims following Halal standards.
Replying to a question, Dr Paul said Bangladeshi patients go to hospitals in Bangkok for complicated surgeries like the heart surgery and treatment of cancer and neurology because they prefer more reliable hospitals and physicians.
It takes around Tk 8 lakh for a bypass surgery, he said.
Dr Ambhanwong, chairman of Business Healthcare Service Committee, Board of Trade of Thailand, said if Bangladeshi investors invest, he is ready to come to Bangladesh with the technical know-how and his knowledge.
The renowned heart specialist said Thailand has gained popularity as a healthcare hub since it is the gateway to the region, patients do not need to queue up at hospitals, appointments can be made anytime, the waiting time is conveniently short and because of the unique Thai hospitality.
Citing statistics of the Department of Export Promotion of Thailand, Dr Ambhanwong said some 47,999 people from Bangladesh visited Thailand last year and 28,979 of them took medical treatment.
As per the statistics, 81,000 patients from South Asian countries went to Thailand for treatment last year with India topping with 34,661 patients.
It also shows that in 2006 the number of foreigners taking treatment in Thailand was 1,320,000; the figure was 1,400,000 last year. Thailand is expecting 1,690,000 foreigners to visit the country for treatment purpose this year.
Thailand earned $1,051 million last year and $931 million in 2006.
Thai Ambassador to Bangladesh Chalermpol Thanchitt said they maintain the Halal standards of food prepared for patients at Thai hospitals with seriousness and provide visas to people seeking medical treatment in Thailand in the quickest possible time.