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Thailand tops list as premier medical tourism destination
Neil Maniquiz, the Head of
the International Marketing Department at the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya
(BHP), introduces the concept of Thailand as the ‘premier destination for
medical tourism’ within Asia.
Thailand as the premier destination for medical tourism
was the topic at the November 18 meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club.
The speaker was Neil Maniquiz, the head of the International Marketing
Department at the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya (BHP). Neil is a graduate nurse,
and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the Philippines. For
post-graduate experience he went to the US where he acquired a nursing
license and had nursing experience in California.
On returning to Thailand, he worked for a while as a management trainee in
the Bangkok Medical Center, the ‘parent’ hospital to the Bangkok Hospital
Pattaya. He has been a resource person for the Tourism Authority of
Thailand, assisting that organization to promote Thailand as a hub for
medical tourism over all the other countries which are also trying to
attract the medical tourism dollar. With his depth of experience in the
medical tourism field, he also assists other hospitals in the Bangkok
hospital network.
Board member Jerry Dean
presents member Jon (Hans) Stroosnyder with a certificate recognising Jon’s
services to the club, particularly assisting members with monthly visits to
the Motor Registry to get licences and car registrations.
Neil started by mentioning that the government held its
Thailand Medical HUB Expo 2012 to state its strategy to promote medical
tourism to Thailand over the next five years. Literature on the expo noted
the government has set a policy to turn the country into a medical hub in
four major areas: medical treatment, health promotion, traditional Thai
medicine and alternative medicine, and health products, especially Thai
herbs. It has also worked out a strategy, to be implemented from 2012 to
2016, for the development of Thailand into a medical hub.
Another objective is to encourage health establishments in Thailand to
improve their services to higher standards. Public Health Minister Wittaya
Buranasiri expects that this policy will bring in 800 billion baht in
earnings in the next five years. Since the beginning of 2012, about 2.5
million foreign tourists have visited Thailand for medical services, thus
bringing in about 121.6 billion baht. Neil said there are five “S”s involved
in Thailand’s medical tourism strategy. They are safety, savings, service,
staff, and sun & sand.
Safety relates to accreditation for hospitals in Thailand. There are at
least 26 hospitals that have JCI accreditation which includes hospitals such
as BHP that are in the Bangkok Hospital Group. JCI (Joint Commission
International) is a US-based organization that evaluates hospitals using
stringent procedures, based on over 300 standards. Their evaluations include
onsite inspections and personnel examinations.
Board member and web master
Darrel Vaught updates members on recent additions to the club web site,
which can be found at www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
Savings relates to the lower cost of medical care from
that charged in many countries. To illustrate this point, Neil displayed a
chart from the American Medical Association comparing costs for certain
medical procedures in the USA, India, Singapore, and Thailand. The savings
shown were substantial; for example, a heart bypass, costs about $130,000 in
the USA, but only $11,000 in Thailand (India was $10,000 and Singapore was
$18,500).
Continuing on with the five “S”s, Neil spent some time on Service; extolling
the virtues of traditional Thai hospitality coupled with the inclusion of
concierge services for making travel arrangements for the patients and the
hospital’s International Department that is staffed with people from various
countries that are attuned to the customs and culture of the patients.
In the area of staff, he pointed out the high quality of medical staff; many
who have received international training in their specialties. Also included
in this area is the fact that many Thai international hospitals are up to
date with the latest technology.
In conclusion, Neil noted that in addition to getting medical treatment,
many medical tourists choose to include the usual tourist activities of
enjoying sun and sand; with many choosing to come back another time just for
a holiday stay.
Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg then provided an update on upcoming
events and called on Roy Albiston to conduct the Open Forum where questions
are asked and answered about expat living in Thailand; Pattaya in
particular.
Read more about the club’s activities on their website at
www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
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Norwegians raise 76,000 baht for AIDS charity
The Passover Band performs a
charity concert for the Glory Hut Foundation.
Warunya Thongrod
Norwegian Christians raised more than 76,000 baht at a charity concert
to help an HIV/AIDS group buy a new truck.
Jan Olav Johannessen, senior pastor at the Pattaya Seamen’s Church, kicked off
the Nov. 18 concert for the Glory Hut Foundation by introducing the musical duo
Passover, comprised of two disabled residents of the Ban Jing Jai orphanage.
They entertained on guitars donated to them a year ago by Frank Hagen and
Norwegian friends.
Glory Hut is a small foundation that helps HIV/AIDS patients. It currently lacks
means to transport patients to and from the hospital. The Seaman’s Church
chipped in to help raise 300,000 baht needed to buy a truck.
In all, the concert raised 76,440 baht from ticket sales and donations.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Glory Hut Foundation can do so at Bangkok Bank,
Branch: Pattaya City, Account No. 484-4-15735-6, Account Name: The Glory Hut
Foundation or contact 038-730-498 or 089-606-8104.
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Bangkok monk lectures on state of mind for ‘Dharma in Time’
Pra Maha Sompong Talputto preaches to youths and
Diana Group employees during the taping of the “Dharma in Time” cable-television
show at the Diana Garden Resort.
Vittaya Yoondorn
A Bangkok monk encouraged Buddhists to consider mankind’s merits and sins
through ‘four sublime states of mind” during the Diana’s Group’s latest “Dharma
in Time” broadcast.
Pra Maha Sompong Talputto of Phrasoi Thongbangsue Temple in Bangkok spoke to
youths and hotel group employees on “Phromwihan” during the Nov. 15 taping of
the cable-television show at the Diana Garden Resort. It airs quarterly on the
Sophon and Banglamung cable networks.
Sompong preached about family, the heart of dharma, by insisting audience
members take into account the merit and sins that mankind has perpetrated by
using the sublime states, which include loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic
joy and equanimity. Doing so, he said, inhibits and instills sense leading to
development of creativity, self-development, and the ability to turn bad
experiences into life lessons.
The provost had also added mottos, wise words and blessed the attendees, stating
that for some, life is extremely tough. Therefore, if one wants to commit any
action, one must have the sense, a good heart without expecting benefits or
consequences. He added that in today’s era, children can even teach adults
dharma because human growth is not equal, it depends on our thirst of curiosity
to learn dharma by Lord Buddha to use in the correct method.
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The Royal British Legion Thailand
MBMG’s Graham MacDonald and members of the Royal
British Legion Thailand meet with Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign
and Commonwealth Affairs the Rt. Hon. William Hague MP.
At this time of year in the UK, Europe and across the world, people stop to
remember those who have died in conflicts around the world throughout our
history. This MBMG Update serves only to highlight the remarkable contribution
made by the Royal British Legion Thailand towards helping ex-Service people and
their families. A couple weeks ago was Remembrance Sunday, where we mark the
point at 11am, on the 11th day, in the 11th month of 1918, the guns fell silent
in Europe, and the First World War came to an end.
The RBLT was formed in 2007 and now boasts over three hundred members throughout
the country.
Below are some interesting facts and statistics relating to the Legion:
* The Royal British Legion safeguards the welfare, interests and memory of
serving and ex-Service people and their families and dependants.
* The Legion was founded in 1921.
* Some 9.5 million people in the UK and around the world are eligible to ask for
its help. This also includes Gurkhas living in South East Asia as well as
minority groups such as the Karen, Kachin and Shan peoples who fought for
Britain in WWII.
* The Legion is one of the UK’s largest membership organisations, with around
360,000 members - including the Women’s Section. Anyone can be a member,
ex-Service or not.
* People as young as 17.5 years can be sent on active service, so veterans are
often much younger than people realize.
* There has only been one year (1968) since the Second World War when a British
Service person hasn’t been killed on active service.
* Each year the Legion answers thousands of calls for help to its helpline -
Legionline.
* It helps with a huge range of issues, including counselling, job retraining,
skills assessment, getting the right pensions and benefits, money and career
advice, welfare grants, pilgrimages to war graves, convalescent and nursing
care, and home and hospital visits.
* The Legion has close links to many other charities, organisations and trusts,
enabling it to draw on the best resources and expertise, and to refer people to
those best equipped to help them.
* The Legion will be needed for as long as people continue to be affected by
conflict. It does not advocate war but is simply there to support those who have
been prepared to make a personal sacrifice through serving in the British Armed
Forces.
* More than 30 million Remembrance poppies, 500,000 poppies of other types, 5
million remembrance petals, 100,000 wreaths and sprays, 750,000 Remembrance
Crosses and other Remembrance items are made at the Poppy Factory in Richmond,
Surrey, each year.
* More than 70% of the workers at the Poppy Factory are disabled or suffer from
chronic illness. The Poppy Factory was designed to offer jobs to such people and
its remit remains the same today.
* The Royal British Legion Thailand (RBLT) also supports the Thai Veterans
Hospitals.
* Just as importantly, RBLT provides help and support for the families of
servicemen who live in Thailand and can no longer look after themselves
adequately.
* There are four areas in Thailand where the RBLT is based - Bangkok, Chiang
Mai, Korat and Pattaya. There are qualified welfare workers in each of these
placed thus allowing the Legion to cover the entire country.
If you are interested in joining this well known organisation then please
contact Bert Elson, Secretary RBLT, on secretary @rblthailand.com. Please
remember, you do not have to have served in the armed forces to be a member.
The Royal British Legion Thailand was honoured to meet the Secretary of State
for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Rt. Hon. William Hague MP during his
recent visit to Thailand. As you can see from the picture below, all were
displaying their Remembrance Poppy’s with enormous pride.
And, finally, please remember to buy a poppy this month.
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237th United States Marine Corps celebrate birthday in Pattaya
Marines present at the birthday celebration (L to R)
MGySgt Rad Mays, GySgt Billy Goodman. L/Cpl Wayne Radoway, 1st Lt Kevin Watkins,
1st Lt Dick Kaleta, Capt Donald Ratcliffe, MSgt Ronald Hunter, Sgt James Jones,
Cpl Joe Ferral and Cpl Gene Berisford.
Rad Mays
The United States Marine Corps’ 237th birthday was celebrated here in
Pattaya at the Cafe Kronborg on Saturday the 10th of November 2012. This was the
twelfth consecutive US Marine Corps birthday held in Pattaya.
The celebration started at 18:00 with cocktails. The ceremony commenced at 19:00
and was followed by a buffet dinner at 19:30. Dinner was comprised of New
Zealand roast beef with steamed crab and all the trimmings.
Twenty nine guests attended the ceremony of which all had an outstanding time.
Ten of the guests were retired or former Marines. The oldest Marine present was
GySgt Billy Goodman who is 85 years old. The youngest Marine was 50 year old 1st
Lt, Kevin Watkins. Both of these Marines live here in Thailand.
Capt Donald Ratcliffe was the Master of Ceremonies. The Young Marines (YM) of
Pattaya assisted in organizing, setting up and conducting the event. The
American colors were posted by YM Unit Commander MGySgt Rad Mays. YM PFC Bret
Mays led the Color Guard and Cake Detail while YM Leader Jim Coomes operated the
sound system.
The Young Marines are looking for a few good kids. If you know of any kids
between 8 and 18 years old that seek adventure and are willing to take on Honor,
Courage, Commitment, and Self Discipline, then they may want to become a Young
Marine. Contact Rad Mays at 083 115 8694 or email to
[email protected]
Young Marines Pattaya Thailand is an affiliate of Young Marines Washington DC,
USA.
(L to R) MGySgt Rad Mays, YM PFC Bret Mays, Capt
Donald Ratcliffe, 1st Lt Kevin Watkins and GySgt Billy Goodman.
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Stroke risks highlighted at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya fair
The Neuroscience team of doctors from Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya poses for a group photo during the hospital’s recent health
fair.
Vittaya Yoondorn
A Bangkok Hospital Pattaya health fair raised awareness on the risks of
stroke and offered advice on caring for victims.
The Nov. 17 event mixed fun and educational activities with health checks to
encourage people to take more care of their brains and the arteries flowing to
it.
Five neurologists demonstrated exams of the carotid artery using ultrasound and
discussed treatments and patient care. They invited patients to discuss their
experiences and offered stroke-risk tests free to 55 attendees.
Other booths offered information on the brain’s makeup, psychologists to
evaluate patients for depression, and discussions on stroke risk factors,
including high blood pressure.
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya offers a full suite of neurological services. For more
information call 1719.
Austrians celebrate National Day in Pattaya & Bangkok
(From left) Ambassador Dr. Peterlik, Elfi Seitz and
General Rudolf Hofer present 77,780 baht to Praichit Jetpai.
Elfi Seitz
Austrians celebrated their country’s National Day with music and
fund-raising at parties in Pattaya and Bangkok.
Ambassador Johannes Peterlik and Consul General Rudolf Hofer hosted a local
celebration Oct. 27 at the Tappas Lounge in Jomtien Complex. Local business and
charity leaders, such as Praichit Jetpai, chairwoman of the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok
Pattaya Center, and Radchada Chomjinda, director of Human Help Network Thailand,
attended.
The event not only marked Austria’s national holiday, but celebrated the work
accomplished on behalf of two schools in Kanchanaburi thanks to charitable
donations from last year’s party.
Again this year, the plate was passed around, with guests such as Herbert
Pfeiffer donating 20,000 baht and Reinhard Gander donating 40,000 baht. In all,
77,800 baht was raised to help more schools.
“I am proud of my Austrians in Pattaya,” a smiling Peterlik told the crowd. “You
as Austrians living in a foreign country know that there is a specific Austrian
life-model where the individual counts, where safety and solidarity are
important, and where the so-called non-material esteems are respected and
appreciated because they create our quality of life.
Reinhard Gander and Peter Malhotra engage in a fun
chat.
“As an Austrian in a foreign country you make a contribution to the
self-assertion of this life-model beyond the borders. I would like to thank you
for that,” he said.
Along with Viennese waltz music playing, two children from the Pattaya Orphanage
danced an original Austrian dance.
There was also plenty of music at the Austrian National Day celebration the
night before in Bangkok, where the Siam Sinfonietta youth orchestra that in July
played the golden hall of Musikverein Vienna performed at the Intercontinental
Hotel event.
The children got a standing ovation for their rendition of “Wiener Lieder” and
pianists Eri Nakagawa and Paulo Zereu followed with pieces from Mozart.
Here again Peterlik hosted, welcoming special guest Christine Siegel, mayor of
Gleichenberg. The ambassador mentioned the tight friendship between Thailand and
Austria and expressed his hope that this ties will even become stronger in the
future.
“This year is an auspicious year in Thai-Austrian relations,” he said. “In 1912,
the first resident ambassador of the then Austro-Hungarian Empire established
the first embassy in Thailand at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok. And 100
years later, His Majesty the King appointed the first member of the royal family
as ambassador to the Republic of Austria. We are proud and privileged to hold
this special relationship with Thailand.”
Following speeches, Siam Sinfonietta took the stage again to perform Austria’s
national anthem, followed by folk songs by Dampflgeiger of Styria. With food
from chefs Jürgen Kleinhappel and Christoph Widakovich, the evening proved to be
a memorable one for all attending.
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