Medical tourism promotion via the internet (IBM whitepaper)

A white paper from IBM discusses how "patient-centric healthcare systems" will increase healthcare options available to patients worldwide in the not so distant future. Communication via the internet will help make these options more visible as well as enabling patient data to be more easily transportable even between different countries with different languages. The Thai healthcare sector is well-placed to capture these opportunities as a medical tourism destination, as a recent Bangkok Post article notes:

"Medical tourism was beginning to subject healthcare delivery to global competitive pressures. He pointed to the example of a cost of heart bypass, which is US$33,000 in the US, $13,125 in Mexico, $14,500 in Costa Rica, $7,800 in India, $9,200 in Thailand and $12,500 in Singapore.

"'Thailand is an attractive place for the Americans because everything here works very well together and the cheaper cost is significant,' Yeow said, noting that it compares well to competitors such as to others Singapore, where labour costs are higher." (Source)

The paper is freely downloadable [download link].

Patient-centric: the 21st century prescription for healthcare

Abstract: "Throughout the industrialized world, healthcare systems are in crisis. Whether healthcare is shaped by government policy, driven by the market or a combination of both, aging populations and skyrocketing costs are putting unprecedented financial and organizational pressure on state and private healthcare providers as well as payers. The result is often a decreasing level of care.

"In response, fundamental changes are taking place in the manner in which healthcare is administered. Patient-centric systems are evolving in which the patient’s well-being and the responsibility for his or her own good health are defining treatment and operational policies. This change is made possible by advances in technology. However, it is being driven by market forces and societal desire to improve the health of a nation’s citizens, while reducing healthcare costs.

"IBM is actively involved in the move toward a patient-centric healthcare delivery system. In projects throughout the world, IBM is working with government bodies, healthcare providers and healthcare payers to help implement necessary patient-centric systems and strategies.

"In this white paper, we explore the meaning of a patient-centric healthcare system, its benefits as well as challenges, the changes necessary to create a patient-centric system, and the role that IBM is playing to help create new opportunities for all parties."