Public Health Ministry to develop Thailand as ASEAN medical hub to draw more revenues

The Public Health Ministry plans to develop Thailand as ASEAN’s medical hub, aiming to draw in more foreigners for medical treatment by 10 percent/year.

Public Health Minister Dr Pradit Sintavanarong said on the weekly televised program “PM Yingluck Government Meets the People” that the government is preparing the country to become ASEAN’s medical and health club.
The government aims to generate revenues for the country of Bt14 billion and attract more than the existing one million patients per year.
The duration of medical visa allowed for tourists is to be extended from 30 days to 90 days with four persons permitted to accompany one patient under conditions set by the government. Such visas are already provided for patients in the Middle East and will be given to those from Scandinavian countries. The government will be publicizing its promotions to attract at least 10 percent more foreign patients to the country per year within 5 years.
Foreign patients will be encouraged to seek treatment at private hospitals in order that service provisions will be sufficient and not affect the Thai public, while public hospitals are to focus on developing technology and medical knowledge as well as reduce inequality of service offered to the public.
Dr Pradit said medical conferences should also be organized, in collaboration with the Tourism and Sports Ministry, to publicize the work of Thai medical teams to the world. If organized regularly, he said the events would be able to establish credibility and reinforce a good image of the Thai medical profession internationally. (MCOT)

Thai Manufacturing Production Index grows 2.9% in Q1

Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) in the first quarter of this year grew 2.9 percent, slowing down from 43.8 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, said Somchai Harnhirun, director-general of the Industrial Economics Office.
The unusual 43 percent growth in the last quarter was due to the low base from the previous year when Thailand was hit by the devastating flood.
It is expected that in the second half of this year, the MPI will improve from the first half year period, due to increased production resulting from a circle of product upgrades for rising sales in the second half of this year.
The projection is based on the assumption that the baht will stay around Bt30.8 against the US dollar and industry returns to normal, the same as the pre-flood crisis period in 2011.
Auto production has accelerated in response to high demand supported by the government’s first car owner policy. The whole year’s auto production is likely to reach 2.8 million units, an increase of 14.8 percent from 2012.
The 2013 GDP in the industrial sector is projected to grow 5.5 percent, breaking down to the expected first quarter growth of 9.08 percent, the second quarter at 5.68 percent, the third quarter at 8.13 percent and the fourth quarter at 0.80 percent.
Somchai said risk factors in the remaining period of this year are a possible export slowdown, the uncertain global economy, increased labor costs and pressure from the US and Japan’s quantitative easing policy. (MCOT)

New school term expenses to reach Bt53 billion

The Thai public’s expenses for the coming school term are expected to reach Bt53 billion, a 6.7-percent rise.
Thai Chamber of Commerce University (UTCC)’s Economic and Business Forecasting Center director Thanawat Polvichai said a survey was recently conducted among 1,200 parents nationwide.
Expenses for educational materials increased 44 percent year-on-year with the same amount of the bought goods and each person to spend around Bt9,100 on average.
Course fees also increased with each student to pay Bt10,000/person, while key money given to schools once a change in schools took place increased 77 percent or around Bt7,400/person.
However, Dr Thanawat said the amount of money to be circulated was expected to reach Bt55 billion, or around 8-10 percent increase year-on-year.
Most parents see school equipment as more expensive this year, and together with the stronger baht, both resulting in a more careful way of spending.
They also want the government to continue providing a free 12-year education policy to the public as well as its giving out free school uniforms and its providing educational loans.
While parents tend to use credit cards for spending this year, pawnshops are also popular upcountry in regards to taking the money to buy schooling items for their children, with gold ornaments as the favorite item. (MCOT)