– Before the pandemic, medical tourism was a major growth area – Dubai was a world leader among emerging market destinations – Covid-19 travel bans and lockdowns seriously dented growth – Increased emphasis on safety has enabled a gradual re-opening Prior to the outbreak of coronavirus, medical tourism was a significant growth industry in many emerging economies. While the pandemic…
As Thailand begins to gradually ease coronavirus-related restrictions, the government is looking to cement the country’s position as an advanced medical hub in Asia. From May 3, small retailers, street food vendors, restaurants outside malls, parks and outdoor sports venues have been permitted to reopen as policymakers look to kick-start economic activity that has been curtailed by lockdown…
In recent decades, the pharmaceutical market has expanded its geographic reach. This trend appears to be here to stay; in a survey of major pharmaceutical firms conducted by global consulting firm PwC’s Strategy& team, more than half of respondents anticipated that over 30% of their global sales would originate in emerging markets by 2018. Even in the most newly opened markets, drug companies…
Thailand has been reaping the benefits of an expanding global health care industry, as its large number of internationally accredited hospitals and qualified practitioners continue to attract clientele from both developing and developed countries. At the same time, the universal coverage framework has succeeded in providing health care to nearly the entire population. All this has been achieved…
Building on decades of stability and rising prosperity, Thailand has made substantial gains in the development of its human capital. Guided by the sufficiency economy philosophy, devised by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the country has established an effective welfare state focused on expanding and improving access to education and health care. As such, the nation performs relatively well across…
A changing economic landscape is the driving force for reform in Thailand’s higher education system, with the Thailand 4.0 economic strategy prompting universities to adapt curricula to meet government policy and industrial demand. Highlighting the current mismatch between skills and industry demands, Chen Namchaisiri, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, told local media in February…
Interview:Pailin Chuchottaworn How is the government aligning the education sector with the Thailand 4.0 strategy? PAILIN CHUCHOTTAWORN: From an education standpoint, many changes have been made to enable Thailand’s transition into an advanced country. Because of dissatisfaction with Thailand’s educational output, the government decided to separate tertiary education from the Ministry of…
Interview: Gordon Cameron In what ways can Thailand improve the health care financing structure to cope with rising expenditures and the demands of an ageing society? GORDON CAMERON: The ageing population has increased demand for health care not only in Thailand, but in many other countries around the world, adding strain to the financing structure. According to the World Bank, the percentage of…
Interview:Teerakiat Jareonsettasin Which reforms could be most effective in making local education institutions competitive and in line with the Thailand 4.0 model? TEERAKIAT JAREONSETTASIN: In order to build up the infrastructure for Thailand 4.0, one of the main changes being rolled out is the provision of high-speed internet to reach all schools in the kingdom. This coverage will also include…
While Thailand has been successful in expanding access to education, the sector faces some challenges. The country is falling behind in the quality of provision, and policy has been slow to adapt to global labour market trends. Nevertheless, there are signs that this is changing: the government has set about pursuing an education strategy with clear goals, and efforts are under way to streamline administration…
