Medical tourism surges as 60% of Bangladeshi travellers to Thailand seek treatment: Envoy

Thai Ambassador to Bangladesh Thitiporn Chirasawadi has
underscored the growing importance of medical tourism from Bangladesh to
Thailand, noting that a significant number of Bangladeshi patients have chosen
Thailand as a trusted destination for healthcare over the years.
"The embassy processes
approximately 9,000 visa applications per month, of which around 60% are for
medical purposes. Based on this estimate, nearly 65,000 Bangladeshis travel to
Thailand annually for medical treatment," the envoy shared the recent data
at a press conference today (11 April) at a Dhaka hotel, organised by MedPark
Hospital in Bangkok.
Describing the figure as
substantial, the ambassador reaffirmed the embassy's commitment to supporting
Thailand's healthcare sector, while clarifying that its role is not commercial
but facilitative.
She said the continued flow of patients reflects strong trust and confidence in
Thailand's healthcare system, built on consistent quality, professionalism and
positive patient outcomes.
The ambassador added that medical
tourism plays an important role in strengthening people-to-people ties between
the two countries, and Thailand remains committed to further enhancing this
cooperation.
She stated that overall visa
applications have grown significantly, with around 800 to 1,000 applications
being processed daily during peak seasons.
She said Thailand transitioned from
a manual visa system to an e-visa system in early 2025, which initially caused
delays due to system adjustments and high application volumes. However, the
process has now become more efficient, she stated.
According to the ambassador, the standard processing time for a medical visa is
up to two weeks, which she described as reasonable given demand, and travellers
were advised to apply at least two weeks before departure.
She noted that urgent medical cases
are handled on priority, with the embassy maintaining close coordination with
hospitals in Thailand to ensure patients requiring immediate treatment receive
swift assistance beyond standard timelines.
MedPark Hospital alone receives
thousands of Bangladeshi patients annually.
The 550-bed multidisciplinary
MedPark Hospital is ranked among the world's leading healthcare institutions in
Newsweek's "World's Best Hospitals" list, recognised for clinical
outcomes, patient experience and medical innovation.
With a LEED Gold-certified facility
and globally renowned specialists, the hospital is accredited by the Joint
Commission International (JCI) and is widely known for managing complex and
high-acuity medical conditions.
Kazi Sharhan Saif, manager,
international marketing (Bangladesh and South Asia), MedPark Hospital, said the
hospital alone receives thousands of Bangladeshi patients annually, while many
more seek treatment across Thailand, adding that the Bangladeshi patient
segment has grown by nearly 300% year on year.
He also said hospitals in Thailand
regularly introduce tailored treatment packages to make healthcare more
accessible for international patients. MedPark Hospital is currently offering a
25% discount on health check-ups for Bangladeshi patients as part of a
promotional initiative.
Speakers at the event included Dr
Virat Pinyopornpanit, an internal medicine specialist, Dr Yongyut Kongthanarat,
a radiation oncologist, and Dr Waiwit Sanguanwongwan, an orthopaedic surgeon.
MedPark Hospital operates a
dedicated help desk for Bangladeshi patients with more than 10 Bangla-speaking
coordinators and also maintains referral offices in Dhaka and Chattogram to
support medical coordination, travel arrangements and continuity of care.
















