Swedish urged to take medical care in Thailand

BANGKOK, October 23 (TNA) - Deputy Public Health Minister Dr. Surawit Khonsomboon has urged more Swedish patients to undertake medical treatment in Thailand after finding out that Sweden still has not had enough doctors. His request was made during talks with visiting Sweden’s Minister for Children and the Elderly Maria Larsson and senior officials on ways to strengthen public health cooperation between the two countries. Dr. Surawit told journalists that he had told Mrs. Larsson that since Sweden does not have sufficient doctors, he would like to invite that country’s patients to take treatment as well as receiving spa and traditional massage of which Thailand is well known. The Thai government is also trying to make the country the medical hub in Asia, said Dr. Surawit, adding that the country has already earned a recognition from foreign patients undertaking treatment in this country. According to official statistics, said Dr. Surawit the number of foreign patients receiving treatment in Thailand has increased steadily. In 2010, a total of 21,056 Swedish patients received treatment from 55 Thai private hospitals. About 1.4 million foreign patients undertook treatment from Thai hospitals the same year. (TNA)