Thailand prepares for aging society

BANGKOK, November 7 (TNA) - Thailand is preparing for the approaching aging society in the country and in the region by promoting and supporting healthcare businesses, particularly those catering for the elderly. Kulanee Issadisai, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, under the Thai Ministry of Commerce, told journalists on Tuesday that based on the policy, her department has joined forces with the Thai Eldery Promotion & Health Care Association, as well as Mahidol University, Kasem Bundit University and Kanya Academy to organize an ongoing workshop on the standard and systematic management of healthcare services for the elderly. Kulanee pointed out that healthcare businesses for the eldery, which are part of the comprehensive healthcare sector, have potential for a promising growth in Thailand, where about 20 per cent of the total population, or some 12 million, will be over 60 years old by 2020, showing that the Thai Kingdom is approaching the aging society, along with Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea and many countries in Europe. Kulanee said participants in the workshop will be provided with necessary knowledge and skills on the management of modern businesses and marketing through technologies and innovations to be applied for their own businesses. Besides, participants will learn on relevant laws and experiences shared by experts and owners of established healthcare businesses for the elderly, which will also promote their business networking. According to the senior official, there are about 800 operators of healthcare services for the elderly in Thailand, 200 of them are corporates and the remaining are individuals, but only 75 of them have been officially certified for their standard and systematic management. The senior official expressed her confidence that participants who attend the workshop will be equipped with practical knowledge and skills on the standard and professional management of their healthcare businesses for the elderly. The senior official noted, meanwhile, that Thailand has a comparative advantage in healthcare services for the elderly, not only for Thais, but also for those from other economies worldwide, thanks to the Kingdom's strong points in sound weather conditions, reasonable costs of living and impressive services. The senior official suggested that local operators of healthcare businesses for the elderly expand their market share, paving the way for Thailand to become a regional, or even a global, hub of the healthcare services for the elderly, which can also be further expanded, or linked, to home care, long stay and medical tourism services in the future. (TNA)