Qatar keen on JV with Thailand in health services

BANGKOK, November 10 (TNA) - Qatar has expressed its interest in joint venture projects on health services in Thailand, where up to some 2.5 million of foreigners visit the Kingdom annually for the medical care and related services, as Thailand's medical hub status now appears to become top in Asia. Thailand's newly-appointed Public Health Minister Dr. Pra-dit Sintavanarong told reporters of the updates on Saturday, following his talks with Ahmad Mohammed Al-Sayed, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qatar Holding LLC, on the cooperation in the health sector. Dr. Pradit said he was informed that business operators in Qatar are interested in the joint venture projects with their Thai partners in the Thai health sector, with a follow-up to be made over the next few months. The new public health minister acknowledged that his ministry has joined forces with concerned ministries, including the Ministries of Commerce and Foreign Affairs, along with private-run hospitals, in developing hospitals in Thailand to efficiently provide health services not only to Thai people, but also to foreigners, with an official target set to double the year-on-year growth rate of international visitors to the Kingdom for health services, from 16 per cent now, over the next five years. (TNA)