The operator of Bangkok General Hospital and 16 other properties, said yesterday that the Bt400-million hospital is expected to cash in on the demand for top-class medical services from more than one million tourists who visit Siem Reap and the historic site of Angkor Wat every year.

Chatree Duangnet, chief executive of Bangkok Medical Centre - a business unit of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services - said the company decided to expand its business into Cambodia to target the huge number of foreign travellers.

Royal Angkor International, with capital of Bt200 million, will be the first premium hospital in Siem Reap. It will have 100 beds and as well as targeting foreign visitors, will cater to the high-end of the Cambodian market. It will also be a centre for transferring some patients to the company's hospitals in Thailand.

"As well as the Royal Angkor International hospital, we intend to continue expanding our business internationally," Chatree said.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services president Pongsak Viddayakorn said the company is aiming for total revenue of Bt16 billion this year. In the first half of the year, it made Bt7.8 billion, with a margin of Bt800 million.

Due to the economic slowdown, the market for private hospital services grew only 18 per cent in the first half of the year, down from 29 per cent last year. However, Bangkok Dusit Medical recorded overall growth of 30 per cent, and 300 per cent among foreigners, he said.

"Most of our foreign patients are from the Middle East, where hospital treatment costs are higher than at our hospitals, with the same standard," he said.

Currently, listed hospital groups' combined market capitalisation is Bt70 billion, of which Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Plc accounts for 50 per cent.

Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul

The Nation