Bangkok Chain Hospital has forecast that its second-half net profit will be greater than the Bt186.8 million achieved in the first six months of the year.

"Typically, third- and fourth-quarter earnings are better than the first and second quarters by about 5-10 per cent.

"We are no exception and our second-half net profit will improve," CEO Chalerm Harnphanichits told the Thai-language wire agency Bisnews yesterday.

Bangkok Chain Hospital, operator of Kasemrad Hospital along with six other hospitals, posted revenue of Bt1.59 billion in the first six months.

Last year, its revenue amounted to Bt2.79 billion and net profit came in at Bt248.98 million.

Charlerm estimated that the company's 2006 revenue would exceed Bt3 billion, representing a 15-per-cent year-on-year increase.

The company has targeted a similar increase in revenue for next year, he said.

Bangkok Chain Hospital's stock has been so far this year emerged as the best performer in the industry, with a whopping rise of about 200 per cent since the turn of the year.

Chalerm is the company's largest shareholder with a 32.42-per-cent holding, followed by Land & Houses with 28.55 per cent.

The government's stated policy of increasing the per-capita budget for the universal healthcare scheme would boost to the company's earnings.

"The healthcare programme should be positive for us. I think the issue will be on the agenda at the Cabinet meeting on November 7," he said.

Earlier, Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla said the ministry would seek Cabinet approval to increase per-person budget from Bt1,659 a year to Bt2,089 for the universal healthcare scheme.

If the proposal gets the nod from the Cabinet, it will have retroactive effect from October 1, which will benefit the company in the fourth quarter.

Moreover, the Social Security Fund is also considering increasing the per-capita medical expense budget for its members, a review of which is scheduled every two years - with the

next review coming early next year.

At the moment, the budget for fund members stands at Bt1,590 per year per head.

"The Social Security Fund is considering an increase. In the past, the budget was increased by 15-22 per cent each time," Chalerm said.