BNH plans to open eight new clinics

BNH Hospital plans to open eight stand-alone clinics in Bangkok over the next three years to approach new markets in different locations.

The hospital has already opened two clinics at All Seasons Place and Central World. The clinic at All Seasons Place targets businessmen and expatriates while the clinic at Central World focuses on women and general tourists.

The hospital will be adding clinics in Bangkok's Narathiwat-Ratchanakarin Road, Silom, Rama 4 Road, the Thon Buri district and other parts of the capital.

Hospital director Linda Kraivit said each of the clinics would serve different markets depending on location, with a 15-per-cent lower price compared to its Silom main building.

"At Narathiwat-Ratchanakarin Road, we will be targeting families and kids because the area is crowded with foreigners," she added.

Setting up more clinics instead of building new hospitals is a key strategy in drawing more patients.

The hospital plans to spend about Bt20 million on each clinic.

Apart from expanding the network in Thailand, the hospital is also approaching new markets overseas by working with agents and insurance firms to send customers to get medical treatment in Thailand.

Linda said the cost of treatment here is two to five times cheaper.

The hospital started doing marketing in Australia and New Zealand and it is planning to approach Vietnam and China in the near future.

Currently, 5-10 per cent of its customers are from international markets and 70 per cent are locals. Overseas customers are expected to increase to 15 per cent in the next couple of years.

Last year, the hospital's revenue was Bt1.6 billion and it is expected to reach Bt1.9 billion this year, up 15 per cent.