Global downturn but bright future for private hospitals

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Bumrungrad's director Prof Dr Sinn Anuras said foreign patients were still coming to the hos¬pital for treatment.

However, he did admit that the number of foreign patients had dropped by 20 to 30 per cent during the closure of the two Bangkok airports, though the numbers have returned to normal since the airports reopened.

Though the figures of last year's fourth quarter earnings have yet to be released, Sinn believes the hospi¬tal's revenue and number of patients will not be much different from the figures of 2007.

Sinn also said the hospital had no plans to close its emergency unit or lay off employees if the economic sit¬uation did not improve. They would only be making an adjustment to the overtime payments, he said.

Meanwhile, Piyavate Hospital's chief executive officer Dr Tanatip Suppradit said the economic down¬turn should create more opportunities for private hospitals.

"There is a possibility that more Saudi Arabian patients will come here instead of going to European countries for treatment," he said. "This should be a great chance to welcome more foreign patients."