Health firms breathe as flu fear fills beds

Thana Thiramanus, chief |marketing and support officer |of Phyathai Hospital Group, |said last week that Thais were |alert to type-A (H1N1) influenza and were flocking to hospitals. |Bed occupancy rates at all |branches of Phyathai have been 100 per cent since the outbreak, compared with the usual 60 per cent.

"Our performance is getting better because of the flu outbreak, but this is just an upside of the business," he said.

He added that the healthcare business from January to March had been flatter than the same |period last year. The situation |got worse in April due to the political riots and has improved since the flu outbreak. Phyathai's revenue in the first half of the year grew nearly 10 per cent from a year earlier.

Thana believes the flu will last until September. He expects the recovery in the second half to boost the group's revenue 15 per cent, in line with its target this year.

Itti Thongtang, chairman of Paolo Memorial Hospital, said the three branches of the group - Paolo Phaholyothin, Chokechai 4 and Samut Prakan - also had an unprecedented 100-per-cent occupancy. Patients with colds want to stay in hospital, unsure whether they are infected with A (H1N1).

"Paolo Hospitals' average |annual revenue growth is 8-10 |per cent, but the figure in the |first half of the year was 15 per |cent despite fierce competition |and a price war in healthcare. |Apart from the flu outbreak, |we're giving discounts, so we ex-pect better results this year," he said.

John Lee Koh-shun, execu-|tive vice president of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), said average occupancy in hos-pitals under the BDMS umbrella |in the first half of July had risen |20 per cent from June. For example Bangkok Hospital Medical Centre has 70 per cent and Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital is full.

Besides Bangkok Hospital Group, BDMS operates Samitivej Hospitals, the Bangkok Nursing Hospital and the Royal International Hospital, its brand overseas.

Lee said both inpatient and |outpatient numbers had in-creased since May. This is the |high season of the healthcare |business, but this year is doing better than ever.

The flu outbreak is one of |several factors boosting patient numbers.

"The group's revenue has improved, but performance is not the same as last year. We're giving discounts on room rates and some services, so we have increased operating costs, which we're trying to control," he said.

BDMS in May revised down |its revenue-growth target for |this year from 10 per cent to 5 |per cent. Despite good signs of recovery, it has no plan to adjust |its revenue target this year, Lee added.

BDMS last year generated revenue of Bt21.83 billion.

Lee said BDMS would consider recruiting new medical staff at the end of this year if recovery proved stable.