The growth of the wellness sector in Thailand is continuing, but specialists are likely to fall short of demand, says an expert.
To solve the problem, doctors and clients should use digital connectivity wisely, according to Pansak Sugkraroek, a medical director of Vitallife Corporation at Bumrungrad International Hospital.
Speaking at the Thailand Focus 2018 forum "Being Well in Thailand", Dr Pansak said the major factors driving wellness business are advanced medical facilities, good accessibility for foreigners and the renowned hospitality of Thai people.
Several big wellness outlets are scheduled to open in the country in the near future, including Aksorn in Rayong province. Many leading hotels and hospitals are also planning further wellness services.
Despite having room to grow, Thailand will have to beat out several countries now focusing on medical and wellness such as Malaysia. South Korea has also been penetrating overseas markets for years.
Dr Pansak said that while Thailand can offer many good doctors, it's likely to face a shortage of wellness experts. Some operators still import such specialists from overseas.
Moreover, many doctors, experts and clients lack digital connectivity. As a result, the wellness business remains stuck in traditional ways.
"If doctors can connect with customers via digital devices, it will improve the entire sector to another level," Dr Pansak said, adding that efficient applications would help improve communication between clients and doctors.
Bumrungrad International is one of the first hospitals that shifted focus to both medical and wellness. It is now eying the China market, which has many couples seeking fertility help and individuals looking for aesthetic services.
"We hope to have more than 40,000 visits from Chinese tourists at our hospital this year," Dr Pansak said.
Dillip Rajakarier, chief operating officer of Minor International and chief executive of Minor Hotels, said it's not just the elderly wanting to meet doctors for a check-up; many younger people are interested in wellness services as well.
The best course is therefore if the doctor can monitor clients through digital means and cut down on the need to travel to hospital to see a doctor.
Instead, doctors can consult and follow-up via digital channels.
"The world is changed now, so our group will shift to digital," Mr Rajakarier said. "We will continue to focus more on customer experience."
With this focus, Minor Group should be able to maintain its revenue growth at 10% a year on average.
Mr Rajakarier said Thailand must add more skilled personnel and wellness experts, otherwise neighbouring countries may seize on the opportunity.
Another speaker on the same Thailand Focus panel, Yongsit Rojsrikul, chief enterprise officer at Advanced Info Service, said AIS has invested more than 300 million baht in new digital technology infrastructure over the past three years in order to meet the needs of digital users.
The move is not only aimed at serving millions of customers in the country, but also to offer better connectivity for the 30 million tourists travelling to Thailand each year.
The company earlier launched a new campaign called AIS Internet of Things Alliance Programme or AIAP, which collaborates with many business organisations and hospitals to offer medical and wellness solutions.
Mr Yongsit said digital is important for modern people, but authorities may need to revise some outdated regulations and form a better legal framework in response to the proliferation of advanced technology.
