Robots that use UV light to disinfect were introduced to tackle virus and drug-resistant bacteria at Bumrungrad International Hospital during the Covid-19 outbreak. (Photo: .bangkokpost.com)
Bangkok (VNA) - As Thailand begins togradually ease coronavirus-related restrictions, the government is looking tocement the country's position as an advanced medical hub in Asia.
Thailand's response to the coronavirus pandemic hasbeen aided by a robust healthcare system, which was ranked sixth out of 195countries in the 2019 Global Health Security Index, calculated by researchersat the Nuclear Threat Initiative and Johns Hopkins Centre for Health Security.
This meant Thailand was the highest ranked emerging economyand the top Asian country in the index, which was devised to measure acountry's preparedness for a pandemic.
Prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, Thailand wasalready working to establish itself as the medical hub of Asia with the 2016-25strategic plan entitled “Thailand: A Hub of Wellness and Medical Services.”
Thailand is already popular as an internationalhealthcare tourism destination, and the push to further develop the medicalecosystem has been partly driven by an ageing population, which will result inincreasing domestic demand for quality healthcare services.
As the global pandemic has added further strains tofrontline health services and back-end supply chains, the Board of Investment(BoI) announced additional measures in April to accelerate investments in themedical industry, which could have positive implications for the sector'sbroader strategic goals.
Complementing the existing tax holiday of between 3-8years for qualified medical device, equipment and supply businesses, the newmeasures include a 50 percent reduction in corporate income tax for a furtherthree years.
This additional incentive is available to firms thatapply before June 30 and begin production before Dec 31.
Furthermore, manufacturers that adjust existingproduction lines to manufacture medical devices or parts will be exempted fromimport duties on machinery in 2020, provided they apply before September.
Additional tax benefits are being offered to companiesproducing non-woven fabric used to manufacture medical masks or devices.
These measures are aimed at a fast response to thisspecific situation, but were designed to also pave the way for longer-termdevelopment, BoI secretary-general Duangjai Asawachintachit said.
Paul Ashburn, co-managing partner of the businessconsultancy BDO Thailand, said Thailand already had a head start, so it iswell-placed to capitalise on increased regional demand over the next 12months.
As such, affluent patients from neighbouring countriesare likely to still seek medical treatment in Thailand's superior facilitiesonce border restrictions are eased, even if it may take longer for medicaltourists from other core markets in the Middle East, US, Europe and the Indiansubcontinent to return en masse.
In addition, as many of Thailand's neighbours will notbe able to immediately count on domestic production to stockpile personalprotective equipment and necessary medical supplies in the wake of thepandemic, Thailand will be an obvious source market due to its productioncapacity and close proximity./.
