Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha have instructed relevant agencies to work jointly in developing Thailand as an international dental hub.
Government Spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said that the Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Public Health, serves as a major agency in proceeding with this plan and that Phuket province has been selected as a pilot area, which is expected to attract medical tourists from all over the world.
In recent years, medical tourism in Phuket has rapidly increased. By developing Thailand’s potential as a dental hub, the Government aims to increase economic value for the country and provide more significant opportunities for the medical, economic, and tourism sectors.
The dental hub project will focus on cosmetic dentistry under a one-price policy. An online application or a platform will be developed to link the databases of clinics.
An interpretation center, a mediation system, and a payment mechanism will also be set up. Dental clinics interested in joining this project may submit their application in the third or fourth quarters of 2022.
Thailand has implemented a strategic plan to develop itself as an international medical hub. The goal is being carried out in stages for 10 years, from 2016 to 2025. With its strong healthcare infrastructure and reputation for having highly-skilled doctors and other medical professionals, Thailand has become a medical hub not only for ASEAN but also for Asia and beyond.
As it is the world leader in medical tourism, numerous international patients travel to Thailand annually on medical travel packages. The healthcare industry in Thailand is primarily driven by world-class medical facilities.