Being the first Asian nation to attain Joint Commission Internal (JCI) accreditation in 2002 makes Thailand a favorite for those seeking medical attention; be it open-heart surgery or gender reassignment. The advancement of the country’s medical technology, coupled with lower premiums, are proving to be a major pull factor — attracting more than 1.8 million foreign visitors in 2013 alone.
These features give the world more reasons to pay a visit to Thailand apart from leisure alone. Not only does it boost the country’s economy, the increasing demand created by medical tourism inevitably attracts more overseas medical practitioners hoping to set up shop in Thailand for a piece of the pie as well.