Helicopter provides better emergency care in Thailand

Medical tourism in Thailand got a boost last week when the operator of the largest hospital chain in the country launched its first emergency medical services by helicopter. Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BGH) is now the first company offering helicopter health services in the country.

"The new helicopter service is something we have wanted for a long time," said Dr Chatree Duangnet, CEO of Bangkok Hospital Medical Center. "Our own new helicopter medical service is another step for the hospital to bring doctors as quickly as possible to save and transport patients to our hospital network."

The hospital network operated by BGH includes Bangkok Hospital, Bangkok Heart Hospital, Wattanosoth Hospital and Bangkok International Hospital at New Phetchaburi Road. There are 18 hospitals included in the BGH operation including some of the most popular hospitals for medical tourism in Bangkok: Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej and BNH hospital.

The helicopter purchased by BGH came at a cost of 250 million baht and is specifically designed to provide emergency medical services. It may also be used to provided chartered VIP flights for operations in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

The cost to use the helicopter will be around 120,000 baht per hour. Within the first 12 months of its operations, officials are expecting that the helicopter will operate for around 600 hours, generating a total revenue of around 72 million baht.