Samitivej Hospital Expands Pediatric Care Amid Surge in Medical Tourism
New facility in Bangkok aims to enhance specialized pediatric services as Thailand attracts international patients.
Samitivej Hospital, a prominent leader in pediatric care, has inaugurated its newly expanded standalone Samitivej International Children’s Hospital located at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok.
This expansion, which represents an investment of 2 billion THB (approximately $58.9 million), is part of Samitivej's strategy to establish itself as a premier pediatric referral hub in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on delivering specialized medical care, innovative treatments, and coordinated medical services.
The expansion aligns with Thailand’s growing recognition as a global healthcare destination, particularly for medical tourism.
In 2023, Thailand's medical tourism sector was estimated to generate a value of 29 billion THB (around $820 million USD), facilitating the reception of approximately 3.07 million international patients who seek specialized medical attention.
Families from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, have increasingly turned to Thailand for a range of healthcare services, including comprehensive health assessments, cardiology, oncology, and neonatal care, drawn by the quality of care in its internationally accredited hospitals.
Dr. Surangkana Techapaitoon, who serves as Deputy CEO of both Samitivej and BNH Hospitals as well as the Director of Samitivej International Children’s Hospital, highlighted the facility's role in promoting better health outcomes for children.
He noted the integration of innovative methodologies, world-class expertise, and compassionate care as vital elements of the hospital's mission.
The Samitivej International Children’s Hospital is designed to revolutionize pediatric care, providing advanced treatments for complex and rare conditions.
These treatments include open-heart surgeries, minimally invasive catheterization, haploidentical bone marrow transplants (BMT), CAR-T cell therapies, comprehensive pediatric and neonatal surgical solutions, and epilepsy treatments that range from conventional medication to Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) implants.
Spanning eight floors, the new hospital features a total of 111 beds, including 12 dedicated to critically ill children and 8 neonatal intensive care beds.
The facility employs Smart Hospital technologies aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and delivering patient-centered care.
Notable amenities include a hybrid operating room equipped with biplane imaging technology for precision surgical procedures, advanced neonatal and pediatric intensive care units for premature infants, and a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center utilizing robotic-assisted gait training and HAL therapy.
An array of services aimed at international patients includes pre-arrival consultations, multilingual medical teams, and support for medical evacuation and repatriation.
In its pursuit of high-quality pediatric healthcare, Samitivej has formed strategic collaborations with institutions such as Doernbecher Children's Hospital (OHSU, USA) to enhance care for critically ill children and trauma patients, and with Takatsuki General Hospital (Japan) to advance neonatal and allergy treatments, ensuring access to cutting-edge pediatric innovations.
Furthermore, Samitivej is advancing the digitization of healthcare, integrating technology to enhance patient care efficiencies.
Key innovations include the Well Kidz App for managing medical records and facilitating remote consultations, Smart ER and Smart Ambulance Services for real-time emergency response, Smart OPD and Smart IPD which utilize AI for cost estimation and communication, and a D-Discharge System designed to streamline patient discharge processes.
Annually, the hospital successfully treats over 7,000 critical pediatric cases, performs more than 1,000 newborn and pediatric surgeries, and reports a remarkable 92 percent one-year survival rate for bone marrow transplants, exceeding global standards.
The facility also provides specialized care for newborns with severe heart conditions and offers tailored treatments to premature infants weighing less than 500 grams, maintaining a 98 percent trust rating from families.
Separately, at the recent event titled "IGNITE THAILAND: INVEST IN ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES," Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra reported that her government has successfully attracted over 1.13 trillion baht in foreign investments during its initial six months in office.
She emphasized the government’s commitment to accelerating infrastructure development aimed at accommodating increased investment, positioning Thailand as a vital economic hub in the region.
The event, held at The Athenee Hotel in Bangkok, featured participation from key officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, and Board of Investment (BOI) Secretary-General Narit Therdsteerasukdi.
This expansion, which represents an investment of 2 billion THB (approximately $58.9 million), is part of Samitivej's strategy to establish itself as a premier pediatric referral hub in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on delivering specialized medical care, innovative treatments, and coordinated medical services.
The expansion aligns with Thailand’s growing recognition as a global healthcare destination, particularly for medical tourism.
In 2023, Thailand's medical tourism sector was estimated to generate a value of 29 billion THB (around $820 million USD), facilitating the reception of approximately 3.07 million international patients who seek specialized medical attention.
Families from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, have increasingly turned to Thailand for a range of healthcare services, including comprehensive health assessments, cardiology, oncology, and neonatal care, drawn by the quality of care in its internationally accredited hospitals.
Dr. Surangkana Techapaitoon, who serves as Deputy CEO of both Samitivej and BNH Hospitals as well as the Director of Samitivej International Children’s Hospital, highlighted the facility's role in promoting better health outcomes for children.
He noted the integration of innovative methodologies, world-class expertise, and compassionate care as vital elements of the hospital's mission.
The Samitivej International Children’s Hospital is designed to revolutionize pediatric care, providing advanced treatments for complex and rare conditions.
These treatments include open-heart surgeries, minimally invasive catheterization, haploidentical bone marrow transplants (BMT), CAR-T cell therapies, comprehensive pediatric and neonatal surgical solutions, and epilepsy treatments that range from conventional medication to Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) implants.
Spanning eight floors, the new hospital features a total of 111 beds, including 12 dedicated to critically ill children and 8 neonatal intensive care beds.
The facility employs Smart Hospital technologies aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and delivering patient-centered care.
Notable amenities include a hybrid operating room equipped with biplane imaging technology for precision surgical procedures, advanced neonatal and pediatric intensive care units for premature infants, and a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center utilizing robotic-assisted gait training and HAL therapy.
An array of services aimed at international patients includes pre-arrival consultations, multilingual medical teams, and support for medical evacuation and repatriation.
In its pursuit of high-quality pediatric healthcare, Samitivej has formed strategic collaborations with institutions such as Doernbecher Children's Hospital (OHSU, USA) to enhance care for critically ill children and trauma patients, and with Takatsuki General Hospital (Japan) to advance neonatal and allergy treatments, ensuring access to cutting-edge pediatric innovations.
Furthermore, Samitivej is advancing the digitization of healthcare, integrating technology to enhance patient care efficiencies.
Key innovations include the Well Kidz App for managing medical records and facilitating remote consultations, Smart ER and Smart Ambulance Services for real-time emergency response, Smart OPD and Smart IPD which utilize AI for cost estimation and communication, and a D-Discharge System designed to streamline patient discharge processes.
Annually, the hospital successfully treats over 7,000 critical pediatric cases, performs more than 1,000 newborn and pediatric surgeries, and reports a remarkable 92 percent one-year survival rate for bone marrow transplants, exceeding global standards.
The facility also provides specialized care for newborns with severe heart conditions and offers tailored treatments to premature infants weighing less than 500 grams, maintaining a 98 percent trust rating from families.
Separately, at the recent event titled "IGNITE THAILAND: INVEST IN ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES," Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra reported that her government has successfully attracted over 1.13 trillion baht in foreign investments during its initial six months in office.
She emphasized the government’s commitment to accelerating infrastructure development aimed at accommodating increased investment, positioning Thailand as a vital economic hub in the region.
The event, held at The Athenee Hotel in Bangkok, featured participation from key officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, and Board of Investment (BOI) Secretary-General Narit Therdsteerasukdi.
