Samitivej plans to expand in CLMV markets

The hospital plans to invest more than Bt800 million in the expansion of its children’s hospital at its medical complex on Srinakarin Road. To complete its construction in 2018, the new three-floor building will be for outpatient department (OPD) and with 100 beds for admission patients. The expansion will strengthen Samitivej’s positioning as a medical hub for children in the region.

Established in June 1979, Samitivej Hospital is currently one of Thailand and Southeast Asia’s leading hospitals within Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS)’s network, with its medical service quality certified by domestic standards, as well as international standards by the JCI in the United States. Samitivej Hospital Group operates five hospitals: Samitivej Sukhumvit, Samitivej Srinakarin, Samitivej Sriracha, Samitivej Thonburi and Samitivej Chonburi.

Dr Chairat Panthuraamporn, managing director and CEO of Samitivej Plc, said that the hospital would create its supply side step by step to cater to a huge demand for medical service from the implementation of the AEC. The market size will increase significantly from only 60 million Thais to more than 600 million within Asean.

“We forged a joint venture with Parami Hospital in Myanmar, setting up Samitivej International Clinic at its medical complex in Yangon two years ago. We will also open our stand-alone medical clinic in Myanmar in April this year at a cost of Bt50 million to serve both expatriates and local people. About 80 per cent of the clinic will be owned by Samitivej, while another 10 per cent will be owned by Parami, and 10 per cent by local investors in Myanmar. The clinic will be able to serve about 100 patients a day,” said Chairat.

After the first year of collaboration between Samitivej and Doernbecher Children’s Hospitals, advances in paediatric care bring a new level of excellence to Thailand and the Asia Pacific Region.

“BDMS began its partnership with Oregon Health & Science University [OHSU] in the United States in 2014. Under this partnership, Samitivej Children’s Hospital has had the opportunity to collaborate with OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, a leading US paediatric hospital, with the aim of developing Samitivej Children’s Hospital as a centre for excellence in paediatric care in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region. 

“As a result of the partnership between Samitivej and Doernbecher Children’s Hospitals this past year, great improvements have been made. The collaboration between management, doctors and nurses has enhanced our medical excellence and made our staff even more proficient in treating children with rare diseases and other critical conditions. We also have become the hub of medical evacuation and repatriation services for hospitals, both inside and outside of Thailand. We are able to help lighten the load on public hospitals, increasing the chances that more children with complex diseases can be helped. 

“The collaboration of these two leading children’s hospitals to continue to develop international standard paediatric services is in direct response to the Thai government’s policy to develop Thailand into a global medical hub, and align with the country’s entry into the Asean Economic Community.”

Dr Mark Richardson, dean of OHSU’s School of Medicine, spoke of how staff from Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital are impressed with Samitivej’s dedication, enthusiasm to share knowledge and desire to care for patients. Together, both hospitals have learned that respect and trust between professional staff and patients is the key to success. 

“Doernbecher Children’s Hospital specialises in paediatric care, resulting in the hospital being honoured with the highest rating for quality and safety in children’s health care in 2014 from the University HealthSystem Consortium of Hospitals.

“The work we have been doing lays the foundation for further improvement. The multidisciplinary approach model that is in place will certainly make Samitivej Children’s Hospital the leading hospital for paediatric care in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region. 

“We are all working towards the same goal – to provide every child the best quality of life.”