Ads have been around for years – launched by marketing agencies in many countries to promote their health care facilities to many people in many parts of the world. One such country is Thailand, considered by many as one of the leaders in Asian Medical Tourism.

Thailand’s competitive edge in medical tourism is not just its modern facilities, competent medical staff, and low prices — but its beaches, its wonderful food and fantastic shopping opportunities, as well.

The most-publicized Thai hospital that specializes in treating foreigners is Bumrungrad International Hospital based in Bangkok. More than two hundred (200) of the doctors of this hospital are US board certified. Bumrungrad International Hospital serves more than 400,000 international patients annually. No wonder this hospital is one of the biggest medical tourism hospitals in the world. Bumrungrad Hospital (BH) is a public company traded on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Bangkok Bank PCL (Thailand’s largest) and one of Thailand’s most respected business families are the majority stockholders of the hospital.

Here’s the patient profile of Bumrungrad International Hospital: there are over one (1) million patients (outpatient and inpatient) treated every year; about 430,000 are international patients from other 190 different countries; and there was a US0 million turnover in 2006. One of the promo ad of the hospital goes this way… "being confined in Bumrungrad International Hospital is like visiting a five-star hotel." Bumrungrad International Hospital is just one of the Thai hospitals that specialize in treating international patients. Another such hospital is Rutnin Eye Hospital, considered as Bangkok’s largest eye hospital, with a full range of services including the lasik corrections.

Referred to as "The Land of Smiles," Thailand is a favorite medical destination of thousands of Americans and Europeans who have been travelling to Thailand for decades to seek affordable world-class medical treatment. In recent years, Thailand had grown dramatically as a medical tourism destination for patients from the Middle East. Yearly, over sixty thousand (60,000) go to Thailand from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) alone. On the other hand, UAE is becoming a major destination for Thai workers with more than twelve thousand (12,000) Thai workers in UAE who are employed in the construction business.

On May 14, 2008 (Wednesday), I will be one of three speakers on microfinance at a seminar to be held at the Conservatory, Peninsula Manila, Philippines, Telephone 842-7148.

I have accepted the invitation of the Center for Global Best Practices because I have a great passion for microfinance, a powerful tool to reduce poverty in our country.

The success of the Grameen Bank experiment of microfinance "group lending" about two (2) decades ago triggered the world-acceptance of the microfinance movement as a powerful tool to fight poverty and to raise the economic condition of poor families.

Today, the impact of the microfinance movement on the poverty problem is astounding. More poor families now have been encouraged to borrow funds to generate additional income. Not from the conventional/traditional banks though. In the meantime, microfinance institutions have been going through cycles of redesigning their loan programs to adjust to changing conditions and economic needs of the poor borrower-clients. A dynamic approach to microfinance. This is also true in the Philippines.

Microfinance means the supply of services to the poor to improve their economic condition.

All the stakeholders in the microfinance industry in the Philippines – including the practitioners, policymakers and regulators, advocates and others are now closely networking to fast-track the development, growth, and promotion of microfinance in the country.

Have a joyful day!