Singapore And Thailand Launch World’s First Medical Tourism Concierge Network

The new platform is a promising solution to the healthcare challenge in today’s world of economic downturn

Singapore – February 24, 2009 – FlyFreeForHealth, the world's first comprehensive Business-to-Customer and Business-to-Business medical tourism hub with the support of Tourism Authority of Thailand, today launched the world's first medical concierge network which signifies a new trend in consolidating borderless healthcare globally. Inter-country medical tourism concierge network is starting to be established between major medical hubs in Asia to offer medical travelers around the world immediate access to personalised medical tourism information in various languages at a ‘click-away’.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Wei Siang Yu, founder of FlyFreeForHealth said, “the new business to consumer shift (B2C) is seeing the behavioural pattern of medical travelers changing – they look for more options; they also want more interaction before selecting the doctor.” Merely looking for information on the internet is no longer sufficient.

“The current model of hospital’s agents/facilitators just assisting medical travelers in hospital booking has been completely revolutionised by FlyFreeForHealth’s digital Medical Butler – iMedical Butler. Medical travelers look for unbiased information platform that can assist them in the process of doctor selection before having direct contact with the hospitals or doctors. Our nurses are trained in hospitality, IT and tourism to facilitate this selection process. iMedical Butlers act as an online researcher enabling medical tourists to obtain personalised information for health and lifestyle services, invite them to webinars by renowned doctors for a content rich pre-selection interaction”, Dr Wei further added.

In addition to the B2C trend, businesses are also looking for more cost efficient and integrated solutions for all the partners. In this Business to Business (B2B) shift, all the players such as the hospitals, government bodies, airlines and travel agencies are looking at providing a more cost efficient and seamless experience to their clients, and hence the formation of synergistic medical concierge network for end to end service. With the support from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, partnership with medical service providers and travel agent in Singapore – CTC Holidays, FlyFreeForHealth is setting up an unprecedented medical tourism concierge network. The network will consolidate existing medical tourism destinations in Asia as one region with seamless integration in health and lifestyle services. iMedical Butlers will assist the medical travelers from the beginning till the post-procedure management after they return to their country seamlessly. Such end-to-end solution which includes post-op cross border patient management will further improve the patient’s quality of recuperation. Medical travelers for the first time will be engaged in an impartial communication during their doctor selection process.

Speaking at the occasion, Mrs. Porntip Makornpan, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand said, “Thailand is the largest health and wellness destination globally with more than 1.5 million medical tourists last year. The recent launch of Seven Amazing Wonders by Tourism Authority of Thailand, will not only integrate existing health and wellness tourism market but also with other aspects like – meditation, eco-tourism, shopping etc. Tourists can expect amazing value from a broad range of wellness products from the Land of Smiles.”

The attraction of affording high quality healthcare is attracting patients annually to Asia for healthcare needs in Thailand, Singapore, India, and Malaysia. According to Deloitte Centre for health solutions, the number of Americans travelling abroad for care is expected to reach 6 million in 2010 and 15.75 million by 2017. $16 billion in cross border revenues is expected to grow by 325% to $ 68 Billion in 2 years.

“FlyFreeForHealth has solved my entire problem and given me assurance, now, I can chat with the iMedical Butler and have the butler help me research on my desired aesthetic services I want before I select the doctor. Not to mention, I am bringing some friends along who can’t wait to lay their hands on my shopping vouchers”, said Lucy Tan who is looking at tapping great value provided by health service provider in Thailand. Singapore to Thailand traffic for medical tourism can look extremely favourable now, with the Singapore government setting the green light for medisave claims, which was recently featured in the news.

iMedical Butler has not only transformed the consumer interface for medical tourism, hundreds of nurses and parahealth professionals are now signing up to be part of this powerful online concierge network.

About FlyFreeForHealth

FlyFreeForHealth (www.flyfreeforhealth.com) is the world’s first comprehensive Business-to-Customer and Business-to-Business medical tourism hub, a one-stop destination where health, travel, leisure and lifestyle converge, giving freedom and wonderful experiences to the consumer. The global medical tourism space will be revolutionised through the creation of a truly global brand for health, travel, leisure and lifestyle. FlyFreeForHealth has its own TV shows, health columns at major newspaper and portals. The focus of FlyFreeForHealth in multi-media platform, customer relationship management technology and human resource has placed FlyFreeForHealth at the forefront of medical tourism by creating a borderless healthcare eco-system adopted by global brand and business value chain in health and lifestyle services.

FlyFreeForHealth with its eco-system working in close partnership with government agencies as well as health and lifestyle service providers is set to revolutionise the global landscape of medical tourism.

About Tourism Authority of Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is a state enterprise with the key responsibility of promoting and encouraging tourism in Thailand. With 21 branch offices around the world, the Singapore office is also responsible for the Indonesia and Philippines market. The “Amazing Thailand” promotional campaign rolled out by TAT has been extremely well received and is reflected in the undisputed popularity of Thailand as a travel destination for the Singapore market. In 2008, TAT recorded a figure of 800,000 travelers from Singapore (By Country of Residence).

About Commonwealth Travel Service Corporation

Incorporated on 2 Mar 1990 as a Singapore-based tour operator, Commonwealth Travel Service Corporation popularly known as CTC Holidays has evolved into a leading travel and tour operator today. CTC has expanded beyond Singapore with a paid up capital of US$7.55 million and have dealings with tour operators all over the world including China, Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Africa and many more.

CTC Healthcare Travel Pte Ltd was incorporated in August 2005 and is wholly owned by CTC Holidays. Through CTC Healthcare Travel, company aims to be in the forefront of the medical tourism industry in Singapore and in the region.

CTC Healthcare Travel offers a full spectrum of hassle-free healthcare tour packages that include medical services, recuperative treatment and leisure activities. These packages include a comprehensive and exclusive range of healthcare services that give clients access to the most advanced medical technology and top level medical expertise in Singapore as well as to Korea, Thailand and India.

CTC is now embarking on expansion plans to promote Thailand as a medical tourism hub.

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