Samitivej Hospital expands paediatric care amid rising medical tourism from Gulf

Samitivej Hospital, a leader in paediatric care, has unveiled its newly expanded standalone Samitivej International Children’s Hospital at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok. Backed by a 2 billion THB ($58.9 million) investment, the expansion strengthens Samitivej’s commitment to becoming Asia-Pacific’sleading pediatric referral hub, providing specialised care, innovative treatments, and seamless medical coordination.

The expansion comes as Thailand solidifies its position as a global healthcare destination, attracting patients from across Asia and the Middle East. According to Statista, Thailand’s medical tourism industry was valued at 29 billion THB in 2023 (around $820 million USD), with an estimated 3.07 million international patients seeking specialized care. Families from the GCC — including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar — continue to choose Thailand for comprehensive health check-ups, cardiology, oncology, and neonatal care, drawn by its internationally accredited hospitals and advanced medical expertise.

Dr. Surangkana Techapaitoon, Deputy CEO of Samitivej and BNH Hospitals and Director of Samitivej International Children’s Hospital, stated: “We want to see a healthier future for every child by integrating innovation, world-class expertise, and compassionate care. This facility strengthens our role as a leading paediatric referral hub, expanding access to specialised treatment and ensuring children everywhere receive the best care from infancy through adolescence.”

Revolutionising pediatric care
Samitivej International Children’s Hospital redefines paediatric care, offering cutting-edge treatments for complex and rare conditions, including open-heart surgery to minimally invasive catheterisation, haploidentical bone marrow transplants (BMT) to CAR-T cell therapy, comprehensive pediatric and newborn surgery, and epilepsy treatments ranging from medication to Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) implants.

Cutting-edge facilities
The new eight-floor hospital features 111 beds, including 12 for critically ill children and 8 neonatal intensive care beds. It integrates Smart Hospital technology to enhance efficiency and deliver patient-centred care. Key features include: a hybrid operating room with biplane imaging technology for precision-driven surgeries, world-class pediatric specialties, advanced neonatal and paediatric intensive care for premature infants, a cutting-edge rehabilitation center with robotic-assisted gait training and HAL therapy, and comprehensive international patient services offering pre-arrival consultations, multilingual care teams, and medical evacuation and repatriation.

Global partnerships
In its pursuit of world-class pediatric healthcare, Samitivej collaborates with Doernbecher Children's Hospital (OHSU, USA) to enhance care for critically ill children and trauma patients. The partnership with Takatsuki General Hospital (Japan) ensures specialised neonatal and allergy treatments, providing access to the latest paediatric advancements.

Smart hospital innovations
Samitivej is a leader in digital healthcare, incorporating technology to improve efficiency and patient care. Innovations include the Well Kidz App for managing medical records and remote consultations, Smart ER & Smart Ambulance Services for real-time emergency response, Smart OPD & Smart IPD for AI-powered cost estimation and seamless communication, and the D-Discharge System for streamlined hospital discharges.

Samitivej delivers outstanding results with over 7,000 critical paediatric cases treated annually, 1,000+ newborn and paediatric surgeries performed, a 92 per cent one-year survival rate for bone marrow transplants surpassing global benchmarks, 400+ newborns with heart conditions successfully treated, specialized care for premature infants with birth weights below 500 grams, and a 98 per cent trust rating from families.