Chatree Duangnet, executive vice president and chief operating officer of BDMS, said the group began to focus on wellness services in 2011. It aims to operate a total of 50 hospitals in the country and overseas, up from 43 currently under five brands, namely Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej Hospital, BNH Hospital, Phyathai Hospital and Paolo Hospital.

He said new hospitals were being built in Pattaya, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Ratchasima’s Khao Yai area and Surat Thani.

“The group will not only operate the 50 hospitals, but each of them will have a wellness centre under the same roof,” he said.

The group expects to increase the number of beds in its hospitals from 8,000 currently to 10,000 by the end of next year along with more specialised medical institutions and services such as heart centres, cancer centres and dental centres.

The group will upgrade nine of the existing 43 hospitals to meet US medical standard in order to serve more international markets. For example, Chiang Mai will serve patients from Myanmar, Udon Thani will serve the Laos market, Phuket will focus on Malaysia, and Pattaya will take on a multinational role. Four of the specific hospitals will be in Bangkok and one in Phnom Penh.

“All of the special institutions will be excellent service centres,” Chatree said.

To handle emergency transfers, BDMS has purchased a second helicopter, which is due to arrive early next year. It has also bought an ATR turboprop aircraft. It will be delivered in the first quarter of 2017.

According to Chatree, the new wellness clinic on the Nai Lert Park site on Wireless Road would also have a club lounge. However, details of the project have not been unveiled yet.

“Many hospitals, perhaps five or six, have called our office and invited us to help operate their facility or even buy it, but we have not yet gone to see those properties,” he said.

Meanwhile, to capitalise on the health-conscious trend as evidenced by the surge in healthcare spending by more than 10 per cent per year, BDMS has joined forces with Kasikornbank to issue a co-branded credit card.

KBank president Predee Daochai said Thais had become more health-conscious and were more often going to hospitals with state-of-the-art technology. They therefore need greater convenience when it comes to payment of medical bills at leading hospitals.

“With the nation’s largest healthcare service network under BDMS, comprising 35 leading hospitals nationwide, plus more than 1,121 KBank branches, we will better access our target customers and satisfy their needs,” Predee said.