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SINGAPORE: If medical tourists won't come to you, go to them
Singapore is quite successful at attracting medical tourists, but healthcare providers accept that potential is limited. It is a small island selling on quality rather than price.

Several businesses have thought that rather than getting people to come to them, why not take their offering to them. Local hospital groups are very efficient, understand marketing and are able to deliver high quality care at a reasonable price. By taking care overseas, they benefit from lower costs, while customers benefit from savings on airfare and accommodation. Having an overseas presence also raises the profile in local regional markets. Many Singapore-based companies have or plan hospitals or clinics in overseas countries.
 
Parkway Holdings, Singapore's largest healthcare provider, is one of the region's leading healthcare service providers, with a network of 16 hospitals and medical centres with more than 3300 beds throughout Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, India and China. Last December, the company made its first foray into the Middle East when it won the bid to manage the Danat-Al-Emarat Women and Children's Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Overseas operations now account for a third of revenue, with international revenue growing faster than domestic revenue. Future plans include five new Pantai hospitals in Malaysia over the next five years.

Raffles Medical Group is the largest private group practice in Singapore. It operates a network of 65 multi-disciplinary clinics across Singapore and three clinics in Hong Kong. The group also manages the airport clinics in Singapore's Changi International Airport and Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok International Airport.

Currently the largest non-hospital based healthcare provider of specialist medical, dental and wellness services in Singapore, Pacific Healthcare has operations in China (Shanghai, Shenzhen), Hong Kong and India (Mumbai) as well as representative offices in Jakarta, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. It has investments in cardiac centres in Goa and Bangalore, a cardiology and imaging facility in Shanghai and wellness facilities in Shenzhen. Later this year it is opening a medical centre in downtown Jakarta in a joint venture with PT Plaza Indonesia Realty.

Another Singapore-based healthcare company, Thomson Medical Centre, runs Hanh Phuc International Women and Children Hospital in Binh Duong Province. When other similar hospitals open elsewhere in Vietnam, it will run those too.

International Enterprise Singapore is a government agency promoting the overseas growth of Singapore-based enterprises. It sees great opportunity in building or operating hospitals and clinics, particularly in China, UAE, India, Vietnam, Russia, Ukraine and Indonesia. China and the Middle East are seen as offering the best long-term potential on health care.

Singapore is in a strong position to compete for a slice of the healthcare business in the emerging markets. It has a great reputation and track record for clinical excellence that cuts across the full spectrum of healthcare services. Singapore also has high healthcare management standards. It is in the forefront of medical science and technology and is a multi-faceted medical hub in the region.