Asia medical tourism catches cold from COVID travel curbs

Thailand's BDMS and Malaysia's IHH see profits halved in 2020

20210506N Bangkok Dusit Medical Services

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services saw a considerable drop in patients from the Middle East, Australia and Myanmar last year. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)

MARIMI KISHIMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

BANGKOK -- Leading hospital operators in Southeast Asia suffered a heavy blow to profits last year as coronavirus travel restrictions squeezed cash cow services aimed at medical tourists.

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, which operates nearly 50 hospitals mostly in Thailand, logged a 54% plunge in net profit on a 22% decrease in revenue.

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