Governments and Markets Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Governments and Markets - Research Paper Example Review of the Speech Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American citizen and lawyer. He is also a renowned commentator and politician. In his speech at Harvard University on government and marketplace, Eliot Spitzer addresses a wide variety of issues on the relationship between government and the economic domain. Basing his arguments on experience especially as a former state attorney general and a later as the New York governor, he discussed issues such as government intervention, the limits of government interference and means of reforming the corporate governance (Zimmerman, 2005). Gov. Eliot Spitzer divides his speech into three distinct and comprehensive areas. These are outlined as follows: the parameters of government intervention in the market place, response to the media cases and the reflection on proper governance. Eliot Spitzer observes that government involvement in the present-day American economy is limited. Gov. further divides his first subject of the speech into three are as of study. According to Eliot Spitzer, only the government can enforce rules relating to the integrity and transparency in the market place. ... He precisely points out the government’s weakness in carrying out unrealistic projects that he terms as â€Å"too big to fill.† According to him, too big to fill is too big not to fill. He further emphasizes that the US and its people needs new laws and not regulators who do not want to use the powers they have for the good of the economy. In accordance with his view, such regulators are only interested in creating crises of which they take advantage to get more power and promotions. On proper governance, he cites recent statistics on the ratio of the average CEO’s compensation to that of the average worker, which has unexpectedly grown from 40:1 to 550:1. On the other hand, he claims that the CEOs do not really provide value ten times the average worker in their respective places of work. He also criticizes the shareholders who are not interested in taking the much tougher task of reforming such corporations. Concepts Agreed with Eliot Spitzer’s view on t he role of the government in enforcing laws and regulations that relate to the integrity and transparency in the market is a brilliant idea. The market is only a single aspect in the coordination process of economic mechanisms (Stonehouse, 2004). The mechanism, however, consists of the market, government, and other firms. Without proper enforcement of non-price factors and laws, the market cannot function efficiently. The market mechanism can only handle gradual and secondary transformations. However, it is not enough to accelerate the development of supply competence and endorse self-motivated comparative advantage only. Consequently, some amount of government intervention is requisite to harmonize market forces at every level of market growth (Marquardt, 2012). However, the

Globalization and Feminism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Globalization and Feminism - Essay Example The effects of globalization on the theories of feminism establish the relationship between the capital and gender, exploitation of the women workforce. Feminism has played a significant role in the process of globalization and economic progress all over the world. From the perspective of feminism, the phenomenon of globalization has led to the discrimination of gender in terms of control over capital and resources (Hawkesworth, 2006, p.37). The male sections of the society has dominated and gained control over the majority of resources, opportunities of livelihood and employment. There are, however, instances where the women have been able to grab the opportunities in the course of economic progress, a major section of the women labour force have lost control over their work in the process of globalization. Women have obtained job opportunities in the skilled areas of Information Technology, Computer software, etc, the semi and unskilled women labours, agricultural workers have lost their occupation to the forces of globalization. Discussion: globalization and feminism The theories of feminism are based primarily on two basic assumptions. ... On one side, when the increase in participation of women in the labour force have created job opportunities and provided a means of livelihood and independence to women, the women on the other hand has also been subjected to discrimination and humiliation. The women in the Middle-East are hired as working maids for the families in order to support the homemakers of the family. Thus the engagement of a woman labour for the help of another woman is an act of exploitation (Sarkar, 2007, p.5). The rise in the income level of the families due to the phenomenon of globalization has provided jobs to the women section of the society and at the same time increased their possibility of exploitation apart from providing them economic freedom. Globalization has produced new discourse in various field of occupation. The involvement of several sections of the society has produced new instances in the field of politics. The feminists believe that the phenomenon of globalization has not been able to produce a condition of equality among the men and the women. There have been various landmark initiatives in the political course of action like the increase in the number of women representatives in the parliament, activities for ensuring women rights, education and livelihood for women, etc. Although the economic and political scenario has changed in the process of globalization, the exploitation and the discrimination towards women have not changed to a great deal (Beneria, 2003, p.47). The process of globalization is challenged by the various political and social resistances. The cultural and religious roots of the society could not easily be transformed and the spread of economic activities as globalization

Dementia Care Co-ordination

Dementia Care Co-ordination Dementia is perplexing condition and individuals with dementia have pro care needs. Individuals with dementia seek for the support and consideration they get to empower them to stay free, dynamic and socially locked in. Suppositions ought not be made that individuals with dementia cant appreciate a decent personal satisfaction or express needs and inclinations. This is valid at each phase of a mans dementia. The Alzheimers Society 2010 report my name is not dementia discovered individuals with dementia at each stage could express sentiments about their personal satisfaction. Research with individuals with dementia did to educate the advancement of the 2010 National Dementia Declaration plot key goals communicated by individuals with dementia, including: I realize that administrations are planned around me and my needs. I have support that helps me carry on with my life. Guaranteeing consideration is concentrated around requirements is a more noteworthy need for consideration in consideration homes and in individuals own particular homes. In healing facilities, consideration ought to be concentrated around guaranteeing individuals with dementia can be upheld to come back to the group when they are capable. Assessment: This position proclamation layouts Alzheimers Societys open strategy position on the formal consideration of individuals with dementia and the central standards which ought to underlie such care, independent of the earth in which it is given. Individuals with dementia are frequently visit beneficiaries of formal consideration gave by wellbeing and social administrations. Formal consideration is given by paid staff, for example, medical attendants and consideration specialists, working either in consideration settings, for example, clinics and consideration homes, or in individuals own homes. Alzheimers Society accepts that formal consideration of individuals with dementia ought to hold fast to the accompanying standards: Provided by staff prepared in giving great dementia care, who have entry to expert backing Focused on addressing needs and goals Promoting of respect and regard and keeping up human rights Closely facilitated between diverse experts and administrations crosswise over wellbeing, social care and lodging. Planning Allocating proper administrations or assets to address issues. Involvement of family/ whanau and carers and multidisciplinary group, for example, social specialists, physiotherapist Involve person in planning. Dominant part of the consideration gave to individuals dementia originates from casual carers, individuals with dementia are noteworthy clients of formal consideration administrations. Formal consideration is given via care specialists, nursing staff or other wellbeing and social consideration experts. It can constitute individual consideration, helping the individual with ordinary undertakings, for example, getting washed or dressed, or can comprise of medicinal or nursing consideration. The accurate way of formal consideration and who is in charge of giving it will rely on upon the consideration settings and the singulars particular needs. While there are numerous cases of fantastic quality consideration, time after time we catch wind of formal care not being centered around addressing individuals requirements and goals, and failings in treating individuals with nobility and appreciation. Guaranteeing individuals with dementia get great consideration, gave by suitably prepared staf f, is crucial to meeting the test of dementia. Where consideration is not of adequate quality, it can have antagonistic repercussions for individuals with dementia and their carer. Deficient or poor consideration can deny individuals with dementia open doors for a decent personal satisfaction and lead to higher general consideration costs through right on time admissions to give a second thought homes and avoidable admissions to healing center. Deficient and poor consideration can likewise affect on the physical and psychological well-being of carers. Where formal consideration does address issues, it can add to keeping up individuals with dementias personal satisfaction, serving to hold their freedom and conceivably diminishing weight on all the more exorbitant consideration settings, for example, intense clinics. Coordination Professional/ carer connection up individual with accessible environment/ association assets. Structured settings for people with higher bolster needs. Improve accessibility and access of assets in the group. Following up with Drs arrangement. Staff trained in providing good dementia care that has access to specialist support Individuals with dementia have pro needs and staff giving formal consideration to individuals with dementia must have sufficient preparing and backing in the event that they are to give great consideration. Individuals with dementia may encounter issues imparting and may battle to express their inclinations and needs. They might likewise show behavioral and mental indications of dementia, which should be comprehended in the event that they are to be reacted to properly. Staff working with individuals with dementia ought to see how to correspond with individuals with dementia to inspire sees about their inclinations and needs. Inability to properly speak with the individual with dementia can bring about improper choices being made about their consideration and pessimistic results for the individual with dementia. For instance, care laborers or nursing staff neglecting to perceive that a man with dementia is in agony or pain will most likely be unable to react to mitigate that torment, or staff may react to behavioral indications of dementia with antipsychotic drug, instead of looking to give individual focused consideration. Where staff are prepared and upheld, they increase more noteworthy prize from giving consideration to individuals dementia, prompting lower rates of turnover and more noteworthy coherence of consideration. Proper preparing and bolster additionally advances the procurement of respect and sympathy in nurturing individuals with dementia. Alzheimers Society accepts that preparation ought to be required though staff giving formal couldnt care less to individuals with dementia, this is particularly essential for new staff who might not have any experience working with individuals with dementia. Magistrates ought to guarantee forefront consideration staff have admittance to pro backing, for instance through authorizing group and healing facility psychological well-being contact groups. Those giving consideration administrations ought to consider minimal effort and free wellsprings of data, for instance assets gave by Alzheimers Society Strengths: Improves access to give a second thought from group to clinic and the other way around Supports emotional correspondence in the middle of individual and health awareness administrations Weakness: Still progressing research about adequacy of consideration coordination Different capabilities, abilities and encounters of careworker. RIGHTS BASED APPROACH OF DEMENTIA Alzheimer crusades to guarantee that all enactment, arrangement and procedures influencing individuals living with dementia are supported by human rights. A human rights based methodology is about making individuals mindful of their rights, whilst expanding the responsibility of people and establishments who are in charge of regarding, ensuring and satisfying rights. Assessment It mirrors the guidelines officially set by the United Nations and other universal instruments by perceiving: The need to advance and secure the human privileges of all persons with handicaps, including the individuals who require more concentrated backing. Individuals with incapacities must be ensured the fullest conceivable acknowledgment of their human rights including a chance to partake in and add to society, and where essential, with the most astounding feasible standard of consideration. That victimization any individual on the premise of incapacity is an infringement of the characteristic respect and worth of the human individual. Human rights not being met. Individuals entitlement to pick who to be included in their evaluation and plan, for example, family/ support individual. Identifies fairness and assorted qualities issues. planning Adjusting singulars rights with wellbeing experts and group rights Boost investment and strengthening Participation Everyone has the privilege to take part in choices which influence them. Investment must be without dynamic, important and offer thoughtfulness regarding issues of openness, incorporating access to data in a structure and a dialect which can be caught on. Accountability Requires successful checking of human rights measures and viable solutions for human rights breaks Non-separation and balance A human rights based methodology implies that all types of segregation in the acknowledgment of rights must be disallowed, anticipated and killed. Empowerment Individuals and groups ought to comprehend their rights and ought to be completely bolstered to take an interest in the advancement of strategy and practices which influence their lives. Legality A human rights based methodology requires the acknowledgment of rights as legitimately enforceable qualifications and is connected into national and worldwide human rights law. Coordination The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is the first human rights bargain of the 21st Century setting out and avowing the privileges of individuals with handicaps. Alzheimers Disease International (ADI) is the global league of more than 80 Alzheimer relationship around the globe, looking to address dementia on a worldwide level. The association has built up authority relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) and enrollment of the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (NCD Alliance). Strengths: †¢ Human right rules guarantee people have entry to health awareness and assets. †¢ Holds association/ offices responsible for creating approaches and projects predictable with human rights. Weakness: †¢ Conflicts for wellbeing experts when arrangement not meeting rights to get to give a second thought. †¢ Availability of assets to ensure human rights are met. Other informations (Care Coordination and Rights based approach of DEMENTIA ) Individuals with dementia may need support and administrations to empower them to carry on with a decent personal satisfaction. Care coordination and Rights based methodology is intended to give a person with dementia a chance to live and make the most of their life without bounds without stresses. Guarantee that individuals with dementia will have a superb quality care and administrations to support their needs, in this manner keeping up the personal satisfaction. COMPARISON OF TWO MODELS: Today human services is seen as an item to be bought and patients until now seen as latent beneficiaries of social insurance have transformed into engaged customers. As shoppers the customers summon the consideration of suppliers and medicinal services administrators who have an obligation to guarantee their fulfillment. Additionally like purchasers it has been noticed that health awareness customers are getting progressively connected with rights, force and strengthening. Their present status empowers them to take control of their circumstances and accomplish their own particular objectives. It watched that it additionally empowers them to work towards the expansion of the nature of their lives. Utilizing their energy, customers interest for good quality human services: their interest is upheld by the World Health Organization, Alma Ata affirmation of 1978, and the constitution of the World Health Organization (1966). The last, expressed that, great wellbeing is a privilege out of every other person on earth. This is translated to mean a privilege to accessibility, openness and moderateness of good quality health awareness. It takes after that human services ought to be given in a manner that is satisfactory and agreeable to the buyer, who likewise has the force of decision. Literary works flourish on the customers energy of decision (Rogers, 1993, Melville 1997). Nonetheless, suffice it to note that the customer as a shopper utilizes this energy to choose in the middle of options and picks what gives him/her best fulfillment. This was additionally noted by Alagbe (2001), who refering to the Law of negligible utility expressed that Customers are reasonable and can gauge the utility or fulfillment they get from every thing expended, and given an aggregate objectivity buyers choose a mix of products and administrations that will amplify their fulfillment. WHO concentrate on the privileges of individuals, as opposed to the needs of recipients. Its a vital qualification, in light of the fact that an unfulfilled need prompts disappointment, while a right that is not regarded prompts an infringement.

The Medias Influence on Teenage Suicide Essay -- Teenage Suicide Essa

The Media's Influence on Teenage Suicide   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fiction: Only â€Å"bad† kids who have the wrong friends and bad lives commit suicide. Fact: Kids who have the right friends and a bright future in front of them commit suicide. Fiction: Music, movies, and other forms of media do not influence teenagers in any way, shape, or form. Fact: Music, movies, and other forms of media are influencing teenagers to commit suicide.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Teenage suicide is on the rise at an alarming rate. While depression and other social pressures play a significant role in suicide among teenagers, there is evidence showing that music, movies, and other ways the media portrays suicide as glamorous and noble is having a major influence on teenagers considering suicide.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Every year more than 4,000 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 24 commit suicide and another 400,000 attempt suicide; the number of suicides may be even higher because many suicides are hidden by families who report the suicides as accidents or murders (Klagsburn 16). â€Å"Suicide now ranks as the third leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 24, trailing only accidents and homicides†(Worsnop 371). Over the past four decades, teenage suicide rose a staggering 200 percent (Waters 49). â€Å"Of all the suicides studied among people under 25, nearly two-thirds of them were committed with guns, teenagers who committed suicide by hanging themselves ranked second, and poisoning ranked third† (Colburn 5.)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many warning signs of suicide. A teenager contemplating suicide will drop numerous clues before attempting suicide. Such warning signs as withdrawal from the family, changes in eating and sleeping habits, as well as loss of interest in schoolwork or favorite activities, such as participation in athletics. Some teenagers express a preoccupation with pain, death, or suicide. They often talk of death and make actual threats to end their life. Many teenagers will drop verbal clues such as: â€Å"I might as well be dead,† or â€Å"you’ll be sorry when I’m gone.† (Goldstein, 55.) A preparation for death may take place, for instance, giving away prized possessions (Worsnop, 372-73). In some cases, the most ominous sign of suicidal intent is the sudden onset of apparent peace of mind after a long period of troubling behavior. Such a mood change may indicate the person has finally resolved to commit suicide and thus h... ...of Violent Entertainment. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Hutchings, David. â€Å"I Started Thinking about Dying.† People. February 18, 1985: 88-89. Keller, Julia. â€Å"Too Regular Shootings Have Left Many Numb.† Chicago Tribune.1 Aug 1999. Klagsburn, Francine. Too Young to Die. Boston: Houghton  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mifflin, 1976. Newton, David E. Violence and the Media: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara: Instructional Horizons, 1996. Pond, Steve. â€Å"Student Body Count.† Rolling Stone. April 1989: 38. Royal Commission on Violence in the Communications Industry. Volume 1: Approaches, Conclusions, and Recommendations. Toronto: The Royal Commission on Violence in the communications Industry, 1976. â€Å"TV Suicide Link: Fatal Retraction.† Science News.October, 1987: 218. â€Å"Suicide Belt.† Time. September 1, 1980: 56. Trafford, Abigail. â€Å"Death at an Early Age.† The Washington Post. June 6, 1995: 6. Waters, Harry, et al. â€Å"Teenage Suicide: One Act Not to Follow.† Newsweek. April 18, 1994: 49. Worsnop, Richard L. â€Å"Teenage Suicide.† CQ Researcher 1.6   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (June 6, 1991): 371-91. Zirkel, Perry A. â€Å"Another Case of Student Suicide.† Phi Delta Kappa. 77 (Sept. 1995): 91-94.

Implementing change Essay

Managers are entrusted with a leadership role for an organization with an aim to set out objectives and create the right environment and effective techniques to meet those objectives. There are supposed to come up with creative ideas on the change needed in the organization and how that change should be implemented with minimal difficulties while at the same time reaping maximum benefits from the change. A manager’s role and responsibility in implementing change One major step towards achieving this is of course through having a very clear sense of goals. When the management is equipped with a clear sense of goals and objectives, then it will be possible for an organization or an institution to have a new direction. The manager is important at this stage. He or she is responsible for coming up with specific objectives and determining what direction the institution is supposed to take. It is imperative that the leader or in this case the manager learn to be patient because in many cases change demands patience. As a manager, one should be well informed on his or her team so as to have a good knowledge on which members can be best used. Banutu & Banutu 2003) The task of management in times of implementing change demands good communication skills. One of the manager’s main tasks is relaying ideas, mission, goals, and objectives of the institution to the subordinates. It is therefore important that the manager is skilled in communication so as to effectively hammer the point home. Good communication skills are two way. The manager should also be a good observer and listener so as to understand any information or feedback that may be coming from the team members. Managers should also act as role models to their team by for instance setting an example of sacrifice. To make the process of change easier, the manager’s behavior should provide a model for motivation. He or she should be ready to listen to team members, respect them, delegate some powers to them, and assist them. Such characters and actions go a long way in motivating the team and elevating their interest to the task at hand. Team members are not only inspired with a mission but also motivated to initiate novelty and new ways of thinking. For a change process to be successful, the manager is supposed to build trust among group members and ensure that they think and work as a unit as opposed to working as individuals. The manager should be able to nurture intimacy among members, demonstrate self confidence, integrity, and honesty. He or she should be able to connect real life personal experiences with transformational requirements or behaviors of the institution. The manager should have a strong sense of involvement with the team and its activities. This way, the influence process becomes easier and more effective. It is imperative the manager fully understands the task ahead and relays that to the subordinates. This attribute should be coupled with high level commitment to the institution. Integrity and consistency are paramount in the change process if the laid down objectives are to be realized. (Banutu & Banutu 2003) Handling staff resistance to change One of the most common characteristics in the change process is resistance towards change by members of the organization. Though resistance to change is mainly viewed negatively, it can have positive outcomes too. For instance, staff resistance can lead to a functional conflict. This sought of conflict stimulates a healthy debate among members and the leadership as well. Such a debate sheds light on the various faces of change and ultimately leads to a better decision in the end. Staff resistance though could act as a major obstacle to an organization’s pursuit to achieve change and progress. If the staff is adamant to change its mindset to fit and adapt with changing times, then the organization will experience difficulties adapting and achieving progress. Managers are supposed to come up with ways to deal with staff resistance and ensure that the staff is collaborative instead of the other way round. (Kelly 1992) Communicating with staff members is a significant step in dealing with resistance. The leadership should take its time in demonstrating the logic of change to the staff and get rid of any chances of misinformation or misunderstanding. As indicated earlier, involvement of the staff in decision making is a beneficial tactic in ensuring that staff members not only implement change but also feel as being a part of it. This reduces the level of resistance, increases the change quality of the staff, and achieves commitment from the staff. The manager can also provide individuals who can handle and manage change activities or act as one. The manager or the change agents can offer facilitation and support to staff members so the idea of change and its actual implementation can be easier and more understandable. (Holton 2003) Another method through which managers can avert potential resistance is through negotiation with the staff. The management can offer the staff something like a reward in exchange of lessened resistance. The manager should however be wary of blackmail because some staff members may take advantage of this and demand rewards in any event of a change process. When ‘clean’ strategies fail or deemed unreliable to avert staff resistance, the manager can use cooptation and manipulation techniques so as to achieve his or her ends. Making facts look appealing more than they really are and hatching force rumors can get the staff to accept change and actually look forward to its implementation. The personalities leading the resistance can be bought off by the manager by offering them important positions in the change process. They are made to feel as if they engaged in opposing change but in actual sense the plan goes unhitched. The last trick on the book is the use of coercion. The manager gives direct threats to the staff members and applies direct force. Other measures include transfer of members, demotion, poor letter recommendation, or outright firing. It is important that the staff understands they are not indispensable as the change that the organization is seeking is more important than an individual career. (Bass & Avolio 1994) Steps of the change process The management with the collaboration and active participation of the staff should engage themselves in assessing the organization’s goals and objectives. There should be an extensive understanding of why the organization is taking the change path and how well equipped it is to actually implement its objectives. In the event that the management feels time is not ripe for a particular change process to be initiated, then it can be shelved until the right time comes. The management should put all facts on the table and analyze them before it starts to implement them. All possible scenarios to the process should be considered. In the planning process, it is important that the manager ensures that staff members fully comprehend the plan ahead of them. It is also important that staff members are to a certain level involved in the process. The reasons for using participation, as discussed earlier, is to gain the collaboration of the staff and reduce chances of resistance. Carrying out the actual change process calls for dedication from everyone involved. Any challenges such as staff resistance should be dealt with swiftly. During the evaluation, the management should go back to the aims and objectives outlined during the planning process. External evaluators should be invited so as to avoid any chances of bias. (Banutu & Banutu 2003) Conclusion Only one thing is certain in any place and that is change. Organizations, just as human beings, are in a process of change. It is up to the management to ensure that this is change is to the positive. The modern world is characterized by cutthroat competition and there is no room for being stagnant.

Medical Tourism Marketing Strategy in Thailand Essay

Abstract Thailand has emerged as a leading medical tourism destination in recent years. The increase in the number of international patients shows that Thailand has great potential for medical tourism and the improvement of its marketing strategies will further increase the image of Thailand as a medical tourism destination. In order to face off the challenges of growing competition form India, Singapore, Malaysia and other destinations, Thailand needs among other things to improve its marketing as a favourite medical tourism destination in the region. Therefore, this exploratory research was set to evaluate the current marketing strategies of healthcare providers and intermediaries through interviews with stakeholders and observation, and to propose effective marketing strategies for preserving and enhancing Thailand’s position as a leading medical tourism destination. This qualitative research employed semi-structured interviews to examine the current marketing strategies of Thailand’s healthcare service providers. Interviews took place with healthcare service providers (public hospitals, private hospitals, and clinics), medical travel agents and related parties, at several popular tourism destinations of Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya. Respondents were selected through purposive sampling. In addition, observation of stakeholders’ websites and online marketing of service providers of competitors (Singapore, India, and Malaysia) took place. The paper identifies the strengths of Thailand’s healthcare service providers and points at a number of problems that may reduce the growth opportunity of this industry. These include lack of practical government policies with regard to medical tourism and of other supporting regulations, lack of organization as a cooperation centre aimed at promoting the medical tourism industry as a whole, remaining low awareness of the opportunities presented by the industry among potential foreign patients, and shortage of doctors and qualified medical staff. Measures for improvement are suggested. Keywords: medical travel, medical tourism, Thailand, marketing strategies 1. Introduction Medical tourism is a new form of a niche tourism market which has been rapidly growing in the recent years. The term â€Å"Medical tourism† describes tourists who travel to oversea countries to obtain healthcare services and facilities such as medical, dental and surgical care whilst having the opportunity to combine it with visiting the tourist attractions of that country. The main groups of Medical tourists come from the industrialized countries of the world especially Europe, the UK, Middle East, Japan, U.S. and Canada where the cost of medical treatment is very expensive and there are often long waiting times for treatments [1]. Other than Thailand, countries that are currently promoting medical tourism are Bolivia, Brazil, Belgium, Cuba, Costa Rica, Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore and South Korea. The main reasons for the growing popularity in medical tourism are: 1.) The long waiting lists in the developed countries, 2.) The low cos t of medical treatments in developing countries, 3.) The affordable international air fares and favorable exchange rates, 4.) The Internet; with the development of communications, new companies have emerged who acts as middlemen between international patients and hospital networks, giving patients easy access to information, prices and option, 5.) The state-of-art technology that has been adopted by the new healthcare services [2]. Thailand has emerged in recent years as one of the leaders in the industry. Data collected from 30 private hospitals by Department of Export Promotion of Ministry of Commerce shows the increasing number of international patients who came to obtain the medical treatments in private hospitals in Thailand. In 1997 only 120,000 patients came for medical treatment; since then, the number has drastically increased to 975,532 in 2003 and 1,356,000 in 2006 (see Figure 1). Source: Data collected from 30 private hospitals by Department of Export Promotion, Ministry of Commerce (cited in http://mrd-hss.moph.go.th/ac/download.asp) Thailand has a number of competitive advantages: it is already a well-known tourist destination; it is one of the first countries which entered the medical tourism market; it is known for its unique culture of service – the renown Thai hospitality; and also provides high quality services by qualified staff at a reasonable price. Under the guidance and regulation of the Ministry of Public Health, some Thai hospitals have been recognized and approved for the standards set by the Hospital Accreditation of both Thailand and International (Joint Commission International or JCI), and also other international standards such as ISO and Hazards and Critical Control Points Principle (HACCP). Thailand’s main Asian competitors in the industry of medical tourism are India, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong [3]. India, with its lower cost of health services, has recently emerged as an important competitor to Thailand. It had approximately 150,000 patients in 2004 and the Indian government predicted that this industry could grow by 13% per year in the near future [4]. Despite this, India still lacks the quality of standards and infrastructure, and suffers from a negative image due to the low hygiene and sanitation perception of travelers. Singapore has high living standards, a strong government support for the medical tourism industry, excellent English speaking communication and high quality medical services. Their services are offered at somewhat higher prices than in Thailand but are still much cheaper than in developed countries. In 2006, 410,000 patients traveled to Singapore specifically for healthcare and the country hopes to attract 1 million medical travelers annually by 2012 (www.singaporemedicine.com). Malaysia also offers low prices for healthcare services, and as a predominantly Muslim country has a competitive advantage in attracting patients from the Middle East [5]. According to the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia [6], the number of international patients seeking medical services in Malaysia has grown from 75,210 patients in 2001 to 296,687 patients in 2006 and generated 59 million USD in revenue. In order to face off the challenges of growing competition, Thailand needs among other things to improve its marketing of healthcare services. Therefore, this research was set with the objectives to study and observe the current marketing strategies of service providers in medical tourism in Thailand (public hospitals, private hospitals, clinics, and medical travel agents) and related parties such as the Ministry of Public Health, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and to analyze and evaluate the marketing strategies of Thailand and its main competitors in the region (Singapore, India, and Malaysia) in order to come up with a proposal of effective marketing strategies to develop and promote medical tourism in the country. This is the first such study carried out in Thailand, and is expected to enhance knowledge as well as to contribute to the development effective planning in the future and to enhancing the co-operation between stakeholders. current marketing strategies of Thailand’s medical tourism service providers. Interviews took place with healthcare service providers (public hospitals, private hospitals, and clinics), medical travel agents and related parties, at several popular tourism destinations of Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya. Respondents were selected through purposive sampling, based on information from secondary data and the researchers’ experience in the area, as well as observation of healthcare providers’ websites. Criteria for inclusion in the interview list included: membership in Thailand Private Hospital Association, high number of international patients who received medical treatments, active marketing on the Internet, and non-medical care serviced provided to the patients. The interview topics included questions related to current and future target markets and marketing strategies, channel distribution, positioning, main competitors, threats to medical tourism in Thailand, industry collaboration, involvement of new stakeholders, medical travel packaging, and other relevant topics. In addition, observation of stakeholders’ websites and online marketing of service providers of competitors (Singapore, India, and Malaysia) was used to accomplish the objectives of the study. 3. Results and Discussions The findings from the interviews with the healthcare service providers and observation of stakeholders’ websites about the current marketing strategies used by Thailand’s healthcare service providers are described based on the 7 Ps of marketing mix: Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, Process, and Physical Evidence [7], [8]. Product: Thailand’s healthcare service providers offer a wide range of tertiary and elective medical treatments such as Cardiology, Orthopedic, Cosmetic and 2. Methodology This qualitative research employed semi-structured interviews to examine the Plastic surgery, Dental care, Eye treatment, and etc. to attract the international patients. Well-trained medical staff with international board certification (US, UK, Australia, Germany, Japan) are considered as a valuable asset of the companies and used as an important tool to promote healthcare services. The patients of Bumrungrad Hospital and Bangkok Hospital Medical Center (the major player of Thailand’s medical tourism business) can select their required doctors through their websites by name, gender, photo, medical qualification, their specialty, language spoken, and even the working day. Moreover, the cutting-edge technology and equipment available made by each service provider was also used as one of the major products in this industry. Quality of treatment in a less-developed and developing countries is the major concern raised by the medical travelers from industrialized countries. Most of respondents commented that Thailand is still considered as developing country among Westerners, especially those who have never been in the country before, so the availability of high quality medical care services is not easily recognized – unlike Singapore, with its positive image of high living standards country. However, the results of previous research [2] about satisfaction with health service in Thailand indicated that most of the patients who have been treated were very satisfied with facility of hospitals, medical staffs’ professionalism, and quality of medical treatments and willing to recommend to their friends/relatives which spread word of mouth information to more potential patients Another marketing strategy used by service providers is to create more value through services. Superior value-added services have been created to differentiate themselves from their increasing competitors, increasing its efficiency, creating convenience for the patients, and developing and strengthening the customer relationships. These non-medical care services are services such as, on-line service for medical arrangement, travel arrangement, interpreter services in many languages (Arabic, Burmese, Bengali, Bhutanese, English, French, Japanese, Korean, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and etc), luxury service apartments for patients’ relatives adjacent to the hospital, hotel selection and reservation, sightseeing tour services, medical transportation both on land and air, one-to-one nursing care service, and etc. Major healthcare service providers in Thailand have started expanding their business to other countries by investing in and/or operating hospitals or medical center overseas. These hospitals function as a diagnostic center for screening cases and also for follow-ups in medical treatments. Bumrungrad Hospital invested in the newest private medical center in Manila, Philippines and is investing about US$ 10 million into a new hospital in Dubai, as well as having plans to manage other two new regional hospitals in Yangon, Myanmar and Dhaka, Bangladesh to expand its operations in other potential countries. Moreover, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Group (a listed holding company operates 17 hospitals in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, and Koh Samui which also includes Samitivaj Hospital, Bangkok Hospital Center, and BNH Hospital) already operates the Royal Angkor International Hospital in Siem Reap, Cambodia and also has future plans of setting up diagnostic centers in Abu Dhabi, and the United Arab Emirates which will be a joint venture hospital network to the UAE and the Middle-East. It also plans to open a boutique hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia which will offer health check-up programs, investigating diseases and primary treatments as well as making referrals of patients to Bangkok Hospital Medical Center in Bangkok for further secondary treatments if needed in the near future. Price: Thailand’s healthcare service providers have a competitive advantage among their competitor due to its high standard of medical treatments and services offered to the patients at a very competitive price. Singapore offer medical treatments at a higher price than Thailand because of its positioning as a high-end complex quality acute care [9]. India offers lower price than Thailand but still has the negative image of poor hygiene and sanitation. India complicated medical procedures are being done only at one tenth of the cost in industrialized countries but in terms of infrastructure facilities such as roads, sanitation, power backups, accommodations, and public utility s ervices much more is needed for the country to become a medical tourism destination [4]. Malaysia offers prices lower than Thailand, partly due to the favorable exchange rate but its focus is mainly on the Muslim patients from Indonesia, Brunei and the Middle East. Place: Internet is the main means for disseminating information related to medical and non-medical care services offered by each of healthcare service providers (both hospitals, and clinics). It is the most effective and inexpensive way to reach the product to its target customers directly, and at the same time helping patients acquire correct and valuable information allowing them to make an informed decision. Informative online marketing of each service provider creates awareness of the medical treatments available and reassures potential patients. Interactive communication, treatments description, description of services and facilities, quality assurance other concierge services were also presented on the websites to attract the patient who are on medical traveling program. At the moment Thailand does not have a central organization to publicize valuable information on the health care services to the medical travelers. Singapore established the outstanding websitewww.singaporemedicine.com as the center of the country’s healthcare services. It aims at promoting Singapore as a world class medical tourism destination, and has proved very successful in this respect. All the healthcare service providers mentioned that there is the increasing use of agents in the target countries to be representative for them. These agents provide information and recommend the patients regarding their treatments to the hospitals. They work as a center cooperating between patients and hospitals for screening cases, sending all the necessary me dical reports of the patients to the hospitals. And at the same time agents have the responsibility of advertising and doing marketing in those countries for healthcare service providers, spreading word of mouth advertising of service assurance and reliability. Some respondents expressed concerns about the services of the medical travel agents, with regard to low accuracy in the medical correspondence and overpromising to the patients which both lead to overall patient’s subsequent dissatisfaction and create negative image of the medical service provider. Promotion: Most healthcare service providers particularly hospitals participate in travel marts, travel fairs, trade fair, exhibitions, seminars, conferences, and advertise in travel magazines in countries with the supporting from the government. With the cooperation from the Ministry of Public Health, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Department of Export Promotion (DEP) organized these activities for promoting healthcare services to in ternational markets. In addition, other informative materials such as brochures, booklets, video-cds, paper bags and t-shirt with logos were also used to create awareness of the available healthcare services as well. Moreover, some healthcare service providers build up cooperation with the local institutes, universities, medical schools in other countries to establish collaboration in education, exchange of knowledge and training as well as to promote their alternative healthcare services. Advertising about medical and nonmedical services in both local and international media are used by healthcare service providers. The advertisement has to be based on Thai laws and regulations about how to advertise healthcare services. Media such as magazines, newspaper (both in Thai and English), television etc. are used to target local people and expatriates who work in Thailand. For the international market, most of respondents stated that they let medical travel agents do the marketing in each target country whic h is based on their professional background and knowledge about those people’s behavior. Articles, video, news related to their high quality and standard of medical treatments and services, health issues, latest medical technology equipment, quality assurance/awards/accreditation available on their own websites and also to the international media. These help to create awareness of the available alternative medical treatments as well as to build up a positive image of the high quality and international standard of medical care in Thailand. People: Another strategy that healthcare service providers use to attract the international patients for their treatments in Thailand is to emphasize its well-trained medical specialists, over with degrees from well-known overseas institutes. It was acknowledged by all the health care service providers that having specialized and qualified doctors and staffs proved a competitive advantage for the hospitals. This has been observed for example on the websites of Bumrungrad hospital and Bangkok hospital, where the qualifications of doctors and hospitality of nurses and the medical staff were intensively promoted to attract and capture the potential patients. However, shortage of doctors and trained medical staff was the major concern currently commented by the respondents. Moreover, language communication skills – sometimes of doctors, but more often of nurses, receptionists, and other relevant staffs – and misunderstanding of the patients’ culture were still considered as problem and challenges for the medical tourism business for both hospitals and clinics. Process: Patients who seek medical treatments abroad are mostly concerned with the quality of treatments and have to make sure the hospital they select is licensed and preferably accredited by a recognized international organization that audits medical quality. Therefore, acquiring the international accreditation with Joint Commission International (JCI) which recognizes that the standard of the hospital meets or exceeds the standard of medical facilities in the US was used as one of the marketing strategy tools by healthcare service providers. Currently, in Thailand Bumrungrad Hospital, Samitivej Hospital, and Bangkok Hospital Medical Center attained this JCI accreditation, compared to 11 hospitals in Singapore (accounting for one-third of all JCIaccredited facilities in Asia), and 8 hospitals in India [9]. There are other hospital assurance schemes and awards which are also important to guarantee the quality of medical care services, such as Thailand Hospital Accreditation Program (HA) conducted by the Institute of Hospital Quality Improvement & Accreditation, and ISO. Moreover, the result from observation indicated that the websites of the major hospitals display not only JCI accreditation but also other awards and Thai government’s accreditation treatments such as ISO, HACCP, HA (Thailand Hospital Accreditation Program), and so on to reassure the standard and their high quality of medical treatments. Physical Evidence: Because the healthcare system has developed relatively recently in Thailand, it has been observed that the major healthcare service providers have developed significantly in both infrastructures and facilities. Most hospitals have a good ambience in their buildings with spacious, luxury rooms and excellent amenities same as that of a five star hotel for patients and relatives, and also come equipped with cutting-edge technology. This is a competitive advantage of Thailand in order to gain the confidence and build up the trust of international patients, making a decision to choose Thailand as their preferred choice. References [1] Connell, J. (2006). Medical tourism: Sea, Sun, Sand and †¦ Surgery. Tourism Management , 27 (6), 1093-1100. [2] Suthin, K., Assenov, I., and Tirasatayapitak, A. (2007). Medical Tourism: Can supply keep up with the demand. Proceedings, APac-CHRIE & Asia Pacific Tourism Association Joint Conference 2007, May 23-27 May, 2007, Beijing, China. [3] Bangkok Bank. (2005). Health Products and Health Services: Another Industry in which Thailand is Competitive. Retrieved August 25, 2007, from http://www.bangkokbank.com/download/Hea lth_Products_and_Health_Services.pdf. [4] Kaur, J., Sundar. G H., Vaidya D., and Bhargava S. (2007). Health Tourism in India Growth and Opportunities. Proceedings, International Marketing Conference on Marketing & Society, 415-422. Retrieved September 2, 2007, from http://dspace.iimk.ac.in/bitstream/2259/345/1 /415-422.pdf [5] Tirasatayapitak, A., Suthin, K., and Assenov, I. (2007). Medical Tourism in Thailand: Meeting Better the Needs of Japanese Tourists a nd Patients. Thailand: Prince of Songkla University. [6] Advertising and Publicity Division, Tourism Malaysia. (2007). Media Info Health Tourism in Malaysia, Retrieved April 4, 2008, from http://www.tourism.gov.my/tourismbiz/medi acentre/articles/travelideas/PR%20Health%2 0Tourism%206%20Nov%2007.pdf [7] Kotler, P., Armstrong, G. (2008). Principles of Marketing. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. [8] Chartered Institute of Marketing. (2005). Marketing and the 7Ps A brief summary of 4. Conclusion The medical tourism industry in Thailand is still growing and expanding in spite of the high competition. Both online and offline promotion tools were used to create awareness of the availability of high quality medical care and non-medical care services, reassure patients about the standards and quality of medical treatments, and offer alternative healthcare services for selection by potential target customers. This research had recommended marketing strategies for further promoting medical tourism in Thailand. These include building and promoting the image of Thailand as â€Å"High quality medical tourism destination†, creating and promoting new combination of medical tourism products, promoting as health and wellness destination, exporting healthcare business to other countries, keeping up the high standard of quality treatments at a reasonable price, providing informative online and offline materials and make them available to the potential customers, emphasize on patients ’ testimonials (word of mouth), attaining the accreditation/standard to reassure the quality of treatments as well as emphasizing on the needs and demands of the existing target markets and also the potential target markets. This research also identified some issues related to the development and expanding of medical tourism in Thailand which may slow down the growth of this business. The researcher hopes that these issues will be given immediate attention and addressed responsibly and appropriately by the government, healthcare services providers and the other related stakeholders in the nearest future. marketing and how it works. Retrieved March 1, 2008 from www.cim.co.uk/MediaStore/FactFiles/Factifi le7ps.pdf [9] Boston Consulting Group. (2008). Overview of Medical Tourism – Give back deck. BCG.