Business Development Asia LLC

South East Asian Health News

ISSUE 7, JUNE 1998

THAILAND

Bangkok General Hospital (BGH), the leading Thai hospital company, announced that it is negotiating with foreign investors as an alternative to increasing specialized services or reducing staff size. Private hospitals that expanded rapidly over the last several years are now finding it difficult to maintain their services due to the economic situation in Thailand. (June 8^th 1998)

Boots Retail Thailand, a subsidiary of the UK based health and beauty retailer, is expanding with an investment of Bht400m (US$11m) in at least 40 new stores by the end of 1999. Boots reported that further investment over the next two years would open 150 new stores with the eventual employment of 2,500 staff members. (May 14^th 1998)

Hoechst Marion Roussel (HMR) reported a 10% drop in the wholesale turnover of pharmaceuticals in Thailand in Q1 of 1998. According to HMR, which controls 4% of the pharmaceuticals market in Thailand, the drop in sales is due to a decline in orders from hospitals and clinics and a general reduction in health care spending. HMR Thailand had 1997 revenues of Bht1.1bn (US$30m) in Thailand, representing a 14% increase from 1996. (May 15^th 1998)

The Thai FDA reported that although the anti-impotence drug, Viagra, has been approved by the US FDA, it will take at least two years to be approved in Thailand. Viagra would only be approved as a prescription drug. (May 15^th 1998)