On 23 August 2023, H.E. Mr. Worawoot Pongprapapant, Director-General of the Department of South Asian, Middle East, and African Affairs, led the heads of diplomatic missions from the Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait, to visit the Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute (CNMI) and to meet with the executives of the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital of Mahidol University.
The Director-General emphasised the importance of exploring ways and means to broaden cooperation on public health between Thailand and the Middle Eastern countries, particularly through academic exchanges, and reiterated Thailand’s high standard of medical care and quality treatments and professionalism of the medical personels, as well as, strengthened Thailand’s medical tourism and wellness retreat hub.

In addition, Professor Piyamitr Sritara, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, together with the executives introduced the delegations to the overview of the CNMI, as well as, its related projects to further develop a comprehensive health care facility and infrastructure with the aim to becoming a major medical hub in Asia. The diplomatic missions from the Middle Eastern countries also received a facility tour including the ER/paramedic, rehabilitation center at the CNMI.

In 2022, more than 10.4 million foreign visitors including visitors from the Middle East region travelled to Thailand for leisure and medical purposes. Tourists particularly from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, visit Thailand for medical treatment of complex diseases including bone diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.

The CNMI visit marks the collaboration between the Department of South Asian, Middle East, and African Affairs, and the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital of Mahidol University, to allow the foreign Ambassadors to witness firsthand Thailand’s capacities, potentials, and technological advancements in the field of medical services. The visit also showcased investment opportunities, as well as, academic exchanges opportunities between Thailand and Middle East region.