In October 2023, ImagineHealth Co., Ltd. co-organized the international online conference “Thailand Medical Tourism Days in Russia”, bringing together healthcare, medical tourism, tourism, education and business representatives from Thailand and Russia.
The virtual conference was organized together with the Moscow Department of Healthcare, the Research Institute of Healthcare Organization and Medical Management of the Moscow Department of Healthcare, and the Russian Association of Medical Tourism.
Conducted in English and Russian, the event created a dedicated platform for Thai healthcare organizations to engage directly with Russian professional audiences and explore opportunities for longer-term institutional cooperation.
Introducing Thailand’s healthcare capabilities to Russia
The conference provided a broad introduction to Thailand’s healthcare system and its position as an international healthcare destination.
Discussions covered current developments in medical tourism, initiatives supporting international medical services, Thailand’s wider healthcare ecosystem, and opportunities for cooperation between organizations in the two countries.
Leading Thai hospitals and medical centres were also given an opportunity to introduce their capabilities and areas of expertise directly to the Russian audience.
From medical tourism to institutional cooperation
A central theme was the potential for Thailand-Russia healthcare relations to extend beyond individual medical travellers. Participants discussed opportunities around the export of medical and educational services, research cooperation, academic exchange and partnerships between healthcare organizations.
The programme brought together medical directors and representatives of Thai hospitals and medical centres, universities and academic institutions, medical tourism organizations, healthcare associations and other stakeholders involved in international healthcare cooperation.
Creating a direct professional dialogue
For ImagineHealth, the conference represented an early step in developing a more direct dialogue between Thailand’s healthcare sector and professional stakeholders in Russia.
ImagineHealth Founder and CEO Henning Kalwa participated in the programme alongside representatives from healthcare institutions and professional organizations, helping introduce the Thai healthcare landscape and opportunities for cross-border cooperation.
A foundation for Thailand-Russia healthcare exchange
The Thailand Medical Tourism Days in Russia demonstrated the value of bringing healthcare organizations from both markets into direct conversation. It also reflected a broader approach to international healthcare development: moving beyond destination promotion towards relationships between hospitals, medical professionals, academic institutions, industry organizations and public-sector stakeholders.
These relationships would later continue through professional exchanges, healthcare delegations and benchmarking initiatives connecting organizations in Thailand and Russia.