During 23 - 25 September 2025, Mrs. Piyapin Niyomrerks, Ambassador of Thailand to Kazakhstan, assigned Dr. Orathai Phubunlap Gunaseelan, Minister-Counsellor of the Royal Thai Embassy in Astana, to represent the Embassy in welcoming and participating in the activities of the executive delegation from Samitivej Hospitals Group, led by Sqn. Ldr. Dr. Surangkana Techapaitoon, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Samitivej and BNH Hospitals Group and Director of Samitivej International Children’s Hospital, on the occasion of their visit to Almaty to promote cooperation in medicine and medical tourism between Thailand and Kazakhstan.

On this occasion, the delegation joined important activities including a special lecture at Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, delivered by Professor Dr. Suradej Hongeng, Professor of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, and expert in pediatrics, hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplantation. The lecture shared medical knowledge and experience with faculty members and medical students specializing in pediatrics, as well as presenting information about Samitivej Hospitals Group, which has extensive experience and expertise in providing care for international patients.

In addition, the executives of Samitivej Hospitals Group participated in a roundtable discussion with Kazakhstani medical professionals, organized by the Kazakhstan Association of Medical Tourism, to exchange views on strengthening cooperation in medical services between Samitivej Hospitals Group and Kazakhstani healthcare institutions. They also engaged in a discussion with more than 10 Kazakhstani tour operators and insurance companies, supported by the Kazakhstan Tourism Association, to explore strategies for developing Thailand’s medical tourism market in Kazakhstan, especially for the nearly 200,000 Kazakhstani tourists who visited Thailand in 2024.

This visit to Almaty and the series of activities with Kazakhstani institutions of Samitivej Hospitals Group reflect the dynamic cooperation between Thailand and Kazakhstan in medicine and medical tourism. It also aligns with Thailand’s proactive efforts to position the country as an international hub for medicine and medical tourism, while highlighting the active role of the Royal Thai Embassy in Astana in advancing Thailand’s Proactive Economic Diplomacy and Development Diplomacy in the field of health security in Kazakhstan.