Dr Tanupol said he hoped to expand the percentage the wellness segment contributes to the group's overall revenue going forward.

BDMS zeroing in on wellness segment

Better known as Dr Amp, Tanupol Virunhagarun, chief executive of BDMS Wellness Clinic and BDMS Wellness Resort, part of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Plc (BDMS), is a leading specialist in preventive medicine and lifestyle medicine.

After graduating from the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, Dr Tanupol continued his education by studying anti-ageing medicine and received certification from the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.

Dr Tanupol has built up a great deal of experience in caring for patients and helping adjust their lifestyles, particularly with regard to weight control and the treatment of obesity.

Dr Tanupol is also a best-selling author of several health and wellness books, while his YouTube channel — DrAmp Team — now has more than 1 million subscribers.

“My vision is to improve the quality of life for Thais, and people around the world,” he said.

Dr Tanupol said the world is becoming an aged society as the number of people age 60 and older surges.

In Thailand, this segment accounts for more than 20% of the population, above the global average of 16-17%, with people aged 60 and above expected to account for 28% of the Thai population by 2031.

Another challenge facing human health is the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD), including strokes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, lung disease, and obesity.

In 2023, around 77% of deaths in Thailand were attributed to NCDs, accounting for 380,000 deaths per year, which is considered to be very high. Thailand also recorded the highest number of obesity cases in the region.

BDMS reported revenue of over 100 billion baht last year, of which only 10% was derived from the wellness segment, with the remainder coming from the treatment of illnesses.

Dr Tanupol said he hoped to expand the percentage the wellness segment contributes to the group's overall revenue going forward.

Over the past five years, the revenue from wellness services at BDMS has grown by 30% per year, far exceeding the global average of 10%.

BDMS Wellness Clinic operates 19 wellness clinics nationwide, including its headquarters in Bangkok, located in Soi Somkid. The 15-billion-baht Bangkok facility includes a clinic, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, BDMS Connect Center, which is a meetings facility, along with a private jet service to meet the needs of wealthy clients.

During this year's second and third quarters, 60% of the company's clients were foreigners, mainly from China or the Middle East, who recognise the BDMS brand as the ideal provider of healthcare and wellness services.

Dr Tanupol said the company also hires many staff with lots of experience in the hospitality sector, as they are already well-equipped with a service mindset to serve clients at the company's clinics.

“My vision is not only driving revenue, but rather to contribute to society, making Thailand one of the world's leading wellness destinations,” he said.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, Thailand ranked 15th for wellness tourism in 2022, and BDMS Wellness Clinic wants to play a part in improving the country's global ranking to be among the top five, he said.

He said the group had already invested an additional 25 billion baht to develop another wellness complex in Bangkok in a bid to become the “wellness valley of the world”.

It is estimated that the project, which will feature hotels, clinics, and residential units aimed at people who have chosen to adopt a "wellness lifestyle", will be completed within five years.

The company also just launched BDMS Wellness Clinic Laguna Phuket, targeting foreign wellness tourists visiting the hotspot destination, including those hailing from Russia.

Having operated a leading healthcare group for more than 50 years, BDMS has also invested a lot in research and technology.

“Today, every aspect of a person's medical information can be checked,” said Dr Tanupol. “Medicine nowadays is not a case of 'one size fits all'. It's all about precision and providing more personalised solutions.”

Advanced technology enables in-depth analysis of personal health factors, including aspects pertaining to hormones, andropause, menopause, stress levels, sleep quality, food and diet, and vitamin and mineral levels.

There is also a complete genome genetic test available, which can assess a person's risk of suffering from a disease in the future, and allows doctors to help plan a healthy lifestyle.

In Dr Tanupol's opinion, current challenges facing the promotion of a wellness lifestyle include the widespread dissemination of misleading information concerning health via social media, as well as a shortage of doctors specialised in wellness and preventive healthcare.

In addition, he noted that heightened levels of climate change were also hampering holistic lifestyles through the disruption of the global ecosystem, which would require all private and public stakeholders to work together, whether by accelerating the adoption of renewable energy, reducing air pollution or promoting plant-based diets.