BANGKOK, THAILAND: TO GO WITH STORY "AFPLIFESTYLE-HEALTH-ASIA-TOURISM" Thai cardiologist Wattanaphol Phipatananunth (L) checks a Norwegian patient at cardiology ward of Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, 22 November 2005. Of a total of one million patients each year at Bumrungrad, nearly 50 percent are foreigners with US citizens making up the biggest group, followed by patients from the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Oman, Britain, Japan, Australia, Cambodia and Myanmar. With medical tourism becoming more popular, Thailand's public health ministry expects foreign exchange earnings from the medical service sector to reach 23 billion baht (561 million USD) in 2005, up 16 percent from 2003. AFP PHOTO/ Saeed KHAN (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)
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AFP SAEED KHAN