Category Archives: Medical Tourism/Health Tourism

Global Facilities at Hospitals Turn Malabar Into Medical Tourism Hub

Posted on September 12, 2014 | Comments Off on Global Facilities at Hospitals Turn Malabar Into Medical Tourism Hub
An Arab patient, Mohammed Ahammed, being treated at Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, Kozhikode | T P Sooraj

An Arab patient, Mohammed Ahammed, being treated at Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, Kozhikode | T P Sooraj

Kozhikode :

Musabah Saeed Khalfan Al brought his younger brother Mohammad Saeed Khalfan all the way from Oman to Kozhikode to check the accuracy of a diagnosis report which they had received from a leading hospital at their native place.

After a thorough check up at the  Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) here he was told that the doctors in Oman had made a mistake with the original diagnosis and his brother was not suffering from cancer.

“Praise to lord, this diagnosis report is such a huge relief for us,” said Musabah Saeed Khalfan after consulting the doctor.

“I am thankful for the facilities and expert doctors available here,” he said.

Musabah’s is not an isolated case. Doctors of many major private hospitals in North Malabar come across several such patients, especially, those from the Middle East who come here to verify the diagnosis made by the doctors back home or else for treatment due to the better facilities available here.

For the Arabs, North Kerala is turning out to be a healthcare hub as almost all the leading private hospitals here offer special treatment facilities, international desks, international waiting lounge, exclusive wards or rooms for them. When contacted Dr R Bijayaraj, convenor of the Academy of Family Physicians of India(AFPI) Kerala chapter, he said the cost of treatment and assured quality are the two significant elements that attract foreign patients to Kerala. At a time when they have to pay `25,OOO for an MRI scan in gulf countries we charge only `4,OOO, which they find to be affordable.”

Saleh Mohammed Hussein from Yemen, baby Mallak from Oman and Hassan Abdulla Yusuf Al from Bahrain are the patients who came to Kerala after learning about the medical facilities available here through word of mouth.

“Appropriate advices at all the stages of the caring process is new to me. Hence, I prefer coming to the Malabar region for treatment,” said Mohammed Ahammed from UAE. Al Shifa Hospital at Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district is another big hospital which caters to a huge influx of foreign patients.

“Patient satisfaction is an important dimension of healthcare sector.

“Since our departments have Arab as well as African patients the total revenue of the hospital increases by `3.5 to 4 Crore annually,” said NP Muhammadali, manager of the Department of Overseas Operation in Al Shifa.

“Though treatment facilities for the foreigners were available at MIMS hospital during its initial years, the international desk got into full swing from 2006 onwards,” said Georgiana Vandana, deputy manager of Medical Value Travel, MIMS Hospital.

“Every day our doctors have at least 30 Arab patients for consultation,” she said adding that Medical tourism in the state has emerged as the fastest growing segment of tourism industry.

Family members or those who accompany the patient are also fascinated by the old world charm of Malabar region and make it a point to visit various tourist spots while the patient undergoes treatment.

There is an increase in the number of patients over years.

According to Georgiana Vandana, 45 percent of the hospital’s total revenue is from the international desk. Similar facilities are available at Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Lakeshore and Lourde Hospital in southern part of the state.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Aswathi Krishna / September 12th, 2014

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Posted in Health /Medical Treatment For Overseas Treatment, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Medical Treatment/Health Treatment Subject By Speciality, Reports,Features, Statistics, Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

Medical tourism industry growing in Peru

Posted on September 11, 2014 | Comments Off on Medical tourism industry growing in Peru

 Lima :

 The medical tourism market in Peru has increased by 14%, a higher growth rate than the current value compound annual growth rate of 8% recorded in the category over the 2008-2013 period.

According to a report released by global research firm Euromonitor International, many inbound tourists travel to Peru for dental treatments, plastic surgery, laser operations and fertility treatments.
These patients come mainly from Chile, the US and Spain, while there is a stream of people entering Peru across its Southern border from Northern Chile seeking medical treatment in the city of Tacna.
Nevertheless, the report, entitled Health and Wellness Tourism in Peru, asserts that the vast majority of Peru’s medical tourism infrastructure is located in Lima.
It should be noted that the increasing demand for health and wellness tourism has helped to spread spas to other parts of the country, including commercial areas, and the most important ones are to be found in luxury hotels.
(END) RMB/RMB

source: http://www.andina.com / Andina / Home> Headlines / Lima – September 07th, 2014

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Posted in Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Reports,Features, Statistics

Affordable Care South of Border: Baja California Sponsors World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress

Posted on September 10, 2014 | Comments Off on Affordable Care South of Border: Baja California Sponsors World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress
Mexico state reaching out to U.S. medical tourism consumers at health travel conference, Sept. 20-24, 2014, in Washington, D.C.

Washington, DC :

Incentivized by challenges from the Affordable Care Act to its north, the Mexican state of Baja California is expanding efforts to increase the flow of medical tourism patients from the across the border in the United States by sponsoring the 7th World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress, Sept. 20-24, 2014, in Washington, D.C., the Medical Tourism Association® announced today.

“Foreign revenue from some 450,000 medical tourism patients coming to Baja California annually reaches $89 million,” said Juan Benjamin Tintos Funcke, Secretary of Tourism for Baja California. “We continue to improve our medical infrastructure and appeal to health travelers by promoting our 10 hospitals, 600 medical specialists and 12 pharmaceutical chains.”

Funcke said an investment of $15 million pesos to target 15 million medical tourism patients is projected to translate into US$8 million in additional revenue for the Mexican State of Baja California.

“Medical tourism patients traveling from the United States to Baja California will find an exclusive lane for health consumers to cross into Tijuana and Mexicali that speeds up the process to and from,” he said.

Latinos living in the United States encompass a large segment of medical tourism patients traveling into Tijuana and Mexicali for dentistry, optometry, sports medicine and surgeries, according to Funcke. Medical tourism patients are also attracted to inexpensive medications and cosmetic surgeries including liposuction, Botox applications and gastric banding as well as spa services at Rancho La Puerta, considered among the world’s best health resorts.

The World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress attracts some 3,000 key stakeholders – hospital administrators, doctors and clinicians, employers, government policy makers, insurance executives, facilitators, and hospitality and tourism interests – from across the globe to share their experiences and identify and solve issues that bear significantly on the industry. For a preliminary list of speakers, go to: http://www.medicaltourismcongress.com/speakers_year/2014-speakers/

The Congress agenda features not only the 5th Global Ministerial Summit, but the 3rd Medical Directors Summit, the 2nd Global Women’s Leadership Summit, regional and industry forums, and educational workshops included among more than 1,000 networking meetings for up to 200 qualified buyers of healthcare. Participants, sponsors and invited speakers can keep abreast of Congress updates at www.MedicalTourismCongress.com or make an impact today on the Congress networking platform at http://www2.mtcongress.com/wmtc-networking/

source: http://www.pr.com / PR.com / Home> Press Releases / Washington, DC – September 07th, 2014

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Posted in Health /Medical Treatment For Overseas Treatment, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Medical Treatment/Health Treatment Subject By Speciality, Reports,Features, Statistics, Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

‘India ranks among top 3 medical tourism destinations in Asia’

Posted on September 8, 2014 | Comments Off on ‘India ranks among top 3 medical tourism destinations in Asia’

Mumbai :

India is placed among the top three medical tourism destinations in Asia, mainly due to the low cost of treatment, quality healthcare infrastructure and availability of highly-skilled doctors, says a study.

“Within Asia, India, Thailand and  Singapore  are the three countries that receive maximum medical tourists owing to low cost of treatment, quality healthcare infrastructure, and availability of highly-skilled doctors.

(India is known for cost-effective…)

(India is known for cost-effective…)

“These three countries together accounted for about 60 per cent of the total Asian revenue in 2012,” the report Medical Value Travel  in India by KPMG and FICCI said.

The research was conducted in India and other Asian countries and interviewed public sector stakeholders and domestic company heads or CEOs of renowned hospitals between July and August 2014.

Estimated at $ 78.6 billion as of 2012, the sector has emerged as one of the largest sectors in India and is poised to grow at an annual rate of 15 per cent to reach about $ 158.2 billion by 2017, it said.

It pointed out that Asian countries have introduced various marketing strategies to attract medical tourists.

In the past few years, Asia has taken the lead as one of the most preferred destination for medical value travel. Primary growth levers in this regard include low priced treatment options, availability of variety of treatments, improved infrastructure in terms of healthcare facilities and attractive locations for spending time after treatment.

While Thailand positions itself as a dual purpose destination for both medical and economic holiday with an attractive location, Singapore promotes itself as a destination for fine quality in medical treatment.

India is known mostly for its cost-effective medical treatments along with high standards in cardiology, orthopaedics, nephrology, oncology and neuro surgery, it said.

The country is also known for its alternative treatment options such as yoga and ayurveda , it said.

The leading destinations of medical tourism in India are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, New Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, the report said.

India receives medical tourists from across the globe, however, developing and underdeveloped countries form a major portion of the pie.

SAARC countries in particular, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka are a major source of medical tourists owing to the physical proximity and political co-operation agreements, it said.

It further said that the private sector has been largely responsible for improvement in the Indian healthcare services.

While India scores over other countries in certain parameters like affordable hotels, cultural adaptability, there is still a long way to go, the report said.

To make India the most preferred destination for medical care there is a need to improve air connectivity, food options, cultural adaptability, language interpretors, affordable accommodation and less waiting time at airport, as these parameters help patients make a decision in choosing a destination for medical travel, it added.

source: http://www.articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / Home> Healthcare / PTI / September 01st, 2014

 

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Posted in Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Reports,Features, Statistics

Puerto Rico Announces Plan To Promote Itself As Medical Tourism Destination

Posted on September 7, 2014 | Comments Off on Puerto Rico Announces Plan To Promote Itself As Medical Tourism Destination
(AP PHOTO/CHARLES KRUPA)

(AP PHOTO/CHARLES KRUPA)

San Juan , P.R. (EFE) :

Puerto Rico on Tuesday presented its strategy for promoting itself as a medical tourism destination, especially among the Hispanic population of the Caribbean and the East Coast of the United States, offering medical care ranging from dental treatment to liposuction and weight-loss surgery at prices as much as 60 percent lower than in the continental U.S.

“Puerto Rico has a privileged situation in this market,” said the secretary of Economic Development and Trade, Alberto Baco, during the presentation of the plan.

The island’s administration says that it commissioned a market study from which it deduces that medical costs on the island are between 40 percent and 60 percent lower than in the mainland U.S.

Officials in San Juan are confident that about 3,000 jobs can be created linked to the industry, which is expected to serve some 30,000 patients over the next three years.

To achieve those figures, and the estimated $200 million in revenue that would result over that three-year period, Puerto Rico must make itself known as a healthcare destination that is also able to compete with Latin America.

“It’s a new sector in Puerto Rico, which is going to create business: It’s going to (require) more hotels, like those in Bayamón and Manatí, which are receiving many people,” Baco said.

“Whoever travels to have surgery doesn’t do it alone. They always go accompanied by one or two people, at a minimum, and often they remain for some additional days for the patient’s rehabilitation,” the director of the island’s tourism agency, Ingrid Rivera, said.

Baco acknowledged that Puerto Rico cannot compete in price with other places in Latin America, but he noted that people who travel to receive medical care are not motivated only by saving money.

“It’s true that we’re more expensive than Latin America, but we’re a U.S. jurisdiction, which means that we offer more security and guarantees,” he said.

“When you’re going to have surgery, your main concern is going to be the training of the doctor,” Rivera said. “The majority of our doctors have studied in the U.S. and our hospitals are accredited, and certified by Medicare, just like those in the U.S.”

source: http://www.latino.foxnews.com / Fox News Latino / Home> News / September 03rd, 2014

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Posted in Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Reports,Features, Statistics, Uncategorized