Category Archives: Medical Treatment/Health Treatment Subject By Speciality

Medical Tourism and the Future of Stem Cell Therapy (Part 1)

Posted on July 20, 2013 | Comments Off on Medical Tourism and the Future of Stem Cell Therapy (Part 1)

MEDICAL tourism rose and developed in various nations as an economic driver and has fostered international tourism. Many governments are realizing its importance and substantial contribution to the economy and have formulated policies to aid its growth and arrange for mechanisms for investment opportunity and support.

Medical tourism constitutes a new industry created as the result of the rapid development of two leading industries – tourism and healthcare. These are relatively young and developed mainly during the 20th century. They are the result of the advancement in transportation, communications, the growth in leisure time and the translation of knowledge and knowhow, especially medical, into accessible and available services. Each of these industries is vital for the supply of this highly desired “product.” (Bookman: 2007)

Medical tourism is “niche” tourism and targets a very specific and upscale market: a patient in need of treatment that requires unique specialization that can be found only in a handful of medical centers.

Germany, Singapore, India, and Thailand are just few of the countries that are known for rapid medical tourism growth over the years providing unique medical and health care specializations. To compete in this market, the level of hospital services and health care, professional medical services, intensive care, hotel standards and services must be elevated to meet international criteria and requirements. Marketing and administrative systems are must be established for availability and swift response.

The drivers that contribute to the progress of medical tourism include elevated cost of health services in first world countries, increasing ease where international travel is concerned, competitive and suitable foreign exchange rate in the world economy, innovative advances in medical technology as well as elevated standards of health care in several countries, including wider and amplified accessibility of citizens to the world wide web. Unique specialization that can be found only in a handful of medical centers has also contributed to medical tourism.

Patients who travel from developed to developing countries for affordable and alternative health care options rising. Studies show that 10 percent of the patients of EU countries seek treatment outside their countries and is estimated that their aggregate contribution to medical and health care spending are estimated at 12 billion Euros for medical tourism alone. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, about $50 billion are spent annually for the treatment of patients from European and American countries and capturing a fraction of this market will provide a significant impact on Asia’s economy. Medical tourism is an excellent source of revenue, employment and job creation, and its contribution to the economy opens doors to the medical and tourism sector and other stakeholders. It can spark and propel further development of our pool of professionals, private hospitals, tourism establishments and properties as places for healing and further drive the city’s hospital, health services and medical facilities to comply with international standards.

Most medical tourists arrive at the treatment facility with at least one accompanying person. The growth in demand that results from these arrivals means more commercial flights and the development of “in-flight ambulance” services that will be used to meet local and other needs as well. Depending on the specialization being sought, treatment for unique illnesses may mean more hospitalization days, extended room nights for those who will stay at the hotels for recovery and added business to banks, transportation and other business entities.

The Philippines has every potential and opportunity to drive medical tourism growth and offer competitive, affordable as well as high quality of health services in private hospitals. It can arrange for trained and qualified physicians, and present breath-taking tourist attractions and destinations. Baguio City can tap this potential and opportunity; it can further advance its hospital and medical facilities to match those in Metro Manila (like St. Luke’s, Makati Med, Medical City, etc.), and draw more medical tourists and can rise to become one of the main poles of health tourism in the country. We have great hospitals in the city, and a lot of skilled medical, healthcare, hospitality and tourism professionals and local places of interests and tourist spots.

Baguio as a destination for medical tourism may yield considerable foreign exchange revenue, tourist arrivals and opportunities for Filipino medical professionals who may not need to go out of the country to seek greener pastures. This prospect will consequently open door for the tourism and hospitality sector in fostering and showcasing the renowned Filipino hospitality.

Stem cell treatments & therapy are on the verge of an array of breath-taking developments in regenerative biology and medicine. Patients now have access to a vast medical armory of treatments that are provided by alliances of cell biologists, geneticists, and clinicians.

Stem cell therapy and treatment has been drawing special media attention recently due to recent news regarding the deaths of three politicians who received stem cell treatment before their lives were claimed. The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) issued a press statement that says “the 3 solons of the 15th Congress may have died because of stem cell treatments from unauthorized doctors in Germany.” The PMA said it would probe the deaths. To this end, the government has issued a warning to the public about seeking stem cell therapy from unaccredited practitioners. The government has reiterated the need for hospitals to file for accreditation with the DOH by August 31 to continue offering the treatment. The government is pushing for stricter regulation of hospitals offering stem cell therapy in the light of speculations surrounding the deaths of three politicians who received xenogeneic (animal-based stem cell) treatment last year. Whether their deaths are due to their apparent illness or due to hypersensitivity reaction to xenogeneic (stem-cell treatment) has yet to be ascertained.

Celebrities and politicians have been very candid to the media and boasted of its benefits in availing of the stem cell therapy/treatment overseas (particularly Villa Medica in Germany). The controversial treatment, which involves injecting stem cells into the human body, promises treatment for various ills such as heart disease, cancer and other serious ailments. The treatment also presents hope to combat aging, and offers extended vitality, rejuvenate damaged cells in the skin and other body organs.

Recent issues have begged the question whether stem cell therapy or treatment is our ultimate answer in our quest for the cure for deadly illnesses and finally claim longevity? Is it our hope or is it just a hype? More about stem cell therapy and treatment in the next issue! Stay tuned!

*****

“Mere longevity is a good thing for those who watch Life from the side lines. For those who play the game, an hour may be a year, a single day’s work an achievement for eternity.” Helen Hayes

source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph / Sun Star Baguio / Home> Baguio> Opinion / by Anthony de Leon – WTF / Tuesday, July 16th, 2013

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

Overseas care a healthy alternative for wealthy

Posted on June 15, 2013 | Comments Off on Overseas care a healthy alternative for wealthy

While millions of Chinese tourists seek exotic experiences on foreign shores, some are going overseas for health reasons.

A 46-year-old man from Shanghai going by the pseudonym Wang, was diagnosed with lung cancer in June. He went to Massachusetts General Hospital in the United States for treatment.

The treatment and chemotherapy worked, and Wang is now receiving regular examinations in Shanghai.

“It didn’t require hospitalization, and the side effects from chemotherapy are far less than in China,” he said, adding that he spent $63,000 on his treatment and accommodation in the US.

Cai Qiang, CEO of Saint Lucia Consulting in Beijing, which helped Wang with the treatment, said the company is committed to making the best medical care around the world accessible to Chinese people.

Cai, a physics major, started his business in 2011. He lost partial sight in his left eye as a teenager in China because of what he calls medical negligence. He has lived in Australia for the past 10 years.

Saint Lucia Consulting assists patients in evaluating medical options, choosing specialists, making appointments at top foreign hospitals, completing visa applications, translating medical records and making hotel reservations.

“Our mission is to overcome geographic and linguistic barriers that prevent Chinese from receiving world-class medical care,” said Wang Shun, a medical officer at the company.

So far, the company has dozens of top-tier partner hospitals in the US, Britain, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

“Saint Lucia aims to provide clients with access to state-of-the-art medical services worldwide,” Cai said.

That, however, comes at a price. Service fees range from 68,000 to 88,000 yuan ($11,000 to $14,300) for at least one month.

Most patients are wealthy businessmen from Beijing and the provinces of Shanxi and Guangdong, and one customer asked if he should send his mother, who had cancer, to the US for treatment by private jet.

According to Cai, rich people in China have easy access within the country to all the trappings of wealth from top brands to restaurants. But medical care is different.

“Before their experience overseas, they had never expected such quality care and services as they received at foreign hospitals,” he said.

To date, they’ve helped send more than 100 patients for treatment abroad.

According to Wang in Shanghai, hospitals in the US are like cozy hotels, and each doctor consultation usually lasts more than an hour. “There were no crowds, long lines or impatient doctors,” he said.

Potential cultural clashes might arise, however. In one case, the family of a late stage cancer patient asked the doctor in Britain to hide the condition from the patient. “That breaks the law there,” Cai said. To prevent such problems, his company will inform patients.

At present, Saint Lucia Consulting has more than 20 full-time employees on the mainland and three bureaus in the US, Britain and Germany.

To appeal to Chinese customers, world-famous medical institutions like the MD Anderson Cancer Center in the US began to have Chinese language information on its website. They have also set up teams to help foreign patients, including the Chinese, with doctor appointments and visas.

However, Cai said he does not consider that a challenge to his business.

“I couldn’t be happier than to see more Chinese patients getting the best medical treatment worldwide,” he said. “I hope Chinese doctors improve their capacity and then help the majority who cannot afford medical tourism with better treatment.”

But some medical experts expressed caution over medical tourism, estimated to generate at least $60 billion worldwide.

“Given that medical tourism will probably stay in a regulatory void for a while, patients should be extremely careful choosing the right agency and consult Chinese specialists before making any decision,” said Qiu Renzong, a leading bio-ethicist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Chen Wanqing, deputy director of the National Central Cancer Registry and a senior cancer specialist, said he has seen more outbound tourism for cancer treatment among Chinese in recent years.

But he expressed doubt over the necessity of doing this.

For cancer treatment in terms of both surgery and internal medicine, “China could be neck and neck with most developed countries”, he said.

However, “overseas hospitals might excel in hospital environment and patient services compared with the usually crowded Chinese hospitals”, he said.

Those who can afford it, however, could try overseas, he said.

But “the patient should be careful with the long travel,” he added.

shanjuan@chinadaily.com.cn / China Daily USA 06/14/2013 page2)

source: http://www.usa.chinadaily.com / China Daily USA / Home> E-Paper> China Digest / by Shan Juan (CD) / June 14th, 2013

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Posted in Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Medical Treatment/Health Treatment Subject By Speciality

Health ministry sets up desk for private healthcare providers

Posted on June 2, 2013 | Comments Off on Health ministry sets up desk for private healthcare providers

Health minister Godfrey Farrugia launches Business Friendly Contact Desk for private healthcare providers.

Health minister Godfrey Farrugia

Health minister Godfrey Farrugia

Report by Jean Pierre Cassar

A Business Friendly Contact Desk has been set up within the health ministry to promote contacts with the business community for ventures within the health sector.

In a press conference held this morning at the Ministry of Health in Valletta, current Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Claudio Tonna, said the  desk will “serve as a contact point with the healthcare providers.”

All private sector health services will be able to use this new project from self-employed health operators to private clinics and hospitals. It will advice in the development of partnerships between the public and the private health services.

Farrugia said the desk will work hand in hand with private health sector stakeholders “to develop synergistic and complementary public and private health services that will lay a strong basis on which a sustainable health system will be built on a national level.”

This desk, with the collaboration of the Ministries for Tourism and Enterprise, is planned to promote Health Tourism in all ways and serves as a catalyst for private health care providers to seek opportunities in the health tourism market.

The minister said that this would obviously help in removing the bureaucracy from the past years, as the reduction of administrative burdens in itself is to promote health care sustainability.

Farrugia explained how this desk is to reach out and engage with private health insurers and in partnership with the leading government institutions, unions and NGOs.

source: http://www.maltatoday.com / Malta ToDay / Home> News> National / Saturday – May 25th, 2013

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Posted in Associations/Organisations/Government/NonGovernment, Health /Medical Treatment For Overseas Treatment, Healthcare Service Providers, Interviews, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Medical Treatment/Health Treatment Subject By Speciality, Reports,Features, Statistics, Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

Korea4Health Offers World-Class Medical Services of Korea for Global Patients Seeking High-Quality, Cost-Effective Treatments

Posted on May 28, 2013 | Comments Off on Korea4Health Offers World-Class Medical Services of Korea for Global Patients Seeking High-Quality, Cost-Effective Treatments

To learn more about Korea’s highly skilled medical professionals, state-of-the art medical equipment, and solid medical infrastructure visit www.korea4health.org

New York : 

Korea4Health , providing internationally renowned Korean healthcare services, announces today the launch of its new website and services, featuring the best medical procedures of select Korean hospitals operating in the US and Korea, with some hospitals offering overseas US offices. Individuals seeking high-quality, affordable procedures – including cancer treatment, heart surgery, infertility treatment, organ transplant, neurosurgery, joint replacement, spinal surgery and alternative care – will find that it costs only 20 to 30 percent of the cost in US hospitals.

“The strength of Korean healthcare lies in its highly trained physicians and staff, high-end medical equipment, and well-established medical infrastructure,” says Dr. DoHyun Cho, Executive Director of Medical Korea Council in America. “The number of foreign patients seeking advanced medical treatment in Korea has increased by an average 50 percent annually. Medical doctors from countries all over the world are visiting Korea to be trained in workshops, fellowship programs and seminars from Korea’s highly respected hospitals.”

While Korea’s tourism numbers are gradually increasing, according to CNN, the number of foreign patients visiting Korea for treatments is also significantly increasing. Ministry of Health and Welfare recently publicly announced that the number of foreign patients visiting Korea has reached 155,673 in 2012. In the meantime, there are 91 overseas Korean medical facilities operating all over the world serving global patients. These overseas Korean medical facilities allow foreign patients to experience Korea’s excellent medical services without traveling to Korea. Korea4Health offers detailed information about Korean healthcare providers operating in the US as well.

Additionally, safety and quality of Korean medical services are inspected consistently by the government through accreditation and strict evaluation programs. Information featured in Korea4Health is also accredited by KHIDI USA, Korean Government agency under the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Dr. Cho concludes, “Korea’s status as a medical and healthcare leader in the global arena has risen greatly. With growing awareness of the opportunities we offer patients, we foresee a large influx of US patients to our network of hospitals in the US and Korea seeking the best possible treatment at cost-effective prices.”

About Korea4Health

Korea4Health is the gateway to the internationally renowned Korean healthcare services prepared for the US patients exploring the most advanced and affordable healthcare solutions. Initiated by the public-private partnership, it is operated by KHIDI USA, Korean Government agency under the Ministry of Health and Welfare featuring the best medical procedures of the selected Korean hospitals operating in the US and Korea. Visit: http://korea4health.org / Facebook, and Twitter

source: http://www,heraldonline.com / Home> Business Wire> Site Services / May 22nd, 2013

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

Uganda: Museveni Invites Investors in Medical Services

Posted on May 26, 2013 | Comments Off on Uganda: Museveni Invites Investors in Medical Services

Kampala :

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has suggested investors go into provision of high quality health services to limit medical tourism.

Currently, India is the leading provider of these services.

“You should also consider investing in specialized medical facilities to stop medical tourism,” Museveni said recently while meeting potential tourism investors in London.

He said many wealthy people are opting to travel abroad for medical treatment, saying the country spends over $85million in foreign exchange to cover these costs.

‘We need between three to four specialized hospitals. We also need discipline among our people to save the hemorrhage of our money. With high class facilities, the labour costs are low and our people don’t need to spend on tickets and welfare abroad which are the highest costs,” he said.

Museveni said Uganda’s vision is to become an upper middle income country with an average income of $1500. He said the country is working towards attaining urbanization as part of its reorganization process.

“We need more urbanization as part of reorganization of society were we shall have less people in the rural areas and more in the towns so that the rural land is liberated for modern agro production,” he said.

Museveni said Uganda’s population is growing rapidly, “Iif we don’t shift the people from the rural areas, to industries, this will damage the environment. He said Uganda is losing over 40 billon cubic metres of wood per annum for wood fuel and that it is important to industrialize by providing cheap electricity.

“We have established now that to push Uganda up to a middle income country in the next 17 years, we need about $200 billon. There are opportunities for investments especially in infrastructure development. We have some surplus money in our pension fund, but because of careful management of the economy we can’t over borrow,” he said.

source: http://www.allafrica.com / All Africa / East African Business Week (Kampala) / by Paul Tentena / May 21st, 2013

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Posted in Associations/Organisations/Government/NonGovernment, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Medical Treatment/Health Treatment Subject By Speciality, Reports,Features, Statistics, Uncategorized