This document discusses the opportunities and challenges of the growing medical tourism industry. It begins with definitions of key terms and an overview of historical medical travel trends. Medical tourism is booming due to several factors like rising healthcare costs, long wait times, and the availability of low-cost, high-quality care abroad. Countries like India, Thailand, and Malaysia have emerged as popular medical tourism destinations. The industry generates billions in revenue and facilitates economic growth. However, medical tourism also faces challenges such as ensuring quality, accrediting facilities, and addressing patient needs beyond just healthcare. Medical tourism facilitators can help bridge gaps by providing one-stop solutions, arranging travel and accommodations, and representing patients' interests.

1. Dr Prem Jagyasi
Chartered Marketing Consultant
MD & CEO – ExHealth, Dubai HealthCare City, UAE
Booming Medical Tourism
Opportunities & Challenges

2. Topic
Definition:
Medical Tourism Terms and Trends
Economy:
Understanding economical point of view in medical
tourism
Opportunities:
The promise of medical tourism
Challenges:
Knowing the barriers of medical tourism
Medical Facilitators:
Bridging the Gap. Tapping into Medical Tourism.

3. Terms

4. Medical Travel Trends
Greek Pilgrims
traveled to
Epidauria
Roman Britain
Patients
traveled for
Water
treatment
Affluent
Europeans
traveled in &
out of Europe
for SPA
Patients from
Switzerland
traveled Turkey
for cost
effective
treatment
Source: Internet /

5. Medical Tourism Trends & Streams
Cuba initiated
international
medical travel
Cuba targeted
Argentina, Chile,
Mexico and
Venezuela
Argentina,
Bolivia, Brazil,
Colombia,
Mexico and Costa
Rica started
promoting Plastic
Surgery
Cost Factor Travel
from Developed
to Developing
Countries
Source: Internet / wiki /

6. Medical Tourism to Global Healthcare
Asia emerging as
Medical Tourism
Destination
Thailand,
Singapore, India
and Malaysia
gained
recognition in
Medical Tourism
Many other
Destinations are
emerging :
China,
Philippines,
Greece, South
Africa
Booming
Medical Tourism
Source: Internet / wiki /

7. Cost
Need
Demographic Factors
Lack of Health Resources
Why is Medical Tourism Booming? What are industry drivers?

8. Key Medical Tourism Factors

9. Understanding economical point of
view in medical tourism.

10. Market Potentiality
Source : www.visa-asia.com

11. Medical Tourism Opportunities
 Almost 39% say they would go abroad for an elective procedure if
they could save half the cost and be assured quality was
comparable
Ref:DeloitteReport2008

12. Medical Tourism Across the Globe

13. Opportunities
Promise of Medical
Tourism industry

14. 14
Opportunities
Tourism
Industry
Economy
Industry
Health
Industry
14

15. Medical Tourism Opportunities
 In 2007
approximately
750,000 American
traveled for
medical care. That
number will
increase to six
million by 2010.
Therefore, the
growth rate from
2007 to 2010 is 100
percent for the
base estimate.
Ref:DeloitteReport2008

16. 16
Industry Growth
Tourism
Industry
Economy
Industry
Health
Industry
$20
billion

17. 17
Airlines
Hotels
Travel
Agents
Medical Tourism Facilitators
• Sourcing Health Providers
• Sourcing Consumers
• Providing travel and tourism
support

18. 18
Medical Tourism Facilitators
Planner / Agents
- Planet Hospital
Travel
SAHARA, CTC
Hotel Group

19. 19
Why Medical Tourism Facilitators?
Facilitators
One Stop
Solutions
Know How
Negotiate
Better
Travel &
Logistic
Assistance
Representative
Understand
Needs

20. 20
Challenges for Facilitators?
Identifying Target Market
Promoting as Medical Tourism Facilitators
Understanding Patients Needs
Identifying HealthCare Providers
Matching Patients with Providers
Charging Patients or Providers
Expecting Unexpected

21. 21
Facilitators Accreditation Programs
How do you provide tourist activity options to patients or their companions?
Does the foreign surgeon provide approval for a patient to participate in the
proposed tourist activities?
Are tourism packages included in the package price and are the tourism
packages a mandatory part of the package?
Do you have an employee or guide for the patient upon arrival in the
destination country?
Do you assist the patient with flights? Do you purchase flight tickets on
behalf of the patient?
Do your provide airport pickup and drop off at the domestic airport and the
foreign airport?

22. Topic
Definition:
Medical Tourism Terms and Trends
Economy:
Understanding economical point of view in medical
tourism
Medical Facilitators:
Bridging the Gap. Tapping into Medical Tourism.
Opportunities:
The promise of medical tourism
Challenges:
Knowing the barriers of medical tourism

23. Copyright / Disclaimer
The presentation is for information purpose and related to
medical tourism / global healthcare industry only. The
presentation is incomplete without audio commentary.
No material within this presentation may be copied, in any form,
for public, private, or commercial use without prior approval.
Sourced information in this presentation may have copyright
material of respected owner. Healthcare for Islamic Patient is
for information only. The presenter holds no
responsibility/liability.
Visit www.DrPrem.com for updated presentation and more
articles.

24. Dr Prem Jagyasi
Chartered Marketing Consultant
MD & CEO – ExHealth, Dubai HealthCare City, UAE
Booming Medical Tourism
Opportunities & Challenges