This document discusses medical tourism, including key drivers and destinations. It notes that medical tourism is increasingly popular and presents both opportunities and challenges. Several countries are mentioned as top medical tourism destinations, including Thailand, India, and Singapore, which are attractive due to factors like high-quality care and accreditation at lower costs than in other countries. Risks associated with medical tourism include issues with quality of care, legal protections, and medical complications that arise from traveling.
This document provides an overview of medical tourism, with a focus on India. It discusses what medical tourism is, common terms used, a brief history, and India's role. Key points include that medical tourism involves traveling abroad for treatment, India has a long history as a destination for health travelers seeking affordable treatments like Ayurveda, and the country now has many JCI accredited hospitals and is a leading destination for procedures like orthopedics and cardiology due to high quality care at much lower costs than other countries.
The document discusses developing health tourism in India. It outlines several benefits of health services trade including foreign exchange, consumer gains, and better regulation. Key barriers are standards, accreditation, and immigration. India can brand itself as a destination for quality healthcare at low costs compared to countries like the US and EU. Developing health tourism requires cooperation across medical, tourism and other industries as well as addressing issues like insurance, standards, and marketing.
This document discusses health tourism and medical tourism. It provides a history of medical tourism dating back thousands of years. It outlines top specialties, reasons for medical tourism, and India's role in the industry. Key destinations in India are highlighted and analyzed using a SWOT framework. In conclusion, the document stresses the importance of government support and coordination to strengthen India's position as a global leader in medical tourism.
Medical tourism is the practice of traveling abroad to receive medical treatment. India has become a preferred destination for medical tourism due to affordable treatment costs and world-class facilities. Key components of medical tourism include treatment of illnesses, cosmetic surgeries, wellness programs, and fertility treatments. Hospitals must be accredited by various international accreditation organizations to participate in medical tourism. The top states in India for medical tourism are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi. Medical tourism is a growing industry in India worth billions of dollars annually.
Medical tourism can be broadly defined as provision of 'cost effective' private medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialized treatment.
For adventurous travel blog please visit http://wilsontom.blogspot.com/
India is a leading destination for medical tourism due to its combination of low-cost, high-quality healthcare and spiritual/holistic treatments like Ayurveda and yoga. It offers treatments in allopathy (Western medicine), Ayurveda, yoga, spa therapies and spiritual practices at a fraction of the cost of other countries. India is attracting medical tourists from developed countries seeking affordable procedures and those wanting to combine treatment with tourism by experiencing India's spiritual and holistic health traditions. However, India faces challenges in promoting medical tourism such as lack of infrastructure development and addressing concerns about equitable healthcare access for its own citizens.
Medical tourism involves traveling abroad to obtain medical care. It has grown rapidly as patients seek affordable, high-quality care. The document discusses the history of medical tourism, noting it dates back thousands of years. Key destinations like India are highlighted, with factors discussed like quality, cost savings, and availability of care. India is positioned as an attractive option due to world-class facilities, joint commission international accreditation, and significant cost savings compared to other countries. Risks like infrastructure and potential language barriers are also reviewed.
This document provides an overview of medical tourism, with a focus on India. It discusses what medical tourism is, common terms used, a brief history, and India's role. Key points include that medical tourism involves traveling abroad for treatment, India has a long history as a destination for health travelers seeking affordable treatments like Ayurveda, and the country now has many JCI accredited hospitals and is a leading destination for procedures like orthopedics and cardiology due to high quality care at much lower costs than other countries.
The document discusses developing health tourism in India. It outlines several benefits of health services trade including foreign exchange, consumer gains, and better regulation. Key barriers are standards, accreditation, and immigration. India can brand itself as a destination for quality healthcare at low costs compared to countries like the US and EU. Developing health tourism requires cooperation across medical, tourism and other industries as well as addressing issues like insurance, standards, and marketing.
This document discusses health tourism and medical tourism. It provides a history of medical tourism dating back thousands of years. It outlines top specialties, reasons for medical tourism, and India's role in the industry. Key destinations in India are highlighted and analyzed using a SWOT framework. In conclusion, the document stresses the importance of government support and coordination to strengthen India's position as a global leader in medical tourism.
Medical tourism is the practice of traveling abroad to receive medical treatment. India has become a preferred destination for medical tourism due to affordable treatment costs and world-class facilities. Key components of medical tourism include treatment of illnesses, cosmetic surgeries, wellness programs, and fertility treatments. Hospitals must be accredited by various international accreditation organizations to participate in medical tourism. The top states in India for medical tourism are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi. Medical tourism is a growing industry in India worth billions of dollars annually.
Medical tourism can be broadly defined as provision of 'cost effective' private medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialized treatment.
For adventurous travel blog please visit http://wilsontom.blogspot.com/
India is a leading destination for medical tourism due to its combination of low-cost, high-quality healthcare and spiritual/holistic treatments like Ayurveda and yoga. It offers treatments in allopathy (Western medicine), Ayurveda, yoga, spa therapies and spiritual practices at a fraction of the cost of other countries. India is attracting medical tourists from developed countries seeking affordable procedures and those wanting to combine treatment with tourism by experiencing India's spiritual and holistic health traditions. However, India faces challenges in promoting medical tourism such as lack of infrastructure development and addressing concerns about equitable healthcare access for its own citizens.
Medical tourism involves traveling abroad to obtain medical care. It has grown rapidly as patients seek affordable, high-quality care. The document discusses the history of medical tourism, noting it dates back thousands of years. Key destinations like India are highlighted, with factors discussed like quality, cost savings, and availability of care. India is positioned as an attractive option due to world-class facilities, joint commission international accreditation, and significant cost savings compared to other countries. Risks like infrastructure and potential language barriers are also reviewed.
Medical tourism is the practice of traveling abroad to receive medical care. India has become a major destination for medical tourism due to the low costs of treatments compared to countries like the US and UK. The Indian medical tourism industry has experienced rapid growth and is expected to become a $2 billion industry by 2015. Key factors driving medical tourists to India include world-class hospitals and care at a fraction of the price in Western countries, with no waiting lists. The Indian government is taking steps to promote the country's medical tourism sector through initiatives like visa reforms and industry guidelines.
This document discusses health tourism, including its origins thousands of years ago when people traveled to sites like Epidaurus and Bath for healing. It notes that in the 21st century, low-cost air travel has expanded health tourism globally. India has become a major destination for health tourism due to its high-quality yet affordable medical care and treatments that are often one-tenth the cost of Western countries. The document outlines India's advantages in health tourism and identifies challenges that still need to be addressed to further develop the industry.
This document provides an overview of medical tourism in India. It discusses the status and prospects of medical tourism in India based on a research project submitted to fulfill the requirements for a Bachelor's degree in Hotel and Tourism Management. The document includes chapters on the introduction and purpose of the study, literature review on medical tourism, research methodology, results discussion, findings summary, and conclusions and recommendations. It also includes tables of data collected from travelers and doctors on their perspectives on medical tourism in India.
India has a long history as a destination for medical tourism, dating back thousands of years. In modern times, India has emerged as a top destination for medical tourism due to the high quality care provided at a fraction of the cost of treatments in other countries. The Indian government actively promotes the country's medical tourism industry through initiatives like dedicated medical visas and the website IndiaHealthcareTourism.com. Major private hospitals in India provide treatments in cardiology, orthopedics, and oncology to attract medical tourists while also offering traditional Ayurvedic and other alternative medicine options.
Thailand has become a popular destination for health tourism due to its low-cost yet high-quality healthcare services and traditional treatments like Thai massage. Hospitals in Thailand offer JCI accreditation and have experience treating complex medical cases while costs are often much lower than in other countries. The Thai government supports the growth of health tourism through programs like the Health Promotion Temple project and by regulating herbal product standards. While facing threats from rising global competition, health tourism is seen as an important opportunity for Thailand's economy.
Business plan medical tourism in indiaNitesh Bhele
Medical tourism provides patients opportunities to receive quality healthcare in foreign countries like India at lower costs than in Western countries. The document outlines plans to start a medical tourism company in India called Med Tour Pvt. Ltd. that will arrange affordable cosmetic surgeries, non-elective procedures, and alternative medicine for international patients. It discusses the market size, services offered, strategies, finances, and human resources required to launch and run the business. The company aims to achieve profitability within its first year of operation through gradual growth in client numbers each month.
The document is a project report submitted by Ankur Puri, a third year student at the Institute of Hotel Management in Gwalior, India. The report thanks various faculty members, friends, colleagues, and family for their support and insights during the project. It then outlines the table of contents which covers topics like medical tourism surgeries, scope in India, favorable locations, government contributions, conclusions, and bibliography. The report appears to focus on analyzing medical tourism in India.
This document discusses medical and wellness tourism in India. It provides statistics showing that Thailand, Singapore, Mexico, India, and the US are top destinations for medical tourists, with Thailand receiving the highest percentage of medical tourists as a proportion of total foreign tourists. The document outlines opportunities for India in health tourism such as job creation and revenue generation, and challenges such as the lack of a dedicated government body for accreditation and difficulties obtaining medical visas. It proposes strategies for India to capture health tourism opportunities like setting up a regulatory body and developing industry-specific websites and alliances between hospitals, wellness centers, and facilitators.
India has become an international hub for medical tourism, attracting over 300,000 medical tourists in 2006-2007 seeking affordable, high-quality healthcare. Medical tourism is a multibillion dollar industry for India, with treatments often costing 1/10th the price of Western countries but with comparable success rates. The growth of medical tourism is projected to continue rapidly, with the industry expected to be worth $2.2 billion annually by 2012. India has established world-class hospitals and healthcare infrastructure on par with Western nations, presenting an economic opportunity for medical tourism.
This document discusses medical tourism, which is when people travel internationally to obtain medical care. Common treatments received include dental, cosmetic, and elective surgeries. Over 50 countries have identified medical tourism as a national industry. Reasons for medical tourism include lower costs, shorter wait times, and the ability to combine treatment with travel. Popular destinations include India, Thailand, Singapore, and Turkey. The document also outlines some of the benefits, risks, and statistics associated with medical tourism.
Scope and future of medical tourism in indiaIndmed Travel
The scope & future of medical tourism in India. What is Medical Tourism? The significance of medical tourism. The scope of India in medical tourism. The main reasons for the growing popularity of medical tourism in India.Conclusions. References.
Medical tourism in India is a growing $2 billion industry, with an expected annual growth rate of 30%. India offers reduced costs for treatments compared to other countries, along with the latest medical technologies and internationally accredited hospitals. Common treatments sought include cardiac surgery, orthopedics, cosmetic surgery, and dentistry. Major hospitals include Apollo, Fortis, and AIIMS. The city of Chennai in particular attracts over 150 international patients daily and has become India's center for medical tourism.
Medical Tourism Project for LSE Marketing 101 Dr Ritesh Malik
Asian Health Inc. is an international healthcare company that operates a 500-bed hospital in New Delhi, India and has a 26% stake in an Indian pharmaceutical company. It aims to provide high-quality yet affordable healthcare and become a leading provider of medical tourism services. The company analyzes the large and growing global medical tourism market, and outlines its strategy to target customers in developed countries seeking cheaper alternatives. It discusses establishing offices worldwide and the processes, economics, consumer behavior, and competitive advantages of its medical tourism business model.
Key points
Definition
Medical Tourism Process
Factors Of Medical Tourism
Abroad For Treatment
Specialties For Medical Tourism
Benefits Of Medical Tourism
Ethical Issues In Medical Tourism
Legal Issues In Medical Tourism
Points To Communicate
Risks Of Medical Tourism
Positive And Negative Impact On Medical Tourism In The UAE
Some Of Dubai Statistic
Articles About Medical Tourism
Result
References
This presentation explains medical tourism in India, it's benefits and the factors affecting it. It also looks at the darker side of medical tourism in India and introduces the concept of Medical Value Travel. The concepts are explained with the help of a storyline.
The document discusses outbound medical tourism from Bangladesh. It notes that the top destinations visited by Bangladeshis for medical purposes are India (77%), Thailand (4%), Singapore (13%), and Malaysia (2%). This is due to factors like the deteriorating healthcare system in Bangladesh such as lack of specialized treatment, high costs, and corruption. Countries like India, Singapore, and Thailand are attractive due to their lower costs, state-of-the-art technology, and quality of care. The document provides recommendations to improve Bangladesh's healthcare system to reduce medical tourism outbound trends.
Medical Tourism Potentiality in Egypt "Egypt's health strategy" Msegypt
This document evaluates the potential for medical tourism in Egypt by comparing it to leading countries in the industry. Deep interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals. Egypt was found to have a strategic geographic location and infrastructure for tourism. However, weaknesses identified included a lack of large, accredited healthcare facilities meeting international standards. Recommendations included developing centers of excellence, improving technology, establishing international accreditation, and marketing Egypt's competitive advantages in medical tourism.
India has become a major destination for medical tourism due to the low costs of treatment compared to countries like the US and UK. Medical tourism in India provides first world treatment at third world prices, with the same treatment often one tenth the cost in other countries. India is positioning itself as a leader for complex medical procedures and attracts over 1.5 lakh foreign patients annually, generating $300 million in revenue in 2002. This revenue is expected to grow to $2 billion by 2012. In addition to medical treatment, many tourists visit cultural and religious sites in India. While medical tourism provides economic benefits, it also faces challenges like inadequate infrastructure and ensuring ethical practices.
A Case Study on Medical Tourism in Hyderabad City by Dr.Mahboob Ali Khan Phd ...Healthcare consultant
Medical centers all over the world have acquired accreditation from well known international organizations such as JCI, JCAHO and ISO to express their dedication to excellence. Another advantage of medical tourism is the immediate access to health care services. For those who have come from countries with public health care systems, medical tourism offers them the chance to be placed on the priority list. When dealing with matters of health, waiting is not always an option.
1. Medical tourism in India has grown due to collaboration between the medical and tourism industries, allowing people to receive affordable treatment while also vacationing.
2. India offers world-class medical facilities and treatments in various fields at a fraction of the cost compared to places like the US. It is also a popular tourist destination with beaches, palaces and hill stations.
3. While medical tourism offers savings and access to procedures not available locally, there are also risks like differing standards of care and the potential for complications to occur abroad. Strict quality standards and oversight can help address these risks.
Top 10 Medical Tourism Destinations in the World.pptxMedFitAway
With rising healthcare costs in the world and the rise of health tourism destinations that offer quality and affordable healthcare perked up by a beautiful travel experience, people are scampering to book appointments with healthcare providers far away from home. Yearly, millions of patients travel from countries lacking healthcare infrastructure or less advanced in a particular area of medical care to countries that provide highly-specialized medical care.
This has birthed a robust global medical tourism market that was worth over $37 billion in 2019. Patients book flight trips to countries for various medical procedures ranging from cosmetic surgery, dental work, to orthopedic procedures at affordable rates. For the health tourism destinations and healthcare providers, the competition is fierce, requiring an interplay of factors to drive medical travel and improve their brand in the medical tourism market.
According to the Medical Tourism Index, whichassesses the attractiveness of countries for medical travel, a country’s economy and public image, healthcare costs, and quality of care are the major factors that drive medical tourism growth in a destination.
Using these metrics, here are the top 10 medical tourism destinations in the world.
Medical tourism is the practice of traveling abroad to receive medical care. India has become a major destination for medical tourism due to the low costs of treatments compared to countries like the US and UK. The Indian medical tourism industry has experienced rapid growth and is expected to become a $2 billion industry by 2015. Key factors driving medical tourists to India include world-class hospitals and care at a fraction of the price in Western countries, with no waiting lists. The Indian government is taking steps to promote the country's medical tourism sector through initiatives like visa reforms and industry guidelines.
This document discusses health tourism, including its origins thousands of years ago when people traveled to sites like Epidaurus and Bath for healing. It notes that in the 21st century, low-cost air travel has expanded health tourism globally. India has become a major destination for health tourism due to its high-quality yet affordable medical care and treatments that are often one-tenth the cost of Western countries. The document outlines India's advantages in health tourism and identifies challenges that still need to be addressed to further develop the industry.
This document provides an overview of medical tourism in India. It discusses the status and prospects of medical tourism in India based on a research project submitted to fulfill the requirements for a Bachelor's degree in Hotel and Tourism Management. The document includes chapters on the introduction and purpose of the study, literature review on medical tourism, research methodology, results discussion, findings summary, and conclusions and recommendations. It also includes tables of data collected from travelers and doctors on their perspectives on medical tourism in India.
India has a long history as a destination for medical tourism, dating back thousands of years. In modern times, India has emerged as a top destination for medical tourism due to the high quality care provided at a fraction of the cost of treatments in other countries. The Indian government actively promotes the country's medical tourism industry through initiatives like dedicated medical visas and the website IndiaHealthcareTourism.com. Major private hospitals in India provide treatments in cardiology, orthopedics, and oncology to attract medical tourists while also offering traditional Ayurvedic and other alternative medicine options.
Thailand has become a popular destination for health tourism due to its low-cost yet high-quality healthcare services and traditional treatments like Thai massage. Hospitals in Thailand offer JCI accreditation and have experience treating complex medical cases while costs are often much lower than in other countries. The Thai government supports the growth of health tourism through programs like the Health Promotion Temple project and by regulating herbal product standards. While facing threats from rising global competition, health tourism is seen as an important opportunity for Thailand's economy.
Business plan medical tourism in indiaNitesh Bhele
Medical tourism provides patients opportunities to receive quality healthcare in foreign countries like India at lower costs than in Western countries. The document outlines plans to start a medical tourism company in India called Med Tour Pvt. Ltd. that will arrange affordable cosmetic surgeries, non-elective procedures, and alternative medicine for international patients. It discusses the market size, services offered, strategies, finances, and human resources required to launch and run the business. The company aims to achieve profitability within its first year of operation through gradual growth in client numbers each month.
The document is a project report submitted by Ankur Puri, a third year student at the Institute of Hotel Management in Gwalior, India. The report thanks various faculty members, friends, colleagues, and family for their support and insights during the project. It then outlines the table of contents which covers topics like medical tourism surgeries, scope in India, favorable locations, government contributions, conclusions, and bibliography. The report appears to focus on analyzing medical tourism in India.
This document discusses medical and wellness tourism in India. It provides statistics showing that Thailand, Singapore, Mexico, India, and the US are top destinations for medical tourists, with Thailand receiving the highest percentage of medical tourists as a proportion of total foreign tourists. The document outlines opportunities for India in health tourism such as job creation and revenue generation, and challenges such as the lack of a dedicated government body for accreditation and difficulties obtaining medical visas. It proposes strategies for India to capture health tourism opportunities like setting up a regulatory body and developing industry-specific websites and alliances between hospitals, wellness centers, and facilitators.
India has become an international hub for medical tourism, attracting over 300,000 medical tourists in 2006-2007 seeking affordable, high-quality healthcare. Medical tourism is a multibillion dollar industry for India, with treatments often costing 1/10th the price of Western countries but with comparable success rates. The growth of medical tourism is projected to continue rapidly, with the industry expected to be worth $2.2 billion annually by 2012. India has established world-class hospitals and healthcare infrastructure on par with Western nations, presenting an economic opportunity for medical tourism.
This document discusses medical tourism, which is when people travel internationally to obtain medical care. Common treatments received include dental, cosmetic, and elective surgeries. Over 50 countries have identified medical tourism as a national industry. Reasons for medical tourism include lower costs, shorter wait times, and the ability to combine treatment with travel. Popular destinations include India, Thailand, Singapore, and Turkey. The document also outlines some of the benefits, risks, and statistics associated with medical tourism.
Scope and future of medical tourism in indiaIndmed Travel
The scope & future of medical tourism in India. What is Medical Tourism? The significance of medical tourism. The scope of India in medical tourism. The main reasons for the growing popularity of medical tourism in India.Conclusions. References.
Medical tourism in India is a growing $2 billion industry, with an expected annual growth rate of 30%. India offers reduced costs for treatments compared to other countries, along with the latest medical technologies and internationally accredited hospitals. Common treatments sought include cardiac surgery, orthopedics, cosmetic surgery, and dentistry. Major hospitals include Apollo, Fortis, and AIIMS. The city of Chennai in particular attracts over 150 international patients daily and has become India's center for medical tourism.
Medical Tourism Project for LSE Marketing 101 Dr Ritesh Malik
Asian Health Inc. is an international healthcare company that operates a 500-bed hospital in New Delhi, India and has a 26% stake in an Indian pharmaceutical company. It aims to provide high-quality yet affordable healthcare and become a leading provider of medical tourism services. The company analyzes the large and growing global medical tourism market, and outlines its strategy to target customers in developed countries seeking cheaper alternatives. It discusses establishing offices worldwide and the processes, economics, consumer behavior, and competitive advantages of its medical tourism business model.
Key points
Definition
Medical Tourism Process
Factors Of Medical Tourism
Abroad For Treatment
Specialties For Medical Tourism
Benefits Of Medical Tourism
Ethical Issues In Medical Tourism
Legal Issues In Medical Tourism
Points To Communicate
Risks Of Medical Tourism
Positive And Negative Impact On Medical Tourism In The UAE
Some Of Dubai Statistic
Articles About Medical Tourism
Result
References
This presentation explains medical tourism in India, it's benefits and the factors affecting it. It also looks at the darker side of medical tourism in India and introduces the concept of Medical Value Travel. The concepts are explained with the help of a storyline.
The document discusses outbound medical tourism from Bangladesh. It notes that the top destinations visited by Bangladeshis for medical purposes are India (77%), Thailand (4%), Singapore (13%), and Malaysia (2%). This is due to factors like the deteriorating healthcare system in Bangladesh such as lack of specialized treatment, high costs, and corruption. Countries like India, Singapore, and Thailand are attractive due to their lower costs, state-of-the-art technology, and quality of care. The document provides recommendations to improve Bangladesh's healthcare system to reduce medical tourism outbound trends.
Medical Tourism Potentiality in Egypt "Egypt's health strategy" Msegypt
This document evaluates the potential for medical tourism in Egypt by comparing it to leading countries in the industry. Deep interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals. Egypt was found to have a strategic geographic location and infrastructure for tourism. However, weaknesses identified included a lack of large, accredited healthcare facilities meeting international standards. Recommendations included developing centers of excellence, improving technology, establishing international accreditation, and marketing Egypt's competitive advantages in medical tourism.
India has become a major destination for medical tourism due to the low costs of treatment compared to countries like the US and UK. Medical tourism in India provides first world treatment at third world prices, with the same treatment often one tenth the cost in other countries. India is positioning itself as a leader for complex medical procedures and attracts over 1.5 lakh foreign patients annually, generating $300 million in revenue in 2002. This revenue is expected to grow to $2 billion by 2012. In addition to medical treatment, many tourists visit cultural and religious sites in India. While medical tourism provides economic benefits, it also faces challenges like inadequate infrastructure and ensuring ethical practices.
A Case Study on Medical Tourism in Hyderabad City by Dr.Mahboob Ali Khan Phd ...Healthcare consultant
Medical centers all over the world have acquired accreditation from well known international organizations such as JCI, JCAHO and ISO to express their dedication to excellence. Another advantage of medical tourism is the immediate access to health care services. For those who have come from countries with public health care systems, medical tourism offers them the chance to be placed on the priority list. When dealing with matters of health, waiting is not always an option.
1. Medical tourism in India has grown due to collaboration between the medical and tourism industries, allowing people to receive affordable treatment while also vacationing.
2. India offers world-class medical facilities and treatments in various fields at a fraction of the cost compared to places like the US. It is also a popular tourist destination with beaches, palaces and hill stations.
3. While medical tourism offers savings and access to procedures not available locally, there are also risks like differing standards of care and the potential for complications to occur abroad. Strict quality standards and oversight can help address these risks.
Top 10 Medical Tourism Destinations in the World.pptxMedFitAway
With rising healthcare costs in the world and the rise of health tourism destinations that offer quality and affordable healthcare perked up by a beautiful travel experience, people are scampering to book appointments with healthcare providers far away from home. Yearly, millions of patients travel from countries lacking healthcare infrastructure or less advanced in a particular area of medical care to countries that provide highly-specialized medical care.
This has birthed a robust global medical tourism market that was worth over $37 billion in 2019. Patients book flight trips to countries for various medical procedures ranging from cosmetic surgery, dental work, to orthopedic procedures at affordable rates. For the health tourism destinations and healthcare providers, the competition is fierce, requiring an interplay of factors to drive medical travel and improve their brand in the medical tourism market.
According to the Medical Tourism Index, whichassesses the attractiveness of countries for medical travel, a country’s economy and public image, healthcare costs, and quality of care are the major factors that drive medical tourism growth in a destination.
Using these metrics, here are the top 10 medical tourism destinations in the world.
The document discusses medical tourism in India from the perspective of hospitals. It notes that while India lags in primary healthcare infrastructure compared to other developing nations, costs for procedures in India are much lower than in countries like the US and UK. For hospitals, there are opportunities to generate profits not just from medical procedures but also through premium accommodation, food, and other ancillary services provided to medical tourists. However, hospitals face challenges in differentiating their services for medical tourists and must focus on marketing, quality, and offering comprehensive packages to succeed in medical tourism.
Medical tourism involves traveling to another country for medical treatment. Traditionally, people from less developed countries traveled to more developed countries for unavailable treatments, but now people also travel from developed to developing countries for lower costs. Reasons for medical tourism include obtaining illegal treatments in the home country or accessing rare disease experts. Risks include medical issues like blood clots. The process typically involves working with a medical tourism provider who helps with treatment and travel logistics. Popular destinations include Costa Rica, Greece, Mexico, Thailand, and India, which offers treatments at much lower costs than Western countries. Medical tourism is growing in India and could generate $5-10 billion in revenue annually by 2012.
Some Arab countries have all the factors required for a successful health tourism industry and Government support can help these countries become popular health tourism destinations
The U.A.E. is positioning itself to become a hub for global medical tourism and a preferred destination for domestic and foreign patients seeking high quality and cost effective procedures and treatment
While Dubai has many things going for it which make it an excellent health tourism destination, there are some challenges it faces such as competition from some South Asian countries and availability of affordable medicine
This document discusses medical tourism, which refers to people traveling to another country to obtain medical treatment. It provides examples of reasons people engage in medical tourism, such as high savings, no wait lists, high quality treatment, and access to latest technology. It also discusses medical tourism in specific Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, India, and their advantages as medical tourism destinations.
India has become a popular destination for health tourism due to its high quality yet low cost medical treatment options. Patients travel to India from countries like the US and UK for cheaper procedures, shorter wait times, and comparable doctors who are highly trained and speak English. While India has many strengths in health tourism like skilled doctors and cost savings, there are also issues to address like standardizing education and improving hygiene. The healthcare industry in India is growing rapidly but still needs cooperation between the government and private sector to reach its full potential in medical tourism.
medical tourism is about the person travel abroad to find the better treatment which is that country have the latest technology in medical and specialist.
2013 cambridge considerations in entering the medical travel industryl paul ...How2Innovation
This document summarizes considerations for entering the medical travel industry presented by Paul vanOstenberg of Joint Commission International at a World Bank conference in Cambridge, England. It defines medical travel as traveling for medical, dental, or surgical care and notes estimates of 30-50 million medical tourists worldwide annually. Key drivers for medical travel include lower costs, quality care, and cultural connections. Risks include ensuring quality, safety, language and cultural considerations, and continuity of care. National strategies to promote medical travel from countries like Singapore, India, and Malaysia are discussed. The roles of accreditation organizations like JCI in overseeing quality are also summarized.
2013 cambridge considerations in entering the medical travel industryl paul ...aredwan
This document summarizes considerations for entering the medical travel industry according to Paul vanOstenberg of Joint Commission International. It discusses what medical tourism is, estimates of the number of medical tourists which range from 30-50 million annually, reasons why patients travel for medical care including lower costs and access to new procedures, examples of national strategies to promote medical tourism, and risks/challenges around quality, language/culture, and continuity of care. It provides examples of Japan and Bumrungrad Hospital in Thailand successfully entering the medical tourism market. It outlines Joint Commission International's role in overseeing quality and safety standards globally through accreditation and certification programs.
This document provides an overview of the medical tourism industry. It discusses that medical tourism involves traveling abroad to obtain healthcare services. Common reasons people engage in medical tourism are significant cost savings compared to domestic healthcare costs, access to procedures not available domestically, and a perception of high-quality care at international facilities catering to medical tourists. India is highlighted as a top destination for medical tourism due to its growth in high-quality corporate hospitals, trained medical professionals, and cost-competitive care. The document also outlines objectives and limitations of a study on the medical tourism sector in India.
This document discusses the rise of medical tourism in India. It provides the following key points:
1. Medical tourism is growing globally as a way for people to access affordable, high-quality healthcare abroad. India has emerged as a major destination due to its world-class facilities and staff at a fraction of costs in other countries.
2. Procedures like heart surgery, knee replacements, and cosmetic surgeries are some of the most common treatments sought by international patients in India. Costs for these can be one-tenth of prices in the US or Western Europe.
3. India has experienced rapid growth in medical tourists, increasing from around 150,000 in 2002 to an estimated 500,
The document discusses identifying international marketing opportunities in the medical services industry. It notes that the global medical tourism industry was worth $40 billion in 2004 and is expected to reach $100 billion by 2012, growing at an annual rate of 35%. India has the potential to attract 1 million medical tourists annually, contributing $6 billion to its economy. Key factors driving the emergence of international medical services markets include the rising elderly population in developed countries, increasing costs and capacity constraints in domestic healthcare systems, and India's significant cost advantages compared to countries like the US for various treatments.
Medical tourism involves people from other countries traveling to India for affordable medical care. India offers world-class facilities that are 30% cheaper than Western countries. Procedures like heart surgery or hip replacements cost a tenth as much in India compared to places like the US or UK. The Indian government and private sector have invested in developing medical tourism as an industry, aiming to generate billions of dollars in revenue. However, challenges remain in promoting India as a global healthcare destination.
India has become a popular destination for medical tourism due to the high quality care available at much lower costs than in other countries. Patients from the United States, Canada, Europe, and other developed nations are traveling to India for procedures such as cardiac surgery, orthopedic surgery, and cosmetic surgery. Treatment for conditions like heart disease and joint replacements can cost up to 10 times less in India than in other countries. The Indian healthcare industry has experienced rapid growth, especially in the private sector, and is projected to become a $40 billion industry by 2012, contributing significantly to the economy through medical tourism. The government aims to further promote India as a global healthcare destination through initiatives like developing medical cities and international partnerships.
The document discusses Thailand's efforts to become the number 1 medical hub of Asia. It notes that Thailand already has a strong healthcare infrastructure and reputation for skilled medical professionals. The Thai government is supporting policies to strengthen Thailand's position as a regional medical hub through its Thailand 4.0 policy and 2016-2025 Strategic Plan. Factors like rising healthcare demand from Thailand's aging population, strong medical facilities, and attractive investment incentives are also helping Thailand become the top medical hub in the region.
This document summarizes a presentation about medical tourism. It defines medical tourism as traveling abroad for medical treatment and lists popular specialties like cosmetic surgery, dentistry, and cardiovascular procedures. It notes the growth of medical tourism due to high healthcare costs in some countries and more affordable options abroad that are often a fraction of the price. The document outlines advantages like immediate access to care, improved travel/communication, opportunities to travel, and high-quality care at accredited facilities. It stresses the importance of researching providers, records, follow-up care, and legal protections before engaging in medical tourism.
This document discusses medical tourism, which involves traveling abroad for medical treatment. It provides an overview of the scope and components of medical tourism, including treatment types, wellness, and reproduction services. India is highlighted as a major destination for medical tourism due to its high-quality care at low costs compared to other countries. Challenges and opportunities for India's medical tourism industry are examined through a SWOT analysis. The roles of the Indian government and private sector in promoting medical tourism are also outlined.
Medical Tourism by Yesu Kumar- PGDHM Healthcare ManagementYesu Kumar
Medical Tourism is an act of travelling from home county to another country seeking of a quality care with an affordable cost.
Medical tourism has a popular mass culture where people travel to overseas countries to obtain health care services and facilities such as medical, dental, surgical, physical, mental care, whilst having the opportunity to visit the tourist spots of that country.
Medical tourism is an economic activity that entails trade in services and represent two sectors- medicine and tourism.
Similar to Medical tourism special insights with emphasis on the Gulf region (20)
Medical Tourism by Yesu Kumar- PGDHM Healthcare Management
Medical tourism special insights with emphasis on the Gulf region
1. MBBS, DPHC, FRCGP, FFPH,FRCP
(UK)
Director General - GCC
International Medical Tourism Congress
Amman – Jordan, 12-13 Shaban 1436H / 30 – 31 May, 2015
4. Medical tourism is becoming
increasingly popular.
Medical tourism presents important
concerns and challenges as well as
potential opportunities.
15/09/1436 Prof. Tawfik A. Khoja 4
5. There is a compelling need for all
parties involved in healthcare to
become familiar with medical
tourism and to understand the
economic, social, political, and
medical forces that are driving
and shaping this phenomenon.
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6. The medical tourism
marketplace consists of a
growing number of
countries competing for
patients by offering a wide
variety of medical, surgical,
and dental services.
Medical Tourism Destinations
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7. Medical Tourism Destinations
Asia / Middle
East
The Americas Europe Africa Other
China Argentina Belgium South Africa Australia
India Brazil Czech Republic Tunisia Barbados
Jordan Canada Germany Cuba
Colombia Hungary Jamaica
Malaysia Costa Rica Hungary
Singapore Ecuador Latvia
South Korea Mexico Lithuania
Philippines United States Poland
Taiwan Portugal
Turkey Romania
United Arab
Emirates
Russia
spain
15/09/1436 Prof. Tawfik A. Khoja 7
8. Medical tourists are presently
traveling to faraway countries
for cosmetic surgery, dental
procedures, bariatric surgery,
assisted reproductive
technology, ophthalmologic
care, orthopaedic surgery,
cardiac surgery, organ and
cellular transplantation, gender
reassignment procedures, &
even executive health
evaluations.
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9. Several highly developed nations including
Belgium, Canada, Germany, and Italy are
attracting foreign patients under the banner of
medical tourism, offering sophisticated modern
care with careful attention to patient preference,
service, and satisfaction.
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For patients from countries where a
governmental healthcare system
controls access to services, the
major reason to choose offshore
medical care is to circumvent
delays associated with long waiting
lists.
10. National health programs do not typically pay for
cosmetic surgery and similar type services;
therefore, patients from Canada and the United
Kingdom desiring these procedures pursue
medical tourism for the same economic reasons
as those from the United States.
15/09/1436 Prof. Tawfik A. Khoja 10
Patients also travel to offshore
medical destinations to have
procedures that are not widely
available in their own
countries.
11. Some patients, particularly those
undergoing plastic surgery, sex
change procedures, and drug
rehabilitation, choose to go to medical
tourism destinations because they are
more confident that their privacy and
confidentiality will be protected in a
faraway setting.
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12. The insurance industry has
become an active participant in
medical tourism. In the USA, Blue
Cross Blue Shield sells insurance
policies that enable or encourage
patients to have expensive surgical
procedures at low-cost offshore
medical facilities.
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13. The informed patients shop outside the organized
medical system to find services that are
affordable, timely, or simply
available.
Physicians and
hospitals in medical
tourism destinations
recognize that they must
provide high-quality care
to develop a sustainable
competitive advantage in
the international marketplace.
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14. Medical tourism carries some risks that locally-
provided medical care does not.
Exposure to diseases without having built up
natural immunity can be a hazard for weakened
individuals, specifically with respect to
gastrointestinal diseases (e.g. Hepatitis A,
amoebic dysentery, paratyphoid) which could
weaken progress and expose the patient to
mosquito-transmitted diseases, influenza, and
tuberculosis.
Risks
15/09/1436 Prof. Tawfik A. Khoja 14
15. The quality of post-operative care can also
vary dramatically, depending on the hospital
and country, and may be different from US or
European standards. Also, traveling long
distances soon after surgery can increase the
risk of complications.
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Long flights and decreased mobility
associated with window seats can predispose
one towards developing deep vein thrombosis
and potentially a pulmonary embolism.
16. Also, health facilities treating medical
tourists may lack an adequate
complaints policy to deal
appropriately and fairly with
complaints made by dissatisfied
patients.
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17. Differences in healthcare provider
standards around the world have been
recognised by the World Health Organization,
and in 2004 it launched the World Alliance for
Patient Safety. This body assists hospitals and
government around the world in setting patient
safety policy and practices that can become
particularly relevant when providing medical
tourism services.
If there are complications, the patient may need to stay
in the foreign country for longer than planned or if they
have returned home, will not have easy access for follow
up care.
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18. Receiving medical care abroad may subject medical
tourists to unfamiliar legal issues.
The limited nature of litigation in various countries is
one reason for the lower cost of care overseas.
While some countries currently presenting themselves
as attractive medical tourism destinations provide some
form of legal remedies for medical malpractice, these
legal avenues may be unappealing to the medical
tourist.
Should problems arise, patients might not be covered by
adequate personal insurance or might be unable to seek
compensation via malpractice lawsuits.
Legal issues
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19. There can be major ethical issues around
medical tourism. For example, the illegal
purchase of organs and tissues for
transplantation had been methodically
documented and studied in countries such as
India, China, Colombia and the Philippines. The
Declaration of Istanbul distinguishes between
ethically problematic "transplant tourism" and
"travel for transplantation".
Ethical issues
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20. Medical tourism centered on new technologies,
such as stem cell treatments, is often
criticized on grounds of fraud, blatant lack of
scientific rationale and patient safety. However,
when pioneering advanced technologies, such
as providing 'unproven' therapies to patients
outside of regular clinical
trials, it is often challenging
to differentiate between
acceptable medical
innovation and
unacceptable patient
exploitation.
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21. Africa and the Middle East
Jordan
Jordan through their Private
Hospitals Association, managed
to attract 250,000 international
patients accompanied by more
than 500,000 companions in
2012, with a total revenues
exceeding 1B US$. Jordan won
the Medical Destination of the
year award in 2014 in the IMTJ
Medical Travel Awards.
Destinations
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22. Americas
Brazil
In Brazil, Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo
was the first JCI-accredited facility outside of
the US, and more than a dozen Brazilian medical
facilities have since been similarly accredited. B
15/09/1436 Prof. Tawfik A. Khoja 22
23. Canada
Canada has entered the
medical tourism field.
In comparison to US
health costs, medical
tourism patients can
save 30 to 60 percent on
health costs in Canada.
15/09/1436 Prof. Tawfik A. Khoja 23
24. Mexico
US doctors point out that the Mexican legal
system makes it almost impossible to sue
Mexican doctors for malpractice.
Some clinics may also offer alternative medicine
therapies that have been proven ineffective or
are banned in the United States.
The Mexican government has
shut down some of these
in recent times.
15/09/1436 Prof. Tawfik A. Khoja 24
25. United States
A McKinsey and Co. report from 2008 found that
between 60,000 to 85,000 medical tourists were
traveling to the United States for the purpose of
receiving in-patient medical care.
The same McKinsey study estimated that
750,000 American medical tourists traveled from
the United States to other
countries in 2007
(up from 500,000 in 2006).
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26. Hong Kong
All 12 of Hong Kong's private hospitals have
been surveyed and accredited by the UK's Trent
Accreditation Scheme since early 2001.
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27. India
Medical tourism is a growing sector in India.
India’s medical tourism sector is expected to
experience an annual growth rate of 30%,
making it a $2 billion industry by 2015.
An estimated 150,000 of these travel to India for
low-priced healthcare procedures every year.
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28. Singapore
Singapore has a dozen hospitals and
health centers with JCI accreditation.
In 1997 (published 2000), the World Health
Organization ranked Singapore's health
care system sixth best in the world and
the highest ranked system in Asia.
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29. Thailand
Thailand has 37 JCI-accredited hospitals.
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The Ministry of Public Health plays an important
role in developing healthcare to promote scientific
based education.
The Thai government has placed a more important
role in public health programs for its citizens.
30. France
British NHS patients have been offered
treatment in France to reduce waiting lists for
hip, knee and cataract surgery since 2002.
France is a popular tourist destination but also
ranked the world's leading health care system.
The French National Authority for Health (HAS)
issues high-level quality requirements for French
health care, with which clinics and hospitals must
comply in order to be accredited.
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31. Germany
Costs for medical treatment in
Germany are commonly 50% of those
in the USA.
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32. Price is not the only determining factor when it
comes to choosing a destination.
Networks, history and relationships may also
explain a great deal about the success of
particular destinations.
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The destinations of medical tourists are
typically based on geo-political factors.
Medical tourists from the Middle East typically
go to Germany and the UK due to existing ties,
while Hungary attracts medical tourists from
Western Europe owing to its proximity.
33. Dubai – UAE
Dubai is preparing to roll out medical tourism
packages covering procedures from spots
medicine to cosmetics surgery.
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Despite rapidly rising room rates across the
emirate, analytical believe the city’s health
offering will draw medical tourists from around
the world.
34. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will seek
applications which would hospitals in the
emirate to participate in medical tourism
packages recreational activities for
accompanying family members.
Medical tourism, which relies on affordable
quality treatment, is also dependent on ancillary
services such as hotels and recreational
infrastructure.
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35. While Dubai is becoming more expensive for hotel
guests, it is perceived as having an edge over other
medical tourism destinations such as Lebanon,
known as a cosmetic surgery hub. Bangkok or New
Delhi, in terms of security, shopping and leisure
activities.
“Dubai is counting on its brand and its additional
attractions plus the relatively shorter commuting
times from its core target markets”.
Dubai still appears competitive when compared
with more traditional medical tourism destinations
such as Switzerland, Germany and the UK.
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36. Still, the number of medical tourists to Dubai has
been rising despite the city becoming a more
expensive option.
In 2012, an estimated 107,500 medical tourists came
for treatment at Dubai’s 23 hospitals, five day
surgery facilities and 1,181 clinics.
The figure is growing at a compound annual growth
rate of 15 per cent, said DHA in February.
The top source markets include Russia, Qatar,
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UK, India and Pakistan.
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37. Dubai is initially targeting wellness and
preventive care treatment, including
orthopaedic and sports medicine, plastic
surgery, ophthalmology, dental procedures and
full-body check-ups.
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“Dubai in general is attuned
to providing therapies in
beauty and often quick-fix
health issues such as gastric
banding and liposuction,
38. The making of a world-class healthcare
destination is complex.
We consider a variety of factors, including:
Government and private sector investment in
healthcare infrastructure.
Demonstrable commitment to international
accreditation, quality assurance, and
transparency of outcomes.
International patient flow.
Potential for cost savings on medical
procedures.
Why these destinations?
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39. Political transparency and social stability.
Excellent tourism infrastructure.
Sustained reputation for clinical excellence.
History of healthcare innovation and
achievement.
Successful adoption of best practices and
state-of-the-art medical technology.
Availability of internationally-trained,
experienced medical staff.
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40. Cosmetic surgery
Dentistry (general, restorative, cosmetic)
Cardiovascular (angioplasty, CABG,
transplants)
Orthopedics (joint and spine; sports
medicine)
Cancer (often high-acuity or last resort)
Reproductive (fertility, IVF, women's health)
Weight loss (LAP-BAND, gastric bypass)
Scans, tests, health screenings and second
opinions.
What are the top specialties for
medical travelers?
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41. Finding the answer to this question can be
challenging, as estimates and forecasts vary
widely among world's the top research firms.
Patients Beyond Borders' editors define a
medical traveler : as anyone who travels across
international borders for the purpose of
receiving medical care.
How big is the market?
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42. We believe the market size is USD 38.5 - 55
billion, based on approximately eleven million
cross-border patients worldwide spending an
average of USD 3,500-5,000 per visit, including
all medically-related costs, cross-border and
local transport, inpatient stay and
accommodations. We estimate some 1,200,000
Americans will travel outside the US for medical
care this year (2014).
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43. Yes…
The world population is aging and becoming more affluent at
rates that surpass the availability of quality healthcare
resources.
In addition, out-of-pocket medical costs of critical and
elective procedures continue to rise, while nations offering
universal care are faced with ever-increasing resource
burdens.
Patients are forcing to pursue cross-border healthcare
options either to save money or to avoid long waits for
treatment.
We estimate the worldwide medical tourism market is
growing at a rate of 15-25%, with rates highest in North,
Southeast and South Asia.
Is the market growing?
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44. Using US costs across a variety of specialties
and procedures as a benchmark, average range
of savings for the most-traveled destinations:
Brazil: 20-30%
Costa Rica: 45-65%
India: 65-90%
Malaysia: 65-80%
Mexico: 40-65%
Singapore: 25-40%
South Korea: 30-45%
Taiwan: 40-55%
Thailand: 50-75%
Turkey: 50-65%
How much can be saved?
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45. Countries & numbers of hospitals with Joint
Commission International accreditation in August 2013
Country
Number of accredited
hospitals
Bahrain 1
Jordan 9
Kuwait 2
Qatar 5
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 42
United Arab Emirates 39
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46. Tourism is Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia's second largest source
of income after oil, generating
approximately US$ 13.8 billion
annually, and it is the third
largest source of employment.
Income from international
travel and tourism to Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia is predicted to
reach US$ 63.7 billion by 2019.
In Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
religious tourism is the heart
and soul of all tourism.
Medical tourism in Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia
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47. Currently, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is investing
intensively in its health system, most of the
financing coming from Government bodies,
which places a continuous strain on the
Government.
With 386 hospitals, 54 724 hospital beds and
55 000 physicians, a successful health care
infrastructure is well on its way to being fully
established.
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48. Most doctors in Saudi
hospitals have been trained in
western countries with well-
known, trustworthy training
systems, which may attract
patients from abroad.
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The recent trend of obtaining accreditation from the
Joint Commission International resulted in more than 40
accredited hospitals by August 2012. Although
accreditation is not designed to attract more patients
from abroad but rather to upgrade national health
facilities, this will develop more trust among foreign
patients choosing a hospital.
49. Surveys and research suggest that most foreign
patients coming to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
have a spiritual life and regard their spiritual and
physical health as equally important.
Merging religious and medical
tourism
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With proper arrangements, patients (especially
those for elective surgery) could be offered
medical or surgical treatment packaged with
religious tourism, such as visits to holy places
for prayers or Umrah.
50. Moreover, All Muslims believe that ALLAH hears
their prayers and grants health in the holy
places, and they believe that spiritual activities
in the holy places boost their healing process.
Many old patients with terminal stage diseases
or geriatric problems would like to spend time in
the holy places during
treatment.
The spiritual
element is an essential
component of palliative
and end-of-life care.
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51. Underestimation of the country's potential
The authors consider that the main problem in
the emergence of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a
hub of medical tourism is that it is neglected by
the Government and the private sector, which
underestimate the importance of medical
tourism. Major medical tour operators are of the
opinion that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has not
made a significant mark in the inbound medical
tourism business.
Barriers to medical tourism in
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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52. The authors suggest that the relevant authorities
should make a consolidated, joint effort to build a
long-term plan and infrastructure for medical
tourism.
Difficult documentation and visa processes
It is difficult to acquire a medical visa for a
number of reasons. A delay in acquiring a visa is
unfavourable in the case of medical ailments,
when one of the first priority of patients is early
diagnosis and treatment. This delay cannot be
reduced until the Government recognizes the
importance of medical tourism and makes special
arrangements and policies for this activity.
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53. Insufficient information
Although many milestones have been achieved
in the concept of E-health, special attention is
required for foreign patients intending to obtain
medical care in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This
includes clear-cut information from the medical
unit to which the patient wishes to go. Special
information portals should be dedicated solely
for this purpose, and a more efficient national
health information system should be set up,
from which the international community could
also benefit.
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54. Poor cooperation between medical tour
operators and medical units
Strong partnerships with medical tour operators
are of key importance, as these organizations
are not only specialized in travel services but
can also assist in related services before and
throughout a trip. Depending on the agreements
with medical units, they can take on most of the
burden of scheduling appointments, booking
hotels and providing assistance in getting a
medical visa.
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55. Inadequate marketing
As Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's neighbours are
emerging giants in medical tourism, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia should undertake a well-planned,
continuous, worldwide publicity campaign
through sources such as the Internet, social
media and print and e-media.
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56. Identify specific areas for medical tourism
Although providing all types of medical services
is a fascinating target, focusing on a few areas
first and mastering them would be more
commercially practical in establishing a
position. For example, Thailand has focused on
gender defining and cosmetic surgery, China on
stem cell treatments, India on alternative
medicine, bone-marrow transplant, cardiac
bypass surgery and eye surgery. Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia must explore which field its
hospitals should focus on.
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57. Identify the target population
As mentioned earlier, certain populations are
attracted more to certain locations. This might
be due to a similar ethnic and racial
background: Taiwan attracts mainly Chinese
patients, Jordan mainly Arabs from the Middle
East and North Africa, and India and Pakistan
mainly South-East Asians. Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia has the edge, in that it can attract not
only patients from Gulf Cooperation Council,
Middle Eastern and North African countries but
also, if packaged with religious tourism and
wisely advertised, the entire Muslim world.
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58. Make policy and legal issues easy and
systematic
Legal regulations and laws related to medical
tourism, visa issuance, medical tour operators,
private sector involvement, health insurance,
medico-legal aspects of malpractice and related
issues should be revised and clear enough for
the convenience and safety of incoming
patients. The ministries of health, tourism and
information should initiate comprehensive,
multi-ministerial efforts.
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59. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has good potential for
becoming a hub of medical tourism in the region. It
has most of the infrastructure and facilities with high
standards, many of which are already accredited
internationally. The unique position of the Kingdom
in religious and archaeological history and its
political stability give it advantages over competitors
in the field. Having learnt lessons from the
achievements of neighbouring countries, it is now
time that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia become
motivated and initiate a well-planned, long-term plan
for the medical tourism industry. The current era of
global economic turmoil is the right time to take
advantage of medical tourism and reduce the heavy
dependence of the country on oil.
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60. Today’s health challenges require a new
way of working based on :
- shared leadership;
- aligning root causes and
- strategy and measureable results.
It is believed that innovative
collaborations produce innovative
solutions for healthier communities.
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