Category Archives: Medical Tourism/Health Tourism

Agreement to facilitate medical tourism

Posted on January 25, 2013 | Comments Off on Agreement to facilitate medical tourism

Dubai :

In a move to streamline the medical tourism initiative for the Emirate of Dubai, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) have signed an agreement on Wednesday to facilitate and support medical tourism in the Emirate.

Major-General Mohammad Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the GDRFA, said “We are keen to extend our cooperation in this regard and the two entities will work together to provide high quality services to support and facilitate the medical tourism initiative in Dubai.”

“The two entities have already extended their cooperation on a number of important medical issues such as overseas treatment and blood donation. The DHA blood donation site is located in the premises of the GDFRA and helps the authority collect additional units of blood,” he added.

Essa Al Maidoor, director -general of the DHA, said, “This agreement with help both parties work together to ensure we strengthen this initiative and provide utmost convenience to overseas patients who are keen to visit Dubai for medical purposes.”

“Unification of policies and processes will ensure smooth functioning of a dynamic health sector and will benefit both medical tourists as well as the healthcare providers. Working with relevant stakeholders is a key requirement to ensure strengthening and seamless functioning of the initiative,” he explained.

Dubai is the world’s leading destination for tourism and leisure and since it offers excellent healthcare facilities, medical tourism is an extension of the hospitality that Dubai is synonymous with.

Laila Al Jassmi, CEO of health policy and strategy at the DHA, said that cooperation in the field of medical tourism is essential. The agreement will streamline procedures aimed to be beneficial for both medical tourists and healthcare entities in the Emirate, in addition to discussing unification of medical tourism procedures.

“It will ensure that overseas patients are provided with convenience and ease from the time they apply for a visa to seek treatment in Dubai until they complete all medical procedures and return back to their home country,” she added.
source: http://www.GulfToday.ae / Home> Local /by a Staff Reporter /January 24th, 2013

Comments Off on Agreement to facilitate medical tourism

Posted in Associations/Organisations/Government/NonGovernment, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Reports,Features, Statistics

Boosting M’sia’s medical tourism segment

Posted on January 21, 2013 | Comments Off on Boosting M’sia’s medical tourism segment

Kuching :

Malaysia is increasingly becoming a major destination for foreigners seeking medical treatment over the past five years, with efforts under way to diversify source markets.

According to the Ministry of Health Malaysia, the first five months of 2012 saw some 236,836 of foreign patients travelling into the country for medical care, spending RM200.4 million in total.

Based on these preliminary figures, the sector was expected to attract over 600,000 foreign patients and generate more than RM600 million in revenues by the end of 2012, Oxford Business Group (OBG) stated in its latest Malaysia Report.

In comparison to the region, Malaysia’s favourable exchange rate and the cost of healthcare services is at an extensively lower cost than that of other countries.

Some surgeries, in particular, are cheaper by half as compared with Singapore or Indonesia.

OBG, however, pointed out that spending by medical tourists was significantly higher than that of other types of visitors in general, medical tourists spent around four times more than their leisure counterparts.

“The medical tourism segment is almost entirely served by private sector health care providers.

“In 2011, facilities in Penang attracted around 49 per cent of total foreign medical revenues, while institutions in KL and the greater Klang Valley attracted 21 per cent of total spending and those in Melaka took in about 10 per cent,” it highlighted.

The government is currently working to boost private sector participation in the industry, with the goal of expanding health care options for Malaysians and attracting a large share of the medical tourism market.

“Incentives aimed at encouraging private participation in the sector include tax exemption for firms that build new hospitals or expand existing hospitals with the goal of attracting more medical tourists, and other tax incentives for companies that obtain accreditations,” it explained.

As of mid-2012, Malaysia was home to eight hospitals with JCI accreditation, including Gleneagles Hospital, the National Heart Institute, the Penang Adventist Hospital and the Sime Darby Medical Centre Subang Jaya.

Additionally, 85 hospitals – 32 of which are private facilities – hold accreditations from the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Health Indonesia had announced a plan in early 2012 to boost accessibility to health care for nationals in an effort to encourage Indonesians to stop travelling abroad for care.

“If this plan comes to fruition, Malaysia could possibily see a decline in its medical tourists from Indonesia, with this likely to have a significant effect on revenue figures.

“With this in mind, Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council is currently working to promote the segment in nearby countries such as Singapore and Japan as well as further afield in burgeoning health care markets including China, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar and a handful of nations in the Middle East,” it concluded.

source: http://www.TheBorneoPost.com / Home> Business> / by Justin Yap – justinyap@theborneopost.com / Friday, January 18th, 2013

Comments Off on Boosting M’sia’s medical tourism segment

Posted in Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Others, Reports,Features, Statistics, Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

SMS hospital takes lead as Jaipur becomes new medical tourism hub

Posted on January 20, 2013 | Comments Off on SMS hospital takes lead as Jaipur becomes new medical tourism hub

Jaipur:

Jaipur is emerging as the new medical tourism hub in India, giving tough fight to hospitals of Delhi and Chandigarh.

According to the figures available with the SMS Hospital’s medical records a total of 53,720 patients were given free medicines from the neighbouring states in 2012. While in 2011 the number of such patients given free medicines was 42,480.

Maximum flow of patients is from the state of Haryana, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

SMS Hospital’s Medical Record Officer SP Sharma said that as Haryana is close to Rajasthan, patients of this area come in large numbers to avail the free medicine facility.

Another factor responsible for it is that in Rajasthan, the doctors are easily approachable and moreover patients coming from outside get shelter at resonable price which is not possible in Delhi and Chandigarh, he added.

Dr RC Yadav, President Teaching Faculty said that the increase of patients from the neighbouring states has not only put an extra burden but is also affecting the work efficiency.

He added, the patient flow has increased many folds but the number of doctors remains less.

According to the statistics available from the SMS Hospital, after the free medicine scheme was launched in October 2, 2011 there has been 55 per cent increase in flow of patients all across the state.

On an average the number OPD patient per day after the scheme was launched were 4,814 patients and before that the average flow was 3,323 thus showing an increase of 44.86 per cent.

The flow of indoor patients after the scheme’s announcement was 419 per day while before it was 383 registering an increase of 9.39%. The Hospital registered an overall increase of 55% in the flow of patients.

In 2012 over 18.23 lakh patients had registered in the OPD of the SMS Hospital, said hospital sources. The scheme was launched by Rajasthan government to cater to the poor patients so that free medicines reach all across the state.

source: http://www.DailyBhaskar.com / Home> Rajasthan> Jaipur / DNA, January 17th, 2013

Comments Off on SMS hospital takes lead as Jaipur becomes new medical tourism hub

Posted in Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

Healthy hotels, rise in ancient therapies expected in 2013

Posted on January 17, 2013 | Comments Off on Healthy hotels, rise in ancient therapies expected in 2013

New York:

Healthy hotels, wellness tourism and the holistic medicine system Ayurveda are expected to be the among the top spa trends in 2013, according to a report that tracks the $73 billion global industry.

Gyms, pools and spas are standard at many hotels, but international chains and boutique inns will be enhancing offerings by adding customized services like jogging routes, in-room workouts, sleep programs, and gluten-free and vegan menus.

“Hotels are realizing that as people travel they want to stay healthy,” Susie Ellis, president of SpaFinder Wellness Inc, which compiles the annual forecast report, told journalists.

The InterContinental Hotels Group plans to open a wellness-focused brand hotel called EVEN in New York next year, with 100 more to follow within five years.

“It will be all about health and wellness,” Ellis said of the brand, which will revolve around fitness and include innovative touches such as coat racks that morph into pull-up bars.

Other U.S. hotel chains such as Westin are featuring guided jogs with running concierges and menus stocked with superfoods, according to the report, while Las Vegas’ MGM Grand has designed “Stay Well” rooms with vitamin C-infused showers, wake-up light therapy and air purification and aromatherapy.

Jeremy McCarthy, the director of spa operations for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, said all of his hotels provide jogging routes and are starting to lend running gear to guests.

The SpaFinder Wellness report, which was compiled by about 100 researchers who tracked trends, shows how the industry, which includes as many as 87,000 spas around the world, has shifted from beauty and pampering to health and wellness.

Along with healthy hotels, it predicts an increased demand for authentic Ayurveda, the 3,500 year-old Indian holistic system of medicine, and other ancient treatments.

“Look for more authentic Roman and Turkish baths, Russian banyas (steam rooms ), traditional Chinese medicine and Nordic offerings,” it said.

Traveling abroad

Ellis predicted a surge of people traveling abroad to stay healthy. The report cited India, which has seen a 22 percent annual growth in wellness tourism, as a prime example.

“Traveling for prevention and improving health is going to be huge,” she said.

More men have been going to spas for several years, and that is expected to continue in 2013. In addition to massages, more men are seeking a manicure and pedicure, facials, fillers and so-called “Brotox.”

The trend is fueled by aging baby boomers wanting to hold on to their looks and younger men who are comfortable with the concept of male beauty.

“It’s not just more culturally acceptable for men to spend on looking good, it’s becoming perceived as a necessity,” the report said.

In the United States, research by global company Mintel shows men represent about one in 10 cosmetic-procedure patients, while the number of males seeking cosmetic surgery in Germany has more than doubled in the past five years.

“Even territory once heavily reserved for women, like bikini waxing, is now being invaded by males …” the report said. — Reuters

source: http://www.gmanetwork.com / Home> Lifesytle> Wellness / by Patricia Reaney, Reuters / January 17th, 2013

Comments Off on Healthy hotels, rise in ancient therapies expected in 2013

Posted in Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Others, Reports,Features, Statistics, Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas, Wellness Tourism

Health tourism firms hopeful of Russia, US

Posted on January 16, 2013 | Comments Off on Health tourism firms hopeful of Russia, US

Problems in the health sectors of large countries such as the U.S. and  Russia may offer the Turkish health tourism industry an increased place in the market, according to sector representatives.

Worldwide health sector representatives were gathered at the Istanbul Health Expo Fair, at which Turkey’s opportunities to rise as a health tourism attraction were discussed.

Many people from the U.S and Russia  have been seeking treatment abroad but Turkey is not on their agenda as much as it could be, according to Filiz Çevirmen, the chairman of the Istanbul Health Tourism Association.

She said Turkey should explain its progress in the health sector by promoting it abroad to increase its market share in the $100 billion sector.

Azita Motoghaddam, chairman of an American  health market consultancy business, also emphasized Turkey’s potential, adding that there was a large deficiency of doctors in the U.S., given the aging population. “In the U.S., an average of 1.6 million people go abroad for treatment every year, spending a total of $19.2 billion. Countries like India  and Thailand are popular destinations, but Turkey has a better infrastructure than these countries,” she said. Lena Kargapoz Tseva, a  Russian  health specialist, complained about the falling health budget in Russia  and said that Russian  citizens were increasingly swerving to alternative countries such as Israel  and Germany.

source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com / Home> Sub category – Home Page / Istanbul – Anatolian News Agency / January 14th, 2013

Comments Off on Health tourism firms hopeful of Russia, US

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