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Russians come Turkey for medical tourism as well

Posted on July 22, 2012 | Comments Off on Russians come Turkey for medical tourism as well

Turkey will soon be in high demand by Russia and Ukraine for the nation’s medical tourism options. Dr. Yahya Öztel, the owner of Turmed, a firm operating in medical tourism in Russia and Ukraine states that Turkey will soon become a very popular destination for medical tourism. Öztel explains that ever since attending last year’s Anfaş Hetex medical tourism fair in Antalya, they have already begun bringing patients to Turkey. “Unfortunately the health system in Ukraine is not highly subsidized therefore Ukrainian doctors do not always have the necessary modern technology or equipment to diagnose or treat patients. Therefore, I believe that the foundation we established during the meetings held at the Anfaş Hetex Fair will provide strong commercial ties in order to increase medical tourism in Turkey for Russia and Ukraine.”

Last year’s Anfaş Hetex, Turkey’s first and sole medical tourism fair, has already begun to reap fruit. Mustafa Çalık the Executive Board Chairman of Anfaş Fairs explains that they have held the Anfaş Hetex Fair for three years now in order to support the health and medical tourism industry which has begun to grow in Turkey. Explaining that every year approximately 1,000 people come to Turkey for medical tourism, Çalık states: “Medical tourism and medical-based trips fall into three categories; thermal and spa-wellness tourism, older age and handicapped tourism and medical tourism. With the Anfaş Hetex Fair we bring together all establishments and facilities with operations in each subcategory with international professional visitors. With an approximate five percent share of the 100 billion dollar global medical tourism market, Turkey receives 1.5 to two billion dollars. It is thought that with Turkey’s geographical advantages, human resources and medical experience, this figure could increase.”

Özel Medical Park Antalya Hospital Complex Chief Physician Dr. Şerif Köksal explains that the Anfaş Hetex Fair has resulted in a number of business collaborations which has helped bring in patients to Turkey from throughout the world. “We admit cancer or organ transplant patients from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan practically every week.”
Anfaş Hetex Fair Director Arzu Yüngül announces that this year’s Anfaş Hetex 4th International Medical Tourism Fair, which will be held November 1-3, 2010 at the Antalya Expo Center, will have over 100 firms participating and is expected to result in 2,000 business meetings.

source: http://www.portturkey.com  / Friday, July 20th, 2012

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Posted in Health /Medical Treatment For Overseas Treatment, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Reports,Features, Statistics, Uncategorized

Omanis prefer India for medical tourism

Posted on July 17, 2012 | Comments Off on Omanis prefer India for medical tourism

Muscat:

India is fast turning into a favourite destination for Omani tourists, especially for those seeking advanced medicare.
There has been a steep rise in the number of visas being issued to India-bound Omanis in the recent past.

From January 1 to June 30 this year, the number of medical visas issued to Omanis has jumped three times and that of other kinds of visas went up 30 per cent when compared to the same period last year, the official data shows.

“There was a tremendous increase in the number of all kinds of visas issued to Omanis during the first half 2012. The statistics reveal that India is turning into a prime destination for Omanis who opt for advanced treatment and also want to have a glimpse of the rich Indian cultural heritage,- a senior official from the Indian embassy told Times of Oman.

According to the data, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and New Delhi are the top five destinations -”in descending order-” where Omanis visited for medical treatment during the last six months.

“The rise in the number of medical visas shows that India is turning into a medicare hub. India has state-of-the-art medical facilities, experienced medics, affordable and quality nursing facilities, cheap medicines, and traditional healthcare centres. This has led to a rush in medical tourism,- the official added.

The Indian’ Embassy in Muscat issues medical, tourism, business and student visas for Omanis.

Omanis travels to India to seek treatment for cardiovascular, gastroenterology, orthopaedic, oncology, ophthalmology and dental ailments.

“After their return from India, many Omanis say that due to cultural similarities and historical ties, they feel they are at home,- the official added.

“I took my wife for allergy treatment to Kerala a few weeks ago. She received the best available treatment and now she is fine. The facilities are world-class and treatment quite cheap,- Fahad Al Kharousi, an oil company employee, told Times of Oman.

“The processing of official papers for going to India for medical purposes is much easier compared to any other country. Moreover, the facilities we get there are the best,- Fahad said, adding that his friend recommended him to travel to India.

Meanwhile, a private agency engaged in medical tourism says that visa enquiries for treatment in India are very high.

“More and more Omanis want to visit India as it is an affordable and trusted destination for medicare. Many persons whom we gave the Indian option are quite happy after their return. The medical facilities in India are the best,- Hassan Mohsin Al Lawati, chairman of Al Furdha Services, said.

During the last six months, Al Furdha Services has assisted more than 50 Omanis for treatment in India.

Recently, there were media reports that the government of India is planning to provide “visa on arrival- facilities to the GCC nationals as part of a major drive to attract tourists from the Gulf region.

According to reports, Sultan Ahmed, Indian Minister of State for Tourism, said in Dubai, the government is planning to extend it to more countries, particularly the GCC nations from where Asia’s third largest economy is drawing steadily increasing inbound traffic.

India is already providing visa on arrival facility to 17 nationalities.

“As the minister said, if India begins to offer visa on arrival for the GCC nationals, then it will be a boon for India. More people means more revenue. Hope, this plan is implemented soon,- Shaji Sebastin, an Indian expatriate, said.

source: http://www.timesofoman.com / Home> News / by Rejimon K  / July 17th, 2012

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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, Uncategorized

Medical travel to reinforce record numbers of GCC travellers to Germany

Posted on June 21, 2012 | Comments Off on Medical travel to reinforce record numbers of GCC travellers to Germany

New official numbers confirm not only that the popularity of Germany is continuously on the rise among international travellers but all the data and projections point to medical travel as the real “rising star” of the tourist industry.

According to figures from the Federal Statistical Office, the number of overnight stays by visitors from abroad in the period from January to March 2012 rose by over 10% compared with the same period in 2011. Overall, almost 12.3 million overnight stays by international visitors were recorded between the start of the year and the end of March, with significant increases in the major source markets.

Among these markets, a special position is occupied by the GCCregion, whose nationals are increasingly heading to Germany to benefit from the outstanding quality of the medical sector. For the first time, the mark of one million overnight stays by travellers from the Arabian Gulf region was outdone in 2011. Yet, during the first three months of 2012 a further increase of 15.5% was registered as compared to the previous year, with 185.074 overnight stays by GCC travellers from January to March 2012 against the 160.237 overnight stays during the same trimester of 2011.

According to all the estimations, an expanding share of international patients is expected to visit Germany for health reasons in the coming years. Figures from the German Federal Statistical Office and the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences indicate that treatments were provided to over 77,000 inpatients from 178 countries in 2010, nearly 10% more than in the previous year. For the Euro Canada Consumer Index, the German healthcare system occupies the second place in Europe and ranks among the most progressive and innovative healthcare systems in the world.

“Health is a tourism megatrend with one of the global fastest growth; its increase in value sales is expected to reach 5.5% yearly in the period from 2010 to 2015,” said Antje Roeding-Boudier, Director of the Marketing & Sales Office for the Gulf Countries at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) in Dubai, the local affiliate of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB)for the GCC countries.

“Given the unparalleled level of collaboration between science, research, industry and hospitalsas well as the provided high level in medical infrastructures, staff and technologies, the medical sector in Germany enjoys an outstanding reputation, with patients arriving from all over the world,” she continued.

The Arab Gulf States are among the main source markets, also according to the records of hospitals and clinics across Germany. Hospital discharged statistics show that German hospitals treated nearly 4,200 from the Arab Gulf States in 2010. These guests choose Germany not only because of its excellence in the medical sector but also for the several specialised services offered by the medical structures to international patients.

As medical travel represents a global success story for the GNTB,a cross-media campaign centred on this theme was initiated in 2011 to further raise the profile of Germany as international destination for health related tourism. Part of this campaign is the print and online version of the brochure ‘Medical Travel’ available in Arabic and other 26 languages. The content of the e-brochure is available at germany.travel/medizin, the special section of GNTB’s official website dedicated to health related tourism. In addition, after many successful events carried out across the GCC countries under the ‘Medical Travel’ theme year in 2011, the GNTO will organize new initiatives, directly engaging the travel industry in the region. Therefore, medical workshops featuring different activities centred on health related travel will be held in Kuwait City, Doha and Abu Dhabi between 30 September and 2 October 2012.

source: http://www.ameinfo.com / Home> News> Company News> G: GNTB / posted by Rana Mesbah / June 21st, 2012

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

Germany sees medical tourism growth from Mideast

Posted on May 1, 2012 | Comments Off on Germany sees medical tourism growth from Mideast

The number of Middle Eastern tourists flying to Germany for medical treatment and recuperating in luxury hotels is growing at more than six percent annually, the general manager of a Munich-based hotel has said.

Up to 80 percent of Middle Eastern guests staying at Rocco Forte’s three Germany hotels are receiving medical treatment, said Frank Heller of the Munich-based Charles Hotel.

“35 percent of my business is coming from the Middle East and this is during the entire year. A few years ago it was just the summer months and now it’s the whole year. Out of this 80 percent are coming for medical reasons,” he told Arabian Business.

“We have had parents coming to Munich for 20 years [for medical procedures] and now they are starting to send their children,” he added.

The medical tourism industry is growing at 20-30 percent annually and is expected to become a $100bn sector by the end of 2012. Residents from the UAE spend up to $2bn annually in healthcare travel.

Rocco Forte Hotels, owned by the British hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, has close ties with several renowned surgeons that specialise in diseases common in the Middle East such as diabetes, renal and coronary heart disease.

Villa Kennedy in Frankfurt works closely with Dr. Ulrich Mondorf, who specialises in treating diabetes, renal and coronary heart disease, while Berlin-based Hotel de Rome is home to a branch of the DRK Kliniken hospital.

The luxury operator has ramped up its services to cater to guests and recovering patients from the Middle East, said Heller. “We have a medical concierge who is working very closely with the hospitals. We have Arabic speaking employees, Arabic chefs and shisha.”

source: http://www.ArabianBusiness.com / Industries> Travel & Hospitality / by Claire Valdini / May 01st, 2012

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

Industry moots air ambulance for Kovai: India

Posted on April 29, 2012 | Comments Off on Industry moots air ambulance for Kovai: India

Coimbatore:

Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Coimbatore (ICCIC) on Saturday organised a meeting of heads of different hospitals in the city and various stakeholders to work out possibilities of a ‘Helicopter Emergency Medical Service System’ for the city. As per the project, people requiring emergency medical service in and around the city would be air-lifted from accident spots or residences to hospitals using helicopters which would function as ‘air ambulances.’

Addressing the gathering, chamber president M Krishnan said, a few top hospitals in the city have agreed to set up helipad to start the facility.  Air ambulances would also boost city’s prospects as a hub of medical tourism, he said. “If implemented, Coimbatore will be the first Indian city to have the facility. It can ensure effective emergency and medical care,” he said.

According to Krishnan, the chamber was mooting the idea of a health care city in 500 acres in Coimbatore to provide affordable and quality healthcare for all. “Helicopter facility would boost this project also as roads in the region are very congested. Patients from hill stations like Ooty, Coonoor and Yercaud in Salem and from Erode and Tirupur districts are facing difficulty in reaching Coimbatore hospitals,” he said. “Air service can reduce the travel time considerably and help save many lives,” he added.

Dr S Rajasabapathy of Ganga hospital said many people lose their lives due to late arrival in hospitals after accidents. “A group of hospitals can collectively implement the helicopter facility and patients would be immensely benefitted,” he said. Rajasabapathy has conducted a feasibility study on the project in the city.

Caption Uday Gelli, flying expert and CEO of Mumbai-based Heligo Charters Private Limited, said a fully equipped helicopter can work as a hospital in the air and a joint effort can make it possible in Coimbatore. State planning board member Dr K Sridhar said the project can be easily implemented if trade, industry and hospitals join hands with state and central governments. “The cost can be reduced considerably if all these agencies joined together. If the Union government is able to reduce fuel cost of air ambulances and waive landing fees in airports, the project can be implemented easily,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN, April 29th, 2012

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Posted in Associations/Organisations/Government/NonGovernment, Healthcare Cities, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Uncategorized