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Medical Tourism Workshop Brings Industry Stakeholders to Tbilisi, Georgia

The Medical Tourism Association® (MTA), in collaboration with MedTourGeorgia, presented a daylong workshop on “Opportunities for Medical Tourism in Georgia,” June 25, 2013, at Tbilisi State Medical University. Palm Beach Gardens, FL, : The Medical Tourism Association® (MTA), in collaboration … Continue reading →

Egypt reveals health tourism drive

The Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) has announced plans to drive more health tourism to the country.

And to kick start its campaign, Cairo will host an international conference on health and therapeutic tourism on December 11.

“Egypt is an ideal destination for visitors interested in health tourism due to the wealth of the country’s natural resources,” said ETA chairman Amr El Ezabi.

“This sector is very promising on all fronts for the visitors and investors alike with many opportunities and locations to explore.”

El Ezabi said he was “optimistic” that the conference would be an “excellent platform for sharing experiences and an opportunity to pave the way for the rapid development of this sector in Egypt”.

The conference will be attended by leading international experts who will share best practices from other countries in the field of health and therapeutic tourism. It will highlight the importance of this sector for Egypt’s tourism industry and raise awareness among government officials, investors and key stakeholders on how to grow this newly emerging sector.

The development of Health Tourism in Egypt was initiated through cooperation between the Ministry of International Cooperation and the Office of the European Commissioner in Egypt who would extend technical assistance in support of establishing this sector in Egypt.

The ETA submitted its final strategy report containing a marketing and feasibility study with recommendations on how this sector can flourish and develop in Egypt.

The strategy, which was submitted by the ETA last November and highlights a 10-year plan with locations to be developed as part of this emerging sector, also includes a section on developing services and human resources, which is an overall priority for Egypt’s tourism authorities.

source: http://www.sis.gov.eg / State Information Services, Egypt / Home> Egypt in their eye> Websites / Cairo, Tuesday – July 02nd, 2013

Medical Tourism Story: Couple Flies to India for Affordable IVF

Medical tourism was the hope a US couple has been waiting for. After countless attempts, they traveled to India for IVF through PlacidWay medical tourism and became parents.

Denver, CO :

Medical Tourism IVF Experience with PlacidWay

Sarah, a 30-year-old wife living in Omaha, Nebraska, was growing increasingly discouraged and depressed by her inability to get pregnant. She and her husband have been trying to have children since their marriage, five years previously, without success. Sarah had already tried Clomid treatments in her local city without success and wanted to try IVF or in vitro fertilization treatments . The problem was affordability.

In the United States, an in vitro fertilization, or IVF cycle, can cost nearly $10,000 per attempt. After completing some research, Sarah had learned that, in many cases, a woman needed to go through two to three cycles before a successful conception with IVF approaches occurred. The cost of such treatment was way beyond their needs, especially since their private health insurance didn’t cover the Costs of IVF . Again, Sarah felt herself a failure.

Sarah and her husband were not only looking for affordability, but also quality with effective results. While she had been able to afford a several cycles of Clomid treatments, at $100 per cycle, she knew that was not enough to help her meet her desire to become a mother. Sarah and her husband began looking at other options, and after hearing from a friend whose cousin had traveled to India for orthopedic surgery, Sarah and her husband wondered about the potential of traveling to India for IVF treatment.

Learning about the medical tourism IVF options

Sarah began more research, and discovered a number of excellent fertility clinics, experts and gynecologists specially trained in IVF procedures in numerous locations throughout India, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Gurgaon and Goa. Reading into the history and experience of various centers, she and her husband found many that utilized high-tech and cutting-edge technologies as well as internationally trained physicians focusing on assisted reproductive technologies, including In Vitro Fertilization.

Sarah and her husband were prospecting the medical tourism options and realized that in India, one in-vitro fertilization attempt cost thousands of dollars less than the same procedure in the United States, and that they could obtain the IVF procedure, purchase airline tickets, hotel rooms, and even budget for incidentals for less than half of what one IVF cycle in the United States would cost them.

Together, Sarah and her husband then looked deeper into quality, position qualifications, and patient safety standards at the fertility clinics, as well as published results regarding IVF attempts for her age group. Yes, Sarah and her husband would have about nineteen hours of total flight time, a very small sacrifice, at least in her opinion, when it came to her ability to engage in more than one IVF cycle.

This year, Sarah and her husband are anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child, grateful for the opportunity, and the option, of traveling abroad for infertility treatments and IVF procedures. More than pleased with their experiences in India, Sarah has become a vocal proponent for medical travel for friends and family.

source: http://www.sbwire.com / SB Wire /  Home> Press Releases / June 27th, 2013

KSA sees growth in medical tourist arrivals

The arrival of medical tourists to Saudi Arabia is projected to increase at a CAGR of 20 percent from 2012 to 2016. (File photo: Reuters)

The arrival of medical tourists to Saudi Arabia is projected to increase at a CAGR of 20 percent from 2012 to 2016. (File photo: Reuters)

The medical tourist arrivals in Saudi Arabia are projected to increase to 105,000 by 2016 at a CAGR of 20 percent for the years 2012-2016, the Middle East Medical Tourism Industry Outlook to 2016 – Advanced Medical Infrastructure Paving the Way for Future Growth report said Tuesday.

It said the medical tourism industry in the Middle is projected to attract 753,500 medical tourists and will generate revenue of $2 billion by 2016.

The UAE is promoting its medical tourism in the world by the creation of the Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC). The country has the highest number of JCI certified hospitals in the region. In the coming years the UAE is expected to play a significant role in the medical tourism industry in the Middle East region, the report added.

The report pointed out that Jordan is the leader in the medical tourism industry in the Middle East region. The country serves medical tourists from Iraq, Syria, Yemen and other countries in the region. The country offers state of the art medical treatment in all of the 106 hospitals in the country.

Turkey, on the other hand, has a strategic location that makes the country a well-known destination for the medical tourism in the region, the report said.

The country is the second largest country in terms of the medical tourist arrivals and also the second largest in terms of revenue generated through medical tourism.

The creation of the health zones in the country by 2014 is expected to attract more medical tourists to the country. The medical tourism industry is estimated to attract medical tourists thereby generating revenue of $408 million by 2016, the report added.

source: http://www.english.alarabiya.net / Al Arabiya / Home> Lifestyle> Travel & Tourism / (SG) This article was first published in the Saudi Gazette / Wednesday – June 26th, 2013

Medical tourism set to exceed RM630m

MALAYSIA’S medical tourism industry is expected to grow beyond RM630 million this year, driven by high quality healthcare services at affordable prices, said Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC).

The council has forecast a total of 700,000 foreigners coming to Malaysia for treatment this year.

“The number of foreign patients has jumped by 15 per cent from about 583,000 in 2011 to more than 670,000 last year.

“We expect the momentum to be sustained,” said MHTC chief executive officer Dr Mary Wong.

MaryCT28jun2013

She believes that the high quality yet affordable healthcare facilities and services are the main drivers of the industry.

“This is further boosted by affordable hotel rates and short waiting period in getting medical treatment,” she added.

Malaysia recorded 25 million tourist arrivals last year.

Established in 2009 and under the purview of the Health Ministry, MHTC has been tasked to streamline both private and government healthcare service providers and industry players.

Indonesia, India and Japan were Malaysia’s top three markets in terms of patients seeking medical treatment here last year.

Cardiology, autopathic cancer and in vitro fertilisation are the most sought after services by foreign patients.

Dr Wong was speaking at a press conference by Prince Court Medical Centre, which has been named the top hospital for me-dical tourists this year by Medi-cal Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA).

The luxury private healthcare facility is wholly-owned by Petroliam Nasional Bhd and was built at a cost of RM544 million in 2007.

The hospital was in the spotlight after reporting a combined pre-tax loss of RM653.83 million in 2009 and 2010, but is targeting to be profitable in five years.

“Business is pic-king up, patient volume is growing and our revenue recorded 23 to 25 per cent growth last year,” said Prince Court chief executive officer Dr Chong Su Lin.

source: http://www.btimes.com.my / Business Times / Home> Nation / Friday – June 28th, 2013