Government Initiatives in Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the healthcare sector and has the potential to provide a significant amount of revenue and investment in the healthcare sector and healthcare infrastructure in a country, region or city.

Over 40 governments are involved in supporting medical tourism and the number is growing each year. Many Governments from Ministries of Tourism, Ministries of Health, Secretaries of Economic Development and other branches are all working together on medical tourism initiatives to promote their city, region or country as a destination for medical tourism.

Millions of patients travel to other countries each year for medical and dental care and more will travel as the world flattens and more patients think globally and travel for either cost savings or because of the high quality of healthcare available in other countries. Medical Tourism also can generate billions of dollars in revenue for the tourism industry as a majority of patients traveling to other countries for medical tourism engage in tourism activities. More importantly, a majority of patients bring companions with them on their medical tourism trip and the companions can stay weeks in the foreign country and almost all companions engage in tourism activities.

The Medical Tourism Association™ works with Governments in the following areas:

• Familiarization Trips of “buyers” of medical tourism, such as Insurance Companies, Insurance Agents, Employers and Medical Tourism Facilitators
• Working with the government to identify opportunities in medical tourism and assist them in their launch of Medical Tourism Programs
• Establishing Healthcare Clusters/Medical Cities – The MTA will work with governments to help them set up healthcare clusters or hospital associations which is a public/private partnership between the government and the private healthcare providers to come together to promote the country as a destination of medical tourism.
• Assistance in Marketing to “buyers” who send patients to foreign countries
• Branding in the Medical Tourism Magazine

Medical Tourism Patient Documentary

If you would like to watch Angels Overseas, Costa Rica edition, the MTA’s medical tourism documentary showcasing the patient experience as an American travels to Costa Rica for a double knee replacement and saves 80% on his healthcare costs, please click here.

For More Information on how the MTA works with governments please contact info@medicaltourismassociation.com, US 001-561-791-2000