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FOR the last few years, residents of several private apartment complexes in Penang have been forced to bear with thousands of strange “guests” who come and go with their loads of baggage.

These people, mostly Indonesians, are part of the relatively new economic wave brought about by what has come to be known as the “medical tourism” draw of Malaysia.

Preferring medical services in our country, they come in droves for treatment. The demand has grown so huge that it has spawned a new industry, with private hospitals hiring marketing agents in Indonesia, and even basing their expansion plans on their targets for more foreign patients.

There has however been one particular repercussion from all this, with the emergence of syndicates that provide illegal “hotel” lodging for these medical tourists.

With many foreign patients unable to afford ordinary hotel rates for lengthy stays here, and most hospitals not having residential facilities for relatives who accompany patients, syndicates have come in to lease to them rooms or whole apartments in private condominium complexes.

This has generated substantial resentment and concern among locals dwelling in the apartment buildings, because this “hotel” industry is illegal. Unit owners in private apartment complexes are not allowed by law to have commercial leasing arrangements of this nature.

Added to this is of course the great security risk posed by transient foreigners freely moving about in private residential complexes.

The throngs of foreign customers and their bags frequently clog the corridors and lifts, raising the annoyance of other residents.

This matter has become so blatant that there are complexes here that have syndicates defiantly running serviced apartments and hotels with maids and other “room service” workers moving between the many units that they use for their illegal business.

Despite calls from residents associations, the government has done little to assuage concerns. The police point out that it is an issue that comes under the purview of the local authorities as it involves the use of housing units.

The municipal and city councils say they can do little as the syndicates use covert modus operandi, without evidence in writing when leasing their units.

One may wonder how strong and influential these syndicates are – for the foreign patients and their families are also victims in this case.

The syndicates are known to openly advertise their “hotels” in Indonesia (even featuring facilities like swimming pools and tennis courts), without letting the people who take up the cheap offers know that the whole arrangement is illegitimate.

Some months back, a state executive councillor who visited one of these apartment complexes in Penang suggested to concerned residents that a large signboard be erected at the entrance to inform visitors and the public that the complex is not meant for serviced apartments. But until today, the management has refrained from doing so.

The big question now is also the role played by the government, which is actively working to make the medical tourism industry even bigger. As it is, there are already moves to expand the market base beyond Indonesia.

A National Health Tourism Council has identified burgeoning middle-class markets like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China to bring in added revenue.

Realistically, the country does not have adequate legal residential facilities to cater for the massive volumes of patients and their families expected in the near future.

This scenario will mean that syndicates will spawn even more illegal operations, which pose inconveniences and risks to the locals, until the authorities make a drastic move to finally take cognisance of the problem.

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/334113

Medical Tourism Resource Online

Nine out of ten people who have gone overseas for surgery would do the same again and would recommend medical tourism to their family members and friends, a survey has found.

More than 1,000 patients were polled on behalf of the health tourism website Treatment Abroad.

Researchers found that 84 per cent of respondents would return to the same doctor, dentist or clinic, with 85 per cent claiming to be ‘very’ or ‘quite’ satisfied with their experience of medical tourism.

When asked why they had travelled overseas for treatment, 83 per cent of survey participants cited cost.

Many had saved more than £2,000 by going abroad and 12.7 per cent had saved more than £10,000.

The survey also revealed that Belgium was the most popular choice among Britons seeking treatment abroad, followed by Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Turkey.

Keith Pollard, managing director of www.treatmentabroad.com, commented: ‘So often overseas treatment is portrayed as being a poor alternative to what is available in the UK and yet it’s clear from this survey that that is simply not true.’

Mr Pollard added that the vast majority of people who seek treatment abroad are ‘delighted’ with the levels of care and the results of their surgery.ADNFCR-554-ID-801321729-ADNFCR

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/interactive/news/majority-of-medical-tourists-would-do-it-again-id801321729-t116.html

 Medical Tourism Resource Online

Estimates the number of medical tourists thronging Mexico to vary between 150,000 and 500,000 every year. If you are considering medical treatments in Mexico, you may have a few questions and concerns.

This is not only completely normal, but also wise. Whenever you are making a major decision regarding your personal health, you should take the time to understand all of the dynamics and possible risks of your desired surgery.

Some television shows have depicted the ugliest side of medical tourism in countries like Mexico, thus leaving potential medical tourists fearful.

While it is good to consider things, it must also be taken into account that these shows are dramatized versions of reality.

Almost all concerns regarding medical tourism in Mexico have solutions. Here are some of the most common hesitations:

http://johnharding.com/2012/03/13/medical-tourism-in-mexico-common-concerns/comment-page-1/

 Medical Tourism Resource Online

Much has been written about medical tourism. And many myths have arisen around it. Millions of people flying from country A to country B for cheap medical treatment exponential growth in medical travel the solution to escalating healthcare costs in the developed economies and so on.

The new report , “Medical Tourism Research: Facts And Figures 2012”, separates fact from fiction.

According to report author, Ian Youngman, “Few of the oft quoted ‘facts’ are close to being accurate. Few of the countries regularly claimed as market leaders are the true leaders.

Some of the most successful countries are the least noisy, and often not dependent on claims of huge savings in healthcare costs. The reality is much more interesting.”

A summary and table of contents can be downloaded from IMTJ. Key conclusions from the report include:

In most cases, medical tourism is regional not international, and often within a country.
Many medical tourists do not seek out the cheapest destination.
The three most popular European destinations are also the most expensive ones.
The USA attracts as many inbound medical tourists as it generates outbound medical tourists.
Most medical tourism is for cosmetic, dental or fertility treatment.

The 2012 edition of Medical Tourism Facts and Figures has over 500 pages of updated information, including data from countries where no figures were previously available.

All figures are analysed for truth or fiction, and gaps in knowledge are highlighted. For each of the 137 listed countries, the report provides (where available) an overview, basic country facts, medical tourism numbers in and out, targets, destinations and sources, research reports, promotional bodies, plans and problems.

For anyone wanting the real picture of the vibrant and expanding medical tourism industry, or who wants to avoid the mistakes of others, the new report is a must read.

The report normally costs £900, but is available at a discounted rate of £800 until 31 March 2012 through International Medical Travel Journal.

About Ian Youngman
Ian Youngman is a writer and researcher specialising in medical tourism, healthcare and health insurance. He writes regularly for a variety of magazines, newsletters, and on-line services.

He publishes a range of market reports and undertakes research for companies. An ACII, with an honours degree in Economics from the University of Liverpool, Ian was a co-founder of The General Insurance Market Research Association.

He also has widespread experience within the insurance industry at management level, working for brokers, a bank and an insurance company.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/3/prweb9275834.htm

 Medical Tourism Resource Online

For one reason or the other, individuals travel across international borders to access health services that are available in their destination countries. Similarly, medical tourism could also be referred to as the practice whereby some physicians, doctors or health-care providers are itinerant travelers to different parts of the world to deliver health-care services to potential patients.

It is worthy of note that the health services that medical tourists commonly seek to have include dental surgery, joint (hip or knee) replacement surgeries, cosmetic surgeries, cardiac surgery, psychiatry, alternative treatments, in-vitro fertilization and freezing embryos for retro-production, and surrogate pregnancy.

Countries Associated with Medical Tourism

It is worth stating again that one of the major causes of medical tourism is the relative cost of undergoing a certain medical procedure. For instance, carrying out a liver transplant surgery costs about $250,000 in United States compared to that of Taiwan which costs about $90,000 USD. Another major reason is the lack of adequate health care facilities and services.

As a result, more of medical tourists come from places like Europe, the US, Canada, Japan and the Middle East. Health service providers from such countries stand the chances of losing billions of dollars revenue.

In the same vein, the countries where medical tourists usually consider for medical procedures include India, Jordan, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, South Korea, Tunisia, Argentina, Israel, Ukraine, and New Zealand.

Potential Risk of Medical Tourism

It is quite vital for medical tourists to be well aware of the risks involved in seeking health care in some other countries. This will help to determine what could be done so as to minimize or eliminate the risk factors of medical tourism.

1. Low level of expertise of some health-care service providers. There have been cases where some even practice outside of their field. This is highly risky.
2. Low health-care standards. Some countries other than First World have low standards in the health sector.
3. Lack of proper Health Insurance Scheme in some Medical Procedures.
4. The possible risk of post-operation complications after tourists’ return to home countries.
5. Lack of physical contact with the physician after medical care for essential medical check-up.

Factors Responsible for Medical tourism

1. High cost of health-care service. In fact, one of the major reason why medical tourist travel from First World countries to other places is as result of the high cost of health-care services.

2. Convenience and speed. In countries like US and UK unlike in some other countries, many health care services require long waiting times before the medical procedures are embarked on.

3. There is advanced medical technology in many countries today. Many countries are taking advantage of medical tourism by providing high standards of health care services.

4. Lack of local health-care services on certain medical problems. For instance, a medical tourist may seek help for in-vitro reproduction in a foreign country if it is not available in his own country.

From the foregoing, the views held by individuals about medical tourism are not the same at all. Some people from First World countries see it as a risky medical alternative. However, since many countries are now taking to advanced medical technology, some still consider that it is worth doing.

http://www.aetda.com/some-facts-on-medical-tourism/

Medical Tourism Resource Online
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For foreign “medical tourists” and a tiny fraction of the Indian elite, shining urban hospitals treat patients with the latest in diagnostic and surgical procedures. Multi-room suites and platinum waiting lounges rival five star hotels, or at least European airports, for opulence. But a recent hospital fire that killed 96 patients at Kolkata’s AMRI Hospital shows just how hollow those institutions can be behind the facade, writes the Globe and Mails Stephanie Nolen

The “shocking truth about first world care” is as follows:

The hospital had no working sprinkler system, and no functioning smoke alarms. Staff had no fire training and many members fled when the blaze began in the early hours of the morning.

http://www.globalpost.com/

http://www.kosansh.com/news/indian-hospital-fire-dark-side-medical-tourism-part-two

MMedicalsolutions Medcial Tourism Resource Online
http://mmedsolution.com/

Medical tourism in Mexico is particularly trendy with men and women from the US and Canada due to the close proximity of the nation.

When visiting one more nation for medical therapy it is essential for the patient to conduct cautious analysis on the top quality and achievement rates of the hospitals and teams they are taking into consideration. Techniques and accepted practices can differ tremendously from place to location.

As properly as the growing costs and decreasing availability of medical services in their property nations, medical tourists are driven by quick access to international travel, the rise of advanced remedies even in creating countries, and the careful attention they receive by governments eager for foreign revenues. These all apply to medical tourism in Mexico as the country’s largest hospital network, Angeles Health International, is located in Tijuana which is just across the US border. The hospital boasts Stanford trained physicians and personal rooms and nurses are supplied.

Several medical tourists come across medical doctors in foreign countries have been trained in the west to standards matching those of their home nations. Individual rooms and a focus on their comfort and private requirements are a different attraction. Some treatments not yet approved in the west can be located in other countries that are now promoting medical tourism. A number of extremely contemporary facilities are getting built in Mexico and other countries to cater to this new demand.

The latest research demonstrate that today’s medical travelers come from Europe, Canada, the United States, the Middle East and Japan. Incomes are rising immediately in oil-rich nations, enabling residents to select exactly where to go for their healthcare. Currently the country of India is the leader in providing medical services for this type of traveler. Exotic locations like are already preferred holiday destinations and so typically patient’s close friends and households will join them on their trip.

Complicated medical treatments like hip-replacements and heart surgeries are performed in escalating numbers. These, as properly as “elective” procedures such as plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry and liposuction are proving significantly more and alot more preferred.

Some nations have the medical abilities to rival the west, or even surpass it, especially in areas such as stem cell procedures, option cancer treatments and ground breaking several sclerosis therapies. These services can typically be performed at a fraction of the price of property-nation treatments, and they increasingly employ very-skilled and experienced surgeons.

Preferred destinations for medical tourism now include Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, Malaysia and South Africa. Western nations are now also keen on providing some of these services, which includes: Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Spain. Turkey is also becoming identified for its escalating expertise in cosmetic surgeries.

Mmedsolution Medical Tourism Resource
http://mmedsolution.com/

Being the President of Stackpole & Associates, Irving Stackpole will give a presentation entitled “Motivating the High End Market:Attracting the Most Profitable International Patients” on the 5th of May 2010 at the European Medical Travel Conference in Venice, Italy.

Medical strategies are different from marketing campaigns. Medical Strategies are use to catch the attention of numerous medical tourist that needs complicated medication while marketing campaigns are intended for casual international health and wellness traveler.

The psychological profiles of international patients seeking medical procedures that are complex require marketing plans featuring competent, confidence building messages rather than the “fun in the sun” campaigns designed for medical travelers seeking low acuity treatments. Understanding the different between these two market segments is vital to achieving success in the medical tourism industry.

There are differences in motivational factors among individuals having an orthopedic or cardiac procedure compare to someone having a minor cosmetic on dental medication. Understanding their differences is essential for marketing campaign creations that will catch the attention of numerous health travelers.

More and more countries are now placing vast priority on medical tourism as their identify the importance to the industry. Competition on attracting international patients that needs serious medical treatment is

As more and more countries identify medical tourism as a national priority, competition for international patients who require complex care are a ripe target in that they purchase high cost, high margin medical care as well as staying in country for an extended period of time. These types of international visitors are a substantial value added to the local economy and are going to be the focus of more and better targeted marketing efforts, Marketing tips and other helpful hints will be provided as part of Mr. Stackpole’s presentation to help organizations secure the types of clients they seek.

Established in 1991, Stackpole & Associates provides marketing, market research, and business development solutions for providers, consumers, and customers in healthcare, senior living and human services. For the medical tourism industry, Stackpole & Associates can help businesses identify prospective clients globally with a focus on the US, UK and Canada, and then ensure that the products and services offered to those customers carry the right message in the right way. The company is an active member of the Medical Tourism Association.

Mmedsoolution Medical Tourism Resource

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Launched by an American-Canadian team living and working in Merida – near Cancun – Medical Traveler Yucatan (MTY) www.medicaltraveleryucatan.com provides all-inclusive organizing of medical procedures and medical tourism trip services for their fellow countrymen. Surgery is scheduled in a timely fashion at a world-class hospital and at substantial savings. The MTY team coordinates and oversees all hospital and medical surgery trip details in person. Unique in its approach, the U.S.-Canadian team meets patients at the airport and accompanies them throughout their medical stay.

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Medical tourism is a rapidly growing industry. Long NHS waiting lists and expensive private care have meant that 2.65 million Britons have recently been or are planning to go abroad for medical procedures.
Gone are the days when going overseas for a medical procedure meant solely cut-price cosmetic surgery and a recovery in the sun. Now patients are opting to go abroad for cheaper deals on hip replacements, dentistry and infertility treatment.

Not that it is without controversy – a recent report in The Lancet warned that antibiotics’ days were numbered because of global travel and medical tourism.
According to currency broker Currencies.co.uk, one in 20 people have recently had a medical or dental procedure outside Britain – or are planning one. Sterling’s strength against eastern European currencies and NHS cutbacks have meant countries such as Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic have seen increasing numbers of medical tourists.
With spending cuts expected to hit the NHS, more people might be tempted to look overseas. So how do you ensure that you save without risking your health?
A spokesman for the British Medical Association (BMA) said thorough research was essential before any patient considered going abroad for treatment.
“It is extremely important that patients consult their GP for advice. Patients should also investigate all aspects of their proposed treatment. This must include the health and safety standards of the facilities and the potential impact of long-distance travel on their recovery from all forms of medication or surgery abroad,” he said.
There are several ways to check the standard of care. Dr Edward Watson, a former accident and emergency doctor, said there was no global regulatory body for medical travel, but there is a universal body for accreditation – ISQua (the International Society for Quality in Health Care). Dr Watson set up Medtral New Zealand for Americans looking for more affordable treatment.
“ISQua has members in 70 countries, including Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, as well as Japan and Taiwan,” he said.
”You should also check your surgeon’s training, patient testimonials and published ‘adverse event rates’. You have to be careful with these as they are not independently verified and some hospitals we find do lie. Also, some hospitals talk about their overall adverse event rate. If they do thousands of eye operations and endoscopies then their overall event rate is very low compared to a hospital that does a lot of complex surgery.”
There are also international hospital accreditation programmes. The Joint Commission International (JCI) accredits hospitals, while QHA Trent, a British company, accredits and provides consultancy services for hospitals and clinics globally.
Many hospitals in India and other parts of Asia will have doctors who trained in Britain or America. Not only are their qualifications easier to verify, but they are more likely to speak good English. Check the level of English spoken at the hospital or aftercare facility – communicating with nurses can be paramount.
As well as cosmetic and elective surgery, it is increasingly common for patients to go abroad for addiction therapy, obesity treatment, fertility treatment and hair transplants.
According to figures based on the Medical Tourism Survey on behalf of Treatment Abroad, 43pc of British patients travelled abroad for dental treatments, 29pc for cosmetic surgery and 28pc for other items such as orthopaedic surgery and infertility treatment.
With dentistry, although you can save £170 having a crown in Spain (36pc cheaper than in Britain), it will cost you £33 more to have a dental X?ray, which you will need before and after treatment. This loss can be recouped when considering the cost of an oral examination and consultation – £45 in Britain but free in Spain.
It is also vital that you ensure that any aftercare you require is included in the package, or that you have made arrangements for yourself. The BMA considers this to be as important as the treatment itself. “Patients should guarantee that their treatment includes clear provisions, agreed with their overseas clinicians, for follow-up care after any medical procedures,” it said.
Booking through an agent or operator will mean that you can negotiate all-inclusive packages. Although more expensive, you are more likely to receive a higher quality of care before, during and after a procedure.
TreatmentAbroad.com provides information for patients about clinics, hospitals and specialists worldwide that are attracting medical tourists. Keith Pollard, director of Treatment Abroad, said you should think about how much time you will need for rehabilitation and whether you wish to have a friend or partner support you.
He advised patients to ask operators for a breakdown of costs and to provide them with as much detail as possible about your needs, including medical history, dietary requirements and allergies. Mr Pollard warned that many patients made the mistake of thinking their annual travel insurance policy would cover elective surgery abroad – just because it covers an accidental occurrence that leads to them requiring medical treatment.
Jennifer Thomas, from Direct Line Insurance, added: “Our policies do not provide cover for medical costs if a patient has elected to go abroad for treatment. This includes any costs relating to complications arising from the elected surgery. The main purpose of the cover in our policies is for emergency medical situations arising from accidental occurrences.
“However, should a customer choose to take a holiday for rest and recuperation after the elected surgery, and they have an unrelated accident or illness, cover is provided. Cover would also be provided in the event of accident and illness in the days leading up to the elected treatment but not while directly on the way to the hospital or clinic.”
Patients should opt for a specialist ”enhanced medical” insurance policy such as those provided by Seven Corners (www.seven corners.com), Health Traveller (www.health traveller.co.uk), P J Hayman (www.freespirittravelfor treatment.com) and Angelis (www.angelisgroup.com)
Medical tourism will continue to be on people’s agenda in time of economic hardship and NHS cuts, but anyone considering treatment overseas needs to consider it very carefully: it is a step into the unknown.

Mmedsoolution Medical Tourism Resource

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