Dubai, UAE, July 29: A survey published today by a prominent UAE-based health travel consultant has revealed that 94% of medical tourism industry insiders believe their sector of the industry has yet to reach its full potential. The report, which can be viewed on-line at www.DrPrem.com, shows that confusion, a lack of information and fear about complications following surgery are the main reasons for patient reluctance to cross international borders for health services. The findings are particularly significant for the region, as the UAE appears at number 11 for countries identified with medical tourism.

"The medical tourism industry is going through an exciting phase where international and intra-regional activities are taking places within this sector of the health market," said Dr. Prem Jagyasi, architect of the survey and an experienced consultant in the healthcare travel sector. "The responses received clearly revealed that there is an overwhelming perception among industry leaders that there is so much more that can be achieved," he added.

The purpose of the health tourism survey, according to Dr. Jagyasi, was to gain valuable insights into aspects of medical tourism from professionals who are closely involved with the industry. Ninety-five per cent of the survey's participants identified themselves as being either directly or indirectly involved with healthcare travel in the scope of their work and the resulting information supplied by these insiders revealed many important facts concerning this specialised sector; including its terms, trends, status, opportunities and challenges. The knowledge gleaned from the survey will be used to promote this sector of the healthcare industry and will provide important content for a soon-to-be published guidebook for consumers who are considering undertaking treatment abroad.

"One of the survey questions enquired why the respondents thought that there may be a reluctance in some consumers to participate in healthcare tourism and the main responses we received were that they may have concerns about complications, experience confusion over aspects of available services, be uninformed and find the option complicated," said Dr. Jagyasi. "This is important information, as it clearly shows that education is a vital component in allowing us to facilitate medical tourism to reach its greatest potential. If we can allay people's fears about foreign treatments and guide potential health tourists with information and advice on visa and travel issues, then we will be providing a vital service for them, as well as giving a welcome boost to the region's health sector," he added.

Of the 35 countries identified in the survey as being significant healthcare tourism providers, India was ranked as the number one popular destination, with Thailand and Singapore positioned at second and third places respectively. The United States had a surprise ranking at number four and the UAE came in at number 11. "The Asian and Far Eastern countries are well-established medical tourism destinations, so the top three placings were expected," said Dr. Jagyasi. "The United States came in at number four, which wasn't anticipated. It could mean that there are as yet untapped opportunities for facilitators looking to incorporate this potentially lucrative market in their service provision," he added.

The medical tourism survey was conducted on-line and contained questions that had been developed over a six month period and based on intensive research. The qualitative assessment was sent to medical tourism professionals in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Gulf regions, Asia and the Far East. It found that medical tourism facilitators are in a prime position to capitalise on the promising opportunities offered by this sector of the health market; with 88% of respondents agreeing that role of facilitator - those agencies providing health-related travel services - are either important or very important in this segment.

Dr. Jagyasi's medical tourism guidebook is due to be published later this year and he has high hopes that it will become a handy reference tool for those wanting to know more about the intricacies of travelling across borders for healthcare services. The publication is the latest achievement in his specialist interest in medical tourism and he has visited more than 20 countries and spoken at 30 international congresses relating to this sector of the healthcare industry. "Medical tourism can offer huge benefits in terms of quality of service and its affordability, in fact, the survey revealed that industry leaders view these as being its key drivers," he said. "The industry is set to grow enormously over the next two decades as more and more destinations open up to patients from overseas," he added.

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Selected Observations from Medical Tourism Survey

• The preferred term from respondents for this particular sector of the healthcare industry is 'Medical Tourism', with 35% selecting this option. 'Global Healthcare' was the next most popular term at 22%, with 'Health Tourism' running a close third at 21%. "Medical Travel' was identified by 10% of respondents as their preferred description, with 'Healthcare Travel' and 'Value Medical Travel' both at 6%.

· 35 countries in total were identified as being medical tourism destinations; which were (in alphabetical order: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Caribbean, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, UK and USA.

• India, Thailand and Singapore were ranked first, second and third as the most popular medical tourism destinations respectively. The United States was placed at number four.

• 94% of respondents agreed with a statement that medical tourism was yet to reach its full potential.

• The four most popular reasons given for why patients travel abroad to receive medical treatment were 'Affordability (costly in home country)' at 88%, 'Accessibility (waiting period is high)' at 66% 'Better quality (care and support services are better quality than the home country) at 38% and 'Availability (not available in home country) at 46%.

• The four most popular reasons given for patients being unwilling to avail themselves of treatment abroad were 'Concern about complications' at 50%, 'Confusion' at 46%, patients being 'Uninformed' at 44% and finding the option 'Complicated' at 39%

• The top four challenges to the medical tourism industry were identified as being 'Accessing reliable information' at 59%, 'Too many newcomers jumping on the medical tourism bandwagon, not experienced or understanding of the industry' at 54%, 'Lack of pre and post operative care arrangements at 52% and 'Complicated intra-country laws and legal procedures' at 49%.

• The top three reasons identified that are essential components of a good medical tourism destination were 'Quality standards of healthcare and wellness services' which was marked by 51% of respondents, followed by 'Accessibility of the destination' at 30% and 'Technology, facilities & specialisations available' at 27%.

• The survey takers were asked why they thought Medical tourism was a new 'buzzword' (or more accurately a 'buzz phrase'). Fifty-six per cent (56%) agreed that it was 'Because increasing numbers are travelling for healthcare', with almost the same percentage (55%) also agreeing that it was 'Because medical tourism benefits a cross section, including governments insurance companies, travel/tourism, healthcare and facilitators'. Fifty-seven per cent (57%) agreed that it was 'Because it offers value for money' and 46% said that it was 'Because big hospitals are promoting it'.

• The role of facilitators in the industry was deemed by the respondents to be significant (an explanation of facilitators being that they arrange medical tourism either in part or in whole for health tourists). Sixty-one per cent (61%) said that facilitators were 'Very important', 27% said that they were 'Important', 10% regarded them as 'Optional' and 2% said that they were 'Not important'.

For more informsation, please contact
Steve Bannister
Account Manager
ExHealthExHealth, Dubai HealthCare City, Dubai, UAE
Email: steve@exhealth.com

© Press Release 2010

 

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