Greater consumerism and transparency in healthcare is resulting in significant changes in the trends and behaviour of healthcare tourists around the world.
The inaugural two-day International Medical Travel Exhibition and Conferences (IMTEC) taking place 22-23 March 2013 at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco will focus on these changes and identify trends in medical tourism.
IMTEC is organised by Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, the organiser of the world’s second largest healthcare exhibition ‘Arab Health’, in strategic co-operation with the European Medical Travel Conference (EMTC).
“The rise of affluent populations within developing nations creates increasing demand for access to the best hospitals, specialty clinics and other sources of medical care in their home countries and abroad,” says Josef Woodman, chief executive and founder of Patients Beyond Borders and an Advisory Board member on IMTEC 2013. “As a consequence, international hospitals are beginning to offer packages and discounts for medical procedures, a reflection of the increased transparency and consumerism finally visiting the global healthcare sector.”
“The "retailisation of medical care" if you will,” adds Woodman.
Perhaps the most interesting trend for Woodman is that the travel sector is beginning to show real interest in medical tourism, with hotels, airlines and tour operators forming partnerships with hospitals, associations and ministries.
“Recent examples include the Rosewood Hotel Abu Dhabi building a sky link to the soon-to-open Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Marriott Hotels teaming up with BIMC Hospital in Bali to offer patient services. Carriers such as Emirates and Turkish Airlines are also offering discounts to inbound medical travellers,” said Woodman.
However, the commercialisation of medical travel comes with a warning from other industry experts. “In many cases, consumers can just become the victims of hospitals’ and doctors’ commercial interests,” says Dr Uwe Klein, chairman of the newly launched IMTEC. “The question of ‘who is the best doctor?’ should always be the main consideration in the consumer’s selection process. Excessive governmental regulation in medical travel may work against and contrary to commercial interests. Similarly, we must consider that these types of ‘healthcare holiday packages’ may create the illusion that sub-standard medical care is acceptable because it is being marketed in combination with an excellent hotel and travel service. These points must be considered when discussing the future trends of medical travel.”
Key global issues that will be debated at IMTEC 2013 include legal and ethical aspects of medical travel, the insurance perspective, market trends and mechanics, regulations and supranational standardisation in global healthcare, patient safety and quality of healthcare and the future of medical tourism.
Greater consumerism and transparency in healthcare is resulting in significant changes in the trends and behaviour of healthcare tourists around the world.
The inaugural two-day International Medical Travel Exhibition and Conferences (IMTEC) taking place 22-23 March 2013 at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco will focus on these changes and identify trends in medical tourism.
IMTEC is organised by Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, the organiser of the world’s second largest healthcare exhibition ‘Arab Health’, in strategic co-operation with the European Medical Travel Conference (EMTC).
“The rise of affluent populations within developing nations creates increasing demand for access to the best hospitals, specialty clinics and other sources of medical care in their home countries and abroad,” says Josef Woodman, chief executive and founder of Patients Beyond Borders and an Advisory Board member on IMTEC 2013. “As a consequence, international hospitals are beginning to offer packages and discounts for medical procedures, a reflection of the increased transparency and consumerism finally visiting the global healthcare sector.”
“The "retailisation of medical care" if you will,” adds Woodman.
Perhaps the most interesting trend for Woodman is that the travel sector is beginning to show real interest in medical tourism, with hotels, airlines and tour operators forming partnerships with hospitals, associations and ministries.
“Recent examples include the Rosewood Hotel Abu Dhabi building a sky link to the soon-to-open Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Marriott Hotels teaming up with BIMC Hospital in Bali to offer patient services. Carriers such as Emirates and Turkish Airlines are also offering discounts to inbound medical travellers,” said Woodman.
However, the commercialisation of medical travel comes with a warning from other industry experts. “In many cases, consumers can just become the victims of hospitals’ and doctors’ commercial interests,” says Dr Uwe Klein, chairman of the newly launched IMTEC. “The question of ‘who is the best doctor?’ should always be the main consideration in the consumer’s selection process. Excessive governmental regulation in medical travel may work against and contrary to commercial interests. Similarly, we must consider that these types of ‘healthcare holiday packages’ may create the illusion that sub-standard medical care is acceptable because it is being marketed in combination with an excellent hotel and travel service. These points must be considered when discussing the future trends of medical travel.”
Key global issues that will be debated at IMTEC 2013 include legal and ethical aspects of medical travel, the insurance perspective, market trends and mechanics, regulations and supranational standardisation in global healthcare, patient safety and quality of healthcare and the future of medical tourism.
