Medical Travel Today

Greetings,

The medical travel industry appears to be at a bit of crossroads: controversy regarding the use of the term “medical tourism” has left many stakeholders scratching their heads about how the industry should be led.

But we needn't look any further than the best-run entities within the industry for ideas on how to operate. Common traits among the most successful groups appear to be strong leadership, transparency at all levels, a willingness to be evaluated by outside entities, an eagerness to work and connect with competitors for the mutual benefit of all, and a vision for the entire industry, not just their unique concerns.

And while simply associating with others who share the same values and goals is no assurance of success, it does, at the very least, mean you're walking towards the same vision of the future.

Medical Travel Today (MTT): Let's start by having you tell us a bit about Hayati.
Michael Matly (MM): Hayati, which means "my life" in Arabic, launched in March of this year. We are essentially a financing company for health care procedures focusing mainly on elective procedures, but we also do non-elective procedures. We currently operate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and offer consumers low-interest advances for one-time procedures.

We will be opening very shortly into Lebanon, Egypt, and India. We're very excited about these new opportunities as these countries, especially India, represent a huge population of which only 8 to 10 percent of the citizens have health insurance. Our financing provides a very reasonable alternative to insurance.

MTT: Is this a first-of-its-kind venture?
MM: Actually, in the United States there are a lot of finance companies handling elective procedures, but this is the first of its kind in the Middle East.

To the best of my knowledge, we are the first non-elective financing company. We recently assisted a family whose child was disabled. We were able to provide financing for the required physical therapy.

MTT: Where did the idea for the business come from?
MM: I suppose it started when, as a student at Harvard Business School, I accepted a role as advisor to the ruler of Dubai within the health care sector. Dubai is becoming a destination for health care with a lot of tertiary clinics including the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo.

At the time, Dubai was different from other destinations such as Thailand or India in that the quality wasn’t there and the prices weren’t particularly low. In fact, the country was spending $50 billion a year sending nationals abroad for health treatment.

The obvious question to those in charge was “why are we spending so much money to send people abroad when we could build the centers here?”

This got me thinking. This is really a middle-class economy. The people have a lot of debt but not a lot of excess cash to pay for elective procedures or for premiums.

I recognized the funding gap that existed. Back at Harvard I developed a business plan and was able to secure funding.

In developing the plan I sought the advice of Jim Donovan whose name you might recognize from Amerisee. They were the first company to offer loans for braces and orthodontia. Amerisee was later sold to Capital One.

I reached out to Jim, and he was kind enough to teach me the model they used, and I then adapted it to fit the Middle East market.

MTT: I understand you have a provider network. Can you tell us who is in the network and what's the process, if any, for qualifying?
MM: Basically any clinic can join our network. They pay an annual fee that automatically makes them part of our referral system and provides them with a dedicated page on our Website.

Right now our network is comprised of a lot of elective centers—plastic surgery centers, dental centers, the Moorefield Eye Hospital, and so on. I should mention that the network includes the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. The center we work with is the Academy's only hospital operated outside the United States.

We're currently at about 45 clinics. They're coming to us at a rate of two to three per week. I think the big appeal to them is the fact that we're not an insurance company and the fact that we don't price-gouge. This really puts power in the patients' hands. They get their choice of dentists or specialists. It truly requires the clinics to be competitive.

MTT: So the fees are how you make money?
MM: In part. We make money off of the fees received every time we process a loan for a clinic and every time we deliver it to a bank. The banks pay that second fee.

Doctors love this arrangement because they get the money upfront and don't have to create payment plans for patients or chase down money. It removes all worries about having to do follow-up.

MTT: How do you select who is in your network?
MM: We don't actually evaluate the clinics because we don't take any liability in the arrangement. However, we do try to keep them in the top-end of the health system. Typically we know that in order for a patient to be approved they have to make a minimum salary level. That qualifier, if you will, keeps them out of shady places.

As we move into other countries, we'll look into creating more criteria for the network. But really, the power of choice goes to the patient. We encourage them to talk to two to three clinics and to other patients. But we don't recommend clinics. We really offer no consultative services or advice on choosing where to go for care.

MTT: What has the uptake been and what's the customer demographic?
MM: It has been really great. We launched in March and are now processing two applications per day.

As for who our customers are, well, that was a bit of a surprise. We assumed it would be mostly expats—Brits or Americans—but locals are taking it on at a much higher rate than I anticipated. We see a lot of people using financing to get their kids braces, a lot of women in their 60s getting liposuction, businessmen having hair transplants, and so on.

Most people who find us qualify. We're very clear and upfront about the minimum salary requirement. Of course, if you can't meet the requirement you can ask someone else to apply on your behalf.

MTT: What are you currently doing to promote Hayati?
MM: A lot of learning takes place in the clinics. That's where people learn of the need for a procedure and are confronted with costs. The clinics will frequently refer them to us for assistance.

We do some direct-to-consumer marketing in health and lifestyle magazines, but the primary communication tool is at the clinics.

We're currently meeting with heads of human resources of a number of American companies based in the UAE, such as Novartis, Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft.

Human resources staff members love this option because they're always getting bombarded with queries from employees about coverage and care.

MTT: Are there certain types of treatments that people seek financing for more frequently than others?
MM: Right now dental care leads the way, followed by cosmetic surgery and non-elective procedures such as gastric banding and maternity.

MTT: What's the current interest rate and do you have any concerns regarding defaults?
MM: We offer a 1 to 1.2 percent flat rate, which equals an 18 percent APR. Bear in mind we don't set the rates; the banks do.

As for defaulting, what we've seen in the United States is that there tends to be far less defaulting on these types of loans. That's largely because the money never actually goes to consumers but instead goes right to the clinic.

Of course it's really too early to know how it will be in the UAE, but it's not keeping me up at night.

MTT: What does keep you up?
MM: The future. Right now we're looking to expand, and the big question is do we get more funding or just grow organically. I'm still deciding which way to go.

About Michael Matly
Michael Matly is a first generation Arab-American and U.S.-trained medical doctor, having completed his medical degree from Mayo Clinic and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Michael has over 10 years of experience in health care including R&D, pharmaceuticals, and entrepreneurship. He has worked on numerous health care projects in Dubai including the 'Dubai Healthcare City' (DHCC) and as a consultant for 'The Executive Office' of Dubai, particularly involved with the creation of the new 'Dubai Health Authority' (DHA).

This week’s issue of Medical Travel Today features “Destination: Guatemala, Part Two,” with a focus upon the country’s top dental facilities. We had the opportunity to tour these centers during the 2009 Service Summit and were quite impressed with the technology and the professionals who provide expert dental care – at costs well below those found in the United States.

This exotic location in Central America is nicknamed “The Eternal Spring,” with a highland climate found to be one of the healthiest around the globe. Guatemala has many breathtaking attractions such as the Guacalate River Canyon, the waterfalls of San Pedro Mártir, and several beaches on the Pacific coast. With several modern, fully equipped dental facilities as well as an exquisite atmosphere, Guatemala is the ideal destination for medical-dental travel.

Centro Dental de Especialistas
The first of several facilities toured was Centro Dental de Especialistas. Dr. Rafael Mejicano Díaz and Dr. Mauricio Gutiérrez Solé launched Centro Dental, and through a team of experts supported by over 35 years of credible experience, they currently operate three locations. Two facilities lie in the heart of Guatemala City and another in Escuintla. Its main location is featured in the Multimédica facility with multiple floors and sections per dental specialty. Centro Dental specializes in implants, maxillofacial surgery, dental esthetics, endodontics, oral rehabilitation, and pediatric and preventive dentistry. Each location uses high-quality technology in their special operating rooms, sterilization centers, as well as their complete dental laboratories. The friendly staff is more than happy to handle emergency needs 24-hours a day.
www.centrodental.com.gt

Unidental, Union de Especialistas
Another outstanding dental facility is Unidental, Union de Especialistas Dentales. Each of the seven highly qualified specialists on site has trained in the United States, as well as European universities. They are also fluent in five languages including Spanish, English, German, French, and Portuguese. Their personnel are continuously trained in new, up-to-date procedures and technology to ensure that each patient gets the best dental care possible. Each specialty is conducted in the same facility to avoid unnecessary travel costs. This dental facility goes above and beyond to offer a concierge service option for international patients. Unidental also specializes in procedures such as: oral hygiene and prevention, implants, oral rehabilitation, and dental esthetics.

Dental Care Guatemala
Dental Care Guatemala is an exceptional dental facility with several locations including Antigua, Guatemala, in conjunction with the Casa Ovalle bed and breakfast. Lead by Drs. Chojolan, Donado, Mendoza, and Lic. Maria Contreras, Dental Care Guatemala has a foundation of 20 years experience in dental treatment. They are centralized in main tourist areas giving patients the opportunity for exciting leisure activities as well as access to excellent dental service. A customer-oriented facility, they are dedicated to customer service, affordability, and quality. Services range from dental cleaning to fillings and implants. They also offer a concierge service including hotel reservations and transportation.

Grupo Dental Guatemala
Grupo Dental Guatemala has been providing excellent dental service for over 15 years, with services that include dentistry, maxillofacial surgery, as well as plastic and esthetic surgery. Grupo dental is growing with a team of about 30 dentists and specialists who have received training abroad. Some of these experts include Drs. Fernando Cáceres Castellanos, Mario Cruz Mansylla, Estuardo Calderón, Dra. Verónica Cerezo de Hermes, Manuel Eduardo Berdúo, Luis Angel Hernández, and Francisco López Pineda. Each patient has easy access to full dental care on the facility and his or her needs are taken care of in the fastest, most efficient way possible. The facility is also more than happy to cater to emergencies 24-hours a day.

SmileFactory, Odontología Láser
The SmileFactory, Odontología Láser is a dental facility in Guatemala specializing in laser dentistry. These facilities are conveniently located in shopping malls, which are the Galerias Milaflores, Pradera Concepcion, Oakland, and the Eskala Roosevelt. They promote fast, easy, painless dental service with aesthetically pleasing results. They also pride themselves in educating the public about dental health and promoting products such as the Waterpik Ultra Dental Water Jet, a device that offers an alternative to flossing. The SmileFactory specializes in Dental Laser and using high technology such as digital x-rays.

BridgeHealth Medical Names Prominent Economist and Business Strategist, Arthur Laffer, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors, Advancing Leadership in Medical Travel

DENVER & NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (Business Wire) BridgeHealth Medical, Inc. (www.BridgeHealthMedical.com), the nation’s premier provider of medical travel services, announces the appointment of Arthur Laffer, Ph.D. to its Board of Directors, further elevating the company’s position as a strategic partner to employers, health plans, and other stakeholders. Drawing upon his distinguished career as an economic strategist for some of the great political and business forces of our time, Dr. Laffer will help to shape the expansion of BridgeHealth’s medical travel options and services, and accelerate market uptake.

“A highly respected pioneer in his field who is acknowledged for economic achievements, Dr. Laffer brings vast experience in institutional economic research, finance, and investment management that will be reflected in our corporate positioning as well as our product portfolio,” says Victor Lazzaro Jr., CEO of BridgeHealth. “Dr. Laffer’s robust background and expertise introduces a new level of competence to this burgeoning industry, and BridgeHealth takes pride in welcoming this accomplished individual.”

In the 1980s, Laffer’s economic acumen and influence triggered a world-wide tax-cutting movement that earned him the title ‘Father of Supply-Side Economics.’ One of his earliest successes in shaping public policy involved the California initiative Proposition 13, which drastically cut property taxes in the state.

Currently founder and chairman of Nashville, Tenn.-based Laffer Associates, an institutional economic research and consulting firm, and Laffer Investments, an institutional investment management firm utilizing diverse investment strategies, Dr. Laffer is world-renown for his success in advising on a governmental level. His firms provide research and investment management services to a diverse group of clients, which includes institutions, pension funds, corporation, endowments, foundations, individuals, and others.

Dr. Laffer served as a member of President Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board for both of his two terms (1981-1989). He also advised Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on fiscal policy in the United Kingdom during the 1980s.

Formerly the Distinguished University Professor at Pepperdine University and a member of the Pepperdine Board of Directors, Dr. Laffer also served as the Charles B. Thornton Professor of Business Economics at the University of Southern California from 1976 to 1984. He was an associate professor of Business Economics at the University of Chicago from 1970 to 1976 and a member of the Chicago faculty from 1967 through 1976.
Between 1972 and 1977, Laffer was a consultant to Secretary of the Treasury William Simon and Secretary of the Treasury George Shultz. He was the first to hold the title of Chief Economist at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Mr. Shultz from October 1970 to July 1972.

Dr. Laffer has been widely acknowledged in high-profile venues, notably Time Magazine’s cover story “A Century of Science,” for inventing the Laffer Curve, which it deemed one of “a few of the advances that powered this extraordinary century.” He was listed in the Los Angeles Times, “A Dozen Who Shaped the ’80s,” (http://articles.latimes.com/1990-01-01/business/fi-188_1_jay-chiat) and the Wall Street Journal, “A Gallery of the Greatest People Who Influenced Our Daily Business,” (6.23.1989). His creation of the Laffer Curve was deemed a “memorable event” in financial history by the Institutional Investor (July 1992) Silver Anniversary issue, “The Heroes, Villains, Triumphs, Failures and Other Memorable Events.”

“As the international leader in medical travel, BridgeHealth is clearly poised to springboard to the next phase of this explosive new industry,” says Dr. Laffer, who received a B.A. in economics from Yale University in 1963, and an M.B.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University in 1965 and 1972, respectively. “I look forward to helping the company expand its scope of domestic and international Centers of Excellence, which represent the most compelling opportunities for accessing high-quality health care at lower cost. BridgeHealth answers the economic and quality demands of global health care delivery.”

BridgeHealth offers worldwide access to quality accredited hospitals and qualified physicians, bringing affordable coverage to small and large businesses alike. Individuals benefit from the door-to-door coordination of high quality, low-cost procedures -- both domestically and overseas -- that help reduce costs across-the-board for consumers, employers, and insurers.

Medical Travel Company Satori World Medical Announces Relationship with Managing General Underwriter GreenWood International Insurance Services (GWI)
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) October 7, 2009 -- Satori World Medical, a global health care company in the emerging medical tourism industry, has formed a relationship with GreenWood International Insurance Services, Inc. (GWI), a Managing General Underwriter (MGU) based in Boston.

Through this relationship, GWI may offer its medical stop loss underwriting services to employers that choose to offer Satori World Medical's global health care program as an additional health plan benefit option for their employees. Medical stop loss insurance is designed to help protect self-insured employers from absorbing most of the costs associated with severe events.

"One of the biggest considerations that U.S. self-funded employers have when choosing to offer medical travel benefit programs to their employees is their own financial liability if something were to go wrong when an insured patient is traveling abroad for care," says Satori World Medical's president and chief executive officer Steven Lash. "Satori World Medical's relationship with GWI enables our company to further mitigate this risk for employers. Our new working relationship with GWI is in direct alignment with our company's core commitment to provide high-quality and cost-effective global health care programs, as well as the necessary contracts and services to empower employers to effectively integrate our program into their existing employee benefit plan designs."

Through its international network of highly trained and specialized doctors and accredited state-of-the-art hospitals, Satori World Medical provides a comprehensive and integrated medical benefit program that reduces the costs of selected surgical procedures by an average of 40 to 80 percent, including the costs of travel and accommodations for the patient and a companion. The savings generated are shared with all stakeholders, while a portion of the savings is deposited for the employee in a tax-advantaged Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). This medical benefit can be added to any health plan design at no cost to the employer or payer.

"The rising costs of health care continue to place a tremendous burden on U.S. companies," adds Joseph Sullivan, president of GWI. "Therefore, we fully support innovative programs, such as Satori World Medical, designed to reduce the costs of health care across the board."

About Satori World Medical
Satori World Medical is the world's first global health care network and service company specifically designed to deliver high quality health care services, share the tremendous cost savings with plan sponsors and their employees and coordinate all medical and travel services for individuals who need care. For more information about Satori World Medical, please call +1 (619) 704-2000 or visit the company's Web site at http://www.satoriworldmedical.com.

About GreenWood International Insurance Services (GWI)
GreenWood International Insurance Services, Inc. (GWI) is a Managing General Underwriter specializing in medical stop loss, group accident insurance, and occupational accident insurance. GWI is able to deliver superior customer service, flexible underwriting, and tailors coverage to the individual risk management needs of its clients, as opposed to the "one size fits most" approach of the competition. The company's personal attention to their brokers and agents fosters strong relationships, which has given the company a long-standing reputation as a leader in the reinsurance and insurance industries. For more information, please visit http://www.gwigroup.com.

Merv Griffin Entertainment Partners with PlanetHospital to Create Reality Show based on Medical Tourism

Merv Griffin Entertainment , Inc. has teamed with medical tourism pioneers and leaders PLANETHOSPITAL (www.planethospital.com) to produce a reality series based on the growing phenomenon known as "medical tourism."

The series will follow patients faced with desperate medical needs as they travel to exotic countries in search of healthcare that they either cannot afford or cannot obtain in the United States.

The patients will be followed through the various stages of their journey, including their initial research, arrival in a foreign country and visitation of doctors and facilities where they might be treated. Additionally, the series will capture each patient’s evolving relationships with their loved ones and how these interactions are affected by their journey.

“This series will both entertain and inspire those with medical needs with a whole new world of options of safe, affordable and high quality facilities” says Rudy Rupak, executive producer and President of Planet Hospital.

According to Deloitte over 500,000 Americans have left America to find cheaper and more innovative medical care abroad[Cmnt:1]. ( These patients are not taking simple jaunts south of the border, but are getting on a plane and

going to exotic locations such as India, Thailand, Singapore, Korea, and even Costa Rica for medical care.
Roy Bank, president of Merv Griffin Entertainment, anticipates the possibly far-reaching effects of this partnership. “As countless Americans are simultaneously entertained by this show and educated about the existence of affordable and accessible healthcare abroad, PlanetHospital will only serve to expand America’s current, much-needed dialogue on the topic.”

About PlanetHospital
PlanetHospital, (www.planethospital.com) is the world’s leading medical tourism company. Founded in 2002, PlanetHospital has helped more than 3000+ individuals access affordable, world-class medical and dental care at facilities in Europe, Latin America and Asia. PlanetHospital offers safe and affordable medical care through an international Preferred Provider Organization of 140 doctors and 42 facilities in 14 countries.

Formosa Medical Travel Adds Three of Taiwan's Leading Hospitals to Medical Tourism Network

BusinessWire - Formosa Medical Travel, a medical tourism facilitation company headquartered in Taipei, has entered into agreements with three of Taiwan's leading hospitals, with the assistance of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, and Changhua Christian Hospital are the three newest members of Formosa Medical Travel's network.

"We believe that Taiwan is destined to develop into one of the leading countries in Asia's medical tourism market," says Tom Griffith, executive vice president of Formosa Medical Travel. "The quality of medical care in Taiwan has long been lauded for its efficiency and modernity, and these three facilities stand at the forefront. We know that medical travelers will find Taiwan to be a very accessible, highly-developed country, and these world-class facilities reflect a health care system that ranks among the finest in the world. We are thrilled to form a relationship with these world-class facilities and their medical teams."

With this expansion of its network, Formosa Medical Travel has increased the options available to patients seeking low-cost solutions in medical tourism.

Among Americans, medical tourism has experienced rapid growth in recent years, as an increasing number of patients seek alternatives to high costs in the United States. Taiwan provides one of the appealing options in travel, with internationally-accredited hospitals, world-class health care professionals, the latest in medical technology, and friendly, patient-oriented services. Taiwan's highly-developed medical infrastructure, combined with its low administrative costs and efficient service, has allowed it to offer medical procedures at costs competitive with the world's most popular medical travel destinations.

"Our hospital was accredited last year by Joint Commission International, an international branch of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations,” says Jui-Lung Tung, vice superintendent (administration) of Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital. “Formosa has visited us many times, and they were very impressed by the high quality and reasonable cost of our joint replacement procedure. . Show Chwan Memorial Hospital and Changhua Christian Hospital also expressed their high expectation about the collaboration. They believe this not only marks another step in the emergence of Taiwan as a premier destination in medical tourism, but also proves the high quality of Taiwan's medical service.”

About Formosa Medical Travel
Formosa Medical Travel works on behalf of patients seeking affordable knee and hip replacement surgery abroad, connecting them with a network of world-class hospitals located in Taiwan. These facilities provide outstanding medical care while offering patients significant savings. Formosa Medical Travel books patients' surgery, transfers medical records, assists in finding flights and hotels, and provides concierge services to customers in Taiwan. There is no charge to the patient for these services. To learn more, visit www.FormosaMedicalTravel.com

Scottish Start-Up Acquires a Breakthrough Global Health Care Technology Firm In a Stock Swap

Online PR News – October 3, 2009 – A revolutionary patent-pending technology that enables the integration of medical tourism with health insurance finds new home in Scotland. Offsurance, Inc., a Delaware-headquartered global health care company will now become a wholly owned subsidiary of Offsurance, Limited, a Scottish technology start-up.

CEO Amir Bavi states, "Scotland has the right mix that identifies winner organizations and provides vital support and entrepreneurial back-up. A Scottish base presents an array of potential benefits to investors, stakeholders, and the company. We are now making the effort to go up two notches, with a fast-track patent, as well as our application to be included within the realms of the Scottish Enterprise. We are confident this unique product will catch the attention of both."

Rakesh Chandola, M.D., managing director, Offsurance, adds, "Given the state of the U.S. health care industry, the spiraling insurance premiums, and the corporate urge to control costs, Offsurance can perhaps be rightfully described as heaven sent."  Paid entirely in stocks, the deal is worth at least $2.9 million to the Delaware firm based on future revenues over a period of five years. At the same time, the acquisition brings an estimated current net present value of over $27 million to Offsurance Ltd.   "The deal is a win-win for both the companies," explains Fazal Raheman, M.D., the inventor of the patent pending technology. "By combining forces we are one step closer to realizing the full potential of the Offsurance technology in the soon to be $100 billion medical tourism industry. The seasoned entrepreneurial leadership of Mr. Bavi and Dr. Chandola will now enable us to focus more on the product development."

The exponential growth in medical tourism is projected to reach $100 billion by 2012. The current insurance based U.S. health care system is not underwritten considering the medical travel option. This would change dramatically over the next few months. Offsurance is the only patented B2B platform bringing all the stakeholders on one platform to globalize health care.

About Offsurance
Offsurance is a new path-breaking technology that integrates medical tourism with health insurance. It offers the benefits of reduced premiums to employers and quality health care to the patients; new business for offshore hospitals; and enhanced market share and client retention for the insurance fraternity. The Offsurance platform integrates all of the above stakeholders while automating the exceptionally arduous and time consuming administrative procedures. Offsurance adds significant value, simplifies processes, removes obstacles, automates procedures, saving time, money, and valuable resources for all stakeholders while helping deliver quality health care.

About MRI Limited
MRI Limited, a British Corporation with operations in Dubai, is a technology development and consulting outfit with expertise ranging from inventing new therapeutics and disease management approaches to developing intangible knowledge assets into commercially quantifiable intellectual properties. MRI conducts in-house as well as contract research for clients. Offsurance, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of MRI Group.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward looking statements, which although based on reasonable assumptions, may be influenced by factors beyond control that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected or anticipated. The actual results or performance by Offsurance, Limited could therefore differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, caution is advised in interpreting these statements.

Medical tourism is becoming increasingly popular among Americans because of escalating health care costs in the United States, but consumers should be careful to look for accredited centers for their care. This is especially important in the Latin American medical tourism market related to fertility clinics.
For the complete story, visit: emaxhealth.com

Medical tourism in Latin America needs to be regulated to protect consumers, according to Université de Montréal researchers. A new study published in the journal Developing World Bioethics argues that Argentinean fertility clinics are increasingly marketing themselves to international health care consumers: these clinics offer all-inclusive packages with fixed rates that feature airfare, accommodations, transfers, language interpreters and, of course, fertility treatments.

“The appeal of such packages is obvious: health care consumers need not worry about any of the practical details of their trip – budgeting, travel arrangements, or language barriers – and can instead focus on obtaining quality medical services combined with a vacation. Non-accredited clinics in Argentina offer much more competitive rates for services in comparison with clinics in North America or Europe. For example, in vitro fertilization in the United States runs upwards of $10,000 (USD) per cycle of treatment,” says Bryn Williams-Jones, a bioethics professor in the Université de Montréal's Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, who co-authored the paper with graduate students Elise Smith, Carolina Martin, and Jason Behrmann.

An increasing number of private fertility clinics have opened in developing countries, such as Argentina, over the last decade and are attracting consumers through lower pricing. There are two subcategories of medical tourism clinics: accredited centers that are part of the broader health care industry and non-accredited clinics focused on medical tourism. “While the ‘big players' in medical tourism, such as India and Poland, are actively involved in the fertility sector, so too now are Latin American countries such as Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Argentina,” says Dr. Williams-Jones.

Reproductive tourism clinics are targeting wealthy North American or European couples through the Internet. “The main interest for these individuals to become medical tourists is the high cost, long waiting lists, or even the absence of access-assisted reproductive technologies services at home,” says Dr. Williams-Jones.

Developed and developing nations have encouraged the practice of medical tourism, the authors argue, because of the economic spinoffs. Legislation and professional guidelines – both local and international – are needed to regulate the conduct of private fertility clinics in order to ensure that services are safe and effective. “It is in the best interests of consumers, health professionals, and policy makers that the reproductive tourism industry adopts safe and responsible medical practices,” says Dr. Williams-Jones.

This study was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec, COPSÉ and the Université de Montréal's Faculty of Medicine.

The paper, “Reproductive Tourism in Argentina: Accreditation and its Implications for Consumers and Policy Makers,” published in Developing World Bioethics, was authored by Elise Smith, Carolina Martin, Jason Behrmann, and Bryn Williams-Jones of the Université de Montréal.

India's wellness tourism segment is set to grow, boosted by road shows organized by the government and the travel trade, says the president of a leading industry association.

"We are going into wellness in a big way and are trying to educate our members, especially those in the southern states," Rajinder Rai, president of the Travel Agents Association of India (Taai), told Emirates Business.

"They have the best hospitals, weather, and doctors as well as the three essential elements of wellness – spa, ayurveda, and medical infrastructure.

"The Indian Government is running a series of road shows all over the Middle East. What we [travel agents] want to focus on is not just Indian tourists visiting Dubai but also visitors from the Middle East coming to India for wellness, rather than going to the United States or the United Kingdom where the cost is 10 times higher."

Rai spoke during a visit to Dubai for Taai's annual convention. Over the past year the association – 80 percent of whose members are small independents – has forced international airlines to bring back the travel agency commission.

"When the current committee took over in October last year the world collapsed around us," he added. "We were faced with the specter of zero [commission] from November 1 from 18 airlines and immediately after that came the 9/11 attacks. “The economic meltdown was already in full force, and this was followed by swine flu. So basically a series of events occurred that heralded the death knell of the small travel agent. We literally fell apart." He said the committee's first concern was to safeguard the future of the 80 percent of its members who are facing the risk of a closure. The small independents had not adjusted to the prospect of receiving no commissions from airlines. "We tried to bring in an alternative source of income, called the transaction fee. However, there were various anomalies with the airlines and the billing and settlement plan (BSP) operated by the International Air Transport Association (Iata) could not make this happen contractually.

"One of the key issues was that the BSP could not bring the fee into its system properly and ensure we earned a transaction fee from every ticket.

"So we had to hold on for a full fortnightly or monthly cycle before a transaction could go to BSP Iata and then come back.

"The second anomaly was that there was the difference in the fares quoted by airlines on the Internet and the fares quoted to travel agents." It was becoming unfair because the Web was getting cheaper for direct sales. So the Taai got together with other travel trade associations to fight for our rightful commission. For the first time in the history of the association, we united and stood up to the airlines together. The results are there for all of us to see. By December three Indian airlines – Jet, Kingfisher, and Air India – reversed their stand and gave us three percent on the gross ticket price. "That was actually equal to if not more than we were getting before, which was five percent of the net fare. Three percent of the gross, which includes fuel surcharges, comes to more than five percent. Fuel surcharges constitute almost 50 percent of the fare. This augured well for the travel agents and in my opinion it is the first time in the history of travel that a decision [on zero commission] has been reversed. "Singapore Airlines and 14 other carriers are still on zero [commission] and we are making a sustained effort to get them to pay a commission. "The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the minister himself took up the issue, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) established a tariff definition and added a commission as part of it. Rai said in April the DGCA made clear that there should be only one fare on the ticket, which should include the fuel surcharge to avoid confusing the public, and that travel agents should be given a commission on the total amount. The third step taken by the DGCA was to hold a series of discussions with the airlines, the government, and travel agents. The organization had decided it would have to be proactive over the commission issue after the Taai and the Travel Agents Federation of India filed a case in the high court of the southern state of Karnataka challenging the airlines' right to reduce the commission. "The court decided the DGCA should look into this matter, and this was weighing heavily on the organization. The DGCA does not normally have the power to dictate terms on a commission to the airlines but because of the directive they can take decisive action. "So in the first week of September it met the airlines that were on zero [commission] and all the agents who were fighting this. "A decision was due on September 30 but was delayed because of the Air India strike. We anticipate a favorable court order in a day or two. "The Taai has gone into overdrive to lift its image as an association representing travel agents and tour operators in India to a global platform.

"We have been in the news because of our united effort. We have continued for almost a year and haven't relented, except in some regions," said Rai. "We have embarked on a huge public image enhancement program and are now expressing our views globally. "One of the programs in our Vision 2020 plan is to enhance our image and become involved with government and formulate policy on civil aviation and tourism and shape the future of the travel economy. "He said there was to be a paradigm shift in the way travel agents functioned.

"We should no longer be just order-takers but should become travel consultants. We are conducting courses to help travel agents make this transition. They should not be dependent on a commission but should treat it as just another revenue stream.

The Director-General of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Khalid A Bin Sulayem, yesterday met the Indian Minister of State for Tourism, Sultan Ahmed, and the Indian Consul-General, Venu Rajamony, to review bilateral tourism and business ties between Dubai and India and present tourism scenario, DTCM said in a statement yesterday. In 2008, the number of Indian guests in Dubai hotels increased by 20 percent to reach 493,318 compared to that of 2007. About 4.47 million Indians traveled through Dubai International Airport in 2008, 23 percent more than the previous year.

Patients from over 60 countries have sought gamma knife radio surgery in various hospitals in Mumbai and Bangalore, having recognized these neurosurgeons as among the world’s best, according to the Joint Commission International (JCI).

Gamma knife radio surgery in India is considered the preferred treatment for brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations, and brain dysfunctions. The Gamma knife radio surgery in India offers a non-invasive alternative for many patients for whom traditional brain surgery is not an option. Gamma knife radio surgery removes the physical trauma and the majority of risks associated with conventional surgery. Gamma knife radio surgery represents a major advance in brain surgery, and in the last three decades has changed the landscape within the field of neurosurgery. Its development has enhanced neurosurgical treatments offered to patients with brain tumors and vascular malformations by providing a safe, accurate, and reliable treatment option.

Gamma knife radio surgery enables patients to undergo a non-invasive form of brain surgery without surgical risks, a long hospital stay, or subsequent rehabilitation. Like other radio surgery, Gamma knife radio surgery is unique in that no surgical incision is made to expose the inside of the brain, thereby reducing the risk of surgical complications and eliminating the side effects and dangers of general anesthesia. The "blades" of the Gamma knife radio surgery are the beams of gamma radiation programmed to target the lesion at the point where they intersect. In a single treatment session, 201 beams of gamma radiation focus precisely on the lesion. Over time, most lesions slowly decrease in size and dissolve. The exposure is brief and only the tissue being treated receives a significant radiation dose, while the surrounding tissue remains unharmed. The advantages of gamma knife radio surgery are that it is a neurosurgical tool designed exclusively for the treatment of brain disorders; the lesion being treated receives a high dose of radiation with minimum risk to nearby tissue and structures; the cost of this surgery is 25 percent to 30 percent less than traditional neurosurgery; the absence of an incision eliminates the risk of hemorrhage and infection.

India is on verge of becoming the global health destination. Medical treatment in India is performed in cities like Mumbai and Bangalore, which offer world-class medical health care facilities to international patients who wish to have their gamma knife radio surgery in India. The surgery costs are very low compared to those found in the United Kingdom and the United States, and Indian private facilities offer advanced technology and high-quality treatment on par with hospitals in Western countries. Each year thousands of international patients visit India for treatment and the numbers are expected to rise in the future. Medical tourism in India also offers tourism packages to foreign patients, so after their surgery the patients can visit various tourist destinations for relaxation and comfort. To know more about gamma knife radio surgery in India visit www.forerunnershealthcare.com or mail us at enquiry@forerunnershealthcare.com

Washington, D.C.— Patients First, A Project of Americans for Prosperity™ is blasting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for concealing the true cost of the controversial health care overhaul plan being considered by Congress.

Leader Reid abruptly scheduled a cloture vote for Monday to increase Medicare payments to doctors by $245 billion. The tricky tactic, which would also require a vote to waive Senate budget rules, has raised eyebrows since it conceals the total cost of the health care plan being considered by Congress by splitting the overhaul into two separate bills. The Senate Finance Committee recently voted for a $904 billion plan, but the addition of this $245 billion bill will push the total cost of the overhaul to well over $1.1 trillion, violating the White House’s pledge to keep the health care plan deficit neutral.

“Leader Reid is using outright deception and trickery to force this Washington takeover of health care through Congress,” said Phil Kerpen, policy director of Patients First . “Even Arthur Andersen wouldn’t certify this accounting job. This is all smoke and mirrors.”

“President Obama promised that his health care plan would not add a dollar to the deficit, but now it’s become obvious that he has no intention of honoring his pledge,” said Kerpen. “Americans have the right to know how this plan will impact their access to quality affordable health care. Instead, Harry Reid is playing a slick shell game with the health care of Americans by not allowing us to know the true costs, ballooning deficits, and tax increases that this plan will necessitate.”

“Any senator who votes to waive the Senate’s own budget rules to advance Reid’s scheme must be held accountable by the American people,” Kerpen said.

About Patients First, A Project of Americans for Prosperity™
Patients First is a project of Americans for Prosperity® (AFP, a 501(c)4 non-profit organization recognized by the IRS.) AFP is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP has more than 700,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 25 state chapters. Patients First is not affiliated in any way with Patient First health clinics. For more information on Patients First, go to www.joinpatientsfirst.com

If you happen to be in Los Angeles on the 27th of October, you are invited to celebrate PlanetHospital's seven-year-old birthday party.

PlanetHospital is the oldest medical tourism company in the US and is admired by several of its peers (and despised by two).

Free cocktails -- celebrity DJ -- mysterious location (hey this is LA)
plus a few celebrity appearances.

Invitations are free but limited

Please RSVP at www.planethospital.com/laparty

In view of the rapid growth of Oman’s health and medical sector, Omanexpo LLC is currently organizing an international exhibition called MedHealth & Wellness to be held on October 19-21, 2009, at the Oman International Exhibition Centre in Seeb. MedHealth & Wellness 2009 will showcase everything required in achieving and maintaining good health and well-being.

Supported by the Ministry of Health (MOH), the three-day international exhibition will feature medical tourism, health products and services, laboratory and medical equipment, pharmaceutical products, hospital and clinic infrastructure, sports and fitness, and alternative therapies.

“We envision MedHealth & Wellness 2009 as the definitive event in Oman for everything related to healthcare, medicine, and fitness. It will be highly relevant to all medical professionals in the sultanate as well as to everyone looking for ways to effectively improve their health,” says C.J. Paul, general manager of Omanexpo LLC, the leading exhibition management company in the sultanate. Paul pointed out that, with the official support of the Ministry of Health, MedHealth & Wellness 2009 is expected to attract the participation of leading companies in Oman’s vibrant health and medical industry.

In line with this, a briefing on the exhibition will be held on April 20 at the Crowne Plaza Muscat to inform all medical equipment suppliers in Oman about MedHealth & Wellness 2009. “The strong presence of local companies in the exhibition will prominently showcase the quality of healthcare in the sultanate and also clearly reflect the continued development of Oman’s vibrant health and medical industry,” Paul stresses.

Apart from local companies, MedHealth & Wellness 2009 is also expected to attract many international exhibitors who want to take full advantage of the growing opportunities in the sultanate’s medical sector. In addition to the Ministry of Health, MedHealth & Wellness 2009 is also supported by Middle East Health magazine as the print media partner; Malaysia Healthcare.Com, Global Ayurveda and Placid Way as the online media partners; and Becker Travel as the official travel partner.

For stall reservations or for more information on MedHealth & Wellness 2009, please contact Melwin D’Cunha, Project Manager, at tel. no. +968-24660124, mobile no. +968-92881982, or e-mail melwin@omanexpo.com. More details about the event are also available online at www.omanexpo.com/medhealth.

Date Set for Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress in Dubai: October 27-29, 2009

With the healthcare travel industry poised to play an important part in Dubai's growth strategy, the Institute for International Research (IIR) Middle East, the organizers of the first medical tourism conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which concluded in Dubai, recently have reported high levels of interest from a potentially huge international market.

"Research unveiled at the event indicated a global market of around two million medical travelers a year and an industry constrained by hospital capacity and lack of consumer familiarity with medical travel," says Sietske Meerloo, marketing manager at IIR Middle East and organizer of Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress. IIR Middle East is also the organizer of the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, the region's premier event for Middle East healthcare that takes place in Dubai 27-29, October, 2009.

“Large numbers of hospitals and clinics around the world are attempting to tailor their health services to cater to medical tourists," Meerloo added. "Several major insurance companies offer a travel component in their policies, and governments are looking closely at policies to take account of the trend."

The health care event was officially opened by Haidar Al Yousuf, M.D., transition director at the Dubai Health Authority, who highlighted the importance the Authority is placing on the future of medical tourism.

"As we look to develop our domestic health strategy, we also want to develop a joint strategy with our colleagues in the Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM), for the future of health tourism in Dubai," says Dr. Al Yousuf. "The health care sector in Dubai will become an increasingly attractive place for international health care investors, providers, services, facilities, and other health care professionals."

PlanetHospital, a California-based leader in medical tourism, used the event as a platform to announce the official opening of its Jeddah Saudi Arabia office to serve inbound and outbound medical tourists from the Arabian Gulf region.

"The Gulf has the potential to drive growth in medical tourism," says Mohammed Alarifi, managing director for the new operation. "It is not only a destination from where patients seek medical care abroad but is also becoming a medical tourism destination itself thanks to major hospital developments throughout the region."

The American Hospital Dubai also had high visibility at the event. There was "a lot of exchange of experience among colleagues from around the world," says Naser Saleh, director of marketing and sales. “On the conference side, the sessions were very informative."

Gary Miller, CEO of Health Travel TV, says the event had been important for them. "We have a unique product, and we’re the only broadcast media here dedicated to this area. I’m coming back to Arab Health in January."

Organized in association with the International Medical Travel Association, the Healthcare Travel Exhibition and Congress was supported by the UAE Ministry of Health and the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi. Platinum sponsors were Singapore Medicine. Gold sponsors were the American Hospital Dubai and Dubai Health Authority. For details about Arab Health events, please visit: www.arabhealthonline.com

Healthcare Abroad and Health Tourism 1st International TEMOS Conference
November 15-17, 2009 in Cologne / Germany

TEMOS is pleased to announce the 1st International TEMOS Conference on “HEALTHCARE ABROAD AND HEALTH TOURISM” in Cologne, Germany from November 15-17, 2009.

The main objective is to bring together the parties and markets of:

Health insurance companies and payers from Germany and Europe
Hospitals and medical facilities from all over the world
International facilitators, health tourism operators and telemedicine providers

to discuss about quality management, and the potential of health tourism & healthcare services abroad – from the stakeholders’ perspective.

To push these conference topics we have the pleasure to introduce several international experts as members of the TEMOS Conference Advisory Board, for example:

Health insurance: Dr. Franz Benstetter, Head of Operational Services Munich Health, Munich Reinsurance Company.

Medical facility: Dr. Kalyan S Sachdev, M.D., Chairman and founder of Privat Healthcare Group, member of the governing Board of Indian Spinal Injuries Center.

Telemedicine: Prof. Dr. Michael Nerlich, M.D., Head of the Department of Trauma at the University of Regensburg Academic Medical Center Surgery, President of the International Society for Tele' and eHealth (ISfTeH).

Science & Economics: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Goetzke, Director of gewi-Institute for health economics, Co-founder of the Fresenius University in Cologne, Coordinator of the regional initiative “Health Cologne” and “Health Region Cologne Bonn”.

Click here to find additional members of the Advisory Board.

Please also visit the Conference Website for registration and further information!

Register now via the Online Registration Form and benefit from the early bird rates!

Please contact info@temos-conference.com or the conference hotline +49–2203–601 3000
for any questions regarding the International TEMOS Conference.

Exhibitors can increase their profile by choosing between several attractive sponsoring options for this event. Please get in touch with us to learn more about your opportunities.

Please note: You can ideally combine the attendance of the TEMOS conference with a visit to MEDICA®, the world’s largest exhibition for ' technology, which is held in the neighboring city of Duesseldorf from November 18-21, 2009.

National Newspaper confirms support for Health & Medical Tourism Show
The Independent Newspaper has confirmed support of the forthcoming Destination Health exhibition, which is set to take place on 17 - 18 April 2010 in London.
Destination Health is a brand new exhibition designed exclusively for people planning to travel abroad for all types of treatments.

If you are involved in any aspect of health tourism, then you should be exhibiting at Destination Health.

For everything from heart disease to hip replacements, breast implants, and medical spas, Destination Health is dedicated to every area of health tourism. It brings together thousands of patients and medical providers under one roof and offers an exclusive platform to meet people who are ready to invest in their personal health, body image, and well-being.
Whatever the size or nature of your business, if you want to promote and increase awareness of your health and medical travel services in a focused and dedicated environment, you should be at Destination Health.

To find out more, visit the Destination Health website or call us on + 44 (0) 20 8230 0066 or email sales@destinationhealth.co.uk

Asia Medical Tourism & Wellness Congress @ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia May 13-14, 2010

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will be hosting an international event next year in Berjaya Times Square. Medical Tourism & Wellness Congress (GLOW 2010) will be an international trade exhibition running concurrently with a multi-stream conference session.

GLOW 2010 will gather senior-level decision makers across the health care, wellness, and corporate executive sectors from around the world to brainstorm on issues concerning their industry.

The objectives of the Congress are:

To bring together our clients who are senior decision makers in major organizations across the region (100 - 150)
To provide an exciting neutral platform for vendors/solution/service providers to position themselves effectively
To conduct marketing/ advertising and promote brand awareness
To conduct business development activities to a targeted focused audience
To network and benchmark with professionals as well as other vendors and solution/service providers

GLOW 2010 will bring together our clients who are key corporate professionals in the medical, spa, and wellness sectors across the Asia Pacific and Middle East region to provide an exciting platform for vendors and solution providers to position themselves effectively. We estimate in excess of 100 to 150 senior-level decision makers for the exclusive conference in addition to walk-in trade visitors of over 1,500 for the exhibition.

A wide variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. Visit http://www.glow2010.com/ to learn more.

SITUATIONS WANTED:

International Patient Development in your Country – Medical Tourism

With present economic down turn I would like to offer my skills and global experience to develop much needed healthcare business.
I am sure my experience in medical tourism will provide original strategy as I come from the other side of the world.

Now is the perfect time to participate in global healthcare which is the world's second largest industry.

I would like to know if I can bring my successful career to work for your organisation to develop international business.

For further information visit www.surgeryexpress.com or contact me at as@surgeryexpress.com

JOBS:

Director of Quality Improvement

As the Director of Quality Improvement, you will be responsible for the planning, developing and directing QI functions. Provide leadership, management and supervision of the QI Department operations and staff. Ensure quality of healthcare services rendered meets or exceed professionally recognized standards. Develop and implement measures and controls to achieve company's goals.

Requirements:
BSN/BS/BA Degree in Healthcare related field. Master's Degree in Healthcare a PLUS
QI experience – min. 5 years; Managed Healthcare – min. 5 years.
Knowledge of NCQA standards.
Medicaid experience – min. 2 years.
Management Experience – min. 5 years.
Knowledge of applicable state, federal and third party regulations with special emphasis on Medi-Cal Managed Care.
Excellent communication skills.
Proficiency with computer information systems and software.
Strong analytical and problem solving skills.

Salary is commensurate with experience.
Located in Jackson, MS, USA.

For consideration, please forward your CV w/salary requirements to vvanover@headwaycorp.com or apply at www.headwaycorp.com/jobs

EEO/AA/M/F/V/D

To submit your job posting or a description of your desired position to ahaar@cpronline.com. Please keep text to 100 words or less.