THIS WEEK IN MEDICAL TRAVEL TODAY
Volume 4, Issue 1

by Amanda Haar, Editor

Greetings,

We're just hours into the new year and already there's much to report in the world of medical travel. New companies are launching, networks of care are expanding, and outlooks for growth continue to be very promising.

We start this issue and the new year with a conversation with Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, to get his views on how the industry has matured over the past four years and how the global economy affected growth.

And although it's only January, we've got a healthy roster of upcoming conferences addressing virtually every aspect of the industry. Medical Travel Today's own Laura Carabello will be speaking at the European Medical Travel Conference in Italy in May.

Cheers to a prosperous 2010,

Amanda Haar, Editor
ahaar@cpronline.com

SPOTLIGHT: Paul Keckley

Paul Keckley, Executive Director, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions

Editor's Note: In 2008 the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions issued its first report on medical tourism.  In MONTH 2009, the Center issued an "update and implications" report that focused on the impact of the economy, the growth of foreign medical sites, the role of health plans to incentivize medical travel, and several other factors.

Medical Travel Today recently spoke with Paul Keckley, executive director, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, to learn what the report revealed and how the industry needs to respond to both consumer and economic demands.

Medical Travel Today (MTT): What, if any, were the big surprises between your initial report and this most recent update?

Paul Keckley (PK): I think there were two areas of particular surprise. 

First was the impact of the bad economy on the industry. We found a substantial slow down in the number of elective procedures.

In our survey of consumers, we found one out of five saying that even though they have need for gum surgery or a carpal tunnel surgery, they're choosing to delay tending to it. That choice is a direct result of the economy.

Second, we were surprised to find that employer groups were not aggressively promoting medical tourism. 

There are companies out there that are introducing medical tourism options in their benefits, but it's not an across-the-board component in the arsenal of offerings for most companies.

This hesitation can actually be tied back to the economy, too. If you're an employer and in the last 24 months you've been cutting benefits and having to lay-off staff, well, then you're spending more time thinking about survival and competition than you are about substantially changing your benefits.

But let me add that there was a bright spot in the study and that had to do with the maturity of the industry. We saw this as a very strong positive.

When we first looked at the industry in 2006, we found that there wasn't much clinically coordinated care. That is, there wasn't much pre- and post-operative reporting, outcomes reporting, and capturing of data. Now, were finding the industry maturing around clinical processes.  We refer to this new approach as Medical Tourism 2.0.

That's not to say that everybody in the industry is doing it well. In fact, the rank and file medical tourism operator is nowhere near the level of transparency that they need to be. But among the more established programs, they are definitely getting there, and it is beginning to truly separate them from the rest.

It's clear to us that there is a movement to make more data available and in the end, that will be a boost to the industry

MTT: The lack of a governing body for international care continues to surface as an issue that could inhibit growth. What group or organization do you see in the best position to fill this gap, or do you think a new body needs to be formed? 

PK: I've gone to meetings of various groups and it appears that the Medical Travel Association (MTA) is maybe in the best position -- but I think it's still early.

The challenge there is that a trade association that focuses on professional development shouldn't cross lines into being a commercial association that sells service and does a lot of other things.

It should be either a standard setting organization that advances the professional integrity of the business or a trade group that develops a set of goods or services it sells. I think the MTA needs to figure out what they want to be.  

But I don't see any other group quite as far along or as close to potentially being a standard setting group. Whether or not the MTA chooses to go that route or the commercial route remains to be seen.

MTT: You cited inbound medical travel as the subset slated for the slowest growth. Given the health care reform measures, do you think trying to stimulate inbound growth is a realistic or even a good idea?

PK: I don't think that any increase in inbound travel would be a result of medical reform.  It's more likely an increase would be the result of better marketing and a high value proposition. At this point marketing has to be highly targeted.

The growth of the market will be primarily in the commercial market where people have a high-deductible insurance product.

The outbound medical travel market will increasingly focus on potential cost savings for low-risk ambulatory surgical procedures and becoming attractive to young adults with commercial insurance. 

MTT: I found it interesting that the two states that had bills to incentivize medical tourism were landlocked states. Does geography really have anything to do with driving the desire for a bill or is it more of a reflection on the level of care available in a state?

PK: The latter. The current bent of consumers considering medical tourism is directly linked first to proximity and second to direct air coverage.  Those residing in states that border Mexico will naturally consider Mexico. Those seeking a procedure on the eastern seaboard, especially those in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, will make their decisions based on the availability of direct flights to the Caribbean.  Medical tourism also maps to people's use of the internet for self-care and willingness to use retail clinics as a substitute for primary care.

MTT: Are there any countries you consider to be "ones to watch"?

PK: I think the two most intriguing efforts are being made in South Korea and potentially Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Europeans view Dubai and the UAE as a very close and desirable option. South Korea has attracted a global following of expats who are working or living somewhere else and willing to come back for care.

The advantage these two locations have over the established ones is that they are starting with the Medical Travel 2.0 model. They're using technology to coordinate referrals and aftercare, and they're capturing data.

From a strategic marketing standpoint, they're targeting employers and health plans rather than individual consumers. In other words, they're swinging a bigger bat.

Plus, they're specializing. They are looking at particular patient population and focusing on it.  They're building their expertise and building high-volume, low-price options that appeal to consumers.

Another area to keep an eye on is dental. Up until now it has largely flown under the radar. But as dental benefits get dropped, consumers are being completely surprised by the cost for surgical procedures in dentistry. I see this as a huge growth market that's currently untapped in medical tourism.

About Paul Keckley

Paul H. Keckley, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions (the Center), a part of Deloitte LLP. He provides strategic guidance on the development of Center research and thought leadership. Paul has 30 years of experience in academic medicine and in the private sector. He is well-regarded for his knowledge of health care economics, health policy, and trend analysis.

Prior to joining Deloitte, Paul served in several key roles at Vanderbilt University. He was the executive director of the Vanderbilt Center for Evidence-based Medicine (VCEBM), associate professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and an associate professor of Health Management at the Owen Graduate School of Business. He oversaw many clinical outsourcing ventures involving care team training, clinical information technology, data management, and evidence-based pathway construction and integration. Paul has engaged in several joint ventures, including specialty hospitals in the United Kingdom, development of primary care delivery systems in Botswana, partnerships with two Fortune 100 companies pursuing innovative approaches to chronic care management, and others that are in early-stage development.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Hospitals in Puerto Rico Join Companion Global Healthcare’s Network

Columbia, S.C. – Medical travel facilitator Companion Global Healthcare Inc. has accepted two state-of-the-art hospitals in Puerto Rico into its network of international hospitals that treat American patients at prices substantially lower than those at mainland U.S. facilities.

The announcement means Companion Global Healthcare will offer medical travel assistance and preferred pricing for its individual clients and employer group members who seek treatment at either HIMA San Pablo Bayamon or HIMA San Pablo Caguas.

The hospitals, part of the HIMAHEALTH network, employ cutting-edge technology in cardiovascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurology, oncology, and other specialties.  Both facilities are accredited by the Joint Commission, and their medical staffs include U.S. board-certified physicians. Puerto Rico is the only locale in the Caribbean that boasts Joint Commission-accredited hospitals.

“HIMAHEALTH hospitals are equipped with the latest technology, and their prices will enable our clients to obtain the care they need at an affordable cost,” says David Boucher, president of Companion Global Healthcare. “Since Puerto Rico is a short flight from many U.S. cities, HIMAHEALTH hospitals offer an added level of convenience for many of our clients.”

Companion Global Healthcare’s international network now includes 26 hospitals around the world. All the hospitals are Joint Commission-accredited, and procedures cost up to 90 percent less than at hospitals in the United States. For a list of network hospitals and estimated treatment costs, visit www.CompanionGlobalHealthcare.com.

“We are excited about the affiliation between HIMAHEALTH and Companion Global Healthcare,” says Armando Rodriguez, a HIMA San Pablo executive vice president. “U.S. patients already travel for medical care to places as far away as India and Singapore; it makes sense for them to travel a shorter distance for treatment.”

About Companion Global Healthcare
Based in Columbia, S.C., Companion Global Healthcare Inc. offers medical travel concierge services and an international network of dental clinics and accredited hospitals to self-insured employer groups and individuals. An employer can save tens of thousands of dollars any time an employee chooses treatment at a Companion Global Healthcare network hospital, even after factoring in travel expenses.

Companion Global Healthcare provides medical and dental travelers with round-trip assistance and customer service, as well as preferred pricing at network facilities. It serves as a single launch point for appointments, travel arrangements, case management coordination services upon return to the United States, medical travel insurance, and help with claims filing.

Employer groups interested in including Companion Global Healthcare’s network and services in their employee benefit plans should call 1-800-906-7065.

Launch of The Meditour Medical Tourism Company

With two offices in India and one in the United States, The Meditour recently announced it is formally offering medical tourism facilitator services.

Managed by experienced medical and IT professionals with vast experience in health care services, The Meditour facilitates travel to India where numerous modern hospitals with world-class facilities are available. These hospitals are backed by qualified and well-trained medical practitioners and support teams and offer transparency of services, low cost, and no wait time.

According to Sanjeev Mehta, M.D., chairman and managing cirector of The Meditour, 
 "… quality, affordable cost, and prompt treatment are always key elements for opting for treatment in foreign country. We have focused on these elements in selecting various hospitals and doctors in order to satisfy patient needs. Our partner hospitals and medical centers are amongst the largest, most trusted and internationally accredited."

Devendra Patel, telemedicine expert and director of The Meditour, adds, "We add value to the clients, starting from deciding the best and suitable service provider, treatment option, and medical advice during treatment and follow up. We use advanced IT tools, telemedicine, and ehealth…this differentiates us from plain vanilla type medical tourism organizations."

The Meditour has a panel of physicians representing leading medical specialties providing telemedicine opinions to patients.

Recently the top management of The Meditour visited Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya and dar-es-salaam in Tanzania and Dubai. They has finalized partners in Kenya, Nigeria, and Cameroon. For information on The Meditour: Visit www.themeditour.com.

Patients Beyond Borders Cited in Deloitte’s Medical Tourism Update and Implications Report

Chapel Hill, N.C. (PRWEB) December 15, 2009 -- Patients Beyond Borders, the first comprehensive consumer reference guide for medical tourism, was recently cited in a report, Medical Tourism: Update and Implications, released by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. Utilizing information on international medical sites culled by Patients Beyond Borders, the report cites Patients Beyond Borders, alongside the Joint Commission International (JCI), as “neutral overseers” with important oversight.

“Despite current economic conditions, or perhaps because of them, Deloitte is forecasting an annual growth rate of 35 percent, with an estimated 1.6 million patients crossing borders for medical procedures,” comments Josef Woodman, author of Patients Beyond Borders. With the number of JCI-accredited hospitals now approaching 300, top international facilities are poised to receive a growing number of global health care consumers.

Patients Beyond Borders is the world’s best-read source of consumer information on medical tourism. Data was culled over a two-year period from hundreds of interviews with international hospitals, clinics, universities, and government agencies, as well as patients, prospective patients, and medical travel facilitators. Woodman has spent more than four years touring 120 medical travel facilities in 14 countries, researching contemporary medical tourism. “While we don’t always agree with research organizations on the numbers, we do agree the drivers are in place for extraordinary growth in the coming years,” says Woodman.

About Healthy Travel Media
Healthy Travel Media, an independent imprint based in Chapel Hill, N.C., publishes books on medical, health, and wellness travel. Its flagship international title, Patients Beyond Borders, now in its Second Edition, is the leading consumer reference guide for medical tourism and is filled with authoritative and accessible advice. Specialized editions have been published for Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Thailand, with an edition now in production for Turkey. The Patients Beyond Borders series is available through booksellers everywhere and is distributed to the retail trade by Publishers Group West (www.pgw.com).
For more information or media queries, please contact:
Judy Orchard Tel: +1 919 545.0668 Email: jorchard@healthtraveler.net
Web: www.patientsbeyondborders.com

Indicure invited to talk about medical tourism at international medical tourism exhibition

Medical tourism -- or health care tourism -- has become a global phenomenon. A lot of people are traveling across the globe in search of quality and affordable health care services.

Governments of many countries are realizing that it is a sunrise industry and that there is a lot of potential in it. According to a study by McKinsey, medical tourism will become a  5000 to 10,000-core industry by 2012.

India is already a leader in this foray owing to that country’s many advantages: Quality health care services at fraction of cost; JCI accredited facilities; English speaking country; world renowned doctors; alternative systems of medicines like Ayurveda; and one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world.

As a  medical tourism leader in India, Indicure representatives were invited to talk about industry issues  at the  recent medical tourism expo in Seoul,  South Korea.

“It was a wonderful experience and a privilege for us to share our experiences at this international conference,” says Ruchika from Indicure. “We shared  views and ideas on how to take the industry forward, the various issues  medical tourists face, and how cross-border medical tourism can help various countries.”
To know more about Indicure and its services, visit www.indicure.com and www.indicurecosmeticsurgery.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

 Medical Tourism comes to MITT

The Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhibition, which takes place in March 2010, will feature a section dedicated to medical tourism for the first time. Over the last 16 years, MITT, Russia’s leading travel and tourism exhibition, has grown and developed alongside the industry. The introduction of a medical tourism sector this year comes in response to exhibitor feedback and increased consumer demand for medical tourism.

A conference focusing on medical tourism will also take place alongside the exhibition, providing delegates with valuable information about the sector. The 1st Moscow Medical & Heath Tourism Congress will take place on March 18, 2010,  with draft topics including:

1. Medical and health tourism as a profitable business
2. The effect of the economic crisis on medical and health tourism
3. Increasing the profitability of tourism companies through medical and health tourism
4. The role of travel agents in medical tourism
5. Increasing competitiveness
6. New ways to attract clients
7. Insurance and supplementary services

Event Director, Maria Badakh, comments, “Medical tourism is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, the Deloitte Center forecasts growth of 35 percent annually for the sector from 2010. As a relatively new market, medical tourism in Russia offers excellent potential for growth. Although the sector has been represented at the show in previous years by individual companies, it has not had its own sector and individual promotion. We are looking forward to introducing medical tourism as a lucrative new revenue stream to Russia’s travel agents and tour operators.”

The sector will include spas, which are extremely popular among Russian travelers. According to Sergey Sinitcyn of the Federal Agency of Tourism, “ten to 15 percent of Russians travel abroad for spa treatments annually”.

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

European Medical Travel Conference 2010 Draws Global Participation

Europe’s largest medical travel conference to take place in Venice, Italy (Monastier di Treviso) May 5‐7, 2010

U.S. / Venice, Italy - December 31, 2009 - The European Medical Travel Conference 2010 (EMTC; www.emtc2010.com) will be hosted in Monastier di Treviso, a municipality of Venice, Italy, on May 5-7, 2010. The largest medical travel conference in Europe, the EMTC provides an exciting platform for networking, discussion, and cooperation among industry stakeholders and is expected to draw 350 to 450 participants from around the world.

“Besides attracting some of the leading authorities on medical travel, this event will draw physicians, hospitals, hotels, tourism agencies, patient services, IT services, associations, service providers, government representatives, patients, and anyone interested in learning more about the future of medical travel,” says Uwe Klein, M.D., chairman of the event.

Conference organizers expect that the EMTC will raise awareness and increased popularity of the medical travel option, which provides greater access to quality health care for patients and increased cost efficiency for employers.

“The effective collaboration between the tourism and health sectors will offer greater scope for tackling the increasing impact of patient mobility in and outside of Europe,” Dr. Klein adds. “The EMTC represents not only a platform of debate on medical tourism among Italian, European, and non-European colleagues, but also a potential solution for the needs of increasingly mobile patients traveling across the globe for better, more cost‐effective, and timely medical treatment.”

The diverse roster of speakers will address a wide range of medical travel topics and issues, including:

• Legal aspects and solutions of American insurance and intermediary companies
• Finding quality providers and services
• Patient security
• European Union directive on patient mobility and patient rights, patient safety
• Follow-up treatment back home
• Cost transparency and service orientation
• Sea-based health care

The two-day event includes a Welcome Reception, keynote lectures, workshops, panel discussions, B2B meetings, a Gala Dinner, and possible sight-seeing excursions. Service providers may book a booth within the framework of an industrial exhibition.

For more information visit: www.emtc2010.com
                                 

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

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.

Central and Eastern Europe Medical Tourism and Healthcare Summit  
May 17-18, 2010, at the Aristos Hotel, Zagreb, Croatia

Medical Tourism in Central and Eastern Europe has been increasing rapidly. The region as a whole offers a variety of affordable treatments and procedures within easy reach of most travelers.

Global Engage, in partnership with Global Health Consulting of Croatia, is pleased to announce this international summit, which will bring together and showcase facilitators, providers, and medical organizations from across the region including Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, and surrounding countries to meet and network with senior level delegates from all over the world.

The Central and Eastern Europe Medical Tourism and Healthcare Summit will include an exhibition area, workshops, and a two-day conference agenda featuring an international speaker panel focusing and sharing their experiences on current issues affecting medical tourism and health care in the region and the world in general.

A further dedicated conference stream will focus on dental medical tourism providing an educational platform for dentists in the Central and Eastern European region to develop their business internationally and attract foreign patients to their practices.

There will be adequate time provided for networking and forming collaborations with potential partners over business lunches, drinks reception, and a gala dinner and the opportunity to visit local medical facilities.

Attend as a delegate or if you prefer to gain increased exposure for your company or organization please enquire about our exclusive exhibition, sponsorship, and marketing options.

To view further details of the conference agenda, speakers, sponsorship, and registration details please visit - http://www.globalengage.co.uk/central_eastern_european_medical_tourism_summit.html

Or to discuss your participation in more detail contact Steve Hambrook (Conference Director). Tel +44 (0) 1865 811 189 or email steve@globalengage.co.uk