The international market for UK based accreditation agency CHKS continues to expand in some interesting directions. Having established a strong foothold in Europe over the past fifteen years, mostly in Portugal, Ireland and Denmark, it has worked as far afield as India and South Africa. Initially driven by statutory requirements for accreditation and independent certification, increasingly the reason is a need for hospitals and clinics to have something to enable potential medical tourists to choose on quality, rather than price alone.  CHKS has seen a surge of interest from Southern Europe, particularly from Cyprus, Greece and Turkey. Places with large numbers of British expatriates are seeking external recognition from organizations that the expat community will trust as independent. In Cyprus, it is working with the Cyprus Certification Company on certifying local hospitals. Having previously worked in Serbia to establish quality improvement and licensing, it is now part of a consortium introducing local accreditation systems to healthcare organizations, with validation and licensing of healthcare professionals. In Egypt, CHKS is developing healthcare services in Cairo that include acute hospitals, diagnostic centres and nursing homes- all at the commissioning phase. Once the facilities are built, CHKS will work with them on international accreditation. Meanwhile, in Egypt, discussions continue on the practicalities of rolling out accreditation to some local private clinics. The CHKS healthcare accreditation and quality unit (HAQU), incorporates the Health Quality Services (HQS), the longest established healthcare accreditation service in Europe, established as the King’s Fund organisational audit in 1989.CHKS is a corporate member of the International Society for Quality in healthcare (ISQua). The CHKS international accreditation programme has been designed to be adaptable to the local cultural, legislative and professional framework of the host country. It incorporates relevant features of quality programmes from other countries, as well as those from other sectors. The programme standards cover all aspects of healthcare provision, together with an organisational development and assessment process and accreditation award, with certification to ISO9001: 2000 if also required. Earlier this year CHKS launched Accreditation Online, for the ISO certification rather than the fuller international accreditation, and undertook the first paperless survey at the UK’s London Bridge Hospital. As the system worked it has been now offered to both UK and international customers .The first international launch was for the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre in Nicosia, Cyprus. Accreditation Online is now used by two hospitals in Cyprus, six in Ireland, and four in Portugal. The international standards manual is now available in Greek and Portuguese. Recent international HAQU accreditations include two more hospitals in Ireland; Shanakiel Hospital and St Francis Private Hospital. CHKS has now awarded international accreditation to 7 hospitals in Ireland. The HAQU Accreditation Programme focuses on patient safety, patient experience, clinical governance, leadership and staff experience. Brian Wright of Shanakiel Hospital explains why it chose CHKS, As CHKS works in the UK and across Europe, the standards are the best choice for Irish healthcare, especially where the standards reference compliance with EU directives or laws. We looked at other accreditation systems and decided that CHKS standards are easy to understand and the best for us.

Following the Health Tourism Congress held in Johannesburg in July 2009 where the medical tourism industry was endorsed by both the national departments of tourism and health, local agencies feel it is important that the industry organizes itself into an association to move forward as a collective with established guidelines and code of conduct in order to compete in the global competitive market. Lorraine Melvill of Surgeon and Safari and Dr Tshepo Maaka of Serokolo Health Tourism, both founders of the original organisation, have revived The Medical Tourism Association of South Africa, as a non-profit company. The original foundered on personal differences combined with hospital and government indifference. The pair believe it is time to combine their skills, expertise and streamline the industry thus enabling it to participate in the government’s economic growth policies of the future and enhance South Africa’s competitiveness as a destination. They believe that The National Department of Health and the National Department of Tourism will work with the association on the development of policy, strategy and funding of the local health tourism industry. The Medical Tourism Association of South Africa will liaise with government departments and other influential bodies in South Africa.Maaka and Melvill believe that the past and present success of the South African medical tourism industry has been built on the high standard of ethical practice employed by the country’s leading medical service providers. It is the objective of the association to ensure that the medical tourist enjoys a great experience throughout every facet of their stay, resulting in repeat visits and ongoing recommendations to other potential health and medical tourists. The work ethic, code of conduct, training and high standards together with transparency will form the cornerstone of the association. Membership is open to those involved in South African medical tourism. There is an annual membership fee and three membership categories- Primary;medical tourism agencies, medical evacuation companies, hospitals and clinics, doctors/dentists/specialists, medical associations and health insurers.  Secondary;accommodation, wellness centres, auxiliary medical services and individuals.Honorary; government departments. professional medical insurers, academic institutions. Objectives of the association To represent the collective interests of professional medical/ health service providers assisting patients seeking treatment in South Africa. Promote and develop medical tourism both locally and internationally as a medical/ health cluster. Function as a network forum between the various industries associated with medical tourism in South Africa. Assist new business opportunities and investments.Promote South Africa as the leading destination for the medical tourist seeking a quality product and service. Create dialogue with government departments.Work with the South African Medical Council and its associated professional bodies. All members are expected to Adhere to a code of conduct and respect the medical tourist rights as a patient / consumer Offer adequate accredited training of staff handling foreign patients/ clients. Maintain the highest standards of ethical business practice, accountability and objectivity.

Although billed as a conference, an October seminar in Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica on October 6 and 7, has the sole purpose of promoting the benefits of Costa Rica as a destination and drumming up more business. Tim Morales of HSA Clearing Corp says "People can read about medical tourism or attend seminars with medical tourism providers, but the only way to really learn is to experience it first hand. The propose of our seminar is for insurance company executives, employee benefit managers, health insurance agents, third-party administrators, and others, to view and meet the hospitals, physicians, dentists and other medical service providers that Costa Rican Medical Care works with. Once people see the quality of the health care Costa Rica has to offer, they will be comfortable working with us and recommending our services to their people. We feel it is important for us to provide these educational seminars at a price people can afford, so we are proud to be working with a five-star hotel to accomplish this, and we have priced this event at only $799.00all inclusive." The price may be discounted, but should people be asked to pay to go to an advertising event? Costa Rican Medical Care (CRMC), a division of HSA Clearing Corp, is a medical tourism agency, mostly targeting American customers with promises of savings of up to 70 % on US prices, that only offers destinations in Costa Rica. Opening speaker Roy Ramthun of HSA Clearing Corp will address reducing health care costs by going to Costa Rica. The morning session will include speakers from the three major private hospitals in Costa Rica, Hospital Clinica Biblica, Hospital Hotel La Católica, and CIMA Hospital. Carlos Ricardo Benavides.Minister of Tourism will present the many advantages of choosing Costa Rica as a medical and/or vacation destination. The first day afternoon session will have presentations from medical, cosmetic, and dental practices in the country. Day two is mostly a tour of three private hospitals Hospital Clinica Biblica, Hospital Hotel La Católica, and CIMA Hospital. These three San Jose hospitals are the only JCI accredited ones in the country. HSA Clearing Corp., a provider of health savings account educational services to financial institutions, employee benefit companies and health agents, set up Costa Rican Medical Care in March 2009.The core target market is the thousands of health agents, employee benefit firms and customers of the HSA bank and credit union network across the USA. Costa Rican medical care is good. Many doctors are US trained and the hospitals are generally well equipped. The new CIMA medical center and Hospital, outside of San Jose is comparable with US facilities. The organizers predict that the country will get a total of 100,000 visitors in the next five years, an average annual total of 20,000. Does the industry need to differentiate between conferences that discuss opportunities and problems and other wider issues, and events like this one that are blatant advertising for the delights of a single country?

Indian dentists want a share of the medical tourism pie. Cities such as Chennai, popular with foreigners for its low-cost heart and eye surgery, now look to dental tourism. VV Dentistree is one of several promoting dental treatment at around a quarter of UK or US prices. Five-clinic Chennai dental service provider VV Dentistree plans to set up hospitals and clinics in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kochi by early 2011. Within five years, Dentistree wants to have a national presence and also intends to spread overseas in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Indonesia and Malaysia. VV Dentistree India Private Limited provides dental care services including root canal treatment, orthodontic treatment, implant, microscopic enhanced surgery, and laser assisted surgery. The company operates clinics in areas including Adyar, Mylapore, OMR, Anna Nagar, and Ashok Nagar in Chennai. August saw the launch of its first international dental hospital in Chennai, with the latest equipment, and built specifically to target dental tourists. Similar hospitals in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Cochin will open in the next 15 months, followed by hospitals in Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata. While cosmetic surgery or hip-replacement surgery in India may be economical for a foreigner even if air ticket and accommodation costs are included, the same may not be the case for dental care, which is much more about repeat treatment than a one-off surgery. That is why some leading healthcare providers in India who are heavily into medical tourism, rarely promote dental care. Smaller Indian dental clinics believe customers will find it viable to travel to or within India. The annual conference of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), the country’s largest travel trade body, being held in Dubai this year, will showcase the key features of India’s medical tourism. One aim is to increase the number of tourists and medical tourists from the Middle East who visit India. 2000 delegates will take part in the conference from Sep 29 to Oct 2 in Dubai. India will promote medical tourism in states including Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Seeking enhanced ties with the Arab world, India has said the countries in this region can benefit from its medical tourism sector under which traditional treatments like Ayurveda are offered at cheaper cost. The country’s medical roots go back to the centuries and much of the Western world is now utilizing the cheap but effective medical treatment in India," says Indian Ambassador to Qatar, Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa. Ayurveda and other traditional medical treatments are bringing many people to India. Indian tourism and medical tourism have been hard hit by global recession and the Mumbai terror attacks, but there are signs of a slow recovery. The government is focusing on niche tourism products including wellness tourism. This includes spas and ancient therapies ayurveda, unani, and siddha. Although it accepts the importance of medical tourism, the government admits it has no ideas of numbers as many come on tourist visas rather than specialist medical tourism visas. There are still no signs of the long-promised positive government help for this sector.

The battle over US healthcare and health insurance reform is getting overheated. Ill-informed attacks on the UK’s NHS forced prime minister Gordon Brown, and leader of the opposition David Cameron to lead campaigns against a barrage of misinformation. In an effort to sway lawmakers and public opinion, a million dollars a day is being pumped into an advertising blitz for and against reform. Sifting through the conflicting and often bizarre allegations, such as those claiming that the country has no medical care crisis, is no small feat. AARP a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization with 40 million members aged over 50.It offers a sensible analysis of circulating myths. There are special interest groups trying to block progress on health care reform by using myths and scare tactics .The majority of working Americans will continue to receive their health care through their employer. Myth: Health care reform is socialized medicine. Fact: Health care reform will preserve the employer-based health care system where 200 million Americans will continue to get their coverage through their employers. Fact: For people buying coverage for themselves, there will be a range of private health plans to choose from. If it goes ahead, the public plan option will give American consumers another choice if they can’t find affordable, quality coverage in the private insurance market. Myth: Health care reform means rationed care. Fact: None of the health reform proposals being considered would stand between individuals and their doctors or prevent any American from choosing the best possible care. Myth: Health care reform will hurt Medicare. Fact: None of the health care reform proposals being considered by Congress would cut Medicare benefits or increase out-of-pocket costs for Medicare services. Fact: Rather than weaken Medicare, health care reform will strengthen the financial status of the Medicare program. Myth: Health care reform is too expensive America cannot afford it. Fact: The President and Congress have committed to producing legislation that will be paid for without debt. Fact: If we do nothing to fix health care, families with Medicare or employer-based health coverage will likely see their premiums nearly double again in the next seven years. Fact: When one in three Americans say someone in their family postponed or cut back on needed medical care due to the cost; when countless bankruptcies are related to medical expenses; when the number of uninsured approaches 50 million; and when employers struggle to pay for the costs of health care, we cannot afford not to fix health care. Myth: Health care reform means the government can make life-and-death decisions for you. Fact: Health care reform will NOT give the government or any insurer the power to make life-and-death decisions for anyone regardless of their age. Individuals, their doctor and their family will make those decisions. Exactly how reform will affect medical tourism is too early to say. Predictions that millions more will go abroad, or that almost nobody will, are both unlikely.

The USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ) has agreed to help five members of the Private Hospitals Association to increase Jordanian hospitals ranking in regional and global medical tourism. The project aims to create a pool of specialized customer service trainers in all participating hospitals, through building the capacity of selected staff members and providing them with the tools to become customer service trainers of other hospital staff. The training also aims to design guidelines on policies and procedures to achieve higher customer service performance in the medical sector. As the medical sector in Jordan has a distinguished reputation domestically and internationally, and in order to keep this reputation, local hospitals are working towards raising the medical service level through applying quality standards. The application of the national accreditation program is essential in creating a quality culture in all the divisions of the medical sector. The Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC) is celebrating its one-year anniversary since its launch in August 2008.HCAC came to life as a joint initiative from the Ministry of Health and the USAID under the Jordan Health Accreditation Project (JHAP). JHAP had been working with all health care sectors for at least 2 years to develop hospital accreditation standards and to establish HCAC and develop its technical and financial capacity to become the leader and key propagator of continuous healthcare quality improvement in Jordan and region. HCAC was established in response to a need in having a national independent body that serves as a steward for health care accreditation. As an independent, not for profit organization, HCAC aims to foster the continuous improvement of health care services through its mission. Inherent to its purpose and mission, HCAC develops healthcare accreditation standards, and assists healthcare facilities to meet the standards and achieve accreditation through consultations, training, surveyor certification and surveys. HCAC recently accredited three additional hospitals from the public and private sectors, based on compliance to HCAC standards and bringing the number of HCAC accredited hospitals in Jordan to five. It has published the second edition of the HCAC hospitals standards, certificated two groups of hospital surveyors from Jordan and been elected to the accreditation council of The International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua. May Abuhamdia of the HCAC says, While we have only a handful of accredited hospitals so far, forty four hospitals from all sectors in Jordan have pledged to the implementation of the 2009 HCAC national quality and patient safety goals and we look forward to the upcoming months to survey these hospitals and grant two year certification to the hospitals that successfully meet the three goals announced for this year. Recently the HCAC has entered into a partnership with Brandeis University and Joint Commission International to study the cost value of accreditation in hospitals in Jordan.

One question that confounds every individual traveling overseas for treatment is that of choosing a hospital. While many patients are able to hone in on the choice of a doctor/hospital through agencies, referral doctors or their personal networks, a few are left without enough information on the hospital to choose. In the last five years, the number of JCI (Joint Commission International) accredited public and private hospitals around the world has increased by nearly 1000 %. Up from a mere 27 hospitals and health care organizations with that accreditation in 2004, currently over 250 such entities in 36 countries have now been accredited by the JCI. In 1999, JCI began surveying and accrediting hospitals and healthcare facilities outside of the USA. It is a private US based accreditation group that fulfils the requirements of an independent international body for healthcare standards accreditation. JCI is accredited by ISQua, an accreditor of accrediting bodies. It was in early 2008 that JCI was recognized by ISQua . Apart from JCI, other accreditation bodies are approved by ISQua.This international standardization body conveys the following message: Any hospital that is accredited by an ISQua approved accreditation body will be assured of the same patient safety and procedures of any hospital in developed world. Some associations and websites lead consumers to believe that  only JCI accredited hospitals are a credible destination.Consumers, businesses and insurance companies in America have been taught by constant repetition to recognize overseas hospitals accredited by JCI alone for in-patient treatment. This, in turn prompts hospitals already accredited by other ISQua affiliated bodies, to indulge in the expensive and laborious exercise of obtaining JCI accreditation. There is nothing wrong with JCI, but to lend some perspective to this issue of hospital accreditation in an international milieu, hospitals and agencies should not forget the other half-dozen international agencies based in the UK, France, Canada and Australia.These organizations perform a similar international role as the JCI, providing accreditation to international or regional health providers. * Accreditation Canada International focuses in improving patient safety. Recognizing that one standard approach does not work for everyone, it customizes its accreditation program to meet the client’s needs. * Trent Accreditation Scheme (TAS) A UK-based non-profit accreditation organization that performs surveying and accrediting healthcare providers in the UK and around the world. Trent was the first scheme to accredit a hospital in Asia, in Hong Kong in 2000.Apart from hospitals in the United Kingdom, Trent also surveys a large number of private sector hospitals in Hong Kong, and is also expanding into the Philippines and Malta. * The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) The leading accreditation organization in Australia. It features the Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP) and acts as a consultant for several countries. The different accreditation schemes vary in approach, quality, size, intent and the skill of their marketing. They also vary in terms of costs incurred by hospitals and healthcare institutions

Ithmaar Development Company (IDC), the development arm of the Bahrain-based Ithmaar banking group, plans to establish health island projects similar to the one it is building in Bahrain in three other countries. IDC intends to bring the Dilmunia Health Island concept to Tunisia, Morocco and Malaysia. The size of the investments will be similar, if not higher than the amount committed to the Bahrain project, where construction and reclamation alone are estimated to cost US$1.6 billion. The aim is to create a centre for health and wellness tourism. Dilmunia, which is currently being constructed on a manmade island off the country’s northeast coast, will include state-of-the-art diagnostic, nutrition and diabetes, cosmetic surgery, aesthetic medicine, alternative medicine and sports medicine centres. The complex includes a 358-bed hospital and a 216-bed women and children’s hospital. Located around the healthcare facilities will be residential and commercial areas, including hotels offering alternative therapies in their spas. The island, covering an area of 1.25 million square metres, will have three five-star hotels, a four-star hotel, 118 villas and 1,362 housing units complete with associated amenities. The project will also include deluxe spas and boutique hotels as well as residential clusters, beauty and wellness shops, and retail and leisure facilities. Construction of the first phase is slated for a 2012 completion, with the second phase by 2015. Reclamation work started in March and will take 15 months to complete. IDC is seeking a range of partners to run the hospitals and hotels. Dilmunia will be located very close to Bahrain International Airport, providing connectivity with the region and the rest of the world. Bahrain is also well connected to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is a potentially large market for Dilmunia. Additional road links will provide added connectivity between Bahrain and Qatar within the next few years. IDC has formed a dedicated healthcare entity, Ithmaar Health. This will establish a network of outpatient and diagnostic facilities across the GCC countries, which will be linked to the Dilmunia Health District and other regional referral centres. IDC is looking for partners to work with on the Dilmunia Health Island project. IDC is working for Dilmunia to become a global concept and work ranging from feasibility studies to master plan development, is already under way in North Africa and Southeast Asia. Feasibility studies in Morocco and Tunisia have been completed. The projects are at the master plan stage and construction will begin early next year. Feasibility studies in Malaysia will be completed within two months.

South Korea is increasingly becoming popular with residents of East Asia seeking medical treatment. The 20,000-patient target for 2008 has already been achieved, and the next figure the country aims for is 100,000 patients by 2012. The government funds the Council for Korea Medicine Overseas Promotion, which acts as a middleman between local hospitals and foreign patients and insurance companies. James Bae, a researcher with the Council, said Korea has better medical infrastructure than other nations. We really try to differentiate ourselves from other Asian countries for medical tourism with our high level of quality for healthcare services. So far this year, 20,000 foreign nationals have visited hospitals associated with the Council. Many came for plastic surgery, he said. South Korea, where an estimated 60 percent of women in their 20s have undergone some sort of cosmetic operation, has earned a reputation for producing surgically enhanced Asian beauties. Dr Lee Sang Jun, who runs several plastic surgery clinics in Seoul, said he had seen an increase in Japanese, Chinese and Southeast Asian customers in recent years. Europe and America also have a high grade of service but they are Caucasians, so it is better for Asian patients to come to Korea and have surgery done, he said. It could soon become a lot easier for Korea to attract more medical tourists. Legislation that would allow local hospitals to promote directly to overseas patients and avoid going through travel agencies is currently under review by the Congress. Currently, it is not legal to use the ad medium in building up clientele. The amendment, pushed by the Ministry of Heath, seeks to make an exception when it involves the international market, said Bae.

A growing favourite with patients from the US, Canada, the UK and Germany, the Czech Republic is considering branching out from services that have made it famous, such as cosmetic surgery and in vitro fertilisation. Eva Bendova, managing director of medical and spa tourism portal Czech Medical Spas, said: Most agencies concentrate on the expensive procedures and treatments to attract clients from abroad. We, on the other hand, believe that not all customers want and can afford to spend thousands of Euros on plastic surgeries, and not all women need in vitro fertilisation. That is basically where we see the weakest link of this business the services are too specific. We think it would be better to expand to those that appeal to everyone. Screening procedures might be what we are looking for. The company contacted some leading Czech clinics to join the effort, and succeeded. One of them even went so far as to promote itself on the internet. Coordination and conceptualisation of the partnership took time, followed by synchronising it with the requests and needs of patients. But the details eventually fell into place. The result is a set of high-quality screening programmes, supported by ancillary services such as prompt and comfortable transfers and good accommodation with all costs below the standard European and American rates. A two-day experience offers complete medical examination, including post-tests report with recommendations and notes for further treatment. The company is currently working on more programmes to do with gynaecology, EENT, orthopaedics and urology among others. It also provides information on spa destinations and over 200 spas around the Czech Republic.

Hospitals in Goa, engaged in medical travel, expect a drastic decrease in foreign arrivals in the approaching tourist season. Industry players blame this on the global economic meltdown and an image problem. Victor Albuquerque of the Apollo Victor Hospital in Margao said: We expect a 50 percent decline among overseas tourists, who come for dental, cosmetic or bariatric treatment. Instead of the 200 overseas bookings, which materialised last year, only 20 now appear to be firm, he said. Dr Digambar Naik of Vrundavan Hospital & Research Centre in Mapusa said they had been anticipating a 25 to 50 percent rise in outside business, which doesn’t look likely to happen. We just hope there’s no decline in walk-in patients. Alarmed by developments, hospital administrators said they were planning new promotional schemes to stimulate activity. Goa, a former Portuguese colony in south India, has largely built its economy based on a four-month tourist season. Lately, however, adverse publicity of high-profile incidents involving foreigners, environmental pollution and spikes in airfare has affected the market’s perception of what has long been touted in all the guidebooks as paradise.

Malaysia is banking on medical travel as an economic driver due to its strategic location in the region and accessibility to the Middle East, according to the country’s human resources minister Datuk Dr Subramaniam. He attributed the industry’s progress to factors such as affordable professional treatments and the abundance of world-leading medical facilities. The government’s Health Tourism Programme, he noted, clearly supported the push to attract overseas patients.  Penang, already a well-known tourist destination in the peninsula, is fast building a reputation as a mecca for improvement, buoyed by the presence of quality healthcare institutions and attractions of beach and unique cuisine. In 2011, the Farrali International Specialist Hospital and Wellness Resort will heighten its appeal, offering both western and eastern therapies. Set to open in Batu Kawan, site of the second Penang Bridge, connecting the mainland to Batu Maung on Penang Island, it is minutes from the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas. The Farrali Mutiara Medical Group (KPFM) is behind the project. The 60,703-square-metre hospital intends to lead in the areas of diabetes and cancer care while providing complementary healing methods, including acupuncture and Ayurveda. Close to the hospital will be a 200-room, five-star resort, 30 water chalets and serviced apartments catering to the needs of patients and their families. Other facilities including a spa, restaurants, recreational facilities, retail outlets, herbal farm and an institute run by an established international nursing college.

The Health Tourism Show, a brand new medical travel event, will open at London’s Olympia Two exhibition hall from October 25 to 26. Up to 120 exhibitors will showcase their cosmetic, elective, dental, IVF and sports treatments. The show will include three seminar theatres which will feature talks on medical and health tourism options worldwide. Around 5,000 visitors are expected over the course of the show. The show will give visitors the opportunity to meet  in person potential providers of medical and health procedure, and will allow visitors to compare hospital and clinics in one place. Medical and health service providers from around the world will be at the show, representing Western and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, China and South-East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America and Canada. The Health Tourism Show is organised by PRo Global Media.

Every year, Yemen’s Ministry of Health, donor countries and other multinational organisations give more than 300 medical travel grants to Yemenis with urgent need for specialised medical treatment abroad. The Ministry of Health gives about USD500 and return tickets to Yemeni citizens with incurable diseases to seek treatment outside the country. Certain factors increase a patient’s chance to receive these grants: if the illness cannot be cured in Yemen, if the diagnosed illness is very rare, or if the disease is critical such as some kinds of cancer. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), marrow surgery, some type of cancers, diabetes, chronic renal failure, hepatitis and innate deformation in children are some of the illnesses that push citizens to seek treatment abroad. A local doctor Rasheed Al-Awadhireports said that DCM in children is difficult to treat in Yemen because it requires the child’s heart to be replaced, which cannot be done in Yemeni hospitals. He added that innate deformation in children is another problem that cannot be solved in the country. Abdulkarim Abo Zaid of the Ministry of Health listed nine countries that provide medical grants to poor patients from Yemen.  These are Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Russia, Algeria, Germany, America, and Saudi Arabia.

Healthcare service providers in Bangkok are sharpening their competitive edge with partnerships and new services to ensure their facilities’ place as a top medical travel destination. Pacific Healthcare of Singapore is optimistic about the growth prospects of Bangkok Medical Complex, its joint venture in Thailand,), due to open late this year. William Chong, chief executive of Pacific Healthcare, said: "We have been looking at Thailand for some time. The investment offers great potential." Pacific Healthcare offers a comprehensive range of healthcare services, including five major integrated medical centres in the prime Orchard Road area in Singapore. In recent months it has stepped up its expansion abroad to India, China, Vietnam and Thailand. The company paid about THB500 million for debt and equity of Bangkok Mediplex. The THB1-billion Bangkok Mediplex offers 10 medical centres specialising in different services, including a multi-disciplinary specialist centre and holistic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, a plastic surgery and reconstruction clinic, gastroenterology and intestinal treatment, skin and body rejuvenation, and chiropractic fitness. The medical complex signed an agreement with 10 major healthcare and medical tenants. The four storeys of medilifestyle, wellness and health offerings will occupy over 10,000 square metres. There will be a total of 39 outlets available almost around the clock to serve both local and international residents as well as tourists. Each of the mall’s floors is divided into four categories; medilifestyle shops and restaurants, general medical care, health and beauty, holistic and traditional medicine. Meanwhile, Bumrungrad International Hospital has launched an online service that gives prospective patients the estimated cost of their treatment. Called REALCOST, the service shows the price list for over 40 medical procedures at the hospital. Bumrungrad’s chief executive Mack Banner commented: "You cannot make a good estimate until the doctor sees the patient and knows what treatment will be required. But patients want to get at least an approximate idea in advance, to help them select a hospital and plan for the costs. We wanted to be transparent in this regard and we think the way to do that is simply to show what our patients actually paid." Created by an in-house team of developers and now up on the hospital’s website, REALCOST lists 45 procedures from surgeries such as appendectomy, heart bypass, hysterectomy and knee replacement to diagnostic procedures such as capsule endoscopy and colonoscopy. For each procedure, REALCOST shows information about the total bill patients paid upon leaving the hospital, including doctor fees, medication and supplies, and room costs for inpatient procedures. Inquiry results show three figures: a "low cost" which means only one in four patients paid less; a "median," which means half paid more and the other half paid less; and, a "high cost" which was exceeded by only 1 in 4 patients who had the procedure. For example, REALCOST will give the following prices for a hip replacement: a low cost of US$10,940, a median cost of US$12,545 and a high cost of US$13,565. Price estimates can be displayed in 45 different currencies. REALCOST is currently based on full year 2007 data. Bumrungrad plans to update its database to keep the system current and to add more medical procedure on its list.

In an aggressive push to put Tunisia on the medical tourism map, President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali has directed his government to draft an action plan focused on encouraging foreign patients to visit the country for medical treatment. The draft action plan is expected to include the creation of a special government body to promote the country’s healthcare sector. It will also include recommendations for the development of a medical resort and the development of designated medical tourism zones around the country. In a cabinet meeting held last month to discuss the action plan, it was also agreed that special measures will be included to encourage convalescent homes and retirement communities to open their doors to foreign patients. Tunisia has seen a steady growth in the arrival number of medical travellers seeking inexpensive but high quality healthcare. Last year, foreign patients visiting the country reached 102,000 nearly double the 2005 figure that was recorded at 55,000. Based on present trends, patients from Africa and the Middle East go for heart surgery, eye treatment, neurological and orthopaedic cure; while medical travellers from Europe visit for liposuction, breast implants and dental surgery. Tunisia is now the leading medical destination in Africa, overtaking South African where health tourism has been burdened by its surgery and safari. The country is the second most popular destination for spa and thalassotherapy (application of sea products primarily seaweed for beauty and health purposes).  Last year, Tunisian thalassotherapy centres welcomed some 150,000 visitors, mostly from Europe.

Leading healthcare providers, travel trade and medical travel facilitators will gather in Seoul from November 19 to 21 for the 3rd Annual International Medical Travel Conference (IMTC 2008). Thought leader speakers representing the healthcare, travel and medical travel facilitators from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States will convene at IMTC 2008 to discuss and exchange ideas and knowledge on a range of topics covering the entire value chain of medical travel. Hosted by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), IMTC 2008 is part of Korea’s effort to strengthen the country’s position as the next medical travel hub. IMTC 2008 will demonstrate Korea’s capabilities as the medical travel destination. Our delegates will get to see Korea’s healthcare infrastructure and facilities through hospital site visits, experience Korea’s wide array of Oriental and alternative medicines, and explore Korea’s dynamic culture, said Mr Dedric Lam, CEO of Avail Corporation, organiser of IMTC 2008. IMTC 2008 will allow delegates to experience Korea’s healthcare hospitality through site visits to Korea’s world-class international patient medical centers. The pre-conference workshops focusing on medical travel entry assessments and enhancing healthcare hospitality as well as the dedicated conference tracks for healthcare and non-healthcare will provide delegates with an educational platform while the exclusive networking sessions will enable them to establish ties and clinch business deals. Exclusive this year at IMTC 2008 will be the Medical Travel Consumer Fair that is set for Novemberf 21. This Fair will enable consumers both foreign and local to know more about the availability and choices of healthcare options both locally and overseas. The Fair provides great opportunities for healthcare organisations to reach out to out to the consumers and educate them on medical travel. We are honored to have had the generous support from the hosts KTO and KHIDI in bringing IMTC into Korea. This clearly showed their enthusiasm in promoting Korea as one of Asia’s medical travel hub, added Mr Lam. Designed as a platform that integrates key players and sectors internationally, IMTC will provide an educational platform not only to existing players in the medical travel industry but also to those who are going to embark on this lucrative industry. It offers great opportunities for all parties involved to establish ties and clinch business deals through the exclusive networking sessions, one-on-one meetings and exhibitions

The IMTA (International Medical Travel Association) Americas Conference will be held on December 7 from 9 am to 3 pm. The conference will run concurrently with the Health Care Globalization Summit (HCGS) that is set from December 7 to December 10 in Arlington, Virginia. IMTA president Dr Steven Tucker said that The Americas Conference is geared towards IMTA members and other international stakeholders who are interested in developing the US market for medical travel. The conference will also feature joint workshops with leading US benefits executives and several executives from the IMTA’s hospital members on December 8 as part of the HCGS. The HCGS, chaired by Ruben Toral, is designed and organised to facilitate networking between international providers and US stakeholders, including employers, health plans, hospitals and others who are interested in learning about medical travel options. Toral said: December and January will be productive months for international providers to reach both business-to-business and consumer prospects. At HCGS in December, we are focused on connecting providers with their best business prospects, and in January, the IMTA-sponsored Medical Travel Roadshow for 2009 will open in Washington DC at the annual WRC NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo, which drew a huge audience of 85,000 consumers in 2008. The 2009 Roadshow will reach more than a half million consumers in a dozen major U.S. markets. The IMTA Americas Conference and Full HCGS program schedule is as follows: Sunday, December 7:     The US Marketplace Opportunities Speakers: David Boucher of Companion Global Healthcare and Wendy Borow Johnson of Boomj.com     Marketing to the US Market Creating Patient Opportunities with Consumers Panelists: US self-insured employers     The Importance of Establishing a Trusted Brand Panelists: US physician groups, global travel agencies and consumer health and lifestyle tradeshows Monday, December 8     Joint Workshop with IMTA and Center for Health Value Innovation     Employers & Providers Bridging Local & Global Innovative Healthcare Solutions Panelists: Employers like Kellogg, State of Colorado, Whirlpool and Hannaford Brothers as well as providers such as Partners Health Care System, Cleveland Clinic, ParkwayHealth, International Hospital Group and Bunmrungrad Hospitals. Tuesday, December 9     What Do Consumers Want For Their Healthcare Speaker: James Clifton, CEO, Gallop     Investment Opportunities in Global Care Market Presenters: Apax Partners, Apollo Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center     Engaging US Payers, Providers & Employers in Global Healthcare Presenters: CIGNA, Hannaford Brothers and Mercer American College of Preventative Medicine     Assuring Quality & Safety for Medical Tourists Speakers: Joseph M Heyman, MD, Board Chair, American Medical Association and Steven Tucker, MD, president of IMTA Wednesday, October 10 Theme: Solutions Driving a Global Healthcare Model     Promoting Continuity of Care Speakers: Dr Marcy Zwelling of Choice Care and Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design and Dr Sanku Rao of the American Association of Indian Physicians     Promoting Standards Speaker: Dr Steven Tucker, IMTA president     Promoting Liability Coverage for Medical Travellers Speaker: Dave Arvola of Lockton Companies, LLC     Promoting Platforms for Connectivity Speaker: Dr Mark Blatt of Intel     Marketing Global Healthcare Option National Initiatives Speaker: Dr Jason Yap of Singapore Medicine     New Insurance Products Moderator: Rick Johnson of HealthLeaders MediaPanelists: Dvid Boucher, MPH, Companion Global Healthcare; and, Charles S Green, JD, BasicPlus Insurance Services, LLC     US & International Medical Centers of Excellence Driving Global Innovation & Quality Patient Care Moderator: Dr Robert Crone, managing director of Huron Consulting GroupPanelists: Emme Leven Deland, senior vice president for strategy and regulatory planning, New York Presbyterian Hospital; Dr Fred Yang, CEO, Missioncare Hospital, Taiwan; and, Dr Liu Xiao Cheng, president, TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital