Israel has become a favorite destination of medical tourists from the United States and around the world.

The booming industry that attracts foreigners to Israel for medical procedures is chipping away at the nation’s equal access to healthcare, according to an annual State Comptroller’s report issued this month in response to research by Haaretz, a portal devoted to news in the Middle East.

Despite the establishment of a Health Ministry committee to implement government supervision of the growing industry, regulation drafted by the ministry in June 2011 based on recommendations by an expert panel has yet to be formally adopted. Just recently, Haaretz published data received under the Freedom of Information Law that shows that in the absence of government supervision, health tourism at government-owned hospitals grew 220 percent in the two years between 2009 and 2011. According to data presented during the Knesset debate following the research findings, in the first half of 2009 alone more than 23,000 tourists arrived in Israel for medical treatments.

The State Comptroller’s findings are that medical tourism is akin to private healthcare, and, thus, harms the principle of equality. The comptroller’s report warned that as medical tourism grows at privately run hospitals, a likely result will be the poaching of staff from public hospitals.

Medical tourists from the United States, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe travel to Israel for its state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled physicians who are trained to handle complex treatments that may not be available in other countries and at a fraction of the cost. Israel is ranked among the top 28 healthcare systems in the world because of its cancer, fertility and IVF treatments and neurosurgery and oncology surgeries.

Despite almost two years since it was first publicized, nothing in the Health Ministry’s draft of the regulation has yet been implemented. The draft states, among other things, that every hospital will give preferential treatment to Israeli residents ahead of medical tourists; medical tourism services will not exceed 5 percent of the medical center’s turnover; profits from medial tourism will be used for developing hospital infrastructure; and that a certain percentage of government hospitals’ profits from medical tourism will be dedicated to the development of hospitals in Israel’s geographic periphery.

“The ministry supervises medical tourism in the hospitals, reviewing operations every year in order to verify that they do not exceed the level recommended by the expert committee,” the Health Ministry stated. “The committee recommendations were formulated in a director-general’s memo, but at a certain stage following a different policy expressed in discussions with the director general of the Prime Minister’s Office and in accordance with the new policy formulated by the ministry with the goal of regulating the area of medical tourism in Israel, it was requested to hold-off [issuing] the memo until a comprehensive policy decision is reached by all relevant authorities. The position of the Health Ministry and the Finance Ministry on this matter is identically and medical tourism will be restricted at hospitals that don’t supply available services to the public health system.”

Taiwan is hoping free trade zones will get its economy back on track.

As the world economy struggles to get back on its feet, the government of Taiwan is working to fill the shoes of industrial transformation and national development with free trade zones. The Council for Economic Planning and Development identified high value-added agricultural processing, cross-border collaboration in strategic sectors, international medical care and smart logistics as avenues for business activity at facilities within the planned zones.

This means medical tourism could get a bump if the government follows through on the tax-free zones, which would foster economic development, investment in healthcare infrastructure and international and international standards of excellence; establish world-class clusters of hospitals, life sciences and medical research and education; and serve patients locally, regionally and internationally.

“In the past half century, Taiwan underwent several rounds of trade liberalization that helped drive the country’s economic growth,” said Kuan Chung-ming, the minister for CEPD, the agency in charge of mapping out and implementing the FEZ initiative. “The project will leverage Taiwan’s advantages in human resources, information and communication technologies, pivotal location in East Asia and special economic ties with mainland China to develop high value-added economic activity.”

The core concepts behind the zones are globalization and trade liberalization, according to Kuan. The initiative will also bring Taiwan closer to global markets and help create conditions necessary for the country’s participation in regional economic integration through such alliances as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and Trans-Pacific Partnership.

According to the Department of Health, Taiwan is poised to become an international medical tourism center given its leading medical technology, quality service and reasonable prices.

“DOH will focus efforts on implementing regulatory easing and other supporting measures to ratchet sector output up to NT$30 billion (US$1 billion) in five years while boosting other industries such as biomedical devices, insurance and tourism,” a DOH official said.

To attract foreign investment to the region, firms registered outside of Taiwan will be allowed to hold a maximum one-third stake in medical institutions operating in the FEZs. The official stressed that these facilities will be staffed primarily by local health professionals.

“These institutions cannot offer services under the national health insurance plan, but ROC citizens can use the services at their own expense,” the official said.

CEPD has initially designated Taiwan’s five free trade ports ― Keelung, Kaohsiung, Su-ao, Taichung and Taipei ― and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport as trial sites for the project. Other municipalities can also apply to become FEZs if they meet certain qualifications.

State support including tax incentives and streamlined procedures for immigration and land procurement will be offered to qualified individuals and companies operating in the zones.

The CEPD initiative was green-lighted, April 26, by the Cabinet, which is in the process of organizing a task force headed by Vice Premier Mao Chi-kuo to review implementation of the project.

All related agencies have been directed to prepare concrete action plans for developing the four designated business categories in the next two months. If everything goes as planned, the project will kick off in July.

Academy Award winner Angelia Jolie announced that she has had a double mastectomy.

Even the possibility was enough to provoke actress Angelia Jolie to go to any length to prevent cancer down the road. In an op-ed published in the New York Times, the Academy Award winner announced that she had a double mastectomy after learning she carried a faulty gene linked to a high chance that she would develop both breast and ovarian cancer. Her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, got ovarian cancer in her late ‘40s and died at the age of 56.Bertrand’s mother died at the age of 45. When doctors told Jolie she had an 87 percent chance of getting breast cancer, the 37-year-old made the unenviable choice to have pre-emptive surgery.

Jolie’s announcement sent not only shockwaves, but words of encouragement through any woman with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. The surgeries to remove her breast were not cheap and could be a concern to any potential candidate without top-level insurance.

Fraction of Cost Overseas

The good news is that medical tourism destinations in Mexico, India, Turkey, Jordan and South Korea have the physical infrastructure and highly trained doctors to surgically perform a mastectomy at 40-80 percent less of what it costs in the United States.

Mastectomy involves the complete or partial removal of either, one or both the breasts. The procedure is commonly used for the management of carcinomas of the breast. It is the second most-common cancer among women in the United States, and also attributes to one percent of cancer-related deaths in males.

The decision to have a mastectomy was not easy, but Jolie says she is happy she made it. She said the chances of her developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. She can now tell her six children that they don’t need to fear they will lose their mother to breast cancer.

Many patients, for a variety of reasons including low prices, easy accessibility and procedures not yet available in the United States, choose to seek treatment overseas for cancer. Treatments for breast, prostate and thyroid cancers are among the most are the most heavily trafficked to medical tourism destinations.

Stem cell transplant surgery has enabled Hannah Warren, who was born without a trachea, to breathe comfortable and respond to doctors and nurses.

Some might call it a miracle. Others say it’s a trachea made of plastic fibers mixed with stem cells. A two-year-old girl knows only that it is breathing life into her tiny body that only a month earlier was given little hope of survival.Thanks to surgery that connected the transplanted artificial windpipe to her mouth and lungs, doctors say Hannah Warren, who was born without a trachea, is breathing on her own and responding to hospital staff.Warren, a Korean-Canadian, is only the sixth patient in the world to undergo the surgery and first in the United States to receive the transplant pioneered by Dr. Paolo Macchiarini, director of the Advanced Center for Regenerative Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

Survival Chances Upgraded

Macchiarini performed the nine-hour operation, April 9, at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, after carefully creating the windpipe using stem cells from Warren’s bone marrow that were saturated over a matrix of plastic fibers shaped into a tube. Children born without a trachea are given a 1 percent chance of survival.

Exactly what happens to the windpipe after the transplant isn’t clear, but researchers believe that placing stem cells, which are capable of developing into different types of body cells, can pick up signals from their environment and integrate with existing tissues.

Macchiarini told the New York Times that the body’s regenerative capabilities may help such bioengineered organs to integrate with existing tissues. Children may make ideal patients for these procedures because they have natural and active abilities to heal and grow.

“Hannah’s transplant has completely changed my thinking about regenerative medicine,” said Macchiarini, who wants to conduct a clinical trial in the United States to properly assess the risks and benefits of the procedure, and document how bodies react to the transplanted devices.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the transplant as only an experimental procedure. Stem cell treatment is not permitted in most countries, and it is only permitted to some extent in the United States. While research and procedures are somewhat restricted in the United States, scientists from around the globe continue to explore the efficacies of embryonic and adult stem cells with astonishing results.

Demand Increases Abroad

Now, as the public becomes increasingly aware of these treatments, the demand for stem cell therapies has moved more and more patients from the United States and Europe to travel abroad to seek experimental procedures.

About one in 50,000 children worldwide are born with a windpipe defect or without one. For these patients and others with defective or diseased organs, manipulating stem cells to generate healthy tissues or organs could be their only chance at survival.

Macchiarini performed all five of the previous transplants of the bioengineered windpipes; four of the patients have done well, while another who received his trachea in Stockholm died. Because of the small number of patients he has treated, critics say it’s hard to determine how valid Macchiarini’s bioengineering technique is in treating patients like Warren.

We are proud to announce Lufthansa as one of the exhibitors of the 5th World Medical Tourism Congress which will take place on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale/Miami on October 24-26th.

Lufthansa, a Star alliance member, with its network that connects more than 200 destinations worldwide via its hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, has established itself as a provider of state-of-the-art medical transport.

Lufthansa’s network is ideal for connecting patients to and from the United States, India, Turkey, Middle East and Europe as well as other popular medical destinations. A growing number of medical travelers have used Lufthansa’s Global Healthcare Mobility Partner Program, which is designed to simplify the travel process and cater to the needs of international patients with comfort, flexibility and affordability. Besides the Global Healthcare Program for medical tourism and the Medical Repatriation and Emergency Program for sitting cases, Lufthansa also offers Oxygen, Stretcher Service and the exclusive Patient Transport Compartment (PTC).

Lufthansa is constantly monitoring medical travel-related services and looking for ways to even further enhance the overall experience for the patient, and the company continues to cooperate with health care facilities and facilitators in order to ensure a leadership role in the medical transportation industry.

For more information visit: www.lufthansa.com/healthcare

The 5th World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress is proud to welcome the Jägerwinkel Private Clinic as a Silver Sponsor and Speaker at the largest educational and networking platform in the medical tourism industry.

The Jägerwinkel Private Clinic, located at Lake Tegernsee (a mere 40 minute drive from Munich Airport) has a long tradition of being one of Germany’s most renowned private hospitals. With a high-competence team of physicians, physiotherapists and nurses, they offer a comprehensive range of services for preventive care, therapy and rehabilitation. The clinic specializes in orthopedics, internal medicine, cardiology and psychosomatics.  Their treatment plans, besides following a psychosomatic approach, also include approaches based on complementary and alternative medicine – all aimed at achieving sustained healing for our patients. Another aspect to the private clinic is its unique atmosphere.The clinic is located in Southern Bavaria, in the immediate vicinity of beautiful Lake Tegernsee, with a spectacular view of the surrounding mountain range. It meets the highest standards of a first-class hotel in every respect. They believe in the fact that an attractive environment is an important asset to effective medicine and rapid recovery.

 Dr. med. Martin Marianowicz (Munich/Germany) will be a speaker at the 5^th World Medical Tourism Congress and a participant of the Medical Director Summit which will take place during the congress. He has pioneered orthopedic pain therapy and minimally invasive spine and disctreatment, and is considered one of Europe’s most renowned back specialists. Specialized inorthopedics, chirotherapy and sports medicine, his main areas of activity are inpatient and outpatient orthopedic pain therapy – in his Munich-based Marianowicz Center, and as Medical Director of the Jägerwinkel Private Clinic, Bad Wiessee.

Dr. Marianowicz holds Presidency of the Central and Eastern European Section of the World Institute of Pain, and the German Societyfor Spinal Endoscopy and Interventional Pain Management.

 “Our Jaegerwinkel Private Clinic is considered one of Germany’s finest private clinics, when preventive medical care, rehabilitation and pain therapy in orthopedics, cardiology and internal medicine is an issue. As we’re seeing patients coming in from across Europe and beyond for treatment and consultancy, we would like to share our expertise with market leaders in the medical tourism business from around the world.”Said Dr. Martin Marianowicz, Medical Director.

 “The World Medical Tourism Congress, in our view, is a highly professional, globally-oriented platform and excellent setup for clinics like ours. It perfectly suits our needs for presenting top-notch medical care Made in Germany, to the US market also”. Added Gabriele Appel, Marketing Manager.

 “From 27-29 July, 2012, the Jaegerwinkel Private Clinic will be showcasing Europe’s biggest walk-through colon model at their Bad Wiessee clinical campus (65 x 10 ft). We would like to inform the public on the risks of colon cancer, encourage people to undergo early recognition and show them the latest in preventive medical care respectively”. Commented Gabriele Appel, Marketing Manager. 

For more information see:  www.jaegerwinkel.de

Minister Visser will also be involved with the Caribbean Ministerial Summit on that day, which will be focusing on the development of infrastructure for inbound medical tourism to islands, and also addressing a group island collaborative effort to reduce healthcare expenditures, engage the local population in healthy behavior and reduce rising health conditions, and reduce or limit the rising expense of local population traveling out of the country for healthcare.  This Summit will focus on collaboration and providing a new roadmap forward for Island Nations in their healthcare infrastructure.

In order for a country to develop and grow its medical tourism industry, it is vital that its Ministers of Health, Tourism and Economy, as well as Trade Commissioners, Consul Generals and VIP international officials attend this Global Ministerial Summit (by invitation only) where best practices in the medical tourism industry are shared and promotional programs and channels are presented.

Related Article: Ministerial Summit: Strategies to Move Forward

As the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act on Healthcare Reform (PPACA) on June 28, 2012, this law will thrust medical tourism domestically within the U.S. as well as internationally.  Healthcare Reform will be a monumental topic of interest, especially to the Caribbean island nations, because it has the potential to significantly increase their revenues through the growth of their medical tourism industry.    As of yet, most people do not understand what Healthcare Reform is, or its implications to boost medical tourism.  As Healthcare Reform takes effect in 2014, U.S. Employers are currently looking for ways to reduce their costs in providing quality care for their millions of employees, and one obvious way is Medical Tourism, both domestically between U.S. States as well as internationally. 

Please forward this information to your country’s Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Health or Ministry of Economy in order to participate in this very important summit which will be of tremendous benefit to your country’s health and economy.  For Ministers to receive an invitation to attend, and have the USD$1,500 Congress registration fee waived, please contact Armando@MedicalTourismAssociation.com

I will keep updating our community on confirmed attendees over the next few weeks and months until the start of the Congress.

To learn more about  the Affordable Care Act on Healthcare Reform (PPACA), http://healthcarereformconference.com/

To learn more about the 3rd Global Ministerial Summit on Medical Tourism, http://www.medicaltourismcongress.com/en/ministerial-summit.html

To learn the outcome of the previous year’s Global Ministerial Summit in 2011, http://www.medicaltourismmag.com/article/ministerial-summit-strateg…

To learn more about our 5th World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress, http://www.medicaltourismcongress.com/

Please see the video: 5th World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress VIDEO

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Aruba is a beautiful island in the Caribbean is located just north of Venezuela’s coast, outside the hurricane belt, with a steady temperature around 82 degrees Fahrenheit year round and is sunny year-round, which attracts plenty of tourism.  Aruba is part of the Dutch Antilles and it enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean Region, including a low unemployment rate.  Aside from Tourism, which commands about 75% of its GNP, Aruba boasts other four industries: gold mining, phosphate mining (The Aruba Phosphaat Maatschappij), aloe export, and petroleum refineries (The Lago Oil & Transport Company and the Arend Petroleum Maatschappij Shell Co.).

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruba
• Why visit Aruba: http://www.aruba.com/
• Click here -> Visit Aruba Video – One Happy Island   
• Click here ->What is Medical Tourism? – Cafferty Report CNN  
• Click to see information about Aruba’s government http://www.gobierno.aw/

• To learn about the work that Dr. Visser does to improve Children’s health, visit http://www.drvisser.com/

The Capital Oranjestad

The 2^nd Healthcare Development Conference in conjunction with the 4^th World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress is proud to announce Eastman Chemical Company as an Exhibitor!

Eastman offers alternatives customers can depend on. For more than 65 years, Eastman Chemical Company has supplied OEMs with a wide range of medical-grade materials. In addition, Eastman offers several sustainably-advantaged products for the medical market. Below are just a couple of solutions from Eastman’s product portfolio for customers looking for alternative products to PVC, BPA, and DEHP:

Eastman 168™ non-phthalate plasticizer

• Has been safely used for more than 30 years
• Is not a carcinogen or mutagen
• Shows no reproductive toxicity
• Is proven to have a clean and comprehensive toxicological profile
• Alternative plasticizer to DEHP

“Eastman has been committed to medical market for more than 65 years. This conference will help Eastman maintain a deep connection with health care professionals and value chain suppliers and will allow us to understand new and emerging trends in this critical industry,” said Dan Bolton, Market Development Manager, Performance Chemicals and Intermediates, Eastman Chemical Company. “This conference will give Eastman an opportunity to showcase its medical market product line to healthcare professionals and collect their feedback for future new product development opportunities,” added Gopal Saraiya, Market Development Manager, Specialty Plastics, Eastman Chemical Company.

The Sustainable Healthcare and Hospital Development Conference is the first international healthcare conference focused on healthcare executives, investors of healthcare projects, and government officials involved in the developing and designing of healthcare projects and sustainable healthcare projects that are “Green”, such as hospitals, clinics, medical parks, and medical offices globally.  Whether you are the CEO or Medical Director of an existing hospital or clinic or one that is planning to be built in the future, a consultant, architect, master planner or governmental agency, this is one event you cannot afford to miss. As an Exhibitor Eastman Chemical Company will receive multiple benefits including recognition throughout the conference and preferred exhibit booth placement.

The Healthcare Development Magazine is proud to announce Eastman Chemical Company as an exhibitor at the 2^nd Healthcare Development Conference held in Chicago, IL on October 25-28^th.

Eastman Chemical Company is an inherently sustainable company. They operate an integrated business, where products and byproducts are used in multiple ways – preventing waste and reusing materials whenever and wherever possible. This is the model on which the company was founded on almost a century ago.

Eastman manufactures more than 1,200 chemical, fiber, and plastic products that give end-use products the strength, design and funtional characteristics desired by consumers and commercial customers worldwide.

Eastman is divided into five integral segments:

• Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers & Inks (CASPI)
• Fibers
• Performance Chemicals & Intermediates (PCI)
• Performance Polymers
• Specialty Plastics