The history of the medical tourism dates back to ancient times and takes root from Mesopotamians in the third millennium B.C. It can be said that the concept of medical tourism is as old as medicine itself. Many years ago, when travelers from all over the world began traveling to distant lands in search of quality medical treatment when Americans were traveling to other countries for cardiovascular operations, abdominoplasty or dentistry.
The study of ancient cultures leads to the conclusion of a strong link between religion and health. This relationship originated in ancient times. Most ancient civilizations believed in the therapeutic effect of thermal springs and sacred spas.
Sumerians, created the most ancient of the now well-known medical complexes thatwere built around hot springs. These medical “institutions” included majestic temples on high ground with numerous pools.

During Bronze Age, the tribes living on the territory of modern St. Moritz, Switzerland believed in the healing power of mineral sources enriched with iron. Bronze glasses, from which they drank water from sources, were also found in France and Germany, which may be a sign of “therapeutic” pilgrimage within these cultures.
The ancient Greeks were the first people who started the foundation of modern medical tourism. In honor of their god of healing – Asclepius, they established kind of medical center – the first in the world. People from allover came to this place to recover from their illnesses.
In India, the history of medical tourism is closely connected with the development of yoga and ayurvedic medicine. 5000 years ago, a huge number of pilgrims and religious figures were sent to India to take advantage of alternative medicine.
During the heyday of ancient Rome, hot springs gained considerable popularity among the elite. They were not only medical, but also shopping and social centers for wealthy residents.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Asia became the main destination of medical tourism for pilgrims. Hospitals providing medical services to travelers began to appear. These institutions are milestone in the history of medical tourism.
The Renaissance became not only the period of revival of art and culture in Europe, but also the heyday of medical tourism. At the end of the Renaissance, aristocrats from all over Europe still continued to visit Bath for therapeutic purposes.
In 20th century, the United States and Europe were not only commercial and industrial centers, but also health centers. Medical tourism was only available to the rich, who traveled to these countries in order to receive quality medical care.

The competition among hospitals increased thanks to the international accreditations and certificates, such as Joint Commission International and programs of certification of Medical Tourism Association. Thailand, Singapore and India have become major centers of international tourism thanks to JCI accreditation. Other countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America also gained prestige in this area, receiving JCI accreditation andentering into partnerships with leading US health care providers. The guarantor of the quality of Turkish medicine is at least the fact that over the past 10 years about 50 Turkish clinics have received JCI certificates. So today we can safely talk about the high level of medical care in Turkey as well.
Medical tourism is developing at a tremendous pace worldwide. Medical Tourism Association and Global Health Union have been supporting education, communication and transparency in the industry. Thanks to these efforts the industry of medical tourism has become a global phenomenon and continues to develop in a strong direction.

Games not only motivate for new achievements, but also help to reduce the level of stress before examinations. In addition to the fear of the procedure, many doctors are faced with a general lack of knowledge in children and their families about diagnostic methods. Therefore, experts began to apply gamification technology to make the examination process more comfortable for young patients.
The popularity of a healthy lifestyle, as well as special attention to the prevention of diseases lead to the fact that gamification becomes one of the most effective methods of patients’ rehabilitation and habit developing.
The primary influx of application development with gamification was centered on:
Lifestyle and wellness wearables with partner applications: Wearable gadgets, for example, the Nike+Fuelband, Jawbone UP24 and Fitbit Force enable clients to keep informed about their development and interface with different clients to think about details.

Nutrition, obesity and weight management. Applications as HealthMonthTM which assist clients oversee their weight management, makes a good market. These applications are intended to follow well being measurements and give challenges and prizes.

The following wave of application development with gamification will concentrate on:
Disease determent, self-control and dependability. Chronic diseases as diabetes or cancer require regular testing and follow, however for some people it is not easy to stick to plans. Applications like Bayer’s DidgetTM makes it easy to users. A video game called Re-Mission enlightens cancer patients about their disease by giving them a nanobot named Roxxi as she goes through the body of the fictional cancer patient.
Psychological, mental, emotional health. A healthy mind is vital for a healthy body. Applications like BellyBioTM help soothe uneasiness through deep breathing exercises and music. Sparx, 3D dream game, created by the University of Auckland, New Zealand, helps people with depression to manage their depression by psychological behavior treatment procedures.

Many countries are already successfully introducing a game approach to medicine.
For example, in China, the focus is gradually shifting from the treatment of diseases to their prevention and early diagnosis. Moreover, the lack of qualified specialists in some regions, overcrowding and poor access to medical care have led the authorities to think about using gamification to solve key health problems.
With the help of special platforms and gadgets, residents of China will be able to independently monitor their health and not forget about regular visits to the doctor. In
Japan, gaming medical applications are used to increase public interest in sports, to prevent chronic diseases, and also to address the problem of increased stress among Japanese.
Mobile applications and medical gadgets provide a new look in healthcare and enable people to make a choice in favor of the right lifestyle. There are all chances for us to wait for more promising developments with the use of gamification technologies, which can take care of people’s health in a fundamentally new level.

Please briefly describe your company and its aim, as well as your role there.

I am the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Global Health Union (GHU), as well as the Director of Rhazes Global – International Medical Tourism and Consulting Company.
The GHU – Global Health Union is the global nonprofit association in the Caucasus region for medical tourism and travel. GHU is the worldwide exchange relationship in the Caucasus district for medical tourism industry. The association works with governments, hospitals, insurers and medical tourism providers in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
GHU aims to function at local, national and international level, to spread the message of healthy living in our community through its strategic alliances and help advance every facet of the medical industry, as wellas to bring the stake holders together to share best practices and case studies for the development of this sector.

RHAZES GLOBAL is International Medical Tourism and Consulting Company that connects patients with the best hospitals, clinics, and doctors. While patients benefit from world-class treatment and a seamless experience, hospitals and clinics are empowered to focus on their core competence of delivering quality healthcare. From finding the right clinic to providing on- site language and logistical support – we guide international patients through the entire process of receiving medical treatment abroad.
My role at both organizations is focused on strategy – to focus on the projects that we need as an organization. As the global leader in medical tourism we always have large opportunities and strategic partnerships and we have to really pick and choose which is best for our company and long term growth of the industry. Additionally, much of my time is spent working with the large buyers of medical tourism, employers, insurance companies, and governments helping them streamline their programs and increase efficiency.

Where do you see your next big move with your organizations?

For the rest of 2019 and 2020, we plan to leverage our relationships with all the partners we have built over the last 5 years to help implement and adopt medical tourism into their plans and programs. The biggest issue facing this industry is that the hospitals and other players are not bringing scalable and turnkey solutions to medical tourism buyers and this slows down the growth of the industry. So, we will start developing and taking solutions to the market that makes it easier for buyers to access the medical tourism marketplace.

How do you foresee the future of medical travel, medical tourism and international patients 5 years from now? 10 years from now?

If people don’t start adapting, evolving, and changing and keep trying to do it how they always have done, they will be left in the past. I think five years from now there will be more technology and integration making it easier for people to access data, information, and to travel for care. Additionally, in the coming years, a large portion of buyers around the world will have offered some form of medical tourism. I think ten years
from now most insurance companies will offer medical tourism, and it may become so standard we won’t call it medical tourism anymore.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received that you would pass along to others just entering the industry?

Medical Tourism and the people in it are great. But, this is not an easy industry. It is a long path to success and it takes time and money, and when one gets into it, you need to add in more time and money than you think you will need to achieve your goal. I would recommend talking to companies that have been in this field a long time to give you advice because some of the most important things you need to know are what not to do and what doesn’t work. A lot of people think that the medical tourism industry is quite easy and you can create a website and launch a business and the patients start coming, or you open your hospital doors and medical tourists start walking in.
It’s a little more complex than that. This is a global industry and you need to develop a great business plan and strategy before diving in. You also need to do a lot of research and get the facts. There are so many inaccurate facts, advice, and research in medical tourism that you can often find information that is completely made up. I have seen a lot of pitch decks or research reports on medical tourism that have no basis in fact; and people actually rely on it. Also, one has to be careful of consultants, as there are some in this industry who actually give improper guidance and advice because they don’t have accurate information. Work with consultants who can really give you great references. There are some great experts in this sphere that have worked for some of the big brand hospitals. Also, people or companies who enter the market need to know that it’s fine to make mistakes, so long one learns from them. And for any new players to this field, I wish you the best of luck.

Alp Gürsoy

We are continuously witnessing new products, smart cars, 5g internet and many more new technological developments. But, at the same time, this technological progress, has horrible side effects which we don’t have an idea about. Yes, our topic is Kessler disaster. Do you know that the realization of this theory may cause the economic rout and devastation of technologies on a global scale that make this life easier?

Maybe we are now creating the ‘meteorite’ that destroys the world in fılms! As you know, different systems, such as telecommunication, internet gps, banks or aircraft tracking, communicate and work with satellites. Today, there are more than 2000 military and commercial satellites in the Earth’s orbit. Day by day, a lot of companies launch into the Earth’s orbite new satellites to use various technologies.
According to the current situation, besides satellites around the orbit of the earth, there are 20,000 objects including various splintered and distorted satellites, rocket parts left in the orbit of the earth in different space missions, and small asteroids. And these objects are being monitored by various government agencies and firms.
But in addition to these, it is reported that there are more than half a million objects between 10 and 1 cm, and in fact all these objects can not be fully monitored. It is also reported that there are more than 1 million objects smaller than 1 cm and it is also impossible to follow them. Of course, to avoid the damage of the satellites and space station, as I said, they are trying to follow as much as they can. But with the everincreasing number of satellites, tracking and control are becoming more and more difficult. In short, although everything is followed by a variety of systems, it has a limit and becomes impossible as the number increases. The fact that only one object that they cannot follow up, has the potential to cause a terrible damage and each passing day this risk is growing together with the increasing objects. For example, in the
past, in 2009, an American communication satellite was destroyed by Russian satellite that was not working and both satellites were broken to pieces.
As the result of this collision, hundreds of parts were scattered to everywhere at great speed, and even hazarded the satellites around, also International Space Station with 2 astronauts and 1 cosmonaut in it.
Some of the satellites circulating in the orbit are able to change their trajectory in such cases if they have the ability to move, but if this ability does not exist and trajectory is somehow affected, it will be impossible to avoid these accidents. The collision of these satellites or breaking to pieces due to other collisions or some other reason may cause the breaking down a number of satellites in the orbit around the earth. A catastrophic scenario caused by this situation first took place in 1950s. This scenario, as I have mentioned in the introduction is Kessler Syndrome. According to this scenario, these dangerous parts in the orbit of the earth as the result of collisions may cause damaging of more satellites in the future. It is said that in such case, due to the parts that occur in the orbit of the earth, sending a satellite to space again can last for many years. What do you think happens in such a situation? I will tell you step by step:

First, television and radios will become inoperable. Without the communication satellites and gps in the air, airplanes will be at great risk and fly completely blindly which will definitely lead to crash. Mobile phones will not operate. Banks will stop all accounts and transfers. Payments cannot be made with credit cards. Due to the synchronous shift in data transfer between computers, everything that is managed by computer will be at risk.

Since all connections are directed to terrestrial connection rather than satellite, the system will be unable to handle this density and will be down. There will be problems such as power failure, signaling errors in subways and trains, control of traffic lights, interruptions in the internet and service outage.
In order to prevent this scenario from becoming reality, it is necessary that the audits be more stringent for the satellites to be sent to the Earth’s orbit, and that all countries must have a common agreement on this issue and make common decisions.

Let’s start with what we know first: Datesand approvals on packages
We, as nutritionists and dietitians, believe that we have convinced everyone to buy the products that are approved by “Turkish Standards Institute”, “Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock” and “Ministry of Health” with “best before date”. When buying a product, best before date must be controlled first in order to avoid any food poisoning.

What’s on the front cover of the packaging?

On the front cover of the packaged products, one can see colorful and big written attention-grabbing phrases as “enriched product”, “light product”, “high fiber product” and “diabetic product”.

Enriched Product: this term, which was first used for European and American products, is used in our country mostly for milk, fruit juices, bread and cereals. It shows that the vitamin-mineral amount of the product is increased during packaging or producing.

Light Product: the most confusing group of products, should we consume it or not?

Dietary products are accepted as low-calorie products by people on diet. Although it seems to give us unlimited consumption right, light products mean that 25- 30% of the product calorie is reduced or fat is reduced by 50%. So there is no so much calorie difference with normal products. Also almost sugar, salt and carbohydrate contents are the same. In light products mostly fat energy is reduced.

High-fiber Product: the products, on which there is written “high-fiber”, unfortunately do not protect us and our digestive system so easily. Products that meet 20% of 25-30 g fiber content recommended to be taken daily can be considered as “high-fiber” products.

Diabetic Product: this is a group of products that is produced specially for patients with diabetes. Sweeteners are used instead of refined sugar. They are also considered as products with high fat content since the reduced sugar taste is alternated with increased fat content.

What about the back of the packaging we never read?

Food label shows carbohydrate, protein, fat, unsaturated fat, sugar, vitamins and minerals and fiber content of food. It helps us to make right decision while buying a product. This table, which is usually indicated on the back of the package, shows the nutritional values of the product for 100 g. We can make calculation ourselves by reading the weight of the product we buy.

The result of the studies: Calorie calculation and food label reading helps people to reduce the calories consumed during the day.

Ingredients: It is the part that shows all the nutrients a product contains. It is the second most important part that shows the additives content of the product you will get and helps deciding.
In addition, the storage and storage conditions of the product, the place of production and the portion amount are also on the back of the package.
The points that help to decide the consuming of a product:

ALLERGENIC: warns people who are allergic to hazelnuts, peanuts, walnuts, eggs and soybean, not to consume the product.
INCLUDES GLUTEN: gluten, a type of protein found in wheat and cereals, should be indicated, because it causes digestion and absorption problems in some people, especially celiac.
INCLUDES LACTOSE: lactose, mostly found in milk and dairy products, which may cause discomfort such as bloating, gas, diarrhea in some people, should be indicated on the label.

For the previous 4 editions, MTC has had approximately 500 attendees, 30 partners and sponsors and more than 70 speakers throughout the years. MTC helped clinics and hospitals get connections with facilitators and insurance companies, discuss insurance trends and challenges, and every single time EuroEvents empowered the delegates to leave the venue richer with knowledge, experience and connections. During all these years, EuroEvents built many partnerships in many different regions. One of the partnerships with successful cooperation in the region of Georgia and Azerbaijan is the collaboration with Rhazes Global. Rhazes Global is an important ally for
EuroEvents in the region, helping in building connections and contributing towards development of medical tourism. EuroEvents certainly hopes on future collaboration, as the improvement of the numbers and the satisfaction of inbound and outbound patients in the region becomes possible when working together.
EuroEvents built a legacy that brings the event among the top global conferences in the sector of medical tourism.
Make sure to book your spot at this year’sconference to hear successful stories straight from the market and to learn how to deal with challenges in the medical tourism industry.

Book your place now!
For more info visit our event website:www.mtce2019.com

The idea of setting up a private medical center dates back to 1992. Its initiators are famous Lithuanian cardiac surgeons – professors Vytautas Sirvydis and Giedrius Uždavinys. It took several years since the idea turned into reality, but ultimately, the Heart Surgery Center opened its doors in the summer of 1998 in one of the neighborhoods of Vilnius city. The center was oriented towards the patients from CIS countries and it was built using the most cutting-edge and innovative technologies, furthermore, its laboratories and operating-rooms were equipped with the latest medical equipment from European and Japanese manufacturers. Its trustworthiness and high level of service has been ensured not only by the team of the doctors that are well known throughout the country but also by an intensive care unit, which made it possible to carry out complex medical surgeries requiring intensive post-operative care.

Shortly after focusing on cardiac surgery and orthopedics, center managers began to invite professionals from other fields, who had accumulated experience both in Lithuania and in the rest of the world and had earned a good reputation among patients.

Activities were continuously developed and it wasn’t long before a range of services provided by the center has expanded and quickly covered almost all areas and levels of medicine: from consultation with different professionals and medical tests to complex surgeries that have not been performed by any other private medical center since then.

The Heart Surgery Center became a private hospital and health care center Kardiolita Hospital in 2011.

Ongoing Strategy: The Best of Everything

Although the name itself has changed and the range of activities has expanded significantly, the medical center, which has started with staffing it with the best doctors and provision of top-level services, has retained its core of activity to this day. Vilnius Kardiolita Hospital – the only private medical clinic in Lithuania, which, like the public hospitals, has a team of reanimatologists who are on duty all day every day. This enables to perform not only laser and minimally invasive procedures but also the most complex surgical operations.

Kardiolita Hospital employs the most experienced doctors in Lithuania. This is not just a declaration of the health institution made accessible to the public, but also a fundamental background of the company’s philosophy. Professionalism has been encrypted in its genes – after all, these clinics have emerged from the efforts of two topqualified, experienced and respected Lithuanian doctors.

From the very beginning, the center was equipped with the best medical equipment that was renewed over time, yet all its managers and owners have believed that the greatest strength and asset of the medical institution is anything but equipment. The focal points have always been people, their competencies, knowledge, and experience.
Simultaneously expanding its range of services and adding more fields of treatment to its basket of services, Kardiolita Hospital has been continuously inviting new members to join its professional community.

Management was looking for lead doctors – stars in their field of specialization, who had already earned recognition and respect of their patients – and in the long run, the medical center gathered the whole constellation of the country’s best doctors. Today patients looking for the best eye specialist, allergist, gastroenterologist, vascular surgeon, or any other specialist already are aware that very likely such specialist works at Kardiolita Hospital. Dr. Darius Aukštikalnis, dr. Virgilijus Sakalinskas, Prof. Dr. Valerijus Ostapenko, Prof. Dr. Balys Dainys – just a few of the well-known names in the medical community that can be found on the list of specialists working at Kardiolita Hospital. By the way, Prof. Giedrius Uždavinys, who was one of the founders, provides consultations to patients in Kardiolita Hospital.

Not only in Vilnius, not just for Lithuanians

For a long time – up to 2017 – Kardiolita Hospital was the medical center of the capital. Two years ago for the convenience of the patients, its branch was established in Kaunas city, therefore people, experiencing health problems do not need to go to the capital. In addition, more choices in terms of doctors are being offered.
The potential of medical tourism is furtherbeing developed: in our country, patients from the East are looking for highly qualified medical services.
The number of patients coming from abroad has increased significantly when the Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery Center at Vilnius Kardiolita Hospital opened its door.

It focuses on the following beauty services: plastic and reconstructive surgery, laser treatment for skin care and beauty purposes, removal of birthmarks. Many patients also come to the Obesity Treatment Center, where the weight-related problem is solved in a complex way: patients are consulted by a dietitian, endocrinologist, psychologist, and surgeon.

Over the last few years, consistent work with foreign markets has resulted in the increasing number of European citizens, e.g. Scandinavian, British, and Irish, who are interested in our services. However, the majority of patients are Lithuanians.

The vision of future of Kardiolita Hospital does not differ much from its original vision: to be a medical institution that employs best doctors in the country, and a place where patients solve their health-related problems and satisfy the beauty needs quickly and conveniently. One more thing stays the same: professionalism here as elsewhere goes hand in hand with a warm atmosphere and human attention, which is certainly no less important in terms of health and sensitive life periods than the most modern infrastructure or equipment.

Why travel for robotic surgery?

Unlike outbound medical tourism, inbound patients are typically not cost-driven. The quality of doctors and state-of-the-art technology in the United States attracts patients who are looking for the best possible medical care, regardless of expense. Many times, insurances are covering a portion of their international medical care. When evaluating prostate cancer treatment options, there’s no need for men to be confined by the borders of their country. For many, a cancer-free life far outweighs the possible inconvenience of seeking treatment in the U.S. Doctors such as myself, are providing international prostate cancer patients with access to the same opportunities for recovery and quality of life as those patients in the U.S. Patients can be guided through all aspects of their United States prostate cancer surgery, from travel arrangements to family care to recovery, helping to reduce the complexity of such endeavors. Patients can often find an instant support system for both themselves and their families as they face life-saving surgery in the U.S.

What are the advantages of choosing skill and experience over convenience?

It is important for other U.S. medical specialists to recognize their roles in world healthcare. Patients are coming here because they are looking for the best possible medical care. The doctors and surgeons in their countries may have access to new technology, but may not yet have the case experience of U.S. doctors. That is something I, and we, can offer them. While many now have the equipment to perform robotic prostatectomy surgery, they simply have not had the patient volume, and therefore level of experience. American outcome statistics are not necessarily statistics that patients in other countries, with less experienced surgeons, may find. Prostate cancer patients deserve treatment options that are timely and medically advanced.

Looking Towards the Future
In this era of global healthcare, patients often travel to the United States to receive the expert medical care with the most advanced technology. Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is still a young science and uncommon surgical procedures in other countries. When you compare surgical outcomes between domestic and international patients and examine challenges that international patients face in getting RALP, their medical trip are justified.

I would really like to thank the most beautiful city among neighbor cities with its 150,000 inhabitants. I’m sure you’ll enjoy every minute you spend in such a ‘Middle Ages’ city of budget-friendly country Germany.

First of all, let’s answer how and when you should go there. There is no airport as it is a small city. However, you can arrive in the city by a train transfer from Frankfurt or Stuttgart airports and regarding time, spring will not disappoint you for a comfortable journey. I should also mention that although it is not such a big city as Berlin, Prague, Venice, it offers us to reveal its secret of beauty not only by visiting but also by living there.

One of the best universities in medicine and pharmacy of the country is situated in this city. The University of Heidelberg, which has a history of 700 years, is also Germany’s oldest university. We pass faculties and libraries as we walk down streets because the university is spread to the
whole city. In addition to the historical atmosphere, the young people accompanying us in these streets makes us feel great, as if walking on an invisible bridge between the past and the future…

To cut a long story short, I’m starting with Hauptstraße. Quite a long street with its numerous shops, great cafes and restaurants offering world cuisine lined up side by side, cobblestone pavements and eyecatching architecture makes you feel great. If one day you visit Heidelberg, please do not forget to explore the streets and local shops. You will certainly have the opportunity to try different original products and delicious street tastes.

Transportation to the castle which is familiar to us from city photos, is provided by funicular. The castle also allows you to see the city with bird’s-eye view, but for the perfect landscape (and photos) you must pass the philosophers’ path – Philosophenweg. You can get to a certain point by car, but I advise you to walk up the slope that was used by the young philosophers of their time frequently which is not so difficult. When you look at the city from the top you will see the River Neckar and the bridge over it. The bridge is one of the symbols of the city, just like the castle. Although the Germans destroyed the old wooden bridge to prevent soldiers from crossing the city, the bridge (alte Brücke) was built after the war. There is a city gate and two sculptures on it. This bridge is a place where tourists loveto take pictures most. I’m gonna take a photo following the rumor that they don’t let you live the city without taking photo.

A piece of advice from me:
CAFÉ SCHAFHEUTLE: in the backyard, you can have coffee and eat great desserts at noon.

CÁFE KNÖSEL: This cafe, one of the oldest in the city, should be given a chance. I’m not the one who can’t express feelings easily, but I can’t express the mood I’ve had while discovering this city. Perhaps because of thinking of Germany as an industrial country, maybe ‘gray clouds’, I don’t know, but Heidelberg really struck me with admiration.

Anita Medhekar, a CMTP graduate, Indian by origin, teaches economics at the Central Queensland University in Australia. She is also involved in research in applied economics related to developing international trade, health and tourism. Her interests as a researcher are also in the area of global trade in healthcare services/ medical tourism from different perspectives: trade in healthcare, public-private partnerships, governments role in developing medical tourism business, healthcare policy, healthcare quality and marketing perspective.

The Medical Tourism Magazine had the opportunity to ask her why?

“Since the last decade or more, I always get a health check up done in India at a state-ofthe art medical facility/ hospital, which has highly skilled medical professionals who provide internationally accredited healthcare. In-spite of having private health insurance in Australia, with a long waiting period, I visit India for healthcare, as one can see a specialist straight away. Hence, I developed an interest in the topic of medical travel particularly in the case of India and developing countries, and started researching in thisarea from an economics, tourism, international trade and marketing perspective. I have been on the mailing list of MTA and decided to do the course online to further enhance my knowledge on medical tourism, and wanted to learn now from MTA experts. Hopefully, one day I will join the industry or be part of it in some way in the near future, as I would like to contribute to this industry either as an educator, or as a consultant to a medical-tourism facilitator or a hospital engaged in treating foreign patient.“

Having a medical tourism education has opened the door to new opportunities.

“Professionally having a CMTP designation has provided me all the essential information needed to build a successful business model for a medical tourism facilitator. Personally, it was an opportunity to get the scholarship and also to further my knowledge from a practitioners and industry perspective on the global business of medical tourism.”

Ms. Medhekar’s key takeaways from the course are:

• Build a successful business model
• Most important role of the medical tourism facilitator
• Be informed about costing, legal, regulatory accreditation issue
• Provide a positive customer experience from the beginning to end to the patient, because they put a lot of trust in you from the time they make the first call/e-mail until the post surgery care and follow up with them after the medical tourist home regarding their well-being.

Ms. Medhekar believes that taking the CMTP course is essential to being a part of the medical tourism industry. “It is essential for any tourism mediator / facilitator to have this CMTP certification and regularly update their knowledge. This is important to not only build a successful business model but to keep up with the global competition, changing political and economic environment and healthcare policies and regulatory and ethical issues in the various countries. It is also beneficial in the way of learning to provide a positive customer experience.”

Ms. Medhekar would recommend this course to others in the medical tourism industry.

“I would encourage all medical tourism operators / facilitators including key private corporate hospitals engaged in the business of treating foreign medical patients to provide this training to their medical and non medical staff, if they want to be a successful global player in the business of trade in health care services, and learn not only to network with accredited healthcare providers, but also to be able to grow their business. It is an excellent course and I have learned how giving attentionto detail step by step, one can not only build a successful business model but also provide a positive healthcare/medical travel experience to foreign patients.”