Over 300 medical tourism-related providers have joined the site in this time, which has been viewed by more than 190,000 unique visitors.Now, the TAT has gone even further by launching an iPhone application for mobile devices effective on 5 January 2012. The goal of this new app is to tap into the savvy iPhone-user market, seen as users also likely to consider the possibility of receiving quality medical care abroad.

This easy-to-use app will allow them to accesswww.thailandmedtourism.com with ease, comfort, and speed. The main menu leads to areas of core information, including Medical Providers: Hospitals, Spas, Specialist Clinics; Medical Treatments: General Treatments, Spas, Dermatology, Dental, Cosmetic, LASIK, and Check-up; and Destinations: the locations where you can find the relevant medical services and facilities.The standard useful functions are there as well, including search and bookmark features, as well as a Contact Us page.

The iPhone app for www.thailandmedtourism.com is now ready for free download on the App Store by searching for keyword Thailand medical tourism. Or visit www.thailandmedtourism.com to download it from the main site.

Created by its team of internationally recognized healthcare and training experts, “Welcoming the WorldSM” is a fully scalable and flexible package for both new and established International Patient Departments.

Providers small and large, will benefit from the training, systems, forms and structure of this uniquely designed offering. “Welcoming the WorldSM” is designed for dental and medical providers from single offices to multi-hospital chains which serve domestic and international patients from outside their usual service areas. With a focus on the customer experience, the program offers practical and detailed information about staffing, department infrastructure, forms and systems, billing and financial issues, and concierge services.

According to Pam Frank, former Director of International Health Services at Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, “We focused on the basic information dental and medical care providers need to build or improve services for patients coming from different countries or regions. These valuable clients and their family members notice every detail from arrival to departure plus they serve as word-of-mouth advertising, both good and bad. To succeed, health care providers must deliver a patient experience that is better than their competitors. The comprehensive, yet flexible design of “Welcoming the WorldSM” ensures the competitive edge for our clients”.

The affordable on-line course gives users the option to study to their own pace, in the comfort of home or office. With a running time of more than five hours plus knowledge checks and reviewing sample documents, it is a complete “Do It Yourself” kit. Clients can take advantage of adding additional support with essays questions including expert feedback or purchasing online consulting services to answer specific questions. Medical Tourism Training, Inc. offers stand-alone consulting services in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic for clients who want the company’s team of experts to provide services on site to build or improve patient services. These options appeal to health and wellness providers of every size and for every budget.

Elizabeth Ziemba, President of Medical Tourism Training, offers words of advice for clients new to online study in her article, “Tips to Maximize the Investment in On-line Learning”, saying, “Setting goals, scheduling time, and sharing the information with co-workers contribute to improved learning, sharing content, and implementing what is learned. Turning individualized learning into team work generates the most value for employees and employers”.

To register for courses or to get more information about training and consulting services, visit http://www.MedicalTourismTraining.com today.

The report also entails major drivers and growth barriers of medical tourism market. The future outlook along with projections and macro-economic factors has also been presented providing an insight on the prospects in the medical tourism industry.

India Medical Tourism industry is the second largest hub after Thailand which served ~ medical tourists and generated USD ~ million medical tourism receipts in 2010. The country is popular for its internationally certified hospitals equipped with latest technology, qualified support staff in the medical centers, cost saving treatment compared to other developed countries (60-80% less cost of treatment as compared to that of the US and the UK), less waiting time, English speaking and qualified staff, availability of private rooms, bespoke food, wellness and several enriching attractions.

The country witnessed the largest number of medical tourists’ arrivals from Maldives contributing ~% of the total medical tourists’ arrivals in India. Around ~ medical tourists from Maldives arrived to India in 2010. Bangladesh is the second largest region with the market share of ~% contributing around ~ medical tourists in 2010. It is followed by Nigeria which accounted for ~ medical tourists and ~% share in 2010.

Indian medical tourism is majorly served with ~ hospitals treating ~% of the total medical tourist arrivals in India in 2010. Apollo Hospitals, the second largest hospital network in India is the market leader in terms of serving medical tourists. The group served about ~ medical tourists in 2010 contributing the share of ~% to the total medical tourists’ arrivals in India. The company operates a network of 54 hospitals and medical centres with ~ inpatients complement beds. Max Healthcare is the second largest hospital group with ~% market share serving around ~ medical tourists in 2010 through 8 hospitals and medical centres and ~ complement beds.

Key Topics Covered in the Report:

1. Number of Foreign Patients and Revenue from Foreign Patients, 2005-2010
2. Number of Medical Tourists and Medical tourist receipts, 2005-2010
3. Medical Tourists by Nationality, 2010
4. Major Drivers and Growth Barriers of Medical Tourism in India
5. Market Share of top hospitals treating foreign patients, 2010
6. Company Profiles of Major Hospitals including Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare and Max Healthcare
7. Future Outlook along with future projections on number of foreign patients and medical tourist arrivals in the country along with the receipts, 2011-2015
8. Historical and Projections of Industry Factors including Number of Tourist Arrivals and Receipts and Healthcare Expenditure, 2005-2015

For more information please refer to the below mentioned link:
http://www.ammindpower.com/report.php?A=236

The report also entails major drivers and growth barriers of medical tourism market. The future outlook along with projections and macro-economic factors has also been presented providing an insight on the prospects in the medical tourism industry.

Malaysia’s medical tourism industry has witnessed astounding growth in recent past. From 2001 to 2006, the number of foreign patients seeking healthcare services in Malaysia became ~ times from ~ patients to ~ patients. The large volume of patients in 2006 generated nearly USD ~ million in revenue. In 2008, the revenue per patient had grown to USD ~ . In 2010, the revenue per patient has risen to reach in the range of USD ~ to USD ~.

The medical patients visit Malaysia for the treatment of dental treatment, aesthetics, and optometry and for many other treatment but most of the patients visit Malaysia for cardiovascular and orthopedic treatment. Most of the patients are middle aged people who visit Malaysia in order to save money on the treatment.

Malaysia is poised to achieve growth in the future in the medical tourism sector with mounting popularity of affordable quality healthcare treatments, increasing healthcare costs in urban nations and enriching experience of various exotic locations. The total revenue from foreign patients in the country is expected to grow at a 5 year CAGR of ~% from 2010 to 2015.

The total revenue from international patients will rise to USD ~ million in 2011 from USD ~ million in 2010. It will cross the benchmark of USD ~ million by 2014 when the market is estimated to generate USD ~ million of foreign exchange. Overall, the total revenue from international patients will grow at an expected CAGR of ~% to reach USD ~ million by 2015.

Key Topics Covered in the Report:

1. Number of Foreign Patients and Revenue from Foreign Patients, 2005-2010
2. Foreign Patients by Nationality, 2010
3. Major Drivers and Growth Barriers of Medical Tourism in Malaysia
4. Competitive Landscape of top hospitals treating foreign patients, 2010
5. Future Outlook along with future projections on number of foreign patients treated in the country along with the receipts, 2011-2015
6. Historical and Projections of Industry Factors including Number of Tourist Arrivals and Receipts, Number of Hospitals, Medical Centers and Clinics along with beds, Inpatients and Outpatients Admissions, Registered Health Personnel and Healthcare Expenditure, 2005-2015

Founded in 2007, AM Mindpower Solutions is a leading market research and information service provider in India. The company offers industry research, company profiles and Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity and Venture capital deal directories to the clients across a spectrum of industries.

We gather information from a wide range of sources using advanced information management tools, sophisticated analytical systems and methodologies and dedicated professional client services.

We are committed to the highest levels of professional standards and conduct and engage with the clients in developing an understanding of the various industries – segments and sub-segments, companies, competitors and suppliers.

AM Mindpower’s high quality research and analytics services can be assessed by the fact that most of its business is from repeat clients.

Maria K Todd, MHA PhD

Her presentation, titled, “Top Strategies for International Hospital Contract Negotiations with U.S. Employers and Health Plans” will help formulate the correct strategies. This is the lead presentation on 27 April.  Todd was also invited to participate on the Advisory Board of the conference, now in its 5th year.

Todd is the author of The Managed Care Contracting Handbook, 2nd Edition: Planning & Negotiating the Managed Care Relationship  (ISBN: 978-1563273698, released March 2009) and The Physician Employment Contract Handbook, Second Edition: A Guide to Structuring Equitable Arrangements (ISBN: 978-1439813164, released Feb 2011) and two other books on physician-hospital integration, including IPA, PHO, and MSO Development Strategies: Building Successful Provider Alliances (HFMA Healthcare Financial Management Series) (ISBN: 978-0786311194, released January 1997) and Physician Integration: Refocusing the Lens (ISBN: 978-1439813089, to be released in 2012).  Her two medical tourism titles, Medical Tourism Facilitator’s Handbook (ISBN:978-1439812839, released November 2011) and Handbook of Medical Tourism Program Development: Developing Globally Integrated Health Systems (ISBN: 978-1439813140 release December 2011) have been enjoying record sales and have been difficult to keep in stock at Amazon.com.

Review copies and interviews are available.

Other featured thought leaders who accepted invitations to present include: Ruben Toral, former marketing executive for Bumrungrad International Hospital, and fellow authors Elizabeth A. Ziemba, JD, MPH, Laszló Púczkó, PhD and Scott Frankum.

More information about the conference is available at www.emtc2012.com.

The times have changed and many independent women, who are in charge of their future and their finances, and enjoy exotic experiences in life, are looking for cost effective Breast Augmentation in Bangkok. The reason is simple. Why pay what is more at home if you live in the UK for example, or the USA when you can get the same quality of hospital care abroad with a holiday thrown in at the same time.

Speak to anybody about Thailand and they will gush about how wonderful the people are, with their warm and smiling nature. They will also talk about the beautiful beaches and laid back retreat-style resorts. Then people will talk about the excitement and energy of Bangkok which offers all the convenience and luxury of a 21st century city as well as spa treatments and poolside retreats which are like hidden oases around the city. Bangkok might be the busy capital of Thailand but what surprises many people is that many of the places to stay here capture the beauty of Thai tradition, that there are still gorgeous temples to walk around in peaceful surroundings and that actually, compared with many modern cities in Asia, it is not half as polluted as it used to be.

It is all very well for people to say that you should be happy with your body as it is but women want to look good as well as part of their overall positive view of themselves. They might feel and think in a certain way and want to project an image which matches this concept of who they are. In the past people used to wait until everything had sagged before seeking surgery but this has changed too. Women of all ages want make their bodies look good whilst they are still young and having flat, unevenly sized or sagging breasts, can be transformed into firmer and fuller breasts. It is not just a matter of looking good naked. You might feel that your clothes and fashion looks and feels more flattering if you have a bigger bosom.

Bangkok is home to some top-notch hospitals which not only have accreditations which show their International standards but are staffed by doctors and surgeons who have often studied and worked abroad. Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Treatments are offered in modern hospitals and specialized clinics and centers, using the latest technology and state-of-the-art facilities, but at what is often half or a third of the price as in some countries which work on a different economy. Cost effective Breast Augmentation in Bangkok attracts women from other parts of Asia but also from the UK and the USA, who want to experience Thailand and get bigger breasts in the process.

Urban Beauty Thailand is a bespoke One-Stop Travel and Beauty Solution. With an in-depth knowledge of medical tourism in Thailand and strong affiliations with the top, accredited hospitals and treatment centers, we offer you a personalized service by arranging the best medical tourism package for you, from your flights, to whichever Cosmetic Surgery, Beauty Treatments or Dental Treatments are right for you, at the right treatment center, whether in Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, or Pattaya. We also arrange excursions and holiday activities during your stay.

Ms. Pensuda Priaram, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, stated that “Thailand has more than 200 Hospitals and clinics which have accreditations meeting international standards, 19,000 medical doctors and more than 100,000 registered nurses. Moreover, value for money, in terms of the quality of services available, is undeniable. In addition, Thailand also offers a plethora of health and wellness services to meet every demand, such as spas, Thai massage establishments, Thai herbal treatments, as well as a multitude of places to visit and tourism activities to accommodate every lifestyle.

For the above reasons, Thailand welcomed more than 1.8 million tourists from around the world in 2010, who were happy to take advantage of the vast services that Thailand has to offer.”TAT has produced the travel guide book “Healing Harmony” in 2 languages – English and Arabic – to provide information on health and wellness tourism in eight destinations in Thailand, namely: Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Koh Chang and Chiang Rai.

Furthermore, in conjunction with MasterCard, “Healing Harmony” also offers over 50 Special Privileges to MasterCard cardholders, from any bank worldwide, to take advantage of Thailand’s world-class healthcare and wellness services in selected hospitals, clinics, and spas throughout the Kingdom.“Healing Harmony” will not only be disseminated at trade fairs and at TAT events abroad, but will also be available for purchase, both in hard copy format and as an e-book, through Amazon.com, as well as at other top bookstores such as Asia Books and Kinokuniya.

The guides include information on vaccinations, medical insurance and emergency healthcare.

Expatriate health information is increasingly sought after as a growing number of people relocate to foreign countries for work. Information on healthcare in the East Asian region is particularly needed, as the area’s many booming industries have drawn a large number of foreign workers in recent years.

Expatriates already living in Hong Kong or Singapore and those who are planning to move to either country can access the health guides via the Bupa International website.

The Hong Kong health guide discusses vaccinations and the various infectious diseases that expatriates in Hong Kong may be susceptible to. For those wondering whether to take anti-malarial medicines prior to their move, the health guide explains that this is unnecessary, as the mosquito-transmitted disease is not found in Hong Kong.

However, though malaria is not found in Singapore, the Singapore health guide suggests that expatriates take measures to prevent mosquito bites, as dengue fever and chikungunya have both been reported on the island.

The two health guides also provide information on international health insurance options that expatriates in Singapore and Hong Kong can benefit from and give an overview of the healthcare systems in both city-states, such as the availability of specialist care, the number of hospitals and the nature of primary care.

“Moving and living abroad can be daunting, particularly when it comes to the subject of health,” said Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director for Bupa International. “These health guides will help people to prepare for their move to Singapore or Hong Kong and offer them detailed information about hospital and treatment options there.

“Healthcare systems can vary enormously from one place to another so it’s vital to be prepared for any eventuality before you move or travel abroad. These health guides give an overview of the situation in Singapore and Hong Kong but you should always seek advice from an expert if you have a serious medical condition.”

Bupa International’s website also includes expatriate guides to other countries. The guides offer advice on culture and cost of living in various countries as well as other information such as how people can ship their belongings when relocating to a foreign country.

Whether you’re travelling for leisure or for business it’s important to make sure that you’re appropriately vaccinated. This is especially true if you are heading to those places less travelled. The world is full of exotic diseases that your body may not be familiar with, and getting vaccinated can be the difference between being bed ridden for the entire time or the trip of a lifetime.

So while you’re busy booking for hotels and locking in the plane tickets, keep in the back of your mind that you should visit your doctor up to two months in advance when travelling abroad.

Why should I receive vaccination?

When you travel overseas, you could expose yourself to infectious diseases that your body has not been exposed to before. As a result you could become extremely sick and worst case scenario – end up developing an untreatable and fatal condition. Vaccination prepares your immune system so that it learns to recognise these foreign infectious agents so that it can mount a better defence against the disease your may face in your travel.

Aside from the health benefits, being vaccinated for some diseases is compulsory for entries into some countries.

What should I be vaccinated for?

It all depends on where you’re going and what you’ll be doing as different areas have different infectious diseases. Generally, people who are travelling to tropical and subtropical regions and developing countries or countries with poor sanitation tend to require vaccination. Typically, regions like South America, Asia and Central Africa are known to be endemic to various infectious diseases.

People who are planning to interact with animals overseas may also need to consider having the appropriate vaccinations.

The Centre for Disease Control (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel) and the World Health Organization (www.who.int/ith/en) provide updated information on endemic areas, outbreaks and vaccination recommendations. The Australian government’s travel website – smart traveller – (www.smartraveller.gov.au) provides updates on safe places to travel but does not give information on vaccinations.

The most common vaccinations for Australian residents travelling overseas are yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and malaria. It is also advised that all background (childhood) immunisations are up to date; this includes tetanus, diphtheria, measles, polio and mumps.

Yellow fever

Yellow fever is a potentially fatal viral disease that is spread by mosquitoes. This disease is endemic in South America and Central Africa. Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, nausea and pain and it generally subsides after several days. This disease can be potentially fatal and treatment consists of managing the symptoms until they subside.

Hepatitis A and B

Hepatitis A and B are viral infections that lead to inflammation of the liver. The primary mode of transmission of hepatitis A is through consuming contaminated food and beverage. Hepatitis B is primarily spread through body fluids like blood and semen, activities such as having unprotected sex or sharing needles are at high risk of transmitted hepatitis B.

Once infected, treatment consists of managing symptoms associated with the disease such as fever and vomiting. If left unmanaged, long term exposure to hepatitis can lead to liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver failure and liver cancer.

Malaria

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by blood borne parasites which are spread by mosquitoes. The parasite can cause fevers, nausea and chills which can be managed with relative ease. In more serious cases, it can affect the brain leading to coma and death

The current preventive measure (prophylaxis) for malaria consists of taking pills that contain a compound toxic to the parasite. This type of pills however, does not provide vaccination against malaria. Anti-malaria pills need to be taken regularly throughout your trip, and up to a week before and after your trip. There are different types of anti-malaria pills available, some are better for certain regions so tell your doctor which region you’ll be travelling to.

Typhoid

Typhoid is a disease caused by bacteria. It can be found in faeces and is most commonly passed on through food and water contaminated due to poor hygiene practices. Typhoid symptoms can vary but usually involve a fever, tiredness, muscle pain, diarrhoea and loss of appetite. A rash may also appear. Treatment mainly consists of maintaining fluids and taking antibiotics.

Rabies

Rabies is a viral infection that can lead to brain damage. The primary route of exposure to the virus is directly from another animal – such as a bite from an infected animal. If not treated properly, rabies is usually a fatal disease.

There is an incubation period between exposure to rabies to experiencing its symptoms, this period on average lasts for three to seven weeks. It is important to be treated as soon as you can during the incubation period because once the disease takes its course (when you start to get sick from it), you cannot be cured. Management of rabies following exposure involves a series of vaccination injections, which can prevent the disease from developing.

Vaccination is usually recommended for people who are planning to handle animals.

Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is a potentially fatal disease that affects the brain. It is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. This disease affects the nervous system and can lead to changes to mental state, mood swings and disorientation. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea and breathing problems. Treatment of this disease mainly involves intensive management of symptoms. Despite its name, Japanese encephalitis also occurs outside of Japan in all parts of Asia.

Cholera

Cholera is an infectious disease that is caused by bacteria. The disease usually presents as a bad case of food poisoning, typically with symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps. The bacteria are usually spread through contaminated food and drinks and is primarily a concern in regions of poor sanitation. Treatment for cholera is managed through antibiotics to kill the bacteria and drinking fluids to replace fluids lost through diarrhoea.

Conditions you can’t be vaccinated for but should take precautions

Dengue fever

Dengue fever is tropical disease spread by mosquitoes. Although most people infected with dengue fever do not experience symptoms, it can still be potentially fatal. Treatment of dengue fever consists of managing the symptoms, which can include fever, dehydration and headache. There is currently no vaccination for dengue fever. Preventing mosquito bites by using nets and repellents are the best ways to prevent contracting dengue fever.

Who and when to seek for travel vaccination?

General practitioner (GPs) can provide you advice with your travel vaccination and prescribe you with the appropriate vaccinations. As some vaccination can take up to a month to take effect, it is advised that you consult your GP one to two months prior you take off.

When you visit your GP, be prepared – bring your itinerary, travel history and vaccination history along, and have in mind what types of activities will you be doing. This will help your GP in providing you accurate vaccination recommendations.

Some useful online resources

Smart Traveller
www.smartraveller.gov.au
This is a good starting point for people wishing to know more about potential risks of travelling to a specific country.
Smart traveller is an Australian government resource providing Australian residents with specific travel advice. Apart from vaccination and health issues, this resource also covers a range of other common travel issues including security risks, personal safety, travel disruptions and natural disasters.
This site however, does not provide a summary of recommended vaccinations.

WHO – International Travel and Health Interactive map
apps.who.int/tools/geoserver/www/ith/index.html
A useful tool to view the health risk and infectious diseases by region and country. You can also find information on any ongoing outbreaks (epidemics).

These players include government representatives, global healthcare leaders, insurance industry giants, medical tourism facilitators and healthcare management professionals.
The Ministerial Summit brought together ministers of health, tourism, economic development from 25 countries. Renee-Marie Stephano, president of the MTA, said, “This year senior leaders presented on the best practices and practical case studies in the industry. Following the summit a declaration of cooperation will be signed between the countries to learn more and dedicate resources to establishing sustainable and dependable medical tourism programs, and to conduct research and provide education to industry stakeholders in their respected regions. Our conference is exceeding all our expectations. The ideas that are being shared and the new relationships being developed will be the foundation for the upcoming year.”

European Cross Border Healthcare was a hot topic of conversation as Bernard Merkel, head of the Food Safety, Health and Consumer Affairs section of the Delegation of European Union/Commission, presented on strategies related to the opportunities hospitals and governments have to invest in their healthcare infrastructure.

During the opening day, the MTA shared strategic initiatives including a hosted VIP Government roundtable and the conference presented the first medical tourism and global healthcare leadership awards. The meticulous agenda for the event features star keynote speakers and enhanced educational workshops which covered the essentials and the future of these industries.

Bill Rancic, the first winner of NBC’s “The Apprentice,” opened the sessions on Thursday with a presentation on entrepreneurial practices, while Cecil Wilson, the 165th President of the American Medical Association, presented on the future of healthcare and healthcare Reform in the United States. John Casey, the Director of International Benefits for Google, Inc., gave insight into how to create the “healthiest employee in the world.” Rounding out the keynote speakers were President of Twist Image Mitch Joel, who presented the importance of marketing in social media in the workplace; and, Dr. Robert Rey, specialist in minimal scar plastic surgery, focused primarily on the importance of working with charities and building an international surgical practice.

The Medical Tourism Association looks forward to its 5th annual conference, which will take place in Fort Lauderdale/Miami, Florida at the five star Westin Diplomat Resort on the beach on October 24-26th 2012.

http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com