Medical Tourism between Belize and Mexico
Santiago Gonzalez Abreu
Medical Tourism is in its development stage in Belize. In August 2012, a workshop was executed to create awareness of the industry and to gauge the receptiveness of stakeholders in the healthcare profession. The initiative was started by BELTRAIDE because of the potential for employment in Belize which could possibly increase foreign direct investment. While BELTRAIDE continues its development through the Compete Caribbean Project initiative, Belize and Mexico are looking at partnerships in that area. News five spoke to representatives of tourism sector of Belize and Mexico at an event earlier this week, during which stakeholders from both countries discussed how to develop better partnerships.
Jose Sanchez
“There is an initiative through BELTRAIDE to open up Belize as Medical tourism for Europe. But many Belizeans go to different parts of Mexico, including Merida for medical services. How does that factor into this discussion?”
Santiago Gonzalez Abreu, Marketing Director, Mexican Ministry of Tourism
“Well I think everything that compliments a product should be a new tool that will help to try to bring new people from trying to bring new people from Europe and the United States. Belize and Yucatan can be a great compliment selling to the international market because people travel fifteen to twenty days and they don’t need nature or sea, they need culture, nature and service and focus on many things they are looking for.”
Alyssa Carnegie
Alyssa Carnegie, Director, Marketing & Industry Relations, B.T.B
“It’s huge; huge for Mexico and Belize. Dentistry, there is a lot of people who come to Belize for eye care. That is a growing industry for Belize as well as it is for Mexico in terms of Belizeans going over to Mexico to seek that kind of attention. There is a multitude of areas; strong partnership to the benefit of both countries.”
Jose Sanchez
“How serious is the relationship? Will you speak to the Ministry of Health on that particular avenue?”
Santiago Gonzalez Abreu
“Any new benefit is based on a lot of work, we are working with Ministry of Health in Mexico and in Belize to create international regulations that will give certainty to Belize to work and treat many of the illness that they have. And also the thing with insurances; that the Belize people that have insurances will work in Mexico and Yucatan.”
Anytime you would like to pursue this matter seriously, there are several medical practices in the USA that are interested. Just respond with an email address and I’ll personally put you in contact with them.
Best news from Belize in a very long time. Partnership in health care? I think this is extra attraction for Belize and the people need it badly, so keep on pushing because the world is watching.
Medical tourism could be a great new industry in Belize, but it will need to be based on a solid foundation. First, it has to be based on bringing in top-notch, cutting-edge medical expertise here, and that means letting foreign doctors run their own show; we can’t require that Belizean doctors be in charge, because for the most part, our doctors have not had the benefit of the best training and experience in the best schools and hospitals.
But there would be a benefit to us: our doctors can work side by side with the best foreign doctors, and learn from them to raise our home-grown skill levels far above where they are now. Maybe one day our sickest Belizeans won’t have to go to Guatemala, Chetumal, orMerida for medical treatment.
I’m sure there are many US doctors who would like to practice somewhere free of the taxes, Obamacare regulations, and lawsuits that plague them in the States. If we don’t set up a credible process for medical tourism, some other English-speaking Caribbean neighbor will.
As a necessary suplement to medical tourism, we need a top-flight registered nursing program here. For every doctor, there’s a need for several nurses to assist them. I know the Philippines has been filling US and other first-world hospitals with graduates of their RN college programs, why not UB?
MedicalTourism is now a well developed industry all over the world. It is cost effective and a best solution to care your health
http://www.fortis-medicaltourism.com/
Health is very important that you can’t get back once you lose. Now MedicalTourism has proved health is not within the boundaries.
http://www.healthopinion.net/
Health is very important that you can’t get back once you lose. Now MedicalTourism has proved health is not within the boundaries.