Dr. José Enrique Guerra. (PHOTO: Brenda Carrion)
Medical tourism is developing into an important economic engine in Yucatan, and three experts on this phenomenon participated in a discussion Thursday June 30 in Merida.
The participants were Dr. José Enrique Guerra, a leading medical facilitator and owner of Yucatan Medical Services, Irak Greene, director of tourism business development with Yucatan’s Secretariat of Tourism Development (SEFOTUR), and José Urioste, editorial director of The Yucatan Times.
Attending the event at Hennessey’s Irish Pub on Paseo de Montejo were about 20 local medical doctors and dentists, including surgeons, opthamologists and other specialists.
Greene noted that about 7 million people travel annually outside their home country for medical treatment. For residents of the U.S. and Canada, Mexico is the leading destination, mainly because treatments are cheaper. For U.S. residents, the costs average 30 percent less than in their home country, he said.
Greene said SEFOTUR’s dedicated medical tourism website, yucatanhealthcare.com, has received more than 20 million visits, with 70 percent of visitors seeking information in English.
Guerra said Yucatan Medical Services, now in its fourth year, has helped more than 200 foreign patients find and arrange medical treatment in Yucatan. Offering “medical concierge” services, YMS provides 24-hour on-call referalls to a private network of medical and dental specialists.
Urioste said since he took over the The Yucatan Times four years ago, he has studied the shift of migration patterns between Mexico and its northern neighbors, with many U.S. and Canadian citizens now migrating south to become temporary or permanent residents of Mexico.
Greene said The Yucatan Times, the leading English language news website covering the Peninsula, has become an important partner for SEFOTUR in promoting medical tourism, through its news coverage and advertorial articles on the subject.
By Robert Adams for TYT
Comments
more recommended stories
Tunnel to Arizona located in Nogales, SonoraSonora.- Authorities in Nogales, Sonora found.
147 million pesos for remodeling and expansions in Chetumal´s airportCHETUMAL, March 24th – With an.
Dreamer detained by ICE for six weeksSelene Saavedra Roman, originally from Peru,.
Life in Merida becomes more expensiveAccording to the National Consumer Price.
Ancient Maya “Snake of the wind” appears only to shock tourists in Chichen ItzaMerida, Yucatan.- At around 14:30 hours.
Border Patrol detained nine-year-old US citizen for more than 30 hours on her way to schoolUS Customs and Border Protection officials detained.
Guadalajara attempts to set a new Guinness World Record for the world’s largest tequila tastingA week-long celebration in the State.
Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio teams up with UN to fight racismMexican actress Yalitza Aparicio teamed up.
International standards to fight money laundering will be applied in Mexico by JulyWith more and more money laundering.
Huachicolero criminal leader “El Marro” is still at largeThe “Golpe de Timón” operation that.
More discussion should be encouraged regarding medical tourism as it will help the medical industry to adapt itself to needs of the medical tourists.
Sumit
http://www.mymedicaltrek.com