By concept of health tourism In the Dominican Republic, more than 13,000 million pesos a year are invoiced, according to the president of the Dominican Association of Health tourism (ADTS), Alejandro Cambiaso.
“117,000 international patients are seen in the country, among which 47,725 are for medical tourism; around 69,000 for tourist medicine, ”he reported.
He explained that the health tourism it has a “very important” cross-cutting effect because it generates well-paid jobs, attracts Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and local investment, but also foreign exchange and technology and knowledge transfer, and strengthens medicine for all Dominicans and tourists who they come to the country.
In addition, he revealed that in the Dominican Republic they are doing investments in the health tourism sector of around 500 million dollars.
“Important new investments are being made in hospitals, with hotels that include, as is the case with Homs in Santiago; a new project between Santiago and La Vega; new projects in Santo Domingo; new outpatient projects, with investments of around 500 million dollars, which is great news,” he said.
“In the United States there are more than 40 million people who do not have medical insurance, more than 120 million people who do not have dental insurance, and the costs of treatment are very high and can be provided in the Dominican Republic with quality and at reasonable prices. more attractive”President of the Dominican Association of Health Tourism
Most demanded services in health tourism
The president of the Dominican Association of Health tourism reported that the procedures most sought after by tourists in the Dominican Republic are dentistry, especially those that have to do with dental implants. Also, aesthetic dentistry and other dental services.
“Second is the plastic surgery. In third place (there are) also other surgical procedures that range from orthopedics, the cardiovascular part, fertility,” Cambiaso explained. “We are beginning to greatly strengthen the niche of ophthalmology, among others.”
He explained that, when seeking health services, they are now seeing a greater number of patients, especially absent Dominicans who come from New York, but also from the Caribbean islands, especially Turks and Caicos, Saint Martin and other destinations, and also, North Americans and Canadians, but for different reasons.
“In the United States there are more than 40 million people who do not have medical insurance, more than 120 million people who do not have dental insurance, and the costs of treatment are very high and can be provided in the Dominican Republic with quality and at reasonable prices. more attractive,” he said.
He said that something different happens in Canada because there is social security and people have access, however, the waiting lists are very long for elective procedures. So, he indicated that sometimes, for orthopedic issues, they have to wait a year and even a year and a half for an elective procedure. Instead, they can come to the Dominican Republic to undergo this process and recover in a warm climate and see the tourist attractions.
Destination Dominican Republic
The first destination for health tourism is Santo Domingo. Cambiaso stressed that the city has “a great health infrastructure.” In the same way, he mentioned Santiago, because it has a “quite important” health infrastructure.
“And also,” he added, “because of the large flow of tourists there is, there is the area of Bávaro, Punta Cana, but you see much more tourist medicine there, that is, attention to tourists more than medical tourism, which is seen more in Santo Domingo and Santiago.
He added that the staff they have are specialized Dominicans.
“To talk about international standards, first you have to meet local standards and that health centers are authorized by the Ministry of Public Health and also venture into international certification and accreditation processes,” said Cambiaso.
In addition, that they develop international departments that allow them to develop experience, not only in technical and logistical terms, but also in terms of the patient’s language, the handling of international insurance, medical coding and continuity of care, among other aspects. “which are of great relevance to be able to carry out this activity successfully”.
Health and wellness tourism guide
Cambiaso recalled that in June of last year they launched the third edition of the Guide to Health tourism and Welfare of the country, where the main centers that provide services are located and explain in plain language to tourists who want to seek health services in the Dominican Republic how they can do so.
“This is a document that comes from the Medical Tourism Association, the main global entity for medical tourism, and the Dominican Association of Health tourismbut also with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and (the Ministry) of Health of the Dominican Republic”, he pointed out.
The difference between medical tourism and tourist medicine is that the former involves those who travel, take a plane to come for health care. On the other hand, tourist medicine has to do with those citizens who come to the country to visit the beaches, enjoy the culture, gastronomy and different offers and, while they are in the territory, may require medical attention.
