IMTJ analyst Ian Youngman offers up his medical tourism version of the famous English carol.
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world.
Being ungrateful I replied “…but how, and when?“
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world, and
- A broad medical tourism strategy.
Still ungrateful I replied “…but how, when, how much?“
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world,
- A broad medical tourism strategy, and
- A medical tourism plan.
The ungrateful I replied “…but when, how much? “
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world,
- A broad medical tourism strategy,
- A medical tourism plan, and
- A five-year costing.
Ever ungrateful I replied “…but who will pay? “
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world,
- A broad medical tourism strategy,
- A medical tourism plan,
- A five-year costing, and
- A promise from politicians that the state will back the plan.
Utterly ungrateful I replied “…but will these politicians give me a five year budget? “
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world,
- A broad medical tourism strategy,
- A medical tourism plan,
- A five-year costing,
- A promise from politicians that the state will back the plan, and
- A five-year budget.
Obstructively ungrateful I replied “….but what happens if these politicians lose the next election? “
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world,
- A broad medical tourism strategy,
- A medical tourism plan,
- A five-year costing,
- A promise from politicians that the state will back the plan,
- A five-year budget, and
- A promise that they will win the election
Woefully ungrateful I replied, “…I have read the plan, but cannot see who the target market is?“
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world,
- A broad medical tourism strategy,
- A medical tourism plan,
- A five-year costing,
- A promise from politicians that the state will back the plan,
- A five-year budget,
- A promise that they will win the election, and
- A target of every country in the world.
Unreasonably ungrateful I replied, “…a global target market is ridiculous, please narrow it“
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world,
- A broad medical tourism strategy,
- A medical tourism plan,
- A five-year costing,
- A promise from politicians that the state will back the plan,
- A five-year budget,
- A promise that they will win the election, and
- A target of 10 countries.
Consistently ungrateful I replied, “…but what is our offer to these markets?“
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world,
- A broad medical tourism strategy,
- A medical tourism plan,
- A five-year costing,
- A promise from politicians that the state will back the plan,
- A five-year budget,
- A promise that they will win the election,
- A target of 10 countries, and
- A list of five specific treatment packages.
Unseasonably ungrateful I replied, “…it’s an overall medical travel plan, but where’s the marketing strategy?“
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world,
- A broad medical tourism strategy,
- A medical tourism plan,
- A five-year costing,
- A promise from politicians that the state will back the plan,
- A five-year budget,
- A promise that they will win the election,
- A target of 10 countries,
- A list of five specific treatment packages, and
- A detailed marketing strategy.
Endlessly ungrateful I replied, “…I have read the strategy but cannot see any research that backs up what we are going to offer? “
On the twelfth day of Christmas my (exasperated) true love gave to me:
- An idea to make my country the biggest best cheapest medical tourism destination in the world,
- A broad medical tourism strategy,
- A medical tourism plan,
- A five-year costing,
- A promise from politicians that the state will back the plan,
- A five-year budget,
- A promise that they will win the election,
- A target of 10 countries,
- A list of five specific treatment packages,
- A detailed marketing strategy, and
- Some vague generic research.
Becoming pragmatic, I replied “…but when does a medical tourism strategy or plan ever survive contact with reality? “
My true love is now finding another present.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
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