Washington D.C is the latest US region to launch a new global medical tourism initiative, highlighting hospitals alongside monuments and hotels, in a bid to attract visitors. The local health department aims to promote healthcare and link with local hotels, restaurants, museums and sports teams. It has launched a medical tourism programme marketing local health care and attractions.
Washington D.C is the latest US region to launch a new global medical tourism initiative, highlighting hospitals alongside monuments and hotels, in a bid to attract visitors.
The local health department aims to promote healthcare and link with local hotels, restaurants, museums and sports teams. It has launched a medical tourism programme marketing local health care and attractions.
Hospitals in Washington D.C already get medical tourists, mostly from other states rather than from overseas. Dr. Joxel Garcia of the Department of Health argues: “They may have been doing medical tourism for years, but they are missing out on bigger opportunities. It has been done in a siloed way, not a systematic approach. Each local hospital has indicated they treat between 100 and 250 patients from abroad each year.”
The aim is to attract more patients to visit the region with their families, spending between $1,000 and $4,000 on the local economy, not counting hotel or airfare costs.
An attraction could be local proton beam projects. One problem could be that medical tourists may make it harder for locals to get care, and the Health Department is concerned about this.
D.C. plans to select a consultant to analyze local health care resources as well as advice on how to structure a future medical tourism programme, as well as comparing costs and benefits.
©2024 All rights reserved LaingBuisson 
