Welcoming the world's ills - Haaretz - Israel News

Welcoming the world's ills - Haaretz - Israel News
"For example, people come here from Cyprus, Bulgaria and elsewhere, .... and will soon begin to distribute a special guide for potential medical tourists, ...
Welcoming the world's ills - Haaretz - Israel News
replacement surgery, for which he will have had to wait 18 months, can be performed in Israel within 10 days. seek cheaper or better alternatives elsewhere. guide, "Patients Beyond Borders," which lists all the affordable and desirable medical treatments available around the world. tisement In India, for example, the development of medical tourism has been declared a national goal, with the aim of reaching an annual revenue of $1.2 billion by 2012. emselves, along with the money patients and their families have spent on accommodations, sightseeing and shopping, have brought no less than $40 million into Israel's coffers. Bulgaria and elsewhere, all countries with high-quality health care that don't always cater to all specializations - bone marrow transplants, for instance, are not performed in Cyprus. ause they can get first-rate health care for a fraction of what it will cost them in the U.S. enses, the patient pays less than one-third of what the same operation will cost in the U.S." In vitro fertilization (IVF) is another reason why medical tourists flock to Israel, known for its high success rates and considerably lower costs: IVF costs $3,000-$3,500 here, compared to $16,000-$20,000 in the U.S. ause, unfortunately, we have so much experience in treating trauma." Then, of course, there is the Dead Sea, the most famous therapeutic resort in the world for psoriasis patients. ause a person who travels to Israel for surgery and is treated warmly and meets nice, helpful Israelis goes back home and becomes an ambassador for Israel," says Nir Crystal, head of marketing at the Herzliya Medical Center, which treats thousands of medical tourists every year. search of information, so we have to network as much as possible with agents who pass information on to each other. based on a great deal of personal work and contacts, and we are now beginning to enjoy the fruits of our marketing efforts, which started more than a decade ago." Another useful tool for the hospitals is, of course, the Internet. research project conducted at Hadassah involving multiple sclerosis. research is still at a very early stage. ause we have been investing in marketing, and the potential is enormous," says Rotem. resent during the hospital stay and even organizing sightseeing tours after the release from the hospital." State hospitals also go to great lengths to escort the patient, who, besides being in a delicate physical condition, is unfamiliar with both the country and language: "The contact begins months before the actual procedure," Bergman says. lose to these patients." By the way, foreign nationals coming to Israel for treatment can choose their hospital, but they cannot always choose the surgeon, as regulations forbidding private medical care at state hospitals apply to them, too. Yosef, the director general of Hadassah, said a year ago that he estimated the income from this activity can reach $100 million a year. seriously as the Indian government does - the sky is the limit." The state has indeed begun to grasp the potential and will soon begin to distribute a special guide for potential medical tourists, co- produced by the health and tourism ministries. star Angelina Jolie takes on Iraq as UN goodwill ambassador. aise Hezbollah leader Nasrallah compliments on the Winograd Committee report. onses: 155 Palestinian PM: Peace deal with Israel 'unlikely' this year Responses: 51 Editorial: Open the Rafah crossing Responses: 58 B. pose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea.