Medical tourists flock to SA
Tue, 14 Nov 2006
South Africa is becoming an increasingly popular medical tourist destination — but the industry is not regulated or supported... and is in dire need of it. According to the managing director of Serokolo Health Tourism, Dr Tshepo Maaka,
South Africa earns some R270-million from medical tourism — when tourists travel to the country in order to get medical treatment for an existing illness. Maaka says South Africa is a destination of choice in the area, because of its
pioneering role in the medical field and its highly trained doctors. Moreover, the world class facilities go hand in hand with the booming tourism industry as a whole.
Mainstream economy?
Yet the problem is that the industry is not supported by the government, specifically from the line ministry of health, says Maaka. Whereas an economy like India has integrated medical tourism into its mainstream economy — and has benefited from it — this has not happened in SA. The industry, she says, also needs regulation and the setting of standards of operation.
"We need recognition of medical tourism as an industry in South Africa and a process to look at policy formulation for medical treatment of international patients in the country," she says,
"We also need the financial support to expose South Africa to the world as a medical tourism destination."
Highly fragmented
A further challenge faced by the industry is that it is
"highly fragmented and driven largely by third parties", adds Maaka. According to Maaka some of the current issues faced by the industry include integrating the various aspects that come into play when providing the necessary services. Some examples relate to immigration and the role of medical aid and insurance. India is not the only country to have made a success from medical tourism: Thailand is also a popular destination. According to Maaka, India in particular has key lessons to teach SA with regards to integrating the industry.
"We need to define it, understand its scope within the context of the South African market and evaluate the potential of its contribution to the growth of our economy," adds Maaka.
I-NetBridge
Medical Tourism and Cosmetic Surgery in South Africa
For years, numerous Europeans - mainly from the UK, Germany and Italy - travel to South Africa to undergo plastic surgery. They come here for the skills of South African surgeons, the excellently equipped private clinics and the favourable cost structure. Some of the most popular surgical corrections are breast enlargement or reduction, lifting of breasts, corrections of nose and ears, liposuction, stomach and face lifts. Also in great demand are eye surgery and eye laser treatments, fertility treatments as well as dental surgery and tooth implants.
The advantages at a glance
Currency Advantage
The favourable exchange rate (1 Rand = ca 0,11 Euro) makes surgery in South Africa much cheaper than is is in Europe. Including costs for airline ticket and hotel rates, one can still save thousands.
High Standard of Medical Practice
Anyone who knows the country will confirm that the South African medicine is of world standard and can easily measure up to the American or European. Some Medical innovations came from South Africa - the most famous being the first heart transplant in 1967. The hospitals are throughout excellently equipped. The luxurious finishes and furnishings impress even the most fastidious patient. Not to forget the standard and friendliness of the nursing staff.
Strict Professional Ethics und High Competence
The "Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of South Africa" has standards of admission as strict as the best in Europe. Its members are scientifically and technically up-to-date and have the experience of many years in practice. European patients in South Africa can't help noticing the relaxed and matter-of-fact manner, in which the surgeons treat them. Plastic surgery has a long tradition in South Africa. For an affluent South African lady it is just a matter of course to have a facelift, bodystyling, breast surgery or other beauty treatments done.
Recovery in Wonderful Retreats
For the time after the hospital stay, the patient has a choice of first-class hotels and guest houses in South Africa, where one can relax, recover and be pampered. Many of the venues have excellent spa facilities.
The Country's Beauty
South Africa is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the world. What you save in doctor's fees you can spend on a safari, a trip through the country, or a stay at a game lodge. South Africa offers a tremendous variety of attractive places, first-class hotels or cosy guest houses as well as an excellent gastronomy.
Source :
www.southafrica-travel.net
'Tourism growth in SA double that of world'
November 29 2006 at 10:52AM
By Dominique Herman
South Africa's growth in the number of international visitors was almost double that of the rest of the world in 2005 and the Western Cape experienced the highest-ever number of tourists in its traditionally off-season, according to the 2005/6 annual report of destination tourism agency Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU). Globally, international arrivals reached 808 million in 2005, representing a 5,5 percent growth from 766m in 2004. South Africa attained a 10,3 percent growth rate in international arrivals in 2005 - from 6,7m in 2004 to 7,4m in 2005. There was a 25,6 percent increase in total foreign direct spend, from R31,4 billion between January and September 2004 to R39,4bn during the same period in 2005, exceeding the global, Africa and regional average growth rates in receipts.
Source :
www.iol.co.za 
