Israel’s tourism is booming and on course for a record 3.5 million tourists this year. There are many reasons for Israel’s current success in tourism, but the main factor is that it has shifted from positioning itself as a sun and sea destination competing with countries such as Cyprus, Egypt and Malta.
Tag Archive: Medical System
One of the unmentioned or seldom mentioned attributes of socialized medicine in the US is the component that if US health care becomes socialized and further limited down the line either in actuality or if the comparison either in cost or absolute comparison leads to a decline in customer service levels then a major option and stop gap to those waiting in line in other countries , those who do not want to wait or those who wish a higher caliber of medical service at home – and are willing to pay or sacrifice to pay – becomes less if not available.
In socialized medicine what happens over time is that the system responds to itself , not to the ultimate customer. The doctor , who was previously the head of the team , on in previous – pre team work times – was the absolute power and arbitrage. Not so in socialized medicine. The doctor answers to the clinic that employs him or her , or to bureaucrats not to the consumer. On top of that it is not as if the medical consumer has a choice. Imagine a medtravel tourist complaining in writing to an address . The bureaucrat /s could care less. Their concern is their budget , their charts and graphs. On top of that their biggest responsibility is not to get their boss or themselves in trouble or draw attention to themselves.If a letter or email arrives – so what . That person lives far away. they cannot even vote or complain to the health minister or political party leaders – who cares. Its a matter for the medical bureaucratic system to put in time for its pension , go to lunch go home at 3:30 – stop the work on the graphs and charts at 2:30 p.m. Thats about it. On top of that to pretend and actually believe in their mind and heart of hearts that the world and especially the medical system functioning is dependent on them and their unique and powerful administrative skills.
After all the less resources available in the end after pilfering the medical system of funds , the more the need for more administration to parcel out those limited resources in the medical and healthcare systems.
An interesting case in point regarding the concerns of the trending towards “Socialized Medicine” in America. One of the major points of medicine in the United States it that it is still profit driven to a great degree. This is true , however on the other hand there is feedback in the system leading to better care. If I do not like the level of care – many patients can reason – I can go to another doctor / hospital / care provider. The system is rewarded or punished for good or poor service levels or good or poor value. There is a feedback system in check. Poor performers or poor providers are punished.
It is true that many patients who are in dire straights are not given a choice. They are deathly ill or without other access and must take what they are given.
In spite of its apparent costs the beauty of the American system is that is available. Costs are what they are , however when oil sheiks need treatment – and money is no object – where do they run – its to the US. Its not even to “private British hospitals ” nowadays.
Hence the American medical system remains an escape valve . If a patient in dire straights in behind the ques in a country with socialized or limited medical care he or she can always go to the States for treatment. Money has limited value if you are dead or in no shape to enjoy its mettle.
The interesting thing is that although Canada is held up as a model of available medical care with a socialized medical care system that when major political figures – not even the wealthy , have serious illness , its to the US that they run in a snap. This is so widely reported and so common , Canadians ( who may well be in a treatment ques for an extended period for serious or debilitating medical illness ) do not even bat an eye towards this and question it. Nothing much that can be done when it comes to the slowness of the medical system and all its bureaucracies .
Thus in spite of its failing , high costs etc the value of the American medical system , among other paradoxes is that it remains a good safety valve – available always when needed and in addition providing pressure as a good example in point to other less available or efficient medical systems of the world.
TheSpec.com – Local – Hotline will find you family doctor – A doctor shortage exists partly because in past years there were not enough students taken into medical schools to make up for those who were retiring. Also, Ontario’s population has grown, among other factors. …
HealthZone.ca – News & Features – New hotline to find MDs – A doctor runs through the medical history of a new patient on her first time visit to a health clinic in Toronto. Studies indicate that nearly one in every 13 Ontario residents does not have a regular family physician. … Natalie Mehra, director of the health-care advocacy group, the Ontario Health Coalition, said the doctor shortage is a “big problem” all over the province, particularly in Kingston, Windsor, Sarnia, Brockville and northern Ontario. …
Doctor Shortage? – We all know there is a doctor shortage in the US. There aren’t enough doctors to care for the patients. Especially, primary/family doctors. The bottleneck is said to be in the number of available residencies and rotations. …
Hospitalists,nocturnalists,admitologists,anyone rember personal … – A recent perceptive,poignant, essay has attracted the attention of two of my favorite medical bloggers. Dr. RW and DB have both blogged about this entry by Dr. Cherie Glazner. At least the patient described in the narrative saw a …
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What is interesting to note is that even the medical insurance industry has now stepped into the act of evaluation , promotion and use of medical tourism both as a cost saving and queue shortening procedure..
Some will say that the basic tactic and reputation of insurance companies is to gladly accept insurance premiums while trying to shirk or avoid payouts. While this is not true, it is true that as if with any business profitability is key. Thus any cost savings or reductions are highly powered for any insurance provider or company due to its very powerful effect on the bottom line. Any cost savings are money earned for the firm. The one major concern to medical insurance providers who utilize medical tourism in an effort to save costs is prevention of any additional costs – whether it is for additional therapy when the patient returns home and has problems, or even of lawsuits. For patients themselves it can be a nightmare. The foreign medical care may be protected first by actual geographic and cost logistics, their legal and / or medical system and the costs of conducting legal actions in the far away foreign country. As a result the first actions of unhappy or ill treated medical tourists who have been sent for far away medical care by their health care insurance company is to seek redress from their insurance provider.
As a result health care insurance companies have shied away from using medical tourism and medical tourist facilities – at least until the cost structure more than justified it.
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To many overseas , or even in Canada , the concept of not being provided with medical care – uninsured or not insured , or not being able to afford medical care may sound unlikely or even preposterous. Yet it is the sad fact for many in the United States. On top of that health care costs themselves in the U.S. compared to other places are relatively much higher. This is said to be the result of many causes – not one in themeselves. It costs money to run a business – especially in the states. Doctors not only have to be paid relatively large pay scales compared to the U.K., Europe and Canada and yet their costs are not small . Doctors have to pay substantial costs for health care insurance due to the plague or almost an industry of lawsuits against them. It is said that having 2 lawyers in a town increases the total costs of legal services and total services used immensely . Imagine a whole industry based on seeking lawsuits against medical practitioners. Its defensive medical system at its finest. On top of that add other costs – costs of modern equipment , running a hospital often with unionized staff . On more point is the cost of administration – both in the medical insurance plans and companies for administration and non payment and collection of bills to doctors.
What is interesting is that even though patients and health care consumers in other countries with socialized or public health care believe all in all that their healthcare is “free” even though they may be subsidizing it greatly with tax dollars either specifically collected for that purpose or from general tax accounts – from say gasoline taxes or income taxes.
Even though these citizens may be astounded that someone in America will gladly pay for medical treatment in their countries the actual consumer may see it as a tremendous bargain and value when all costs are counted up. Its similar to a Canadian citizen making a special trip to farwaway Texas or Florida to purchase a automobile to bring it back to Canada. Even though the car may be manufactured in Canada under free trade Nafta rules when it is all said and done they may be greatly ahead in the bargain – even when including travel as well as other costs. To boot they even get a sort of vacation away from home during the cold Canadian winter. The Canadian car industry may not like it , however you cannot “have your cake and it too”. If these local north american industries wish to benefit from the economies of scale that a free larger market provides for , they cannot pick and choose what rules and procedures they wish to follow and which they don’t. The only people in the equation who may be perplexed may well be the customs officers at the Canadian border who when finding that even when the rules are followed , they cannot stop the process. It is all perfectly legal and proper. If the customs agent was not suave enough to use those same rules – and even contacts to obtain a similar bargain that is their issue and not one of the thorough and determined modern consumer.
<p><a href=’http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/nip-and-tuck-solutions-take-price-medical-tourism-down-under’>Nip and Tuck Solutions take the price of Medical Tourism Down …</a> – This is the age of affordable international travel and with it has come the rise of medical tourism and healthcare. Nip and Tuck Solutions Australia has seen a dramatic increase in demand for Medical tourism services for Australian …</p>
<p><a href=’http://www.groundreport.com/article.php?articleID=2872902&offset=2′>GroundReport | Malaysia | Medical Tourism an extra advantage to …</a> – As healthcare becomes increasingly expensive, savvy patients are now looking to Medical Tourism as a cost-effective alternative to receiving medical treatment and Malaysia stands out to be the best option available. …</p>
<p><a href=’http://malaysiahotelnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/medical-tourism-feeling-slight-pain.html’>Malaysia Hotel News: Medical tourism feeling slight pain from turmoil</a> – Mahkota Medical Centre Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Francis Lim was of the view that Malacca could gain from the slowdown. “We may benefit as we still have price advantage over Singapore … unless Singapore adjusts their prices …</p>
<p><a href=’http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-danger-of-medical-tourism.html’>The Danger of Medical Tourism!</a> – What can appear to be an attractive and relatively cheap prospect for those considering some form of plastic surgery, can often turn into an expensive nightmare. The perils of medical tourism. The Danger of Medical Tourism!.</p>
<p><a href=’http://medicalnewstodayblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/wellpoint-pilot-program-will-provide.html’>Medical News Today: WellPoint Pilot Program Will Provide Coverage …</a> – “It allows the customers to have choice,” Hashmi said, adding, “Certainly the cost difference is striking enough for some procedures.” According to the Star, the proliferation of medical tourism programs like WellPoint’s could “create …</p>
<p><a href=’http://indolac.wordpress.com/2008/11/25/medical-tourism-to-india-all-expenses-paid/’>Medical Tourism to India, All Expenses Paid</a> – In January, Serigraph Inc., a West Bend, Wis., manufacturer, will become the first US company of any size to embrace medical travel or medical tourism, offering employees the option of having certain nonemergency operations, …</p>
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Global economic recession: A blessing for Indian medical tourism ... - According to Ankur Bharti, consultant, Technopak Health, cost-cutting would be the main growth driver for the country’s medical tourism this year. “Cost-cutting would be the main reason why more international patients would come to ...
Tourism plan forms part of Oman commercial growth - Travel ... - Tourism plan forms part of Oman commercial growth. by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Tuesday, 02 December 2008. HOTEL PLAN: Omran has signed a deal with IHG to build a new ...
There are a number of valid concerns regarding medical tourism that should be addressed before medical and procedure as well as travel plans are put into place.
In many cases the reasons for choosing medical tourism and having a medical or surgical assessment or procedure done outside your home catchment area involve questions of cost and economy. In other cases its to get the procedure done more rapidly ( to jump the que) . In the cases of a business person they can often more than justify costs spent in terms of return on their income – not being disabled or inconvenienced by a surgically repairable illness or to linger with a given medical condition. In other cases the procedure may be done away from home for reasons of privacy and confidentiality.
Remember that in the end its your health and life that is on the line. Unless standards and what one might call”workmanship”- in both technical expertise of the medical staff – including doctors , specialists , nursing and hospital staff etc, is not up to “snuff” , then the whole exercise will be a wasted effort , false economy. Potentially it can even be a tragic or even lethal result for yourself or members of your family.
First of all remember that traveling abroad to get medical care goes both ways. The door swings in both manners. When among the most wealthy in the world , say for example oil sheiks , need medical care , the choice , more often than not , are prestigous American medical and hospital facilities such as the Mayo Clinic or Rochestor Minnesota , or John Hopkins in Baltimore Maryland. The United States and its medical system is a very common and standard destination for people of means and wealth who seek what they perceive and regard as the very best care in the world for particular health problems and concerns. Indeed for these people of wealth and/or power , money is of no object – its the highest level of health care that they seek.
Medical tourism is not new. While the term “medical tourism ” may be of recent origin the whole idea of traveling abroad to seek less expensive or more rapidly available medical care is not. Some can even trace the original concepts and practices of what we now regard with the standard term of “medical tourism” all the way back in history to the ancient Greeks.
It all sounds great . Medical tourism seems on the surface to be a win-win situation for those patients and customers who wish to avail themselves of these services. The patient gets served and serviced. They get their medical needs taken of at less cost , or quicker. In the process they both save money , have their procedures completed. On top of that they may have a “free” enjoyable vacation and may reside in hospitals with decor , food and service levels akin to that of a 5 star hotel.