9/3/2014
SAN JUAN – Puerto Rico on Tuesday presented its strategy for promoting itself as a medical tourism destination, especially among the Hispanic population of the Caribbean and the U.S. East Coast, to whom it will offer medical care ranging from dental treatment to liposuction or weight-loss surgery at prices that can be as much as 60 percent lower than in the continental United States.
“Puerto Rico has a privileged situation in this market,” said the secretary of Economic Development and Trade, Alberto Baco, during the presentation of the plan.
The Puerto Rican administration says that it commissioned a market study from which it deduces that medical costs on the island are between 40 percent and 60 percent lower than in the mainland United States.
Officials in San Juan are confident that about 3,000 jobs can be created that are linked to the industry, which is expected to serve some 30,000 patients over the next three years.
To achieve those figures, and the resulting estimated revenue of some $200 million over that three-year period, Puerto Rico must make itself known as a healthcare destination that is also able to compete with Latin America.
“It’s a new sector in Puerto Rico, which is going to create business: It’s going to (require) more hotels, like those in Bayamon and Manati, which are receiving many people,” Baco said.
“Whoever travels to have surgery doesn’t do it alone. They always go accompanied by one or two people, at a minimum, and often they remain for some additional days for the patient’s rehabilitation,” said the director of the island’s tourism agency, Ingrid Rivera.
Baco acknowledged that Puerto Rico cannot compete in price with other places in Latin America, but he noted that people who travel to receive medical care are not motivated only by saving money.
“It’s true that we’re more expensive than Latin America, but we’re a U.S. jurisdiction, which means that we offer more security and guarantees,” he said.
“When you’re going to have surgery, your main concern is going to be the training of the doctor,” Rivera said. “The majority of our doctors have studied in the U.S. and our hospitals are accredited, and certified by Medicare, just like those in the U.S.”
source
SAN JUAN – Puerto Rico on Tuesday presented its strategy for promoting itself as a medical tourism destination, especially among the Hispanic population of the Caribbean and the U.S. East Coast, to whom it will offer medical care ranging from dental treatment to liposuction or weight-loss surgery at prices that can be as much as 60 percent lower than in the continental United States.
“Puerto Rico has a privileged situation in this market,” said the secretary of Economic Development and Trade, Alberto Baco, during the presentation of the plan.
The Puerto Rican administration says that it commissioned a market study from which it deduces that medical costs on the island are between 40 percent and 60 percent lower than in the mainland United States.
Officials in San Juan are confident that about 3,000 jobs can be created that are linked to the industry, which is expected to serve some 30,000 patients over the next three years.
To achieve those figures, and the resulting estimated revenue of some $200 million over that three-year period, Puerto Rico must make itself known as a healthcare destination that is also able to compete with Latin America.
“It’s a new sector in Puerto Rico, which is going to create business: It’s going to (require) more hotels, like those in Bayamon and Manati, which are receiving many people,” Baco said.
“Whoever travels to have surgery doesn’t do it alone. They always go accompanied by one or two people, at a minimum, and often they remain for some additional days for the patient’s rehabilitation,” said the director of the island’s tourism agency, Ingrid Rivera.
Baco acknowledged that Puerto Rico cannot compete in price with other places in Latin America, but he noted that people who travel to receive medical care are not motivated only by saving money.
“It’s true that we’re more expensive than Latin America, but we’re a U.S. jurisdiction, which means that we offer more security and guarantees,” he said.
“When you’re going to have surgery, your main concern is going to be the training of the doctor,” Rivera said. “The majority of our doctors have studied in the U.S. and our hospitals are accredited, and certified by Medicare, just like those in the U.S.”
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