In the face of government indifference, it’s clear that the medical-travel industry needs to unite and work together to effect any change in government policy and to make the most of limited budgets and influence. A major problem is the prohibition on doctors receiving referrals from commercial entities (which includes medical-travel agencies). Clearly agencies need to lobby for a change in this policy and organising themselves into an association would seem a logical first step.
In South Africa, this attempt foundered for a number of reasons, not least that the founder members could not agree on the membership criteria (particularly with regards to transparency). The government was approached to mediate, but declined, partly because if agencies succeeded in being regarded as section 21 non-profit companies, for the purpose of avoiding the prohibition, they would benefit from resultant government subsidies.
Yet, the idea was a good one, and the Mission Statement (provided here by Lorraine Melville of founding member Surgeon & Safari) and intended description was worth pursuing:
Mission Statement
As independent service providers the members of the Medical Tourism Association of South Africa are committed to maintaining the highest quality standards of service excellence as independent facilitators within the South African Medical Tourism Industry for those they serve.
Description
The Medical Tourism Association of South Africa, incorporated as a section 21 Non-Profit Organization # 2006/023040/08, is a professional body representing South Africa’s leading Medical Tour Operators, Facilitation and Evacuees Agents offering the highest standards of independent logistical support and assistance to private patients, corporate companies and governments throughout the world who wish to avail themselves of the undisputed quality of medical facilities, services and specialists available to them within South Africa.
Objectives
The members of the Medical Tourism Association of South Africa, who already have the highest benchmark standards in place, will continue to work independently of one another, yet in association with South Africa’s leading medical practitioners and medical facilities in order to offer the highest quality of product and service to both local and foreign clients. Thus enabling clients to make an informed choice as regards doctors, surgeons, clinics, medical facilities best suited to their individual needs within South Africa, while being offered the added reassurance regarding the professionalism of their selected medical tour operator, facilitation company and evacuee agent.
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Representing the collective interests of professional medical tour operators/facilitators/evacuee agents
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Maintaining the highest standards of ethical business practice, accountability and objectivity
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Promoting and developing medical tourism, South Africa’s growing niche market industry, both locally
and internationally
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Functioning as a network forum between the various industries associated with medical tourism in South Africa
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Facilitating new business opportunities and investments in order to promote the future growth of the South African Medical Tourism Industry
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Promoting South Africa as the leading destination for the medical tourist seeking a quality product and service
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Creating dialogue with government departments in the interests of creating wealth for the country as a whole
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Seeking support for the medical tourism industry as a growth market opportunity within the South African economy
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Establishing open dialogue with the South African Medical Council and its associated professional bodies
Membership
The Medical Tourism Association of South Africa is a professional association of independent medical tourism service providers.
Membership Categories
Membership comprises of the major players and principals in the private sector of South Africa Medical Tourism and membership is categorised as follows:
