Governments suggest medical tourists should be treated to a higher standard

Should governments try to establish healthcare and quality standards specifically for medical tourists? In his Second Opinion column, Dr Constantine Constantinides from healthCare cybernetics, asks whether medical tourists should get “special treatment”?

Should governments try to establish healthcare and quality standards specifically for medical tourists? In his Second Opinion column, Dr Constantine Constantinides from healthCare cybernetics, asks whether medical tourists should get “special treatment”?

…Special Healthcare Quality for Medical Tourists from abroad?

Decision-makers in tourism destinations who also aim to attract medical tourists look for ways in which they can make the destination more attractive than competing destinations. One idea that is gaining attention is to promote the concept that all healthcare facilities and providers serving medical tourists are specially certified or accredited.Some governments are even considering mandating the special certification or accreditation of facilities serving medical tourists from abroad.
For me, the question is: “In terms of quality and standard of care, what makes treating a medical traveller any different from treating the ‘locals’?”
Any healthcare professional will claim and prove that there is no difference – and there should be no difference. It needs to be pointed out that the kind of certification and accreditation to which I refer relates to “quality and standards of care”, not to services which may be specific to the cultural and language needs of international patients.

What governments may do… and which ministry

Let us assume that governments have the right to take the initiative of introducing a “register” listing facilities and providers with some certification or accreditation, in addition to the mandatory “license”.
Which ministry should then serve as the competent authority to administer the assessment, registration and listing scheme?
Some would say that it should be the Ministry of Tourism because “it is all about tourists”. Others would argue that it should be the Ministry of Health, since it concerns the provision of health-related services (and the nature, quality and standards of these services). Besides, it is the Ministry of Health which regulates, assesses and licenses these facilities and providers.
Of course, the rational-minded will successfully argue that, in terms of “clinical practices” and the quality of “healthcare provision”, treating foreigners should be no different to treating the locals. Consequently, no special legislation should apply to facilities and providers treating health consumers from abroad.
Any certification or accreditation – in addition to the mandatory license – should be purely optional.

Looking at the popular and trusted medical tourism destinations in Europe

If we accept that countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany – and also France, Switzerland and Austria – are popular and trusted European medical tourism destinations… how many facilities and providers in these destinations have any certification or accreditation aimed at specifically convincing and persuading medical tourists?
Can you name any?
Makes you think – doesn’t it?