Having mostly failed to attract people from Scandinavia and Western Europe, and with few if any medical tourists from Poland, Belarus is concentrating on former Soviet Block countries.
Russia used to account for anything up to 90% of tourism, health tourism and medical tourism. But with the problems in the Russian economy and fall in value of the ruble, this has gone down to 60% or 70%.
The two other main countries that medical tourists come from are Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Numbers are rising from the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) and Israelis who speak Russian.
Most medical tourists seek cosmetic surgery or dental treatment. Others go for cancer care.
Treatment costs are low, as are the prices for food and accommodation. Belarus has a central location in Europe and close proximity to the Baltic capitals, St. Petersburg, and Moscow. But is still very much an unknown quantity for Europeans and Scandinavians.
Most healthcare and tourism providers are only set up for Russian speakers-which puts others off.
Clinics and hospitals are attracted by foreign currency- or better still by cash that magically makes queues and problems disappear for locals and foreigners.
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