Jamaica ready for health and wellness tourism

JAMPRO says Jamaica is ready for a successful launch into the health and wellness tourism market.

President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Diane Edwards, says the country’s medical talent pool is at a stage where a successful launch into the health and wellness tourism market can be done.

A key target market could be the diaspora in the UK, USA and Canada – but there are problems that all three countries have compulsory state or private insurance so the actual potential may be much less than it seems.

JAMPRO has been trying, without much success, to promote medical and health tourism since the 1990s. JAMPRO has also been trying to attract clinics. It took four years from concept to opening for the UK based owners of the clinic, Andre Nelson and Dainty Powell, to establish the Zierlich International Dialysis Centre at the GWest Medical Complex in Montego Bay, St. James.

The centre’s key focus is to promote health and tourism in the Caribbean by providing a proactive service for early detection of chronic kidney disease and on-going support for patients living with the condition.

JAMPRO is keen on attracting more investments into the health care sector to increase innovation and services for Jamaican and international patients.