New report on medical tourism in Jamaica

The report says facilities in both the Jamaican private and public health care sectors are insufficient to attract medical tourists, but Hospiten, a private investor, is considering building a new purpose built 200-bed hospital in Montego Bay, St James. This hospital would provide facilities for Jamaican private clients, tourists in Jamaica and overseas medical tourists. This would involve an initial investment of US$20 million. Grupo Hospiten is an international network of private hospitals, with twelve hospitals in major cities and tourist centres in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

According to the report, the first step in developing medical tourism is to agree on a clear government policy which would clarify and define roles and responsibilities for ministries and agencies involved, provide a review of incentives for investments in medical tourism facilities and review legislation regarding medical liability insurance.

Government official Reginald Budhan said it is hoped that Cabinet can be convinced to make the necessary policy changes to move this forward, “We believe Jamaica can accrue significant benefit from the development of this sector. Given the demand for Jamaican nurses and doctors abroad, Jamaica has a competitive advantage in health and wellness. If you are not critically ill, it must be a good thing to be able to go to a place for treatment where you can have a vacation at the same time. Jamaica’s proximity to the large US market with its ageing population and high cost of medical care, as well as its established tourism product with excellent hotel and tourism services and low labour cost, positions it to take advantage of medical tourism. The report has indicated that for one sub-sector within the health and wellness industry mainstream medical tourism can generate as much as $200 million over four years from one investment in a 20-bed hospital. Medical tourists spend as much as US$5000 a week, more than double what tourists spend.” But Budhan warns that much work needs to be undertaken to package Jamaica’s offering for investment and to promote a local product.

Since January 2011, Jamaica Promotions Corporation  (JAMPRO) has been spearheading the national drive to diversify tourism investments into the area of health and wellness. In September 2009, the government demonstrated its commitment by approving a submission to package appropriate opportunities for investments in the sector and establish a National Health and Wellness Taskforce. The taskforce, at JAMPRO, is responsible for supervising and developing medical tourism with help from the ministries of tourism and health. Dr Dana Morris Dixon of JAMPRO says that the medical tourism sector was identified as a key area of importance for the government as the health and wellness sector has the potential to spur employment and investment in Jamaica.