Health Sector: Surf, Sand and Medical Tourism

Nowadays in Mexico we have a lot of potential in the health sector, but also there is a considerable demand on the health tourism sector. Initially we had this demand due to the operation costs in the area where they were more accessible and people traveled to the country to realize some procedure such as: plastic surgery and special treatments. In Mexico in medicine we have multiple lines and one that has been placed as one of the most important is the functional medicine, alternative and holistic therapies. In the US this type of medicine is very restricted, what generates a search there to other countries like Mexico. In Mexico medicine is ambiguous and has different techniques that are not prohibited and pursued on a wide acceptance and excellent response. Mexico strives to be among the top destinations for health and wellness tourism in the world, and its close proximity and cost savings of up to and even over 50% for surgeries and medical procedures when compared to the same procedures in the US make it a popular destination indeed. It also boasts more than 100 certified hospitals by international standards of the Joint Commission International, alternative medicine such as hydrotherapy and thalassotherapy, amongst others. This led the government and private companies to invest during the review period in hospitals and hotels in main cities such as Monterrey, Puebla, Puerto Vallarta, Querétaro, San Luis Río Colorado, Riviera Maya, Tijuana and Mexico City. The purpose is to increase and improve infrastructure to offer high-quality services in order to attract more health and wellness tourism and increase its permanence in the country. Some of these projects are known as Health City or Medical City and include all services that patients and their families would need (accommodation, transportation and attractions, amongst others). International visitors appreciate Mexican destinations for their diversity of experiences to every style of traveler. Tourists from all over the world who have visited Mexico, have also discovered that health care and medical treatments provided in our country comply with world class standards, high quality personal service and very competitive prices compared to those in countries such as the United States of America and Canada. National and international medical and health institutions have certified the infrastructure of hospitals and qualifications of healthcare professionals in Mexican medical destinations. Patients around the world are traveling to Mexico to receive high quality treatments, particularly in orthopedic, cardiology, dental and plastic surgery procedures, which are conducted at internationally accredited hospitals, equipped with the latest technology and staffed by medical professionals with different specialties and high experience and recognition. Mexico has more than a dozen destinations specialized in medical tourism, where touristic providers join medical care of the highest quality to meet the fields of oncology, orthopedics, cardiology, general surgery, plastic surgery and gastroenterology. The International Joint Commission has accredited 7 hospitals in our country. In turn, the Federal Ministry of Health has provided certification for 105 hospitals, 98 of which are equivalent to international standards. Medical Tourism in Mexico is staffed by highly qualified doctors and nurses to provide care and service with worldwide quality through an extensive infrastructure with cutting-edge medical technology. Medical checkups, preventive care, specialized surgery and the recovery process of our tourists, are promoted and monitored with warmth and professionalism of our service during your entire trip, making your stay comfortable and safe in our country. To complete the process in optimal conditions, we have the best conditions for total recovery: different climates by region, from warm to temperate, with healthy and regulated environments, hotels and touristic destinations internationally recognized for its diversity and appeal. More than one million international retirees have chosen Mexican picturesque destinations for extended stays or permanent residence. Not only because of the beauty of Mexican landscapes, lakes, beaches and colonial cities, but also because of the infrastructure available: residences, villas, apartments and hotels, as well as clinics and hospitals. Mexico has a wide variety of properties, houses and assisted living facilities, at very competitive costs and with great benefits. Our first advocates as retirement destinations are precisely those retirees and their communities. We have often heard comments such as:

“We prefer Mexican destinations because of the friendliness of their people, great weather conditions, incomparable attractions and very tempting costs”. Medical professionals in Mexico are highly trained and up to date on specialty techniques in dentistry, ophthalmology and aesthetic treatments. They offer to their patients a wide variety of medical services in prevention, specialty and surgical procedures.