Medical Travel International Business Summit

Health tourism is one of the fastest growing industries nowadays. More and more persons are traveling to our region looking for elective or nonelective medical treatments. Moreover, the region has become a unique health tourism destination.

8 countries and 35 lecturers to participate at Medical Tourism Congress

• Latin American Congress will be held in San Jose and Guanacaste on May 2 - 4, 2011.
• 90% of exhibiting space has been reserved.

Less than two months before the start of the Medical Travel International Business Summit, 90% of the available spaces for exhibitors are reserved and the participation of important insurance, selling and buying companies has been confirmed.

20 international and 15 national speakers will participate at this congress, offering lectures about promotion, market opportunities, safety, quality, and service certification. Additionally, companies and experts from 8 different countries have confirmed their attendance, including the United States, Canada, Thailand, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala and El Salvador.

This congress will be held on May 2 - 4 in San Jose and Guanacaste, offering an opportunity for Costa Rican and Latin American doctors, clinics, hospitals and hotels to develop new business relationships with foreign buyers looking for quality and better prices.

The event has the support of the Council for the International Promotion of Costa Rica Medicine (PROMED), the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT), the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) and organizations in the medical and tourism sectors.

"We are really satisfied with the results achieved so far. The response from national and regional businesspeople has been excellent. As well, we are very pleased to confirm the presence of most of the countries in the area, since we are convinced that the great potential of medical tourism creates opportunities for many participants", mentioned Dr. Jorge Cortes, President of PROMED.

Business alliances and roundtables
In order to increase the number of buyers present at this congress, several international alliances with facilitating companies were established, including Companion Global Healthcare, Global Medical Connections, Costa Rican Medical Care, Health Choices International and International Healthcare Access. Thanks to these companies we already have 50 confirmed buyers, including insurance companies, self-insured companies, benefit consultants and more.

Business roundtables will be held on May 2 and 3 in San Jose at the Ramada Plaza Herradura Hotel Convention Center. In partnership with PROCOMER, representatives from 75 Costa Rican and Latin American companies will have an exclusive space to generate business and alliances with medical travels buying companies.

On May 4 the congress will be held in Guanacaste at the Hilton Papagayo Hotel, where attendants will participate on training workshops, experience natural attractions and learn about medical tourism projects in the North Pacific area of the country.

About PROMED
The Council for the International Promotion of Costa Rica Medicine (PROMED) is a private nonprofit organization that coordinates the efforts to ensure the quality of the services offered by the national health industry, as well as promoting these services at an international level with the aim of consolidating the country as an international medical center and leading destination for health tourism. In order to accomplish this goal, PROMED develops regulations and promotes the certification of service providers. The organization combines health professionals, tourism service providers, health service providers, the academic sector and other related goods and service providers.

As a reference entity in the field of health tourism, PROMED promotes the coordination between the private and public sector to reach the international consolidation of the destination, a role that is carried out as the private counterpart of the Medical Tourism Cluster. The PROMED seal is the first quality guarantee seal developed by a country.

ABOUT COSTA RICA

• One of the leading countries in Medical Tourism and Health in the region
• It is ranked 36th in the world and 4th in Latin America in the area of health systems. (USA is ranked 36th).
  (The World Health Report 2000 Health Systems: Improving performance)
• The best educational system in Latin America (World Economic Forum. The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008)
• 94.9% Literacy (World Economic Forum. The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008)
• First high-tech exporter in Latin America.
• Fifth high-tech exporter in the world.
  (World Economic Forum. Global Information Technology Report 2007-2008)
• The happiest country in the world. (The New Economics Foundation, NEF)
• Happy Planet Index, 2009.

A NATURAL PARADISE

• The most highly diversified region in the world with 615 wildlife species per 10,000 square kilometers
• 25% of the territory is devoted to protected areas.
• It has 5% of the world’s total biodiversity.
• A strategic geographical location

MEDICAL TOURISM

• It invoices US$60,000 million a year worldwide.
• By 2011, the global invoice will amount to US$100,000 million a year.
• By 2015, the market potential will be 200 million people older than 50 years who will need healthcare.
• 47 million Americans do not have medical insurance.
• 108 million Americans do not have dental insurance.
• In 2007, 750,000 Americans traveled to other countries to get medical care.
• In 2010, 6 million Americans will travel to other countries to get medical care.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Individual fee:

• US $250.00 (Before April 15)
• US $350.00 (After April 15)

Please Click Here to request more information