KHALEEJ TIMES, Monday, Sep 14, 2020 | Muharram 26, 1442
UAE No.1 in GCC for medical tourism
Emirates:
With Dubai and Abu Dhabi ranked among the top 10 global destinations for
people travelling overseas to obtain medical treatment, the GCC has secured
the title "medical tourism capital of the world", with the UAE ranked first
in the GCC, as per a new global index.
The latest Medical Tourism Index for 2020-2021 ranked Dubai and Abu Dhabi ninth
globally. Among GCC countries, Oman was ranked second and Bahrain came in at
third, according to the Medical Tourism Association. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
have been placed fourth and sixth, respectively.
As all its member countries ranked on the index of leading destinations to seek
treatment, the GCC medical tourism market, which is on track to reach $28
billion by the end of 2024, has claimed the position as the medical tourism
capital of the world.
Overall, Canada took the crown as the No.1 destination for medical tourism on
the index developed by the International Healthcare Research Centre based on
American perceptions of medical care in 46 places abroad. The US was followed by
Singapore, Japan, Spain, the UK, Dubai, Costa Rica, Israel, Abu Dhabi and India
among the top 10.
The destinations were rated in different criteria, including the state of the
medical tourism industry, destination attractiveness and quality of care.
The rankings in the index are based on a variety of factors, including the
destination environment, patient experience, current levels of medical tourism,
and the attractiveness of traditional tourism.
Judges praised Dubai's "comprehensive system", while Oman was noted as a "high
quality healthcare destination". Bahrain's high number of annual visitors and
connection to neighbouring Saudi Arabia via the 25-kilometre King Fahd Causeway
were highlighted as key factors in its ranking as a medical tourism destination.
Prominent health institutions have been operating in the region - including the
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, which operates in Bahrain, along with the
planned $270 million King Abdulla Medical City, which provides opportunities for
further healthcare investment.
Bahrain is becoming a regional leader in specialised healthcare - with
particular strength in cardiology and oncology - offering exciting growth
opportunities, a centralised location and promising talent. A focus on medical
technology is driven by strong technical infrastructure, which also helps to
provide more research data to enhance medical practices.
The value of the GCC medical tourism market was about $15.5 billion in 2017, and
it is expected to grow to $28 billion by the end of 2024, with a compound annual
growth rate of about 8.8 per cent between 2018 and 2024.
According to the International Medical Travel Journal, global medical tourism
spends on foreign treatment for GCC citizens amount to more than $2 billion per
year. This high level of demand has resulted in an increase in local facilities
offering new options for citizens, residents and tourists alike.
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