siliconindia | | December 20199over the previous year with popular areas of treatment for medical tourists being orthopedics, dermatology and ophthalmology. A further study of the figures shows 37 percent of the medical tourists came to Asian countries, while tourists from Arab and GCC countries accounted for 31 percent and visitors from Europe accounted for 15 percent. Due to the rising healthcare costs in the west and lack of insurance coverage for certain procedures people are traveling to other countries to seek medical, dental, and surgical care. The healthcare infrastructure in developed countries is not growing at the same rate as the aging population is growing and it is increasing the demand for medical tourism. This resulting stress on the Social Health Delivery Systems in western and advanced countries has proved advantageous for new medical tourism hubs like the UAE. The time is perfect for the UAE to take the lead. All it requires is to beef-up its existing healthcare infrastructure. The biggest advantage UAE has is a strong health regulation framework, which has helped to ensure quality healthcare in the past and with proof to be a catalyst for medical tourism. In recent times, we have observed investment coming from both the government as well as the private sector in the medical sector that is supporting economic growth. In fact, medical tourism is expected to contribute $708 million to the GDP of the UAE by 2020, with 13 percent predicted year-on-year revenue growth, according to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Pharmaceuticals and medical equipment are two of the priority sub-sectors listed under the 2030 Dubai Industrial Strategy that aims to promote the emirate as a global platform for sustainable and innovation-focused businesses. The UAE Ministry of Health has plans to have 34 indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturing factories by 2020. The expected market value of the UAE's pharmaceutical industry is to reach a value of AED25 billion by 2025. With advances in unique and innovative marketing strategies, UAE is adding new dimensions in the medical tourism industry. In April 2016, the Health Tourism Council launched the world's first medical tourism portal, Dubai Health Experience (www.dxh.ae), offering access to a comprehensive list of health and related services with exciting and attractive wellness, cosmetic and dental packages along with ophthalmology, orthopedics, physiotherapy, and other specialized medical services. Not only the websites, but the flexible compatibility of the websites along with their android apps has also taken the offers to people sitting miles away. What is to be done? The levels of awareness about the benefits of global health insurance in several emerging markets are low and that has to be enhanced significantly for the medical tourism segment. The need of the time is to focus on efforts to realign the perception of affordability over need-based health services. Throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the volume of international patients has grown in the past 15 years. Spending on healthcare services is on the rise across the globe, and governments are required to invest in healthcare to bring patients to their respective countries. In the UAE, the government has taken significant steps by encouraging private players to enter the healthcare sector. These investments are necessary and have made the country more attractive for medical tourists. The Advantages UAE hasOne of the most crucial advantages that make the UAE most advantageous is its geo-position. The Middle East is an ideal medical tourism hub for its strategic location. The UAE is only an eight-hour flight away from two-thirds of the world's population. That is the main reason, why UAE and particularly Dubai, is attracting medical tourists and thus, on the line of becoming a global medical tourism destination. The need to build world-class healthcare is one of the pillars of the National Agenda of the United Arab Emirates, and the UAE government is putting massive efforts to ensure effective and timeless collaboration to build an effective healthcare system. Role of Health InsuranceThe healthcare ecosystem is made up of various stakeholders, from providers to regulators and insurance service providers. The development of a successful medical tourism hub is extremely dependent on such elements at every level and combining their strengths, UAE will be in a position to offer a seamless and integrated healthcare experience. Access to global coverage and local expertise serves to support medical tourism in regional markets. Dubai aims to attract 500,000 medical tourists by 2020, supported by Expo 2020 and the continued development of the healthcare sector. The biggest advantage UAE has is a strong health regulation framework, which has helped to ensure quality healthcare in the past and with proof to be a catalyst for medical tourism
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