The growing pace of globalization within the healthcare sector is creating new opportunities for companies and specialists, according to a Singaporean expert set to speak in Dubai this month.
Although many people have traditionally opted to stay in their home country for treatment, the increasingly international accessibility of clinical service means that more people than ever before now have the option of seeking medical treatment abroad.
Combined with the greater ease of global travel and the special facilities available for medical travelers, the world is seeing a far more mobile international patient population.
“This major new change presents challenges and opportunities to national health services,” according to Dr. Jason Yap, Director of Healthcare Services, Singapore Tourism Board.
“The medical travel market ranges from simple cosmetic and commoditized surgeries like hip replacements, to highly specialized tertiary and quaternary services for critical illnesses and relatively rare conditions,” said Dr. Yap.
“As healthcare globalizes and the world increasingly flattens, options available to patients have increased tremendously in recent years. This is a good thing as patients have more choice and more patients obtain the healthcare they seek,” he added.
Singapore welcomed 410,000 medical travelers in 2006 and is increasingly being seen as a model for the development of a globally-focused healthcare system combining both public and private involvement.
“Singapore is one of the best places in the world in terms of the quality of medical care and range of services. In fact, our medical system is almost too developed for our population size,” he commented. “That's why we have to bring in international visitors, so that we can continue to have the very best treatment and facilities for both our Singaporean patients as well as overseas visitors.”
Dr. Yap recognizes that many healthcare systems in the Middle East have developed along almost the opposite trajectory. Countries have historically sent a high volume of national patients abroad for treatment, and are now incorporating many of the lessons learned into developing their own international healthcare offering.
At this year’s Arab Health Congress, Dr. Yap will be delivering two key note presentations examining these issues.
The first – “What defines success in global healthcare?” – will look at the national and organizational models that help drive countries to excel in the global healthcare market. The second – “Should the public sector get involved?” – will examine the relationship between public and private healthcare, using Singapore’s system as a model.
In many ways, Dr. Yap is the ideal candidate to promote medical travel to Singapore. His mother traveled from Malaysia to the city state to give birth to him years ago, “so I am the product of medical travel”, he says.
Arab Health, which takes place at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from 28-31 January 2008, will feature the highly comprehensive Arab Health Congress. The conferences are accredited by the American Academy of Continuing Medical Education (AACME).
About SingaporeMedicine
SingaporeMedicine is a multi-agency government-industry partnership to develop and promote Singapore as a medical hub. In 2006, as many as 410,000 international patients came to Singapore specifically for healthcare, and many more sought her quality healthcare on trips for other purposes. In 2000, the World Health Organization ranked Singapore as having the best healthcare system in Asia, with excellent healthcare outcomes for her people while maintaining affordability.
With one third of all Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited facilities in Asia, Singapore offers internationally trained and respected healthcare professionals, advanced technology and the latest and safest drugs, backed by a sound research foundation, for better diagnostics and outcomes. International patient liaison services, a cosmopolitan culture, convenient access and transport, and a clean and safe environment provide peace of mind to healthcare visitors and their families in their time of need. For more information, visit www.singaporemedicine.com.
