Israel is the world’s third most popular medical-tourism
destination overall for 2016 after Canada and the United Kingdom, according to
a recent report released by VISA and Oxford Economics.
Until now, despite Israel’s prominent role as a destination for medical tourists, the industry has been dealt with only partially up to now, causing confusion in hospitals and among medical practitioners on what they may or may not do.
Until now, despite Israel’s prominent role as a destination for medical tourists, the industry has been dealt with only partially up to now, causing confusion in hospitals and among medical practitioners on what they may or may not do.
This week a Ministerial Committee approved a bill to regulate medical tourism to Israel
which was welcomed by the Health Minister
Such a law will “create order in the field of medical treatment for tourists to Israel and contribute to the health system in general,” he said. “On one hand, we want to have medical tourism, while ensuring proper treatment for those who come for it on the other hand, we want to make sure that it will not come at the expense of Israelis and that the income from medical tourists will be invested for strengthening the public health system.”
The Tourism Minister said he was pleased by the vote, as in recent years medical tourism has become a profitable export industry that brings in a lot of foreign currency and supplies taxes, employment and a financial boost to medical institutions.
“Once patients come here, they learn about Israel, thus its image is improved and its “beautiful face” becomes apparent to visitors”, he added.
The bill also requires contacts with patients be made only with cooperation of the management of hospitals and not privately by physicians. The hospitals must also provide the Health Ministry with ongoing data on the medical tourism procedures they carry out. Additional steps will be taken to make the activities transparent so that the amount of income hospitals receive and how it is used, be open to the public.
Foreign patients should not be admitted to departments where Israeli patients already have to wait a long time for treatment, said the Tourism Minister, adding: “The ‘business’ of medical tourism must not come at the expense of Israelis.”
Such a law will “create order in the field of medical treatment for tourists to Israel and contribute to the health system in general,” he said. “On one hand, we want to have medical tourism, while ensuring proper treatment for those who come for it on the other hand, we want to make sure that it will not come at the expense of Israelis and that the income from medical tourists will be invested for strengthening the public health system.”
The Tourism Minister said he was pleased by the vote, as in recent years medical tourism has become a profitable export industry that brings in a lot of foreign currency and supplies taxes, employment and a financial boost to medical institutions.
“Once patients come here, they learn about Israel, thus its image is improved and its “beautiful face” becomes apparent to visitors”, he added.
The bill also requires contacts with patients be made only with cooperation of the management of hospitals and not privately by physicians. The hospitals must also provide the Health Ministry with ongoing data on the medical tourism procedures they carry out. Additional steps will be taken to make the activities transparent so that the amount of income hospitals receive and how it is used, be open to the public.
Foreign patients should not be admitted to departments where Israeli patients already have to wait a long time for treatment, said the Tourism Minister, adding: “The ‘business’ of medical tourism must not come at the expense of Israelis.”
The bill also requires contacts with patients be
made only with cooperation of the management of hospitals and not privately by
physicians. The hospitals must also provide the Health Ministry with ongoing
data on the medical tourism procedures they carry out. Additional steps will be
taken to make the activities transparent so that the amount of income hospitals
receive and how it is used, be open to the public.
Foreign patients should not be admitted to departments where Israeli patients already have to wait a long time for treatment, said the Tourism Minister, adding: “The ‘business’ of medical tourism must not come at the expense of Israelis.”
Foreign patients should not be admitted to departments where Israeli patients already have to wait a long time for treatment, said the Tourism Minister, adding: “The ‘business’ of medical tourism must not come at the expense of Israelis.”
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