Mexico is the second world power in medical tourism

With an annual flow of up to three million patients from other countries, Mexico is the second power in Medical Tourism worldwide and the first in Dental Tourism, said the Secretary of Tourism of the Government of Mexico, Miguel Torruco Marqués.

At the inauguration of the X Congress of Medical Tourism on the island of Cozumel, Quintana Roo, the official said that, according to data from Patients Beyond Borders, between 1.4 million and 3 million foreign tourists are seen every year in our country, including migrants who return to Mexico to undergo various treatments, "which should not surprise us that we currently occupy the second place in Medical Tourism worldwide, second only to Thailand, as well as the first global site in Dental Tourism ", He said.

In addition, another of the specialties that has shown a remarkable rise is the plastic surgery, since Mexico is located among the five countries in the world with greater demand in this type of medical care, with ample possibilities to become the first power, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Before hundreds of doctors present at the Convention Center of this island, the world's leading cruise ship receiver, Torruco Marqués explained that the solid growth of the Medical Tourism industry in recent years is due to several factors, such as geographical location, hospital investments private, infrastructure and equipment of advanced technology, quality of medical services, exchange rate of the dollar, air frequencies with important cities of the United States, the good price of treatments and surgical interventions and the tourist attractions of Mexico.

He added that, according to figures from the Medical Tourism Association, surgeries and medical treatments in our country in specialties such as cardiology, cosmetic surgery, ophthalmology, oncology and dentistry, among others, are between 40 and 80 percent cheaper than in the American Union, where 80 percent of the tourists who travel to our territory come from for health reasons.

"In addition, the medical specialists we have are highly qualified and many of them have postgraduate studies in the best universities in the United States, which gives confidence to American patients," said the Secretary of Tourism of the Government of Mexico.

He stressed that the Tourism Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, chaired by "our good friend" Luis Alegre Salazar, has held several meetings with the Mexican Council of the Medical Tourism Industry, the Concanaco, with presidents of tourism clusters Physician and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health, among others, with the aim of designing public policies that strengthen this market segment, addressing such significant issues as certification, promotion, regulation and visas.

"We will follow up on these meetings and provide the full support of the Ministry of Tourism. Thus, together: owners of clinics and hospitals, insurers, facilitators, hoteliers, government authorities and legislators, we will make Medical Tourism in Mexico an important window of investment, employment and income of foreign currency for the development of tourism activity, which walks today with firm step and ample possibilities of growth ", assured Torruco Marqués.

And pointed out that there are many actions that the dependence under his charge takes place so that Mexico continues to be a world power in tourism and to become a tool for social reconciliation, benefiting the marginalized sectors of the local population.

"Medical friends, aware of the importance of Medical Tourism and of the possibilities we have to develop this segment, in the current administration, led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, we are working on the underpinning of this industry and the creation of products interesting and attractive tourist that allow to prolong the stay of those who visit us for health reasons, "he said.

Miguel Torruco Marqués made it clear that before the fierce competition for international markets, with visitors increasingly more informed and demanding, it is necessary to redouble efforts and incorporate more and better products to live up to the expectations of more than 1.3 billion tourists who travel the world, as well as driving new market segments.