Is medical tourism going to be a Polish export good?

The Medical Tourism Chamber of Commerce (IGTM) filed an application with the Ministry of Economy to consider medical tourism an export specialization of the Polish economy.

Medical tourism is a rapidly growing global market sector in which patients travel to neighboring countries to obtain medical assistance. According to estimates, this market in 2004 was worth 40 billion dollars. Data prepared by Grail Research, LLC indicate that its value will rise to 100 billion dollars in 2012. Therefore, many countries strive to effectively promote their medical services abroad and include it into the export services offer.

- The reason for the growth of the potential of Polish medical tourism is the growth of medical costs in developed countries, long waiting lists for operations and deterioration in standards of health care - say IGTM experts.

Poland is cheaper and has the potential

Among the European Union countries, where patients already benefit from medical services in other countries, including in Poland, are: United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

In Europe the most significant countries, where medical tourism has great potential for development because of lower costs of treatment, good medical facilities, and high quality medical services, in addition to Poland, there are also Hungary, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Turkey.

The most important factor causing an increase in the number of the foreign patients in Poland are competitive prices. And no wonder, because our prices are at least four times cheaper than in other European Union countries, and the quality of services does not differ from the standards abroad.

In Poland, the average cost of treatment in the clinic of plastic surgery ranges from 1.5 to 14 thousand PLN. For example, the price of the breast augmentation in Poland reaches eight thousand PLN and gets higher depending on the size of implants, while in Belgium, the prices start from 3.4 thousand EUR (13 thousand PLN). The nose operation in Poland costs from three thousand PLN, while its prices start in Belgian hospitals from 1875 EUR (7.2 thousand PLN). It is also several times more expensive in other Western European countries.

Poland is going to catch up with Hungary

In our region the most experience in medical tourism are the Hungarians, they first opened their market for medical services for foreigners. There are opinions that the market for medical tourism in Hungary begins to become an industry.

- It should be noted that despite some delays to the Hungarian market, we have many strengths which will allow to catch up with Hungary if properly used, and even can put us ahead of our southern neighbor. Polish doctors are respected specialists in the West and increasingly sought after. We also report on the high development of certain medical specialties - says Artur Gosk. According to him, Poland is perceived in the European Union as a country with high economic and social opportunities.