Medical travel in Europe has been a common practice for many years, with EU citizens using European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) for access to free or discounted treatment in neighboring countries. Additionally, there are Europeans choosing countries outside of Europe for healthcare, and non-EU citizens traveling to the continent for medical operations. These individuals, known as medical tourists or traveling patients, leave their home countries for different reasons, such as more affordable healthcare prices, to access the latest technology, and avoid healthcare waiting lists.
Europe has some of the most sought-after healthcare tourism destinations, making it great for patients seeking quality medical care and rich cultural experiences. As a bonus, many top medical tourism destinations also offer incredible natural beauty.
The medical tourism industry is growing by over 25% each year, which has caught the attention of many entrepreneurs and business-minded individuals looking to get in on the action. If you are planning to start a medical tourism agency in Europe, there are essential steps you must take to ensure success.
To begin, no company can reach its full potential without acquiring knowledge about medical travel, the patients who travel for healthcare, and how to attract medical tourism clients. The fastest way to learn the ins and outs of the industry is by enrolling in an online certification course.
Before starting a medical tourism agency in Europe, it’s important to know about some popular European countries (including some that are not part of the European Union but are located on the continent of Europe).
Germany | Becoming a medical tourism facilitator in Germany
Before you become a medical tourism facilitator in Germany, you should know that the country has over 250,000 foreign patients from 178 countries as annual visitors for medical care. Patients who choose Germany as a healthcare destination usually come from Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
With over 200 hospitals, Germany has adopted an international focus that caters to traveling patients from the beforementioned Gulf Cooperation Council nations. Germany is rolling out the red carpet for these patients by providing services such as language translation, separate rooms for prayer, and accommodations for their family and friends.
Related Article: 4 Steps To Starting A Successful Medical Tourism Business
Italy | Becoming a medical tourism facilitator in Italy
If you are interested in becoming a medical tourism facilitator in Italy, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Italy was ranked 2nd in the world for its healthcare system by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2000. Italy has rapidly established a strong international reputation for its high-quality medical procedures and modern treatments.
Although it is not the cheapest nation to get a medical procedure, it has a lot of other features that attract patients from around the globe. The most popular procedures in Italy for medical travelers are cosmetic and plastic surgery, hair restoration, and weight loss surgery.
According to estimates, Italy has generated over 2 billion euros because of medical travel. The traveling patients who visit the country are mainly from Arab countries, Switzerland, Russia, and the Balkans. These facts prove that becoming a medical tourism facilitator in Italy can certainly pay off.
Related Article: What’s The First Step To Start A Medical Tourism Agency? (VIDEO)
Greece | Setting up a medical tourism business in Greece
If you are setting up a medical tourism business in Greece, you should know that besides being one of the most popular destinations for holidays, Greece has also solidified itself as a go-to medical destination for procedures like cosmetic surgery, fertility treatment, dialysis, and dental procedures. The World Health Organization has ranked Greece 14th in healthcare because of its medical facilities that are supplied with top-notch equipment. Plus, they have an array of experienced and qualified doctors which continues to attract medical tourists.
The United Kingdom | Setting up a medical tourism business in the United Kingdom
If you’re planning on setting up a medical tourism business in the United Kingdom or targeting patients from the UK, it’s essential to know that the UK has both citizens leaving and coming into the country for healthcare. Although the population of those leaving is believed to be much larger. There has been an increase in the number of medical tourists coming into the UK in the last decade.
As a travel agency in the UK, you will most likely work with a lot of UK citizens seeking healthcare abroad, however, the foreign patients who travel to the UK usually come from the Middle East, Spain, Cyprus, and Greece.
Medical visas to the United Kingdom mostly last for 6 months. However, these visas can be extended to a period of 11 months, if the patient’s medical trip needs to be prolonged.
You must make sure your clients meet certain UK requirements such as:
- Medical tourists should have a medical visitor visa.
- They may be required to prove that they can afford their expenses during their stay.
France | Operating a medical tourism agency in France
Are you thinking about operating a medical tourism agency in France? Here is some useful information about medical tourism in France. With state-of-the-art hospitals and international clinics capable of performing all sorts of medical procedures for patients, France happens to be one of the leading countries in Europe for medical tourism. This nation offers cosmetic surgery for almost half the price when compared to countries like the United Kingdom. Places like Paris offer reasonably priced medical services that international patients can benefit from.
France is great for operating a medical tourism agency because foreign patients are given the best care at first-rate hotel-like hospitals in facilities with up-to-date and modern equipment. Apart from the unrivaled level of care that doctors and nurses offer, the French capital is well known for its amazing wealth of tourist attractions and historical landmarks which your prospective clients might look to take advantage of.
France has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, with some of the best-trained healthcare professionals anywhere. Top Paris hospitals offer a plethora of high-end procedures and with English-speaking medical staff, they attract patients from the UK and some African countries.
Switzerland | Medical travel in Switzerland
For many years, there has been a steady increase in foreign patients going to Switzerland for medical care. Medical travel in Switzerland is booming because people prefer to visit the nation for a variety of medical operations. Here are some of the reasons why Switzerland is a standout medical tourism destination:
- Well-developed tourism sector
- World-class healthcare system
- High quality of medical assistance from private medical hospitals
- Affordable medical treatments
Switzerland has an estimated 281 hospitals and 40 hospitals and around 12 of these private hospitals are JCI accreditation.
Apart from its excellent medical services and affordable healthcare prices, Switzerland is a beautiful country and one of the best-known tourist destinations in Europe. Business-minded individuals who want to open a medical travel agency in Switzerland will benefit from the country’s spectacular charm that entices tourists worldwide.
Poland | Coordinating medical trips to Poland
Coordinating medical trips to Poland can be quite rewarding for medical tourism agencies and even more rewarding for traveling patients seeking high-quality medical care. That’s why medical tourists from Germany, the UK, and some Scandinavian countries are hopping on planes and heading to Poland for medical treatment.
This nation is widely known for offering a range of medical services from dental procedures to cosmetic surgery. Poland’s healthcare system continually encourages its professionals to get better by getting additional training. Healthcare travel agencies can also gain attention from clients by showcasing the country’s aesthetic places like the beautiful capital of Warsaw with its diverse architecture that reflects the city’s turbulent history.
The Czech Republic | Being a medical tourism facilitator in the Czech Republic
Being a medical tourism facilitator in the Czech Republic would require knowing some key things about the nation; the capital, Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Tourists can’t get enough of their gothic architecture, delicious food, and an active nightlife.
Prague also has some amazing private clinics and hospitals employing medical specialists who have high-end equipment at their disposal. Doctors are mostly English-speaking and many hold diplomas and certificates from the UK and US-based centers of learning. Plus, your clients can get great medical care and a fun vacation at a relatively affordable rate. Total expenses covering the procedures, flights, and accommodations are around 60% cheaper than they are in the UK.
Related Article: 4 Ways Medical Tourism Certifications Make You More Successful
Spain | Coordinating medical trips to Spain
There is no better time to start coordinating medical trips to Spain because Spain has become one of the most relevant and strong countries in the world in terms of tourism and healthcare services. From a tourism perspective, Spain ranks second on the World Tourism Organization’s list of most visited countries.
According to the latest statistics, the tourism industry accounts for 16% of its gross domestic product (GDP), employs 13% of its total employment, a total amount of revenue generated of almost 92.2 billion euros. Medical tourists who seek out Spain are mostly from other EU countries.
As for Spain’s medical system, healthcare spending represented 9% of the total GDP in 2016. Spain is ranked as the 7th best healthcare system in the world, thanks to more than 800 hospitals (public +private), and around 480,000 doctors and nurses. Hospitals in Spain offer a lot of high-end medical treatments at affordable prices when compared to other EU countries.
Hungary | Setting up trips for patients who want to travel to Hungary for dental treatment
If you are planning to start setting up trips for patients who want to travel to Hungary for dental treatment, you’ll need to take into consideration that Hungary has the most dentists per capita in the world.
Hungary’s accessibility and world-class dental clinics coupled with increased prices in the US, Australia, and Western Europe, has pushed the country to become a leader in dental tourism. With beautiful cities like Budapest full of life and history, your medical tourists would have the time of their lives while enjoying standard dental care at reasonable prices.
Australia | Starting a patient coordination company in Australia
Are you considering starting A patient coordination company in Australia? Then you should know that due to the high cost of healthcare in Australia, outbound medical tourism is exceedingly more popular than inbound medical tourism. Citizens from Australia usually travel to countries like Thailand, Indonesia, India, and South Korea to get more affordable medical treatment. That is not to say that inbound medical tourism in Australia doesn’t have potential because while an increasing number of Australians are traveling to Asian countries in search of affordable healthcare, Australian medical professionals say a small but increasing number of affluent people are seeking Australia for treatments such as orthopedic and heart surgery, cancer services and IVF.
Start your company with a medical tourism professional certification
Are you looking to start your company with a medical tourism professional certification? You can get certified online by taking our Certified Medical Travel Agent course. At Medical Tourism Business, you will learn everything you need to know about running a successful healthcare travel company. We teach you important things like:
- Find out how to organize world-class trips for your clients
- Learn what motivates traveling patients to utilize health tourism
- Learn about risk management, branding, and marketing strategies
- Find out how to set up a profitable business model
- And much more
The early phases of starting a medical tourism business can be tedious due to the countless documents, business agreements, and resources required, which can cost a lot of money and time. We have recognized this problem and have created the perfect solution; The Facilitator Gold Membership provides you with every tool and resource you’ll need to build a profitable medical travel agency from scratch. Some of the benefits include:
- Medical Tourism Facilitator Certification
- Legal Contracts & Patient Waiver Agreements
- Sample Business Plan for Facilitators
- Patient Leads
- Templates, How-To Guides, and Beginner’s Manuals from Experts
- Introductions to Hospital and Clinic Members Through a Personalized Email
- 1-Year Membership and Mentorship
In conclusion, starting a medical tourism agency in Europe can be an extremely rewarding endeavor but success is not guaranteed and there are a lot of factors that are needed to excel. This is why our platform, Medical Tourism Business, is so valuable to individuals looking to start a medical tourism venture. We will show you the best techniques to establish a thriving medical travel business in Europe.
Contact us today!
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