Research unveiled at the first medical tourism conference in the UAE, which concluded in Dubai recently, has revealed a global market of two million medical travellers.

'Research unveiled at the event indicated a global market of around two million medical travelers a year and an industry constrained by hospital capacity and lack of consumer familiarity with medical travel,' said Sietske Meerloo, marketing manager at IIR Middle East, organiser of the Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress.

IIR Middle East is also the organiser of the Arab Health exhibition and congress, that takes place in Dubai from January 26 to 29.

“Large numbers of hospitals and clinics around the world are attempting to tailor their health services to cater to medical tourists,' Meerloo added. 'Several major insurance companies offer a travel component in their policies and governments are looking closely at policies to take account of the trend.'

The healthcare event was officially opened by Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, Transition Director at the Dubai Health Authority, who highlighted the importance the authority is placing on the future of medical tourism. 

'As we look to develop our domestic health strategy we also want to develop a joint strategy, with our colleagues in the Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM), for the future of health tourism in Dubai,' said Dr Al Yousuf. 'The healthcare sector in Dubai will become an increasingly attractive place for international healthcare investors, providers, services, facilities and other healthcare professionals.'

PlanetHospital, a California-based leader in medical tourism used the event as a platform to announce the official opening of its Jeddah Saudi Arabia office to serve inbound and outbound medical tourists from the Arabian Gulf region.

'We have a unique product and we’re the only broadcast media here dedicated to this area,' said Gary Miller, chief of Health Travel TV. 'I’m coming back to Arab Health in January.'

Organised in association with the International Medical Travel Association, the Healthcare Travel Exhibition and Congress was supported by the UAE Ministry of Health, the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi.-TradeArabia News Service