DR A Medical Tourism Mecca?

Will the DR become an important destination for medical tourism?

  • Definitely

    Votes: 4 13.3%
  • I think it can happen, but they need to work on some things.

    Votes: 14 46.7%
  • I think it will not happen, but it could if they work to achieve it.

    Votes: 5 16.7%
  • DR a medical tourism destination? Ha ha ha ha!

    Votes: 7 23.3%

  • Total voters
    30

NALs

Economist by Profession
Jan 20, 2003
13,370
3,150
113
Despite the fact that I'm perfectly aware that the DR1 forums suffers from nay-sayer-ism, I think it might be interesting to see what DR1ers think about the possible new tourism niche the DR might be carving out in the next few years.

The video is about an hour long and in Spanish, but some of the points exposed in the presentation are:

- 80% of US population that travels for medical purposes, or that have medical issues that can be attended to for less outside the US, live in the eastern states. The DR is less than a 4 hour plane ride from the eastern US and is one of the better connected in terms of flights.

- New private hospitals designed specifically for medical tourism might be built in various places of the DR. The guy mentions Mexico, which receives more than 1 million medical tourists a year, and Costa Rica, which with 3 hospitals geared towards medical tourists is already producing US$800 million a year. He mention that there is aready a private investment of this sort currently in the works for the Punta Cana area.

- DR might be standardizing what is allowed as standard medical practices and might put in place a local certification system, in addition to improving the quality of medical care so that Dominican hospitals can receive favorable accreditation from a developed country, the guy mentioned Canada.

- The guy also enphasizes the need to rank Dominican hospitals, precisely because 'Americans love to rank things.' He even mention how US hospitals are constantly ranked, but that its mostly nonsense because most US hospitals are marginally different from each others, but Americans love that type of stuff.

- He mentions the need to control the 'few bad apples' that due to malpractice affects the entire Dominican medical profession.

- He even says that he met with a few expatriates from Sosua and gave them a questionaire of sorts, and that's how he became aware of the opportunity. He said that Puerto Plata would be ideal for the creation of several elderly care homes (retirement homes), because according to him Dominican hospitality is simply not match by what is offered in elderly assited living in the US. Add to that the lesser costs compared to the US and the opportunity speaks for itself.

He said a lot more things, but that's what the video is for.

So, do you think the DR will become an important player in medical tourism?

What needs to be done in order to make the country successful as a medical destination?


The video was filmed at the Funglode office in Santo Domingo this past February 2015.

[video=youtube;zVwL8NLMbds]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVwL8NLMbds[/video]
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
0
there has been few articles about it recently:
El Caribe ? La medicina tur?stica puede potenciar la econom?a de la Rep?blica Dominicana
Rep?blica Dominicana busca turismo de salud
Afirman el turismo de salud avanza en Rep?blica Dominicana - DiarioLibre.com
Turismo de Salud genera 60,000 millones d?lares al a?o en Rep?blica Dominicana | AlMomento.net
Rep?blica Dominicana lista para el turismo de salud

i think that as long as the tourist opt for real, legit hospitals like HOMS and clinica union in santiago or cedimat and corazonesunidos in SD it is possible. one needs to have a procedure in a regular hospital that has means of emergency services in case something goes wrong. because we all know what happens when you have a surgery in back alley slaughterhouse.
 

tommeyers

On Vacation!
Jan 2, 2012
1,599
0
36
I live in Santiago
The quality of service is poor the price is excellent. In the us the quality is excellent but the price is highhhhh!

One tooth implant is costing m 10,000 but it will be excellent. I chose good quality over cheap price.

There is a huge market for cheap services. Some will die getting that service. (And dv8 will report those).


Conclusion, If you have the money go to the us; here take your chances.
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
0
we have two plastic surgeons in the family so i happen to know lots of their clients - virtually every woman in the family. good work and relatively inexpensive. i say relatively because you could find a cheaper offer. all ladies are happy and none had complications. when it's my time to fix, pull, nip, tuck, alter and tailor my fading beauty (broadly speaking, of course), i will have no fear to go under the knife here. at worst, donP will kindly post my obituary and i trust he will not misspell my name. :laugh:
 

Criss Colon

Platinum
Jan 2, 2002
21,843
191
0
38
yahoomail.com
I'm strongly recommending a "tummy tuck, lipo suction, breast implants, and a butt lift for MY WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead:
:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
THAT should tell you SOMETHING about the quality of plastic surgery and all medical procedures here!!!!!!!!!!

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
 

chic

Silver
Nov 20, 2013
4,305
1
0
The quality of service is poor the price is excellent. In the us the quality is excellent but the price is highhhhh!

One tooth implant is costing m 10,000 but it will be excellent. I chose good quality over cheap price.

There is a huge market for cheap services. Some will die getting that service. (And dv8 will report those).


Conclusion, If you have the money go to the us; here take your chances.

ive had both here surgery and dental work....surgery was really needed and was fine a pin in my bone near my knee...doesnt evan ring the bells at airports or courthouses...the other dentists.....both good...the surgery here u might need a guide and a walk thru...dental just stick with the advts here and you wont have a problem...need a filling???ez go to any dentist here...
 

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
20,574
341
83
dr1.com
The quality of service is poor the price is excellent.

Wrong... again! Why throw everybody in the same box, when it's clearly not the case.
Of course, many clinics and doctors in the USA offer excellent medical care, some of the best on the planet.

But...

In my experience, the level of personal service here can be excellent, if you do your research and go to the right clinics. You'll be treated like a human, as opposed to a number or a "next!".

I can go to a dentist in Germany and have an implant done costing me the 5000 euros. It will be excellent quality, latest materials and guaranteed. Or I can go to the dentist that trained the German doctor here in the DR, have the same procedure, quality, materials and guarantee at a fraction of the 5,000 euro price.

Take you pick...
 

Berzin

Banned
Nov 17, 2004
5,898
550
113
I've been to doctors recommended by native Dominicans and they have been excellent. I would rather see doctors like the ones I visit in the DR than the ones I see here in the US.

The problem is one of consolidation. If there was a database of the best doctors in every town with all their pertinent information, their practices would benefit from the extra traffic and the information would be accessible to any foreigner with a computer.
 

jstarebel

Silver
Oct 4, 2013
3,330
333
83
I've been to doctors recommended by native Dominicans and they have been excellent. I would rather see doctors like the ones I visit in the DR than the ones I see here in the US.

The problem is one of consolidation. If there was a database of the best doctors in every town with all their pertinent information, their practices would benefit from the extra traffic and the information would be accessible to any foreigner with a computer.

There is a fairly good site for medical tourism information. In english and spanish.

Health Centers ? Dominican Association of Health Tourism
 

donP

Newbie
Dec 14, 2008
6,942
178
0
Dr. med. dent (RD)

... the dentist that trained the German doctor here in the DR...

I have never heard of a German dentist or doctor who was trained in the Dominican Republic.
But you can send me the list.... :classic:

donP
 

donP

Newbie
Dec 14, 2008
6,942
178
0
Looking Pretty in the Casket

I'm strongly recommending a "tummy tuck, lipo suction, breast implants, and a butt lift for MY WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead::dead:
:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
THAT should tell you SOMETHING about the quality of plastic surgery and all medical procedures here!!!!!!!!!!

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

An almost certain way to get rid of one's wife. :laugh:
Make sure you increase her life insurance.

donP
 

Berzin

Banned
Nov 17, 2004
5,898
550
113
This certainly doesn't help-

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/lo...-Teflon-plastic-surgeon-3-deaths-3-acquittals

The problem is threefold-

1) Doctors who are allowed to continue practicing despite having multiple patient deaths on their resum?s.

2) The courts doing absolutely nothing to punish doctors like this with fines, jail time, or the stripping of their medical licenses while going as far as finding them not guilty of medical malpractice. The typical "No Fue Mi Culpa" mentality seems to extend to all walks of Dominican society, and they will go to great lengths to protect their own.

3) The idiot Dom Yorks who keep going to doctors like this despite the fact that the reputations of some of these "carniceros" precedes them.
 

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
20,574
341
83
dr1.com
I have never heard of a German dentist or doctor who was trained in the Dominican Republic.
But you can send me the list.... :classic:

donP

Dental Cibao have been running implant training for years. I met a group of German dentists whilst at the clinic one day, I have posted about it before. It's cheaper to train in the DR than Germany, especially for mini-implants.

Anything else? :classic:
 

donP

Newbie
Dec 14, 2008
6,942
178
0
Participation Certificate

I met a group of German dentists whilst at the clinic one day, ... It's cheaper to train in the DR than Germany, especially for mini-implants.

The US firms for the implants (which are also sold in Germany) offer 'incentive travels' to German dentists, named 'further education and training'.
In reality they are just paid holidays and cheaper for the firms than inviting the dentist to the US.
No German dentist would ever frame the participation certificate and hang it in his practice... :rolleyes:


donP
 

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
20,574
341
83
dr1.com
The US firms for the implants (which are also sold in Germany) offer 'incentive travels' to German dentists, named 'further education and training'.
In reality they are just paid holidays and cheaper for the firms than inviting the dentist to the US.
No German dentist would ever frame the participation certificate and hang it in his practice... :rolleyes:


donP

I suggest you actually do some research on what is being offered at Dental Cibao, who attends and why, before guessing.
Just a suggestion. :rolleyes:
 

the gorgon

Platinum
Sep 16, 2010
33,997
83
0
I've been to doctors recommended by native Dominicans and they have been excellent. I would rather see doctors like the ones I visit in the DR than the ones I see here in the US.

The problem is one of consolidation. If there was a database of the best doctors in every town with all their pertinent information, their practices would benefit from the extra traffic and the information would be accessible to any foreigner with a computer.

i wasted six months of my life dealing with doctors in NYC who were trying to deal with my hypertension. every succeeding visit, all they did was to double the dosage, and tell me to come back in 2 weeks. finally, i went to Bournigal in POP, and it has been smooth sailing ever since. blood pressure of a teenager.
 

Berzin

Banned
Nov 17, 2004
5,898
550
113
The US firms for the implants (which are also sold in Germany) offer 'incentive travels' to German dentists, named 'further education and training'.
In reality they are just paid holidays and cheaper for the firms than inviting the dentist to the US.
No German dentist would ever frame the participation certificate and hang it in his practice... :rolleyes:


donP

This may be true, but the knowledge they attain they will put to use in their practices once they go back home.

If you look at the specialists in Dental Cibao, their training is top-notch. Some have trained in other Latin American countries, Spain, the US, etc. Latin America has some seriously good schools for dentistry and plastic surgery-Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina to name the ones I'm aware of.

I have a friend who is Colombian and he has dentists and plastic surgeons in his immediate family. The work he's had done is excellent, rivaling anything I've seen in the states and the costs are wallet-friendly.
 

beastwood

New member
Jun 30, 2011
295
0
0
Had an eye tooth root canal across 5 months and 5 or 6 visits in Sto Dgo Norte. $150 all in. My Boston dentist claims the work
done was 1st rate. Deductible alone in Boston was north of $300. 3 years later still all good.
 

Criss Colon

Platinum
Jan 2, 2002
21,843
191
0
38
yahoomail.com
They should offer a special incentive.
If you die here as a result of medical incompetence,...they ship you home for free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Takes some of the worry out of DR Medical "UNSURism"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1


CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC