Medical Value Travel Impact on South African Economy

Highly trained doctors and excellent medical facilities are becoming South Africa’s key draws for visitors interested in medical value travel. Boosted by the availability of plastic surgery financing, travelers looking for quality cosmetic surgery in South Africa are among those who pumped over 38 million (USD) into South Africa last year. The economic impact of medical value travel was an underlying topic for medical tourism experts from around the world who recently met at a conference in Johannesburg.  Managing Director of Serokolo Health Tourism, Dr. Tshepo Maaka, acknowledged that medical value travel needed to be recognized formally as an economic industry. Maaka believes that the adoption of a formal policy on the treatment of foreign patients would increase international tourism.

Developing Medical Value Travel Interest in South Africa

Despite the popularity of cosmetic surgery in South Africa, the Department of Health has not shown as much interest as Dr. Maaka had hoped in developing medical tourism.  Travelers have taken their own initiative to visit South Africa in part with the help of plastic surgery financing.  However local governments have been slow to spend money on advertising the country’s medical capabilities. "We also need the financial support to expose South Africa to the world as a medical tourism destination," states Dr. Maaka.  The conference examined how other countries such as India have successfully attracted medical tourism.  Cosmetic surgery in South Africa can be affordable to the point that some foreign travelers may receive the most advanced procedures without having to secure plastic surgery financing. The economic value of medical tourism for both South Africa and its potential visitors is a positive attribute worth South African support.

Source: “Medical Tourism Stimulating South African Economy”, Mail & Guardian Online, November 14, 2006