COMMON ACTIVITIES FOR HEALTH TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BALTIC

COMMON ACTIVITIES FOR HEALTH TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BALTIC RESORTS Erikas Mačiūnas Vice-Minister Ministry of Health of Lithuania

NEED OF UNIFIED FRAMEWORK OF MEDICAL AND SPA RESORTS SERVICES HEALTH TOURISM MEDICAL TOURISM Treatment, Nursing & Care Medical rehabilitation (sanatorium, medical SPA) WELLNESS TOURISM Wellness (SPA) Beauty Fitness Healthy education nutrition

LEVELS OF SERVICES, RELATED WITH HEALTH STOURISM n Treatment and medical rehabilitation n SPA and wellness n Non traditional (alternative) medicine n Health-related entertainment

MAIN TARGERS FOR HEALTH TOURISM IN BALTICS n Increase flow of tourists n Increase export of services n Compensate season fluctuations n Develop sector of services n Growth of national economies

WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR PATIENTS? n n n Wide range of services, including specific Acceptance of necessary information Afordable prices Short waiting time High quality of service Confidentiality Reimbursement by health insurance No visas or "Medical visas" Convenient transport system Language, cultural factors Parallel interests satisfaction, entertainment Personal criteria

WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR PATIENTS? n Sophisticated health check-ups n Comprehensive diagnostics n Advanced therapy, surgery, medical rehabilitation n Packages of services

WHAT ARE THE BEST OFFERS IN BALTICS? PUBLIC (STATE) ESTABLISHMENTS n Cardio / interventive surgery n Bariatrics n Oncohaematology n Urology n Medical rehabilitation PRIVATE ESTABLISHMENTS n Odontology n Plastic-reconstructive surgery n Cardio / interventive surgery n Joints prosthesis n Bariatrics n Health check-ups n Medical rehabilitation

OTHER ADVANTAGES OF BALTICS COUNTRIES Lot of highly experienced medical personnel High range of sorts of services No queues Good price / quality ratio (esp. for Western visitors) n Geographical closeness n Mild climate n No mental, language barriers n Attractive for patients from Russia, Finland, Scandinavia, Germany, UK, Ireland, Belorus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, etc. n n

COMMON STEPS. WHAT IS IMPORTANT? n Needs identification n Possibilities identification, markets analysis n Alocation of target regions n Settings of priorities n Agreements with foreign insurance agencies n Need of active communication in targeted regions n Communication with tourist and medical establishments n Building of quality of services, accreditation n Rising of safety standards for patients n Establishing of protective insurance for medical staff n National image strengthening n Participation in international events, exhibitions n Lookout for patients, direct communication with them n Flexibility and adjustment to patients needs n Multilanguage communication

ADJUSTMENT OF NATIONAL LEGAL ACTS (Lithuanian experience in wellness legislation) n Law on Tourism set health tourism architecture n Approved Mineral water and spring water n n n requirements and certification procedure Approved certification procedure for natural health recourses (peloids and natural mineral water) Approved requirements for mineral and sea-water (for internal and external use) Approved safety and use requirements for peloids Approved safety requirements for halo-cameras Approved requirements for wellness services (i. e. safety and personnel education)

FEATURES OF HEALTH & WELLNESS SERVICES n Major part of advanced medical services located in university hospitals, state hospitals and private clinics n World-class level in cardio-surgery, neurosurgery, onco-haemathology, plastic surgery, joints prosthesis, odonthology, urology, etc. n European level resorts n Presence of different sorts of natural mineral waters and peloids with sofisticated state requirements for safety and quality with state certification system

OTHER BENEFITS n Affordable prices n Highly-skilled medical staff n Number of beds in hospitals and sanatoriums n Well developed local infrastructure n Wide range of services and background services

POSSIBILITY OF ACTIVE LEISURE TIME

BALNEO-THERAPY n Hydroprocedures n Bathing in mineral / thermal waters n Drinking of mineral water n Inhaling the vaporized mineral water

PELOID-THERAPY Peloid therapy - use of peat, mud, sapropel or clay, mixed with regular or mineral water: n external n internal aplications

OTHERAPIES n. Psycho-physio therapy – massages, aromatherapy, climate therapy n. Kinesitherapy – fast walking, exercises in open air, in water, in sports premises n. Healthy life-styles education – consultations with professionals (dietitian, psychologist, physiotherapist, etc. )

DOLPHIN THERAPY UNIQUE SERVICE IN LITHUANIA (SUITABLE FOR DISABLED CHILDREN)

SIMILAR SERVICES EXIST ONLY IN: USA, GERMANY, ISRAEL, ITALY, TURKEY, UKRAINE, MEXICO

BENEFITS OF HEALTH TOURISM n. Longer stays (12 nights on average) n. Investments n. Lowering of seasons impact n. Income n. Jobs

GENERAL WEAKNESSES OF HEALTH TOURISM IN BALTICS n Lack of information away the countries n Hard to compete with larger countries (e. g. Poland) n Lack of exclusive and unique medical services n Prices are relatively high for Eastern countries patients n Limited possibilities for background entertainment n Distinkt influence of cold season n State establishments provide lower quality of services n Still alive "post soviet" claim for Baltic countries n Very few medical centers and SPA's obtain international accreditation n Not a simple way to receive health visas n Limited possibilities for costs reimbursement by health insurance n Limited insurance for service providers n No common policy, no coordination of activities n Weak marketing and informational system n Separateness and absence of health tourism claster

BENEFITS OF COMMON ACTIVITIES n Common regional marketing n Bulk purchasing (lesser prises); n Common education, manpower exchange, professional training n Transportation and delivering n Quality standards and control systems n Smart use of equipment and infrastructure n Coordination of surweys n Better attraction for investments

PROPOSALS FOR HEALTH TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BALTICS n n n n Need to assess possibility of Baltic health tourism cluster, for joining efforts and working together Make better marketing and informational system Introduce new modern and unique medical services Redesign prices (help from the states governments) Develop background entertainment Increase quality of services in state establishments Possess international accreditation for medical centers and SPA's Simplify visa reception procedures Improve insurance system for service providers Strengthen of inter-institutional cooperation and exchange of information Study visits of specialists Create common clinical surveys infrastructure Establish common policy, coordinate marketing and development

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION erikas. maciunas@SAM. LT Ministry of Health