Introduction
Background
Methods
Development of a database of medical tourism companies located in Canada
Comparing the database to other lists of medical tourism companies in Canada
Content analysis of websites of medical tourism companies
Location of medical tourism companies
Destination countries and health care facilities
Types of advertised medical procedures and medical specialties
Core marketing messages of medical tourism companies
"Tourism" component of medical tourism
Distinguishing functioning from inoperative medical tourism companies
Results
Locations of medical tourism companies
Company | City & Province |
---|---|
Axiom Health Solutions | Canadian Office: Oakville, Ontario; U.S. Office: Kensigton [sic], Maryland |
Canadian Healthcare International (CHI) | Markham, Ontario |
CubaMedicare | Oakville, Ontario |
EcuMedical Resources International Ltd. | Windsor, Ontario |
First Choice Medical Tourism | Canadian Office: Calgary, Alberta; with contact person in Luzon, Philippines |
Health Trips | Ottawa, Ontario |
Health Vacations, Inc. | Ottawa, Ontario |
International Medical Network | Oakville, Ontario |
JD Healthcare | Nanaimo, British Columbia |
LAM International (L.A.M. Logistic.Assistance.Medical International) | Canadian Office: Toronto, Ontario; and Colombia |
MedAsia | Montreal, Quebec |
MedExpress Tourism | Montreal, Quebec |
Medi-Pro Medical Management | Windsor, Ontario |
MedSolution | Vancouver, British Columbia |
Medtourlink | Vancouver, British Columbia |
Reach Health Services & Outsourcing | Canadian Office: Vancouver, British Columbia; Representative in Chennai, India |
Recover Discover Healthcare | Canadian Office: Vancouver British, Columbia; U.S. Office: Austin, Texas; India Office: Noida, India |
Royal Med Services | Mississauga (Toronto), Ontario |
Speedy Surgery Global Healthcare | Quebec City, Quebec |
Star Hospitals | Canadian marketing office in Toronto, call centers and operations in Chennai, India |
Sun Medical Group | Vancouver, British Columbia |
The InciDental Tourist | Ottawa, Ontario |
Tooth Tourism | Surrey, British Columbia |
Unbelievable India | Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec |
Victus Global Healthcare | Main Office: Toronto, Ontario; Additional office: Edmonton, Alberta |
Destination countries and health care facilities
Company | Destination Facilities |
---|---|
Axiom Health Solutions | Apollo Hospitals, Wockhardt Hospitals, Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, Max Healthcare, Fortis Healthcare, Sahaj Dental Clinic, all in India |
Canadian Healthcare International (CHI) | Health care facilities in Canada (particular institutions are not identified) |
CubaMedicare | Medical facilities in Havana, Varadero, and Holguin, all in Cuba |
EcuMedical Resources International | Health care facilities in the United States |
First Choice Medical Tourism | St. Luke's Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines; Estetico Manila, Manila, Philippines |
Health Trips | German Collaborative Private International Hospital, India |
Health Vacations, Inc. | St. Petersburg, Russia |
International Medical Network | Hospitals and clinics in India, Hungary, Cuba, and Costa Rica |
JD Healthcare | Website claims company has partnerships with more than 30 hospitals (particular institutions are not specified) |
LAM International (Logistic.Assistance. Medical International) | Transplant facilities in Colombia |
MedAsia | Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taiwan |
MedExpress Tourism | Health care facilities in Morocco |
Medi-Pro Medical Management | Laser Spine Institute, Tampa, Florida; Crittenton Hospital, Rochester, MI, Internal Medicine, Mount Clemens, MI; additional facilities in the U.S. |
MedSolution | India, France, Turkey, El Salvador; website indicates plan to include Costa Rica, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, and South Africa |
Medtourlink | Singapore, Philippines, India, China, Canada |
Reach Health Services & Outsourcing | Apollo Hospitals, Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, Rajan Eye Care, JGHR Dental, all in India |
Recover Discover Healthcare | Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre, Delhi; Fortis Hospital, Noida; Fortis Flt. Lt Rajan Dhall Hospital, Delhi; Fortis Hospital, Mohali, Chandigarh; Fortis-Wockhardt Hospital, Bangalore; Fortis-Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai, India; Gleneagles Medical Center, Penang, Malaysia |
Royal Med Services | Medical facilities in India |
Speedy Surgery Global Healthcare | Medical facilities in India and Thailand |
Star Hospitals | India, Singapore, Thailand |
Sun Medical Group | Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand |
The InciDental Tourist | Nanjing,China; Merida, Mexico |
Tooth Tourism | Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, India, Mexico, Panama, Bangkok, Thailand |
Unbelievable India | Medical facilities in India |
Victus Global Healthcare | JCI-accredited medical facilities around the world (particular institutions are not specified) |
Types of advertised medical procedures
Company | Health Services Marketed |
---|---|
Axiom Health Solutions | Interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, cosmetic and plastic surgery, hand and micro surgery, medical & surgical gastroenterology, neurology & neurosurgery, spine surgery, surgical oncology, orthopedic surgery, vascular surgery, brain surgery, bone and joint surgery, eye surgery, minimal access surgery, obesity surgery, maxillofacial surgery, thoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, dental care and dental surgery, transplant surgery, and other treatments |
Canadian Healthcare International (CHI) | Specific procedures are not identified though total hip replacement and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are used to compare cost of care in Canadian facilities versus institutions in other countries |
CubaMedicare | Drug and alcohol rehabilitation, pigmentary retinosis, neurological rehabilitation, vitiligo, psoriasis, and alopecia, cosmetic surgery, odontology, dental implants, orthognatic surgery; alternative therapies, stroke rehabilitation, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, brain injury rehabilitation, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, aquatic therapy, physical therapy, anorexia nervosa treatments |
EcuMedical Resources International Ltd. | cancer, cardiology, cosmetic surgery, day surgery, diagnostic imaging, hip surgery, knee surgery, minimally invasive surgery, neck and spine surgery, neurology, orthopaedics, second opinions, urology, VIP services |
First Choice Medical Tourism | General medical surgery, dental surgery, cosmetic surgery, optical surgery, spa retreats |
Health Trips | knee replacement, hip replacement, shoulder replacement, spinal surgery, correction of deformities, beating heart surgery, cosmetic surgery |
Health Vacations, Inc. | MRI outsourcing, endocrinology surgery, orthopedic packages, ophthalmology packages, spinal surgery, diagnosis and treatment of allergies, preventive health check ups, executive health check ups, preventive heart checkup, whole body check up, and additional treatments, access to specialists in cardiology, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, urology, endocrinology, rheumatology |
International Medical Network | Cardiovascular, orthopedic, neurosurgery, female reproductive system, gastro-intestinal, cosmetic, dental, IVF |
JD Healthcare | Assisted reproduction, plastic surgery, bone and joint surgeries, cancer treatment, cardiovascular surgery, eye surgery, general surgery, cerebrovascular surgery, dental surgery, dermatology, and additional treatments |
LAM International (Logistic. Assistance. Medical International) | Heart transplants, liver transplants, lung transplants, kidney transplants |
MedAsia | Bariatric surgery, cardiovascular surgery including minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery, PTCA and stent, and cardiac catheterization, orthopedic surgery including total joint replacement, spine surgery, and arthroscopy, other treatments |
MedExpress Tourism | Dental implants, weight loss, cosmetic surgery, orthopedics, urology, cardiology, eye corrective (Lasik), cancer, general surgery |
Medi-Pro Medical Management | MRI scans, CT scans, body imaging, X-rays, arthroscopy, bariatric surgery, cardiology, endocrinology, internal medicine, neurology |
MedSolution | Cardiac care, chemical dependency programs, cosmetic & plastic surgery, dental care, gastric surgery, heart surgery, infertility treatments, orthopedic surgery, urogenital surgery |
Medtourlink | Hysterectomy, cataract, Lasik eye care procedures, breast lift, tummy tuck, facelift, rhinoplasty, dental implants, dentures, crowns and aesthetic dentistry, MRI, X-ray, PET, CT diagnostic scans, laser procedures |
Reach Health Services & Outsourcing | Cardiac surgery and cardiology, minimal access surgery and urology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, obstetric and gynecology, oncology, cosmetic/plastic surgery, preventive health checks, diagnostic services |
Recover Discover Healthcare | Knee replacement surgery, hip replacement surgery, hip resurfacing, adult & pediatric cardiac care, oncology treatments, bariatric care, laparoscopic gastric band, gastric bypass surgery, sleeve gastrectomy, neurosurgeries, spinal care, infertility management including IVF, cosmetic care, additional surgeries |
Royal Med Services | Hip replacements, other joint replacements, breast augmentation, liposuction, and other procedures |
Speedy Surgery Global Healthcare | Allergy, cardiology, dentistry, diabetes and endocrinology, ear, nose and throat diseases, eye laser refraction, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopedic, plastic surgery, preventive health check, radiology and imaging services, and additional procedures |
Star Hospitals | cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopedic, neurology and neurosurgery, eye care, cosmetic surgery, dentistry, comprehensive and preventive health checks, weight loss, obstetrics and gynecology, IVF, additional treatments, yoga, Ayurvedic consultation, stress management, weight reduction, spine and joint care |
Sun Medical Group | Dental surgery, eye care, cardiac interventions, orthopaedic surgery, cosmetic surgery |
The InciDental Tourist | bridgework, partial and full crowns, laser tooth bleaching, implants, inlays, onlays, veneers, root canals, extractions, and other dental procedures |
Tooth Tourism | Dental bonding and contouring, dental bridge, dental crowns, dental fillings, dental implants, dental veneers, dentures, gingivectomy, root canal, teeth whitening |
Unbelievable India | Plastic surgery, correction of congenital malformations, reconstructive surgery, orthopedics, ophthalmology, hip replacements, Ayurvedic medicine, dental procedures, other treatments |
Victus Global Healthcare | Heart bypass, heart valve replacement, hip replacement, hysterectomy, knee replacement, spinal fusion, additional treatments |
Core marketing messages of medical tourism companies
Company | Core Marketing Message |
---|---|
Axiom Health Solutions | access to affordable, timely, and high-quality care |
Canadian Healthcare International (CHI) | access to affordable and high quality health care in Canada |
CubaMedicare | access to affordable, timely, and high quality health care as well as vacation experience |
EcuMedical Resources International Ltd. | access to timely and high-quality health care |
First Choice Medical Tourism | access to affordable, timely, and high quality health care as well as holiday experience |
Health Trips | access to affordable and high-quality care as well as vacation experience |
Health Vacations, Inc. | access to affordable, timely, and high-quality care |
International Medical Network | access to affordable, timely and high-quality care |
JD Healthcare | access to affordable, timely and high-quality health care |
LAM International (Logistic.Assistance.Medical International) | access to timely organ transplants |
MedAsia | access to affordable, timely, and high-quality care |
MedExpress Tourism | access to affordable and high-quality care |
Medi-Pro Medical Management | access to timely and high-quality care |
MedSolution | access to affordable, timely and high-quality care |
Medtourlink | access to high-quality care |
Reach Health Services & Outsourcing | Access to affordable and timely health care |
Recover Discover Healthcare | access to affordable and high- quality care |
Royal Med Services | access to high-quality health care |
Speedy Surgery Global Healthcare | access to affordable, timely and high-quality health care |
Star Hospitals | access to affordable, timely, and high-quality health care |
Sun Medical Group | access to affordable and timely care |
The InciDental Tourist | access to affordable and high-quality care |
Tooth Tourism | access to affordable and high-quality dental care |
Unbelievable India | access to affordable, timely, and high-quality care |
Victus Global Healthcare | access to affordable and timely health care (messages targeted at employers rather than individuals) |
"Tourism" component of medical tourism
Company | Book Travel | Book Hotel | Book Tours |
---|---|---|---|
Axiom Health Solutions | Y | Y | Y |
Canadian Healthcare International (CHI) | Y | Y | NA |
CubaMedicare | Y | Y | Y |
EcuMedical Resources International Ltd. | Y | Y | NA |
First Choice Medical Tourism | NA | NA | Y |
Health Trips | Y | Y | Y |
Health Vacations, Inc. | Y | Y | Y |
International Medical Network | Y | Y | Y |
JD Healthcare | N | NA | Y |
LAM International (Logistic.Assistance.Medical International) | NA | Y | Y |
MedAsia | Y | Y | Y |
MedExpress Tourism | Y | Y | N |
Medi-Pro Medical Management | Y | NA | NA |
MedSolution | Y | Y | Y |
Medtourlink | NA | Y | NA |
Reach Health Services & Outsourcing | NA | Y | NA |
Recover Discover Healthcare | NA | NA | Y |
Royal Med Services | Y | Y | Y |
Speedy Surgery Global Healthcare | Y | Y | NA |
Star Hospitals | Y | Y | Y |
Sun Medical Group | NA | NA | Y |
The InciDental Tourist | N | Y | Y |
Tooth Tourism | N | Y | Y |
Unbelievable India (partnership with Focuz Group) | Y | Y | Y |
Victus Global Healthcare | Y | Y | NA |