CONSULTANTS attached to the Tony Thwaites Wing of the University Hospital system have called for greater attention to the development of health tourism as a way to solve several of the island’s productivity issues. Drs Joesph Blidgen and Clarence McGaw believe that the first-world standard of care by surgeons in Jamaica coupled with private sector partnership can create a subsector to the tourism industry that would earn increased foreign exchange for the country and retain the best and brightest medical minds.

Dr Blidgen, one of only three cardiothoracic surgeons in the country, asserted that the level of care offered for major medical surgery in Jamaica is on par with that of North America at 15 per cent of the cost.

“Let me explain, the cost of major heart surgery in North America is approximately US$100,000,” said Dr Blidgen. “Here in Jamaica, with the same quality of surgical care and access to amenities, the cost is US$15,000.

“What does that mean? It means that Jamaicans abroad and tourists can come here and have their surgery. Our visitors can have a relaxing environment to recuperate. For our fellow Jamaicans, they can be in the company of their family while they are in recovery. It is a win-win for all.”

Dr McGaw, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, notes that in addition to attracting tourists and the Diaspora, residents of the country can also benefit from the development of health tourism.

“At this point in time there are Jamaicans who are going overseas for certain kinds of surgery. So when you talk about health tourism, I am thinking first of retaining Jamaicans who would go abroad, so they don’t have to use up valuable foreign exchange,” Dr McGaw said.

Dr McGaw admitted though that there would be advanced medical treatment that would at times require a trip abroad, such as bone marrow transplant or liver transplant. However, “there (are) many procedures that people go overseas for that they shouldn’t have to, so we could save them from that”.

The private wing of the University Hospital system, known as the Tony Thwaites Wing, is said to be modelled to the concierge hospital model that characterises the main feature of health tourism. Dr Blidgen, however, noted that greater private sector involvement can improve the model that currently exists.

He stated: “What we have had in Jamaica is doctors with medical training go into management. However, for the health tourism industry to grow in this country, we need managers with private sector experience to get involved and lead the way to develop the sector into a viable business sector.”

“In my experience at Tony Thwaites, we have had patients there from the Cayman Islands, Belize, Turks and Caicos Islands, and other Caribbean countries, as well as the Diaspora,” said Dr McGaww. “We need to build on that and make it more of an established, rather than a few trickling of patients; we need a flood.”