Medical tourism could be explored
Tuesday 19th April 2011, 11:30AM BST.
Health and Social Services minister Deputy Hunter Adam spoke of the need to prioritise services it provides, such as trauma care. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 1125559)
GUERNSEY could enter the market for medical tourists.
But exploring that option would be secondary to making sure the essential needs of the island were catered for, Health and Social Services chief officer Mike Cooke said.
The department’s future 2020 vision of healthcare, which calls for a review to make sure its operations are sustainable, has suggested that Guernsey’s services could become more commercial.
Mr Cooke said the opportunity mainly lay in encouraging people living off-island to receive medical treatment in Guernsey – otherwise known as medical tourism.
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Interesting idea. I like that Guernsey could have another income stream and groups of specialised pooled labour.
I think it is a good idea as long as essential needs are being met. I assume by 2020 they feel that those with mental health problems will have their needs more sufficiently met?
Probably not a popular idea but from a commercial point of view there could possibly be a good amount of money in assisted suicide tourism for the termally ill?
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I find it ironic that such close attention is rightly paid to effective provision and value for money in the health services when it is so carelessly wasted on that other form of health… Health & Safety.
Why are we trying so hard to save money at the hospital or with GPs (with real health implications) only to waste the best part of £100m avoiding immeasurably small risks to health with the new runway?….. When was the last time somebody even broke an ankle at the airport?
If this states had any strength of will they would define their own air safety regulations and put the savings into higher returning projects (health or otherwise).
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We could become the abortion capital of the world
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@ Ray – would that be as part of PB Falla’s Exodus?
(eugh, eugh, now you’ve got me joining your evil black humour, and me a pregnant mother of young children)
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Despite reassurances from Mike Cooke I would approach this whole issue with extreme caution.
Call me cynical but we all know that in this world money talks. It’s all well and good saying that “the essential needs of the island” will be catered for but I wonder, how long would it be before wealthy private medical tourists find themselves quietly bumped to the front of the queue.
If this scheme is to be implemented I would like there to be a legally binding SLA between the Health Services and the people of Guernsey, making it a legal requirement to treat resident patients first. The only exception would be in emergencies, which would preclude the medical tourists anyway as their treatment wouldn’t fall into this category.
Our local healthcare services are primarily for the residents of Guernsey – we must ensure they stay that way.
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Dani
“Probably not a popular idea but from a commercial point of view there could possibly be a good amount of money in assisted suicide tourism for the termally ill?”
Great idea lets get as much money from them just before they kick the bucket eh.
How sad when even something like this is suggested its all about the money.
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This `suicide tourism` has been and still is a major bone of contention in the area I live in (where it`s actually legalised!!). God forbid that this happens to Gsy!
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bcb
This article is about the potential COMMERCIAL possibilities of medical tourism.
Should I ever be terminally ill I would like to take matters into my own hands and go before I’m constantly suffering/incapable of communicating with those around me/unable to do the basic things to take care of myself. I feel there would be more dignity to it than potential alternatives.
If someone could provide me with a high quality, respectable service I would take it. I think a lot of people would do as well.
I would market the service as an occasion. I would want it to be a special day. I would want my family there after having a tailored few perfect days or something like that. I can’t help noticing there could be money in that.
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It’s quite funny that this thread has gone from the merits, or otherwise, of medical tourism, ie people coming to Guernsey to pay for medical procedures, to whether Guernsey would be a suitable place for “suicide tourism” (to quote slep above).
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I really can’t see this taking off. Medical tourism destinations function because they can offer treatments at lower cost than home countries – and they can do this because their wage costs are lower. Guernsey, unlike India or Eastern Europe, is a high wage economy.
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Guernsey cannot possibly compete with countries like Poland, for example, where plastic surgery and even dentistry is far cheaper. It is a ludicrous idea – why doesn’t the Deputy who put this idea forward concentrate on offering a cheaper and efficient service to islanders instead it would be much appreciated!
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Well said Paul, money does talk as, we well know. When a Guernseyman is refused permission to build a house on his own land, yet, Developers seem to be able to build almost anything anywhere. But regarding Medical Tourism, until those Islanders who need treatment can be treated, without their operation ,critical or not, being postponed or cancelled for whatever reason,or told to wait four or five weeks for a scan or an xray. Let us first put our best efforts, into improving the services we all need and deserve, then perhaps this idea will be seen as a no starter.
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Private medical already gets a priority and any memedical tourism will put the rest of us at the back of the queue.
I know of many who are given long waiting times for specialist or hospital treatment but miraculously becomes available weeks earlier once private medical cover is used. This would make things even worse.
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