Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
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Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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Mexico increases efforts to attract US medical tourists
US-Mexico Medical Tourism Association and
Baja California Medical Tourism Association.
Executive Director
Dr. Adrian Murillo
dr.adrianmurillo@hotmail.com
"Despite safety concerns in a few border towns, Mexico continues to see a boom with Americans seeking low price surgery or dental and cosmetic
treatment. There is nowhere else in the world where millions of Americans have access to hundreds of hospitals and clinics where they can drive there
and back in one day. Although the Peso is the official currency of Mexico, US dollars are also widely accepted.
The Mexican border town of Mexicali is making a push for more tourists from the American Southwest to visit the city's dentists, surgeons and doctors.
Medical tourists from the USA with the right documents can skip much of the wait on the Mexican side of the border by using a new designated medical
tourism lane. Mexicali's tourism director Omar Dipp, says the new lane is one part of the city's plan to boost medical tourism by 50%, "You can now
drive to Mexicali, take care of your health, and only take 20 minutes to cross the border instead of two hours."
American patients must request a pass from Mexican doctors who are participating in the program. That pass, plus a doctor's receipt and foreign
license plates, will allow patients access to the special lane. Once in the lane, vehicles can bypass the traffic on the Mexican side of the border
crossing, and cut to near the front of the line. Mexicali is promoting the medical tourism lane in Arizona, Nevada and California to persuade more
residents there to visit Mexicali doctors. Patients who go to the Mexicali area for affordable medical services also stay in hotels, eat in
restaurants, use taxis and attend shows. One problem is that the shortcut only works on the Mexican side, since medical tourists can still be subject
to delays from U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. To avoid abuse, Mexicali tourism officials are requiring participating doctors to sign a
contract with the tourism board to ensure they only give passes to foreign patients who are crossing the border. Each pass costs the doctors $4.
Mexico City is raising its profile as a center for medical tourism with a campaign aimed at residents in Chicago and other cities with large Mexican
immigrant populations who need cancer treatment, heart surgery, dental procedures and other health care. The marketing campaign is focusing on Mexican
immigrants and Mexican-Americans in the USA, starting in Chicago, Los Angeles and San Diego. Although there are no statistics on how many US patients
travel to Mexico City for health care, local health officials say that have been climbing since it began promotions in Chicago and other US. Among the
services being promoted in Mexico City are organ transplants, diabetes care, gastrointestinal procedures and fertility treatment, with the costs 40 to
80% cheaper than those in the USA.
A number of clinics in Mexico are located very close to the US border, and many patients opt to travel to these places and return home the same day.
The proximity of the location is a major factor for American medical tourists in addition to the significantly lower prices. Cosmetic surgery, obesity
treatment and dental treatment are on offer in places such as Tijuana. Crime in Tijuana is a problem but less common in tourist areas."
(This article appeared in the International Medical Travel Journal, May 18, 2012)
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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Algodones Med Tourism promoted by US Indian tribe
•Why Algodones?
The easy answer is: dental rates are lower - much lower. Medical and/or Dental procedures in Algodones are 70% less, and most 75% less than like
procedures in the U.S and Canada.
•But isn't that true all over Mexico?
Yes it is, but what makes Algodones special; is the "easy in" & easy out" factor. Algodones evolved all by itself into, what might be, the world's
most patient friendly dental destination. On the U.S. side The Quechan Indian Nation bumps up against the Mexican border. You drive
on Indian land for two miles to reach Algodones. On the Mexican side you have a town growing out of its britches because of a phenomenal demand for
first-rate dental services at reasonable prices. Where once, not too many years ago, there was one dentist in the five downtown blocks of Algodones
there are now over 350. The Quechan Nation saw a good thing, and built a humongous parking lot to accommodate the flood of cars to
the border. The parking lot ($3. per car,) is paved, well lit, and secure. You can safely walk to any dentist in minutes from the parking lot,
The Quechan Indians have now completed a second parking lot to accommodate the thousands who enter Algodones daily. Even from the new
lot it is possible to walk to the furthest dental/medico office in ten minutes. Overnight parking is $20.
Bob Durrell
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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Never forgot the day when I was sitting in my doctor's waiting room, and seeing a brand new 7-series BMW pull up and a young man jumped out grasping a
briefcase. He walked into the office and up to the counter. Stayed there about ten minutes and unloaded several dozens of small boxes. Then he left.
Turned out he was a salesman from Glaxo Smith Kline. Giving out samples of the medicine I was prescribed. The exact one I was paying eleven dollars a
dose for. You remember Glaxo Smile Kline don't you? That's the pharmaceutical company that threatened to cut off all its product sales to Mexico
"Unless Something Was Done To Stop All The Americans From Crossing The Border And Buying Its Products There".
Yeah, I know, that salesman was driving the 733-I, a real clunker.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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I had to put this in a far less sour post:
Thank you for the link Gypsy Jan. I am going to go back and re-re-read it now. I am a little (senior moment) confused about the traffic lane. Is the
special lane used for entering Mexico or the USA?
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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El Camote
Senior Nomad
Posts: 514
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Above the clouds
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Mood: y Blues
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David, I took it as a lane entering back into the U.S.
Medical tourism has been discussed as a way to revitalize San Felipe which seems like an excellent idea. Why not go to a coastal resort city,
especially if your procedure requires an overnight stay? Some smart entrepreneur could make a fortune attracting the Docs and promoting this concept
to U.S. citizens, taking a cut from each of the docs. I'm surprised Pat Butler hasn't jumped on this idea.
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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www.medtogo.com is the best.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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Thanks for that med info, Jan,
I am sure my wife will take advantage of the lesser expensive procedures.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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Anyone out there with a herniated #4 lumbar disc?
I had a cortisone injection done in the USA in February. It did not and does not seem to work. The anesthesiologist warned me beforehand that for
whatever reason getting the cortisone to the problem "would be a real challenge" due to how and where the herniation is located.
Has anyone ever experienced a first injection with little or no result but had substantial improvement with a second or even third injection? Only
those who must live with this can understand the intensity of my plea.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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BajaDanD
Senior Nomad
Posts: 745
Registered: 8-30-2003
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Sometimes takes 2-3 Im told a few weeks apart. Good Luck
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
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Gypsy Jan
I always read your interesting and informative posts. Thank you.
Iflyfish
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