From Canada to Dubai and Italy: Medical Tourism Association® Announces World's Top Destinations

JUPITER, Fla. - Dec. 1, 2014 - PRLog -- Healthcare seekers contemplating value-based treatment overseas and looking for just the right destination should know that Canada, the United Kingdom, Israel, Singapore and Costa Rica are among the most attractive destinations for medical tourism in 2014, but that medical travel to Italy, South Korea, Spain, Colombia, and Dubai, are gaining appeal, according to global index published by the International Healthcare Research Center (IHRC), the Medical Tourism Association® announced today.

The Medical Tourism Index (MTI), which measures the attractiveness of a country for medical travel along three key dimensions and 34 underlying criteria, concluded that Canada topped the lists for “Country Environment” and “Medical Tourism Costs”; Costa Rica for “Destination Attractiveness”; and Israel for “Medical Facility and Service.” This MTI came as a result of a survey of 5,000 Americans. IHRC has not yet revealed the next consumer market to be surveyed.

“This tool makes a significant contribution to provide unbiased information about medical tourism across the globe,” said Renée-Marie Stephano, President of the Medical Tourism Association®, during a speaking engagement in Dubai. (For article, go to: http://www.medicaltourismmag.com/blog/2014/11/definitely-dubai-medical-tourism-changing-face-healthcare-desert/ “This information provides not only what patients need to know when planning a medical journey overseas, but is a valuable tool for governments, employers and insurance companies, hospitals and doctors, facilitators and related travel and hospitality industries throughout the world to determine their effectiveness at marketing destinations for healthcare.”

The 2014 Medical Tourism Index considered 30 countries – about 60 percent of the world’s population -- from Africa, Asia, Central America, Middle East, South America and North America. Top destinations include Italy, ranked 6^th overall; South Korea, 11^th; Spain, 12^th; Colombia, 16^th; and Dubai, 17^th. To register for a complete 2014 Medical Tourism Index, go to: http://www.medicaltourismindex.com/register/

About International Healthcare Research Center
The International Healthcare Research Center (IHRC) promotes and provides transparency and improves global healthcare quality, population health management, expanded access to care, and the consumer healthcare experience. IHRC is a 501c (3) non-profit research center, headquartered in the United States. www.healthcareresearchcenter.org/ (http://www.healthcareresearchcenter.org/)

About Medical Tourism Association®
The Medical Tourism Association® is the first membership-based international nonprofit trade organization for the medical tourism and healthcare industry made up of top international hospitals, healthcare providers, medical travel facilitators, insurance companies, and other affiliates committed to promoting the highest level of quality healthcare to patients in a global environment. www.MedicalTourismAssociation.com