Medical tourism experts see Poland as potentially significant player in this industry.
The country’s popularization as a hotspot for foreign patients is the result of implementation of the Ministry of Economy’s program: “Promotion of the Polish economy on international markets”. Promotion is underway in Germany, UK, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Russia, and the USA.
A commercial mission of Polish medical centers was organized in Germany on 9-11.04. There were 60 participants from Poland and Germany and invited guests. Polish companies returned home with the prospect of new contracts on the German market.
Representatives of Polish companies met with German experts, representatives of medical tourism environments, and other potential business partners. Two conferences were held during this mission: in Cologne and Berlin. The first, in Cologne, was addressed to travel agencies and medical tourism intermediaries. The meeting in Berlin concerned health care funds. The leitmotif was the cross-border health care directive, discussed by leading expert and co-author of the directive, Dr. Günter Danser.
Talks between potential partners from both countries also took place during matchmaking sessions in Cologne and Berlin. Hospitals enjoyed the greatest interest among German health care funds, and among medical tourism intermediaries, sanatoriums and dental clinics attracted the most interest.
Still planned for 2014: studio visit of foreign journalists to Poland (May), a mission to the United Kingdom and participation in The Health&Medical Tourism Show (July); mission to Denmark and Health&Rehab Scandinavia (September); international conference in Washington “Poland – fast growing health destination” and World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress (September); mission to Sweden and Norway (November), studio visit of foreign industry partners to Poland (December).
