Keen to snag a bigger share of the lucrative medical tourism market, the Puerto Rico government has signed an agreement with the Medical Tourism Association to provide education and training for local service providers.
Tourism officials confirmed the partnership at the World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress which took place last week in Washington, DC.
International standard training programs will be held for hospitals and laboratories, and other medical tourism providers such as medical tour operators and insurance companies.
"We are a world-class tourist destination and we are committed to presenting an equally attractive offer for medical tourism that will benefit the Caribbean, the United States and Latin America," said Alberto Bacó, Puerto Rico’s secretary of the Department of Economic Development.
"We offer the real alternative of a first-rate experience for patients and their families including competitive prices at 40-60% lower costs than those offered in the continental United States," said Bacó.
This is the first major development for the recently formed Corporation for Medical Tourism of Puerto Rico, which is tasked with regulating the medical tourism industry and promoting Puerto Rico as a medical tourism destination.
