From October 16 to 18 the 4th edition of Medical Tourism Business Summit was held in the city of Mexicali, its aim is to establish itself as one the best business platforms in the world on medical tourism, creating new strategies to attract the best buyers from U.S. and Canada.

During the inauguration event, the Major Francisco Perez Tejada Padilla pointed out that Mexicali has been able to position itself in various economic segments at an international level being distinguished by their unique offer in medical tourism, governed by the Strategic Plan of Medical Tourism of Mexicali municipality. "We devote ourselves to the promotion of this offer in major cities close to our municipality as El Centro, Palm Springs, Yuma, Las Vegas and Phoenix, through the generation and assistance of medical events."

The Major informed that the arrival of foreign tourist trough the border has been facilitated trough the Medical Lane program, which is the first medical transport subsided by the Mexican tourism and Convention Committee.(Cotuco), as an exclusive lane for patients that return to the U.S.

"Thanks to the good will and combined efforts of our hospitals, doctors and hotels, we can say that we have positioned our city on an international market, with reports in publications such as like the NY Times, Medical Tourism Magazine, among other publications, and reports in Television in the United States, China, France and Korea."

Meanwhile the Deputy Ministry of innovation and quality of the Federal Secretary of Tourism, Francisco Mass Peña informed that President Enrique Peña Nieto has undertaken the determination to transform Mexico into a major tourist industry, and cities as Mexicali contribute to this in a substantial way.

He revealed some strategic guidelines that will lead all efforts to the great goal; from this we can distinguish the creation of policies that will benefit the medical sector, foster inversion and investigation as well as sustainability and social benefit.

Nevertheless he pointed out that to realize this grand project it is required "that the service providers do the best of their job" because a single negative case can take down all efforts due to the diffusion that can be done trough social media networks.

The number of companies exhibited in this summit tripled and the number of pre- established business appointments programmed from 2,500 against 1,367 organized during 2012.

Mexicali held the 4th edition of the Summit on Medical Tourism Business, 2013.

It is recognized as the 2nd most important event worldwide in this sector for the development of new businesses. This event benefits the region and positions it as one of the top destinations for medical tourism thanks to its infrastructure and the warmth provided by the companies of this economical sector that only in this municipality generates an economic impact of more than $ 102 million USD.

International patient profile: Characteristics, Necessities, Expectations; their Relationship with Medical Facilitators and Health Care service Provider institutions.

Meeting the characteristics, necessities and expectations of foreign patients in order to increase the medical tourism in Mexico was one of the key points addressed at the Summit on Medical Tourism Business "Mexicali" 2013.

Dr. Jesús Ortiz, CEO of Orbicare, detailed that the foreign patient, represents a 26% of the medical tourism in Mexico, and he explained that one of the most important barriers that patients experience is the lack of communication, this is why it is important to proportionate service in their language to enhance their experience and make their stay more comfortable and easier for them. Secondly he mentioned that the foreign client priories the quality of the service more than prize, but we must not be careless about

their economy, he remarked the importance of this sharing some important data, he remarked that in the US 62% of people who declares in personal bankruptcy do so

because of their

medical insurance.

CANADIANS ARE INTERESTED IN MEXICAN HEALTH SERVICES

The touristic authorities of Canada offered a conference about what the Canadian patients look in foreign health services. During the conference it was explained that Canada has a universal free health care system, and one of the most expensive in the world, approximately 67% of taxation goes to this sector, nevertheless since 1996 the quality in their services has declined, a lot of hospitals don't even have what is required to treat the current necessities of the population like bariatric surgery, dental services or quality treatment against cancer.

Despite all of the above, the Canadian economy is very stable and this allow people to search better health care services in other countries, and also because according to the Canada Health Act it is not allowed to

obtain particular services.

"Approximately 20% of Canadian population is in search of an alternative to treat themselves in foreign countries and obtain a quality service, Canadians are prepared to come and take treatment in Mexico, and we must improve in communication and the projection to attract this market."

ADVANCES IN MEDICAL CROSS-BORDER INSURANCE

Another global analyst who came to this summit was Jim Arriola, CEO of Sekure Healthcare, spoke about the cross-border insurance.

Dr. Arriola who has 15 years of experience in the in the medical insurance industry, mentioned that the insurance companies have begun to offer this type of service

in order to diversify the market,

and also to offer something different that will allow the patient to treat themselves in a reasonable cost in any place wherever there are located.

The success to give a cross-border insurance service it is enhanced if a network of professional medical services is offered; this is why California is one of the states who have obtained more success with this type of business, mostly for the network that has been developed with the private services in the northern frontier.

What interests the most to the public, he explained, is to receive a fast, good quality service, which represents savings on the price.

In Tijuana a cross-border security insurance is approximately sold in 600 US DLLS this represents a thousand DLS less than in the U.S., this is why Latin population and more American population is interested in purchasing

this services.

MORELOS DEVELOPS THE FIRST MEDICAL CITY IN MÉXICO.

In the frame of this summit the project of "Parque de la Salud" (Health Park) in Morelos was submitted in Morelos, this consists on the creation of an urban development that will allow the attraction of medical tourism.

The ministry of economy of this state Julio Mitre, explained that the project of the medical city is already in construction phase and what they are looking for is to build a city that will allow health care, and the development of science and technology in the medical area.

"We count with quality health care, at an affordable price, a unique weather and proximity to Mexico City, all this will allow us to be a competitive state. Currently the northern Border States and Mexico City are the ones who dominate this market. In Morelos we can be competitive so we're looking to be the hosts of this event in 2015." Said Mitre.