Dr. Take advantage of US patients!
The size of the health market in the US is very large and many foreigners come to Mexico looking for good and affordable treatments. Do you know how to attract them?
Why settle for caring for national patients in their different illnesses? Why not take advantage of the growing demand for medical services that Americans are seeking in Mexico? *Doctor, what are you doing to increase your practice and help combat diseases as widespread and dangerous as obesity? In 2016 alone, Mexico received more than one million foreign patients who underwent medical treatment. Including migrants who returned to the country in search of medical services that are much cheaper than in the United States. Data from the federal Ministry of Tourism show that in just 10 years the income from medical tourism tripled. Going from 1,544 million dollars in 2006, to 4,798 million dollars in 2016. And for 2017, 6,000 million dollars were expected. And it is a figure that will continue to increase over the years because more Americans will seek care in Mexico. Due to the low costs of treatments. For example, a rhinoplasty is 56% cheaper in Mexico than in the United States. Or a heart valve replacement is up to 89% cheaper in Mexico. According to ECLAC data, a cardiac bypass has an average cost of $144,000 in the United States. While in Mexico it is only 27,000 dollars. In 2014, in the United States alone, diseases linked to obesity represented a cost of 325 billion dollars. And it is projected that in 2025 this spending will reach $555 billion. The size of the market is enormous and Mexico must plan a way to increase its share.
The problem of obesity
*Although many Americans come to the country seeking treatment in the areas of cardiology, fertility, plastic surgery, oncology, ophthalmology, dentistry and bariatric surgery, the area of opportunity for nutritionists is significant due to the obesity problems that that country has. The obesity rate in the United States went from 30.5% in 2000 to 39.8% in 2016. According to official statistics, and it affects both adults and children. Of the 130 million Americans (39.8%) who are overweight and obese, 81 million are adults and 48 million are children and adolescents. The area of opportunity for Mexican nutritionists is not only given by obese adults, who are mostly between 40 and 50 years old. But for the entire future market that will involve treatments for those who are below those ages today. In addition, it must be taken into account that obesity is a disease that triggers other conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, certain types of cancer, respiratory disorders and osteoarthritis, and all of them can be treated by Mexican doctors. For example, about 16 million Americans suffer from diabetes, of which 5.4 million do not even know they have the disease. Every day, 2,200 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed and an estimated 780,000 cases are identified each year, according to data from the California Podiatric Medical Association. And diabetes itself also causes damage to the eyes, heart, feet, kidneys, nerves and blood vessels, conditions that can also become an opportunity for Mexican doctors.
Strategies are missing
Although there are several cities in Mexico that are well organized to serve foreign patients, it must be said that most of them are attracted by the low costs of treatments. Not the result of a strategy implemented by the government, by companies or by doctors. If strategies existed, many more patients would come to be treated in the country. And the foreign exchange income from that item would be much greater. Although there are cities that already have their medical cluster, such as Monterrey, doctors should begin by implementing their own strategies to increase their consultation of foreign patients. And perhaps this creativity is required to a greater extent by nutritionists. Because generally an obese person does not realize the severity of the disease they have. Until obesity causes other diseases. Like diabetes and heart and respiratory conditions. So one of the first steps to follow is to make these patients aware of how dangerous obesity is and the need to treat it before it triggers irreversible and fatal conditions. They also need to work on a “very good” marketing strategy that includes the use of internet platforms and social networks. *In Mexico there are already hospitals and companies that are working on this, but there is a need to enhance the strategies and exploit areas that have not been as active as nutrition. You as a doctor can individually begin to gain market share. Remind your patients that obesity is directly responsible for 60% of global mortality. With more than 2.8 million deaths a year. Therefore, it requires immediate solutions such as healthy and effective eating plans to burn calories. Which must be accompanied by physical exercise. If you want advice on this and other topics, click here.
