Jordan is striving to regain leadership a Medical Hub for the Region
Jordan has been making substantial progress in its effort to become a regional center for medical tourism, in which it had succeeded a great deal. However, the tourism economy in Jordan has been heavily hit by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which led to a drop in medical tourism in 2020 with more than 60% compared to 2019. Now Jordan is striving to resume its role as a leader of medical tourism in Middle East. With Jordan has continued to progress on the Global Law and Order Index, ranking 2nd at the regional level and 16th at the international level, Medical tourism will lead again.
Jordan is a regional leader for the provision of medical services. In 2020, 9% percent of Jordan’s GDP was devoted to healthcare services, which is high compared to other countries. There are 115 hospitals, 67 of which are private. The total number of hospital beds in both sectors, is 14,779, with 51% of the beds in public hospitals.
Opportunities exist for technologies that prevent or treat these conditions as well as supplying equipment for new and existing medical facilities. The country is facing heavy demands on its resources due to a growing population, impact of COVID-19, and an influx of Syrian refugees, which by some counts has exceeded one million. Therefore, expanding the reach of Jordan’s healthcare services is a government priority. Jordan receives significant international assistance, some of which is dedicated to the provision of healthcare services.
The tourism economy has been heavily hit by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and measures introduced to contain its spread. According to Dr. Fawzi Hamouri, CEO of Private Hospitals Association (PHA), the shock had exceeded a 60% decline in the medical tourism of Jordan in 2020. Beyond immediate measures to support the tourism sector, Jordan is shifting to develop recovery measures. These include considerations on lifting travel restrictions, restoring traveler confidence and rethinking the tourism sector for the future.
While hospitals are trying to attract new patients to Jordan, the country underwent a huge drop in medical tourism from in 2020. This was due to the outbreak of covid-19 which was followed by travel restrictions in general and in part to restrictions place on visa issued citizens from citizens of Sudan, Libya, Yemen, and Iraq and due to the serious conflicts between those countries. While Jordan has put forth an impressive effort to attract medical tourists, much work is still needed make it a viable part of their economy and a viable option for those needing treatment.
Acceding to the Board Member of PHA, Ahmed Al-Ahmad who expressed his confidence in the return of medical tourism to once again top the tourism sector’s revenues, in light of Jordan’s progress with indicators of the level of security, the rule of law, and the extent of the sense of security that exists in a Jordan, according Gallup’s Global Law and Order Research Centre.
Al-Ahmad said in a press statement today, Saturday, Nov. 20, that Jordan’s progress in the “global law and order” index, to be ranked 2nd in the Arab world, and 16th worldwide, reflects the extent of the rule of law, security and safety that the Kingdom enjoys, indicating that this progress will be reflected positively on the tourism sector in the Kingdom, especially medical tourism.
He stressed that these indicators strongly support the efforts of the private sector in attracting foreign investments and promoting Jordan’s tourism, which will raise growth rates and thus increase job opportunities and reduce unemployment rates. He called for taking advantage of this big jump in the field of security and the rule of law in promoting Jordan’s tourism, especially medical tourism, pointing to the availability of many factors that made Jordan at the forefront of the region’s countries in medical tourism.
Al-Ahmad, who is currently the GM of Al-Istiklal Hospital, said that private hospitals have local and international accreditations and operate according to international standards, in addition to the availability of medical devices and advanced equipment in Jordanian hospitals such as advanced laboratories, radiology, nuclear medicine and oncology centers, among others.
Al-Ahmad pointed to the spread of therapeutic resorts and hospital centers in various regions of Jordan, such as the Dead Sea, Maen Hot Spa, and others, and the high quality of medical services being provided, in addition to the low prices of treatment in Jordan compared to countries in the region and Europe.
Al-Ahmad added that Jordan topped the list of countries in the extent to which residents feel safe, and their confidence in local security agencies and their ability to enforce the rule of law is one of the most important factors in maintaining existing investments and attracting more foreign investments, indicating that the most important thing a tourist wants is a sense of security and safety.
Jordan has become a regional leader in medical tourism, with nationals from neighboring and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries seeking treatment in Jordan. Patients from abroad are attracted by the limited wait times and availability of quality treatment at an affordable cost for treatments ranging from cardiac diseases and oncology to infertility and cosmetic surgery. Prior to COVID-19, Jordan received as many as 250,000 foreign patients per year with over $1 billion in revenues annually, accounting for a significant percentage of the country’s tourism revenue. According to the World Bank, Jordan is ranked first in the MENA region as a best healthcare service provider and a top destination for medical tourism. Physicians tend to be Western-educated and well regarded.
In 2020, Jordan’s healthcare expenditures were valued at $3.79 billion; pharmaceutical expenditures were valued at $941 million; and medical device expenditures were valued at $311 million (Source: BMI International). A strong medical tourism sector as well as projects to renovate existing and establish new medical facilities are key drivers behind expenditures in the sector. Additionally, Jordan has a significant number of refugees requiring medical services, and the country has a 2% year-on-year population growth, with 69% of the population under 30, and 37% under the age of 15, also contributing future demand. Accordingly, medical companies have excellent opportunities to sell products and services to the health care sector in Jordan.
The government plans to expand the “e-health initiative system” piloted in 2011 to public hospitals, including the storage, retrieval and updating of electronic patient health records managed by healthcare facilities. Suppliers of e-health solutions may find opportunities to respond to procurement announcements.
The project, which is called “Hakeem”, has served as a bank of every patient’s medical history and include all tests, procedures and surgeries undergone by patients, in addition to the diseases from which they suffer, their allergies, the medications they take and other health information.
Regarding future strategies that aim to develop the private sector, PHA is planning to boost investments by establishing specialized health centers and investing in specialized medical equipment and improving management.
The government of Jordan is in the process of expanding and improving healthcare provision to Jordan’s poor. This includes expanding health insurance to 100% of the population, from the current 87%- Social Security Corporation (SSC) is in the process of introducing health medical insurance to its subscribers and retirees in the 1st quarter of 2022- upgrading primary healthcare facilities and improving hospital administration to speed up admissions and to reduce duplication of services and other waste. The government is also keen to build on Jordan’s reputation for quality services to attract more patients from the Arab world.
Hospitals will continue to expand and the demand for new hospitals and medical equipment and pharmaceuticals will continue to grow.
With Jordan’s medical sector advancement and its eagerness for being medical hub, the demand for medical equipment and supplies will continue to grow. So Jordan needs medical equipment and supplies especially in the fields of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kidney dialysis and Transplantation, Ophthalmology, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Oncology, in addition to covid-19 related equipment, medicine and vaccines and many others in order to upgrade the existing hospitals and for creating new ones.
Needs for those projects will consist of a variety of equipment including sophisticated laboratory diagnostic, laboratory reagents, testing equipment, hospital furniture as well as other laboratory equipment in addition to pharmaceuticals.
Jordan in this year is not expected to resume its role as a leader in the medical tourism in the region due to the ups and downs in covid-19 situation in Jordan and the MENA region; however, next year 202 Jordan will be expected to regain its lead in the medical tourism.
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Akram Al Basha
Tradelinkjo.com
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