The new body aims at tapping into the region's lucrative healthcare market and competing with other regional providers.
Health and wellness tourism, an innovative niche market in Lebanon's tourist industry, is about to move out of the specialty market and become an important asset to the Lebanese economy with the establishment of the Lebanese Council for National Health Tourism.
While the international travel and tourism industry continues to be hit by war, terrorism and economic weakness, a growing awareness of tourism's capacity to promote health tourism has fueled investment in this area. With this ambition, the Lebanese Council for National Health Tourism has invested over $500,000 in the brand new industry with the aim of getting travel-related commerce back on course and turning Lebanon into the biggest hospitalization sector in the region, which will have a direct and positive impact on the country's economy.
According to Mr. Khalil Malaeb, General Manager of K & M International, who is entrusted to promote this new sector, health care and hospitalization services are well developed in the country and are an integral part of Lebanese culture. Lebanon has over 130 years of excellent medical experience.
So far, the council has managed, through teamwork with various health ministries and related sectors, to create concrete relationships with seven Arab Countries, including Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Kuwait. Although health tourism has been a large and even lucrative industry in other countries in the region, Malaeb believes that Lebanon has as much, if not more, medical experience to offer and can be competitive.
Health tourism has endless opportunities and benefits, and it ties extremely well into Lebanon's reputation as a rejuvenating place and a healthy state. Lebanon is returning to its roots, as is demonstrated by the promotion campaign of a 19th century photograph that shows Lebanon's medical experience dates back to the early 1800s.
"With only one month since its launch, we have already attracted some 50 clients from the Arab World," Malaeb said. With the anticipation of eventually covering all 22 Arab countries, the council is aiming to train all parties involved, enabling them to become acquainted with the existence of this sector and the market, and provide detailed, accurate information to clients.
"The key in creating this industry and succeeding in it depends completely on Lebanon's excellent doctors and their experience as well as Lebanese universities, which have the highest standard of medical education," Malaeb added.
Medical assistance includes pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, orthopedics, the ophthalmology program, the ENT program, obstetrics, gynecology and other areas. The council also offers an executive check-up program designed to meet the individual needs of each patient and address health issues, make recommendations for any further testing or follow up and counseling about personal health habits. A schedule of tests and consultations is prepared based on information patients provide before the visit. The executive check-up program takes one to two days.
"The patient has to come a few days in advance for his check-up and stay for a certain time even after medical assistance." According to the statistics of the council, Lebanon has 10,500 doctors who have completed their specializations in European, North American and Lebanese universities, 48 medical societies, 161 hospitals, 48 hospitals with international accreditation, 144 medium and short stay hospitals, 17 hospitals for long term stays and seven university hospitals.
The importance of this council lies in the fact that it provides the patients who come to Lebanon with all facilities and services from the moment they leave their country to the moment of their return. Pre¬planned, tailor made packages are prepared to make patients and that families accompanying them, feel at home and to let them get the most out of their "healthy visit".
