There has been much news coverage in recent weeks about India and Mexico targeting Canadian patients. But some Canadian hospitals and a leading health investor believe Canada has potential as a medical tourism destination.
An international health care investor is the latest in a string of entrepreneurs calling for public hospitals to increase revenues by providing medical services to paying patients from outside Canada. Jack Shevel, founder of Global Healthcare Investments and Solutions (GHIS) of San Diego in California, USA, operates private hospitals in South Africa and the United Kingdom. In June, GHIS acquired 53 per cent of Toronto-based Centric Health, a diversified health care company whose holdings include Don Mills Surgical Unit, one of Ontario’s eight private hospitals. Sheval argues, “ Ontario hospitals could zero in on procedures such as hip and knee surgeries, that cost more outside Canada, for out-of-country patients. Health-delivery models are changing, creating opportunity for the private sector in Ontario. If there is a possibility for hospitals, if they have capacity, to augment their income, I think that should be encouraged.”
Shevel believes Canada’s health care will remain publicly funded, but the private sector will take on more of a role in delivering care. Centric lists medical tourism as a potential target. Centric Health's vision is to be Canada's premier healthcare company and is pursuing expansion opportunities. A subsidiary, Don Mills Surgical Unit, is a Toronto hospital caring for private local and international patients.
Canadian Medical Network (CMN) is a medical tourism agency that focuses on outbound medical tourism, but has been bringing small numbers of patients to Canada for 10 to 15 years. Several public hospitals in Ontario already welcome medical tourists. Toronto General Hospital will accept patients for treatment not provided in the patient’s home country (such as Caribbean patients who do not have access to complex medical procedures); a doctor must be willing to accept the patient before the patient arrives in Canada; and a bed must be available for the international patient without preventing access for any Ontario patient.
Ontario is sending an ever increasing number of patients to get care in the United States, but Health Ministry figures show about 34,000 patients from outside Canada receive treatment in Ontario hospitals a year, mostly as outpatients in emergency departments.
The concept of allowing patients from outside Canada to pay direct for medical care in public hospitals as well as private hospitals, is getting much less resistance than a few years ago. US government Medicare will pay Canadian hospitals that are on the US border if where patients live is closer to the Canadian hospital than the nearest U.S. hospital that is adequately equipped and available to treat the condition.
Canadian Healthcare International (CHI), a medical tourism agency, offers treatment at various unspecified Toronto hospitals and clinics, at prices lower than in the US, for American medical tourists.
