The First Jordan International Medical Tourism Congress to enhance medical services with Usaid support

Ministers of Health, Education, Higher Education, representatives from Medical and Nursing councils, Private Hospital Association, Jordan Tourism Board, Usaid Jordan officials and international guests attended the opening ceremony.

The four days Congress - January 30th to February 2nd 2009, will discuss medical service sector goals and needs, find ways to build on sector strengths and remedy its weaknesses.

Medical services in Jordan are offered to around 130 thousand foreign patients per year. The First Jordan International Medical Tourism Congress aims to raise discussions on sector potentials, identify goals to increase its existing capacity, and find ways to venture potential markets.

Discussion will address regulatory, legal and policy reforms that will assist patients coming into the country, protect their rights and provide them with standardized services. The international gathering at the Congress provide a prime opportunity for participating countries to promote their capacities in providing quality medical care services at lower costs for foreign patients.

Dr Abdullah Al Bashir, General Manager of Jordan Hospital and Congress Chairman, asserted that this major scientific and medical event organized by Jordan Hospital in Amman, comes as medical tourism in Jordan gains momentum due to its contribution to the national economy. He said that Jordan has achieved an advanced status in the field which reflects our medical, human, and technical capabilities, that has gained us an outstanding reputation in the region and the world. Dr Al Bashir added that Jordan has become the first centre of transformation in the region in medical tourism and aspires to compete on international levels.

"Jordan's touristic and archeological potentials coupled with its medical achievements increases its potentials and competitiveness in the world of tourism." Dr Al Bashir spoke of Jordan Hospital's experience as one of the leading medical centers in the region. Jordan Hospital provides integrated qualitative services that attract patients from the region and the world.

In his speech at the inaugural ceremony, Mr Laith Al Qasem, Chief of Party, Usaid Jordan Economic Development Program (Sabeq), said the Program aims to drive economic growth, create jobs for Jordanians and enhance the business climate in the country. Through supporting this gathering "Major benefits will be reaped resulting from the distinguished performance of Jordan's medical sector. The sector's input in the national economy will increase revenues and improve its overall performance. Once international hospitals' accreditation is in place, sector's competitiveness will increase number of patients coming into Jordan."

The medical services sector in Jordan aspires to increase revenues generated by incoming patients by 2012 to $1bn from a present income ranging from $ 650 - 700m. The Congress will find ways and means to enhance the capacity and efficiency of medical service providers will lead to institutional strengthening and sustainability empowering the generation of forecasted revenues.

The Usaid Jordan Economic Development Program (Sabeq) is a five year broad economic development initiative implemented by Bearing Point, Inc. and a sizeable team of international and Jordanian partner firms. By both supporting improvements in the business environment and providing assistance to expand innovation and productivity in Jordanian businesses, it supports the main objective of building up the private sector as a powerful engine of economic growth.