Medical Travel Quality Alliance Names India Hospital World’s Best for Medical Tourists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Medical Travel Quality Alliance Names India Hospital World’s Best for Medical Tourists

January 21, 2010 -- Bangkok and Scottsdale -- The Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA) has issued its first list of the top 10 world’s best hospitals for medical tourists and has named Fortis Hospital in Bangalore (formerly Wockhardt Hospital) as the number one hospital in the world for medical tourists.

"Fortis is exemplary in nearly all the criteria we used," says MTQUA founder Julie Munro, a leading medical travel facilitator and health tourism expert. “The medical traveler’s journey is a complex one and this list helps patients look beyond hospital websites where they can get the full spectrum of care management they need for a successful medical trip.”

The full list is available in Top 10 World’s Best Hospitals ™ and summary.

Medical tourists, Americans in particular, have a world of choice in healthcare and are taking advantage of this in increasing numbers. With healthcare reform on shaky ground, sick Americans will again turn to international hospitals for needed surgery or treatment.

Six of the Top 10 World’s Best Hospitals ™ are in Asia, still the leading medical tourism destination for Americans. Two are in Europe and two in North America.

Some leading hospitals such as Bumrungrad International in Bangkok did not make the top of the MTQUA list due to geopolitical or economic concerns that would trouble independent medical travelers. Bangkok has previously experienced airport closures and severe traffic disruptions, not the best situation for a traveling patient.

“Planning a medical journey with the help of a medical travel advisor or facilitator mitigates some of this concern,” says Munro. “If you can’t get as good or better care abroad than you can at home, you may as well stay home.”

Top 10 recognition was given to the hospitals based on MTQUA’s strict assessment criteria and evaluation without any influence or remuneration from the hospitals.

About Medical Travel and Health Tourism Quality Alliance: MTQUA promotes standards and practices, and provides training and workshops in all aspects of medical travelers' continuum of care. MTQUA offers CIPA certification for medical travel facilitators and professionals in medical travel and health tourism and CMTC certification for the travel and hospitality industry. MTQUA's advisory panel includes Harvard and Johns Hopkins affiliated hospitals and established health care travel agencies. Founder Julie Munro is a noted medical tourism expert and CEO of InterMed Global who, in 2003, founded a leading medical travel agency, Cosmetic Surgery Travel.

Contact:

Caroline Bodanis

Tel. +1 480-626-5217 or +66 859024500

info@intermedglobal.com