The Dominican Republic is developing a National Health Tourism Council with the support of the government and the private sector, said Jacqueline Monegro, director of Health Tourism.
“We achieved the signup of an interinstitutional agreement among the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Public Health, Asonahores, and the Dominican Medical School,” said the official at the 4th International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress in Santo Domingo.
Monegro mentioned that one of the key elements of the agreement is the development of a National Health Tourism Council.
“The members of the council will be responsible for creating guidelines to manage the niche,” she said at the Strategies and Experiences for Building a Health and Wellness Tourism Destination Brand panel, moderated by Amelia Reyes, President of AF Comunicacion Estrategica, co-organizer of the event.
Quality Seal
The director of Health Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic provided a novelty at the biggest Medical Travel event of the Caribbean.
Jacqueline Monegro also informed that the entity is also working on creating a Quality Seal.
“For the long term, we want to create, in alliance with the public and private sector, a Quality Seal to enable us to measure the quality of the (medical) services that the country offers.”
Recently, Francisco Javier Garcia narrowed down the elements for the sustainable development of Health Tourism.
“Tourism is one of the most important activities for the macroeconomic stability of the Dominican Republic. The sector has become one of the main generators of direct and indirect jobs, the largest generator of foreign currency and direct foreign investment and currently, the Dominican Republic is the undisputed leader of the Central America and Caribbean region,” opens up the minister on the August 28th printed version of Listin Diario.
According to the minister of Tourism, the entity encourages the development of the following:
- An inter-institutional agreement to create the National Health and Wellness Tourism Council, to develop the legal and regulatory framework that organizes the activity.
- The agreement is signed by the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Tourism, Dominican Health Tourism Association, the Association of Hotels and Tourism, and the Dominican Medical School.
- Health and Wellness Tourism Guide.
Medical travel adds to the presidential goal of Danilo Medina about receiving 10 million tourists in 2022.
For Garcia, the government must also ensure education and training processes for providers, ensure the quality of services, as well as compliance with national and international regulations.