Pramod Goel, Chief Executive Officer at PlacidWay, shares his perspective on what will define the beginning of the next generation of innovation in the medical tourism industry. If you would like to know more about PlacidWay or you have any inquiry about Pramod Goel email us at info@placidway.com or visit our website www.placidway.com.

1. Medical Tourism Trends
and
Challenges in 2013

2. 2013 Medical Tourism

3. Medical Tourism Trends and Expectations in 2013
Due to the continued uncertainties
of global economies, it is natural
to expect heightened competition
between medical tourism
providers, because they are all
seeking to either maintain or
increase their client base as well
as to get new clients.
Technology leads the way in
offering consumers the best that
medical providers have to offer.

5. Increased Competition

6. Increased Competition
Considering the growing competitive
environment, medical providers need to
stay on the top of their game when it
comes to branding, marketing, and
services.
Increasing domestic and global
presence today relies heavily on the
virtual environment. Social media and
visibility, accessibility, and not the least
important - reputation are key.
Availability of online information for consumers to do their research and
understand their choices is important when selecting the provider. With increased
transparency of available information online, the competition will be heighted in
2013 and beyond.

7. Lack of Product Differentiators
The large numbers of medical providers in the medical tourism industry makes it
increasingly difficult to establish a clear product differentiator. Each and every
medical provider is competing on cost, quality, and location “attractiveness”.
In 2013 medical providers will invest more in an
attempt to stand-out with their products and
services.
A blurring product differentiation and increased
price pressure may result in declining revenue and
lower profits.

8. Growth in Emerging Markets
Although the demand of medical tourism services in established markets
appears to remain unchanged, it is precisely this demand that will have an impact
with government regulations.
Governments are attempting to curtail the
money spent on people traveling abroad for
medical care.
Similarly, increasing numbers of local
medical providers will develop products and
services that can compete economically with
medical tourism organizations.
This would require medical tourism providers to
seek new opportunities in emerging markets.
This will in turn, favor medical travel for citizens
due to the ever-changing healthcare system.

9. Getting Ahead in Today's Tough Economics

10. Branding and Recognition
Branding and recognition will be essential for success in 2013.
Clear brand messages and differentiator
will be the key in attracting mainstream
consumers in the medical tourism industry.
In a highly competitive industry, the consumer
will seek a well-established brand to reduce
the risk and gain confidence on healthcare
outcomes.

11. Consumer Experience
The medical tourist will seek opinion
from peers to understand and focus
on their experience and will buy
products and services that embrace
and create superior consumer
experience to build customer loyalty.

12. Sustainable Infrastructure
Medical tourism companies will gain a competitive advantage in 2013 by
establishing and focusing on creating a sustainable infrastructure that
includes the integration of people, process and systems.
By leveraging cost-effective measures
and optimization of the end-to-end
processes, they will address the
complexities of medical tourism business
and offer a business advantage.

13. Sustainable Infrastructure
A medical provider with a solid infrastructure that offers transparency,
information, research, and a database of accumulated knowledge regarding
doctors, surgeons, healthcare facilities, treatments, surgeries and procedures is
essential for success.
They go through a large amount of information on the
Internet before approaching, let alone making
decisions, regarding medical travel.

14. Growing Medical Tourism in 2013
The performance of a medical tourism
organization will depend on how fast an
organization adapts to changing business
environments and innovations in this highly
competitive environment.
Companies that are able to perform in-depth
analysis of their consumer behavior,
preferences, and overall trends of the
industry will outperform others in the
industry.

15. Growing Medical Tourism in 2013

17. About the Author
Mr. Pramod Goel is president and founder of
PlacidWay, an internationally recognized industry leader
in medical tourism.
Mr. Goel is the author of recently released book
Evolution of Medical Tourism: from Cottage Industry to
Corporate World, available online at Amazon.
is a U.S.-based medical tourism company with
presence in over 30 countries worldwide, offering the most
comprehensive solution to over 200 medical providers
globally, from Asia to Europe to Africa to South America.