"If we all join forces, health tourism can be an important source of wealth for our province"

Alberto Giménez Artés is Vice President of the Spanish National Health Cluster and Mediterranean Health Care Association President, as well. Since a few days ago, the alicantinian Alberto Giménez has become one of the heads of the union of companies, associations and institutions seeking to position Spain among the favorite destinations for health tourists. There is a lot of work to be done yet. By now, the country, despite its good conditions, is too far from the worldwide sector leaders.

We offer you an interview with Alberto Giménez, carried out by the local newspaper “Information” at Alicante and published on 28th of March.

-          You have been elected as Vice President of Spanish National Health Cluster. What this union is about?

-          It is a nonprofit association formed by companies, local associations and institutions which has a specific objective. We want to associate a product with a territory. In our case, we are going to promote our healthcare system worldwide. “Come to Spain, and to Alicante, where we have great clinics which can help you with you health problem”.

-          The union is searching to have force and voice?

-          No doubt. We have achieved an agreement between companies dedicated to health service, together with institutions, to compete with other countries and that people choose Spain for their treatment.

-          What volume moves the health tourism market?

-          At this moment, move around 75 billion Euros worldwide. And the figure is growing by 20% each year. Countries have realized this opportunity, struggling for customers.

-          What countries are the most competitive?

-          Germany, Turkey, Israel, India, Singapore... Turkey receives about 165,000 patients a year, while Spain was lagging behind, with just 12,000 health tourists a year.

-          And what can be done to reverse the situation in Spain?

-          Joining forces, therefore we have formed this cluster. And we are raising Spanish Government awareness that this sector is key for our economy. In Spain, we do not take advantage of our potentialities. We are the second reference in tourism and the sixth in health... No country in the world has this position, so we should be leaders. However, we are very down. We need institutional support.

-          Is there a lack of Spanish health services recognition?

-          200.000 Russian’s tourists travelled abroad for treatment and sector responsible has told that Spanish services are not known abroad.

-          And why are they unknown?

-          Healthcare is always related to the expenditure and costs, and therefore people think about it when it is cut out. Healthcare generates health and at the same time employment, wealth, research... It is a very strategic sector, really key sector if we want to move forward. Health plays an important role, because employment generated is intensive and transferable.

-          Therefore, you think it is a mistake to cut back on public health.

-          Yes. First, because you do not cut, but you postpone the payment. If you do not attend a patient today you will have to do it tomorrow. Second, you are lowering health quality and increasing the level of impoverishment. Another thing is to adjust spending. We could save 20% without cuts, only making it more efficient.

-          Can health tourism be future earnings for the province economy?

-          No doubt. We have joined forces at national level to compete with other countries and encourage health tourists to come to Spain, now it’s our turn to unite at the provincial level to make this tourist choose Alicante. Be known is essential, because we have good weather, fantastic beaches, communications, world-class clinics... The Alicante’s province gathers all fantastic conditions. If we all join forces, health tourism can be an important source of wealth for the province.

-          What data we have about health tourism in the province?

-          They do not correspond with our potential. We know that last year there were about 3,000 people who visited us. But these people, not only invest in health service, but they come with a companion, sleep in a hotel, eat in restaurants, moves through the city, and go shopping...

-          Will the High Speed Train Line help?

-          Any kind of support helps, that is why we united with hotels, restaurants, airports... It is important to be united, together with the Public Administrations and universities.

-          Has the concept "health tourist” a bad reputation in Spain?

-          There is a wrong concept. It is thought that economic development brings health and is backwards. Health creates economic development because we have people who do not generate expenditure since they are healthy, if people are sick, they cannot work and generate wealth for their country.

-          Why?

-          They are people that before coming, they have already paid for the service. It is clear that purchasing power is needed to be able to pay, but they do not spend anything from the Spanish public health system. Then there is the cross-border health care European directive...

-          And what is it?

-          It is mandatory in all European Countries. The policy says that any EU member which must to wait a longer time than the reasonable for a medical intervention, can go to another country to receive the service and the place of origin will pay for it. The English patients, for example, who have serious problems with waiting lists, can be an important market for us. Usually these patients will go to private clinics because public hospitals already have their own problems with waiting lists.

-          So Alicante can be a destination for two kinds of patient.

-          Exactly, tourists who come to the province paying the services or those who make use of the European Directive and whose treatment is paid by their own country. The directive is already approved.

-          But there is also the tourist who comes to be treated free...

-          It is the negative part. We have to try to prevent the fraud.  The country of origin must pay these invoices, not as always.

-          Is it needed a great State Pact for health sector in Spain?

-          Absolutely. Healthcare should be excluded from political debate. Any political party should doubt that health is a public service of universal access. We must fight for the Pact of State.