Dominican Republic offers its first certified programme for medical tourism professionals. Local university, Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), is launching the International Certified Medical Tourism Professional programme which is deemed innovative and is also supported by the Medical Tourism Association (MTA) and the Dominican Association of Health Tourism (ADTS).
The dean of UNIBE and chairman of the board of the Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud, Dr. Julio Amado Castaños Guzmán, said that the quality and safety of medical services offered by the country should be strengthened by promoting training and certification to validate the best practices and incorporate the players in the financial, health, education and tourism sectors. The aim is to create productive linkages and access to new markets to make Dominican Republic more competitive.
The International Medical Tourism Certification began on November 21 at the UNIBE campus, with a corps of national and international master teachers.
Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso, president of the ADTS, explained that having highly competitive human resources is part of the sector’s strategic plan and it will facilitate sustainable development of this new niche market and retirement tourism.
René-Marie Stephano, President of MTA, also said that the confidence in medical tourism professional services based on continuing education will encourage the recruitment of international patients as well as initiatives designed to promote diversification of the tourism portfolio and health and wellness tourism in the Dominican Republic.