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ABU DHABI – The country’s stern observance for privacy could be the main attraction for individuals seeking to undergo cosmetic or plastic surgery.

According to Dr Prem Jagyasi, CEO of ExHealth, Dubai, despite the UAE’s strategic geographic location, the cost of medical care detracts people from seeking treatment here.

“A lot of people will not come here except for those who are looking for privacy, someone who wants to get his or her plastic surgery done away from (prying eyes) of friends or any member of their community,” Dr Jagyasi told Khaleej Times in an interview.

Medical tourism thrives due to the affordability, accessibility and quality of health care. Geographic proximity, decreased taxation and reduced cost of airline fare are other factors that attract people to a particular destination seeking treatment — from diagnostics to surgery and wellness.

“Our market is not a price-saving market; that means people will be coming here for other factors such as those who are looking for quality services in dental, cosmetic and some elective surgical procedures, general check-ups and diagnostics. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have quality medical services that are very well regulated by the government,” 
Dr Jagyasi pointed out.

Easy accessibility or shorter waiting time for some elective surgical procedures is another attraction, compared to between two to three months waiting time in Canada for a knee surgery.

Noting the lack and sometimes absence of ‘tertiary level’ care here, Dr Jagyasi said, “because we do not have really super specialised care, we should not promote this at all.”

Geographically, the UAE is an ideal medical destination for those coming from the US and Canada as coming here is still affordable compared to the high cost of medical care in their countries, said Dr Jagyasi.

“Cosmetic surgery, dental, some elective surgical procedure and diagnostics — these are the areas in which the country can focus on. However, first the UAE needs to create a national brand. Promoting medical tourism is still a big challenge here,” noted Dr Jagyasi, adding that the health, tourism authorities and the chamber of commerce have to work together to achieve this.

Dr Jagyasi estimated the residents of the Gulf states spent around $2 billion per year on medical care abroad.

“We don’t have exact numbers, but I would say that these figures are realistic. GCC health care spending amounts to $12 billion every year, so it is not unreasonable that $2 billion is spent outside the Gulf countries,” he said.

Read more about Dr Prem Jagyasi at www.DrPrem.com

Many clients come to Dubai for cosmetic procedures, says Dr Adam Bader, CEO of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital. He cites the instance of an obese woman from Holland who came here for three days and was given a total body sculpture.

“We had two doctors giving her two procedures at the same time,” he said, adding that Dubai is becoming a medical tourism destination. He said her husband did not recognise her 10 days later.

Asked whether surgery was a lazy way out to lose weight, the doctor agreed.

His hospital first offers nutrition support and a psychological evaluation of the patient.

But in some cases as a mother with four children, surgery is needed, he says

Read more at http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/health/cosmetic-surgery-in-vogue-1.719001

Dubai A pharmacy in a mall which reported brisk sales of blood pressure monitors during the Eid break highlights a growing public awareness about the need to remain clued in about one’s own health.

“People come to Dubai for Eid from other [GCC] countries and our sales [of hand-held monitors] was good,” says Jaisho P.C., pharmacist at Boots.

Blood glucose monitors for diabetics had also been in high demand, he said.

“Home-care is the latest trend in prevention of chronic diseases or for proper maintenance of your treatment through regular monitoring,” says Dr Prem Jagyasi, CEO of ExHealth, a health care events management firm.

In today’s fast-paced world, it is not always possible to go to a hospital or a clinic to keep track of one’s blood sugar level or check for hypertension, Dr Jagyasi said highlighting why more people are relying on hand-held monitors.

“The days of just measuring your height and weight are gone,” he said. “Stroke patients or the aged can now wear a device which immediately notifies a relative, friend or a doctor if the person falls down or has an accident at home,” he said.

Regular monitoring

The doctor believes that because of the sedentary and stressful lifestyles of people, it is essential to regularly check BP, blood sugar, and BMI (body mass index) levels.

Some doctors are of the opinion that frequent checking of your blood pressure can actually be counter-productive and hike the pressure. People often do not know when is the right time to check their blood pressure, a doctor said.

Marianne Zaida who is pregnant, finds a portable blood glucose monitor very handy. Her doctor has advised her to check her blood sugar levels every day as pregnant women run a risk of gestational diabetes.

She said she checks her blood sugar in the morning before breakfast, in the afternoon and after dinner. “It’s not practical for me to go to a lab three times a day,” she says.

Read complete article at http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/health/health-self-monitoring-with-discretion-urged-1.714567

DUBAI — Figures released from three recent health campaigns have revealed an encouraging appetite for information from UAE residents on how to improve their personal health.

 

The ‘No Tobacco’ campaign and ‘Summer Wellness and World Heart Day’ commemorations proved to be extremely popular with residents; thousands of whom attended the activities for free health checks and advice.

One of the organisers behind the programmes said this increasing interest in wellbeing can only benefit the UAE and will add to the success of the forthcoming ‘Know Diabetes’ campaign, which starts on November 1 and commemorates the November 14 World Diabetes Day. “The response that we have had from the public to our recent health initiatives has been overwhelming and this can only be a good thing for the UAE,” said Dr Prem Jagyasi, CEO and MD, ExHealth.

The ‘No Tobacco’ Campaign commenced on May 31 with an aim to help UAE smokers stub out their deadly habit for good. As well as maintaining a presence at popular malls across the country, the health initiative visited around 40 corporate institutions encouraging nicotine addicts to pack in the cigarettes and tobacco habits.

Approximately 6,000 smokers pledged to quit their harmful habit, with those making the commitment entitled to receive discounted treatment at Novartis smoking cessation centres throughout the UAE.

“Giving up smoking is without doubt the single most effective thing a person can do to improve health,” said Dr Jagyasi. “With the increased crackdown on smoking in public places and other government interventions to prevent tobacco consumption, there is a genuine recognition that avoiding all types of smoking – active and passive – is something that is vital to maintain good health,” he added.

The Summer Wellness 2010’ drive, which commenced on June 17 in conjunction with the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) tackled the vital subject of how to remain healthy during the region’s prolonged hot and 
humid season.

The event attracted around 20,500 visitors to its stands throughout the duration of  DSF.

The United Nations ‘World Heart Day’ is commemorated every last Sunday in September and this year, the UAE marked the occasion by hosting events that took place in Abu Dhabi
 and Dubai.

Part of the programme involved sending out baskets of apples to corporate institutions across the emirates to enhance the ‘Workplace Wellness’ theme of World Heart Day 2010.

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Today’s health conscious populaces are more than just aware of the glaring wellbeing issues that surround them. Such knowledge triggers a desperate need among nations to fill the essential niche of global healthcare through Medical Tourism.

With privileges such as expanding infrastructure, improvised communication and wide-ranging conduits, the global healthcare industry is all set to develop at an intense pace over the next decades. The power of information at the health-seeker’s fingertips has also paved limitless capacities and shrunk the world into one global village.  Small wonder that the number of people in quest of healthcare facilities overseas now runs into millions each year.

As more and more people continue to be convinced about the quality and perceive the advantages of treatment in developing countries, the countries proffering such treatment should keep in mind certain essential components that attract tourists who not just popularize the treatment destination but also add to the national per capita.

Hence, I am doing in-depth research on what are essential components of a good medical tourism destination. Finding of my research reports will be published soon in an international magazine.

Keep reading!!!

Dr Prem Jagyasi | www.DrPrem.com