The Center for Medical Tourism Services has started operating in the Vitebsk region

February 2, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. A center for medical tourism services has been established in the Vitebsk region, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Healthcare Department informed a BELTA correspondent. The center operates on the basis of the 2nd Regional Clinical Hospital and specializes in the development and organization of treatment and wellness programs in the leading state clinics of the region. An individual treatment plan is developed for each patient based on their medical history, and clinics are offered for selection. The patient receives a medical and technical description of the recommended medical institution and a preliminary economic calculation of the treatment. Each patient is assigned a personal consultant who accompanies them throughout their stay and assists in resolving any organizational issues. Interpreter services are provided if necessary. In addition to medical services, the center also offers hotel booking, transfer services, and organization of sightseeing tours. As noted by the Healthcare Department, a foundation has been laid in the region for the development of medical services export. The material and technical base of the clinics has been significantly updated, modern diagnostic and treatment equipment has been acquired, and doctors are mastering the latest treatment technologies that were previously used only in scientific and practical centers. Currently, medical institutions in the region are implementing 7 business plans. One of them involves the purchase of high-tech equipment worth 90 million euros for the cardiology department of the 1st Regional Hospital. A unique complex for invasive surgery will pay for itself within 1.5-2 years due to the fact that foreign patients will be able to use the new technologies on a paid basis. At the same time, such operations will be performed free of charge for Belarusian citizens. The growth rate of medical services export in the Vitebsk region in 2010 doubled compared to 2009. Services worth over Br1 billion were exported. The services of Vitebsk medics are in highest demand among citizens of the Russian Federation, Lithuania, and Latvia. They most often seek help from cardiologists, proctologists, dentists, and obstetrician-gynecologists. In 2011, the Vitebsk region plans to earn about Br15 billion from the export of medical services. -0-