PORTUGAL A PRIVILEGED DESTINATION FOR MEDICAL TOURISM Contents - Manuel Caldeira Cabral – Minister of Economy - Adalberto Campos Fernandes – Minister of Health - Salvador de Mello - President of Health Cluster Portugal - Portugal - A Privileged Destination - Healthcare in Portugal - Areas of excellence in Portuguese Healthcare - Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery - Orthopedics - Rehabilitation - Oncology - Plastic Surgery - Obesity - Ophthalmology - OB/GYN - Assisted Reproductive Technology - Check-ups - Portugal facts and figures - How to get in touch or find out more MEDICAL TOURISM IN PORTUGAL Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões Manuel Caldeira Cabral Minister of Economy In the past few years, Portugal has established itself as one of the best touristic destinations all across the world. The growth of this sector in our country has been a major Key for the wealth creation in Portugal, and one of the main drivers for our economy. Last year, 2017, we broke new records again – revenue increased 20%, something we had not seen in the last two decades. So strong is the performance of tourism in Portugal that it accounts for more than half the services exports and 18% of the exports of goods and services. Last year, overall, Portuguese exports Kept growing and represented 42,5% of our GDP, a new record, which clearly shows how sustainable and resilient the Portuguese economy is. We are also aware that the demand for high quality health treatments is growing, namely because of demographics, and we have identified that as a priority in our National Strategy for Tourism 2027. We have some of the best qualified doctors and nurses and modern and functional medical infrastructures that are able to serve both locals and tourists. Our healthcare system is recognized internationally for its universal character, we have thousands of hours of sunshine every year, we are in a strategic geographic location and we have 166 thousand rooms in modern and comfortable hotels. For all these reasons, we elected “Well-Being” as an emerging asset in our strategy for 2027 and we are working on new ways to become more attractive for those who come here looking for the best treatments. Adalberto Campos Fernandes Minister of Health In the last decade, medical tourism has grown significantly worldwide. New technologies, changing demographics, globalization and access to unprecedented amounts of information all converge and influence how we view the world. Also the improvement of transport facilities, mainly airborne, will continue to facilitate access to tourism and its development. Decision makers are improving healthcare systems through the use of information and communications technologies, investing in safe and quality units, thus making it attractive to engage with tourism flows. It is time to pool and to link available knowledge and experience across the world, providing a strategic overview regarding the nature of patient movement, including data on tourism-related flows and long-term stay. Those who visit us have available healthcare services safe and of high quality. Portugal aims to be a relevant destiny for medical tourism, engaging tourism and healthcare services. We need to achieve this objective in a balanced and sensible way. In both areas, Portugal has a prominent role and is at the top of the list. Portugal has a sound healthcare system according to international standards, one of the best of the world at top 20, encompassing public and private sector, confirming a good performance. Portugal stands out for its quality and international acknowledgement and several international awards awarded for the tourism sector promote Portugal as a most popular and famous attractive destiny. You are most welcome both as a patient and as a tourist. Salvador de Mello President of Health Cluster Portugal Health became one of the most precious assets of mankind which has been witnessing remarkable achievements in the last decades. These overall improvements have largely resulted from better living conditions, major developments in medical science and a number of population-level interventions but, most of all, from the relentless work of health professionals, scientists, managers, and other men and women who, in an increasingly complex ecosystem, find the proper balance and the right answers among various realities. In Portugal, healthcare is unquestionably an area of successful collective investment as demonstrated by the excellent performance indicators of its scientific production, associated business dynamics and, above all, of its national health system. These accomplishments, combined with the commitment that unites all the relevant players along the entire value chain - from the government and public agencies to caregivers – position Portugal as a high quality medical tourism destination. For those looking for the highest level of medical care and unique opportunities for convalescence and recovery in a particularly attractive and welcoming environment, Portugal is the right place. We are looking forward to your visit. Portugal A Privileged Destination Portugal has been Known for centuries as a country of some of the world’s greatest explorers. Now, it seems that the world is rediscovering Portugal with ever more interest, and a virtual boom in tourism, relocation, and investment from abroad. There are many reasons why Portugal may easily be called a privileged destination, among which include: 3000 hours of sunshine a year, 850 km of white sandy beaches, fresh Mediterranean gastronomy, numerous opportunities for adventure and outside living, welcoming and friendly people, an undeniable harmony that places Portugal 3rd on the World Peace Index, and one of the more favorable costs of living in western Europe, among many more qualities. International awards, rankings and notoriety of Portugal in recent years reflect this new discovery moment in the country. The tourism sector in Portugal has registered successive annual double-digit growth. In 2016, Portugal was recognized with 491 awards and distinctions, and in 2017, Portugal claimed the title of World’s Leading Destination, World’s Leading Beach Destination, and Europe’s Leading Destination from the World Travel Awards. Portugal receives approximately 13 million international tourists annually, who report a degree of satisfaction above 90%. Portugal is gaining increasing recognition as great place to retire. According to Forbes, the country is the 9th best place in the world to retire. High quality health services, tax benefits for international retirees, warmer weather, and affordable housing and cost of living have been mentioned as Key factors in choosing Portugal for retirement. The Annual Global Retirement Index by International Living Magazine ranked Portugal as the 7th best country in the world to retire in 2018, and the highest ranking European country on the list. Live and Invest Overseas’ rated Lisbon as the number 1 city to retire in 2018. Portugal is also considered the world’s second best country with regards to the integration capacity of immigrants (Migrant Integration Policy Index). Portugal supports patients travelling for care with a high level of client support, quality and breadth of the healthcare services availab- le, direct air links to/from many of the world’s capital cities, and comprehensive and diverse tourist services. The affordable cost of living in the country also makes Portugal an attractive location for longer stays for rehabilitation and recovery. Around 70 spas throughout the country of recognized therapeutic value present a holistic option for physical and mental recovery. And with nearly 70 thousand hotel rooms in establishments ranging from historic to modern, Portuguese or international, family friendly or five star, and resort styles, it is easy to find a comfortable place to call home while in Portugal. Healthcare in Portugal The health sector is a prominent, fast-evolving sector in Portugal, which has experienced remarkable growth over the last two decades. The healthcare system in Portugal offers highly skilled clinical professionals, newly built and recently renovated hospital infrastructure, advanced equipment and technologies, contributions to clinical research, and a commitment to continued training and innovation, placing the health system in Portugal on the level among the best that Europe has to offer. This is reflected in the main international rankings, where the Portuguese healthcare system is usually in the top twenty positions. Regular quality assessments performed by an independent national regulatory body in addition to the growing number of international accreditations being achieved in the country play an important role in supporting continued performance improvements. The quality of the physicians and other healthcare professionals is maintained by an education that is only accessible to the best students, and which typically includes an intensive and long training process that is internationally recognized. Increasingly, medical professionals trained in Portugal are being recruited by major European countries, or will serve in prestigious positions in various countries and European medical societies. In addition to the technical-scientific component, Portuguese healthcare professionals are well-known for their humanized, friendly, gentle and warm way of receiving patients, forging personalized and considerate relationships, as well as by their fluency in foreign languages. Portugal has a vibrant and innovative research & development ecosystem