Healthcare in Jordan
Why Jordan as a Medical Tourism Destination?
Apart from the extremely attractive costs, which come to as low as
10 ~ 30 % of US costs, Jordan is one of the few countries, which due to
their great diplomatic relations with other countries, allows for
convenient travel. In fact, most nationalities do not even require a
visa, or have access to visa-on-arrival facilities.
Also, the high quality standards in healthcare in Jordan, vouched
for by the numerous international and domestic accreditation most
hospitals have earned, ensure that visitors get only the best. Jordan
has its own healthcare accreditation council in place, which is itself
accredited by the ISQua, ensuring that healthcare in the country meets
international standards.
Medical tourism in Jordan has seen an increase over the years, mainly
due to high level of expertise provided by hospitals in the country. Apart from
state of the art technology, a number of doctors in the leading hospitals in
Jordan are certified by the American board or UK fellowship. Also, numerous
measures have been taken to ensure there is no language barrier for visiting
patients, with most hospitals training staff in English, Arabic as well as Russian.
Some of the most popular treatments include cosmetic surgery,
neurological surgery, orthopedics, organ transplants and many others.
Of course, patients always have the option of taking some time off
to visit some of the famous religious destinations in the country.
Particularly revered by Christian and Muslim faiths, some popular
destinations include Mount Nebo, where Moses is believed to have gone
to view the Promised Land, River Jordan, where Jesus Christ was
baptized and Madaba Map.
Vacationing options with your Medical Trip
Recently crowned one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Petra is
a major tourist attraction in Jordan. Apart from this, most medical
tourists particularly favor the world-class spas on offer at the Dead
Sea, the lowest point on Earth. Jordan has a well developed tourism
infrastructure in place, with tourism being an important contributor to
its economy. Visitors have a wide range of choice amongst hotels and
resorts, and travel is extremely convenient.
Winter lasts from January to February in Jordan, with visitors
advised to carry heavy winter clothing during this period, though
summer can get extremely hot, lasting from June to August. November to
March plays host to rains, with snowfall being experienced only in the
peak of winter. Be sure to consult your doctor on the kind of clothes
you need to carry depending on your condition.
In case your health permits it, do make time to visit some of the
rich natural reserves in Jordan, such as, the Azraq National Reserve,
the Shawmari Wildlife Reserve and the Dana National Reserve. Some other
tourists hotspots include Mt. Nebo, Jerash, the Crusader castle at
Karak and many others.
Jordanian food
Like most other Middle East countries, Jordan is also known for its
tradition of feasting. Available in the widest range possible, medical
tourists can delight in the fact that many items are made with fresh
and dried fruits and vegetables, grain, cheese and yogurt, making it
extremely healthy. Some popular dishes include mansaf, also the
national dish of Jordan, which basically consists of lamb cooked in
yogurt and seasoned with aromatic herbs and stuffed baby lamb. But if
you do not like to experiment with your meals, there are plenty of
international food chains, such as Burger King, Pizza Hut and
McDonalds, to choose from.
Jordan as a tourist destination
Jordan is an extremely popular tourist destination, and the
government has made several heavy investments in developing the tourism
infrastructure in the country. In just 2008, over 6 million tourists
visited the country, with health or medical tourists forming a
significant chunk. Boasting of a well educated workforce, the country
enjoys a stable political scenario, despite having a diverse ethnic and
religious populace. Enjoying one of the lowest crime rates in the
world, Jordan is particularly safe for tourists, despite its proximity
to more volatile neighbors.
Though not one of the cheapest countries in terms of cost of living,
medical costs are significantly lower here as compared to the US. The
government has made sincere efforts to increase its healthcare sector,
which include heavy investments in hospitals and highly skilled
doctors, institution of a local accreditation council and the
establishment of a dedicated counter at the airport, aimed at solely
helping medical tourists. Medical tourism in Jordan is further aided by
high quality data transfer between leading medical establishments in
Jordan and those in USA and Europe.
Pointers for Medical Travel to Jordan
| There are numerous ATMs available in most places in Jordan, and all
banks are supplemented with huge English signs to indicate the credit
cards they accept.
For cash advances, Visa is the most widely accepted card.
The local currency of Jordan is the dinar, and money can be easily
changed here, though a lot of major currencies are also accepted in
many establishments here.
Tourist visas are usually valid for three months and can be easily
extended to up to three months.
Arabic is the local language, though English is extensively
understood, with the Jordanian upper and middle class using it as their
second language. Other languages in use include French, Russian and
various Caucasian languages, such as Chechen.
Public transport, available via buses and trams, is quite efficient
and tickets can be bought on the bus itself. Private bus companies have
faster buses, and are more comfortable to travel in.
Non smokers might have to make some efforts to find non smoking
facilities as Jordan is home to one of the highest percentage of
smokers in the world. So confirm with hotels before reservation.
Taxis are the regular yellow, and are an inexpensive way to travel.
All taxis are required to use their meter, so be sure to check before
leaving.
Souvenirs for home come in a wide range of prices and types. Some
great options are, sand bottles, kefiyas or head scarves, narghilas or
water pipes, bath salt and scrubbing mud from the Dead Sea and of
course the world famous mosaics from Madaba, provided you are able to
carry them back home.
Avail the Ministry of Health counter at the airport, which is meant
specifically to guide medical tourists. This has been a significant
step by the government to improve medical tourism in Jordan.
|