Tue, 9 February 2010
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After a decade of wars, Serbia’s medical industry sees a road to economic recovery: foreign patients.Each summer, Julia Karstens of Germany has her teeth checked in Serbia, where authorities are eager to lure tourists seeking cheaper medical bills amid the global economic crisis.
"A friend of Serbian origin invited me to come with her to see a dentist in her country,” said Karstens. “This is how it all began."
Karstens said she was "very satisfied with the quality of service," but insisted cheaper prices were the main reason for her trips to the former Yugoslav republic.
"In Germany, I pay 60 euros (80 dollars) for a tooth filling, while here the whole crown costs less," she explained.
Inspired by such cases, Serbia has begun to develop its medical tourism industry.
And, hit by fallout from the worldwide financial crisis, many in the West have been looking for destinations where treatment can be much cheaper than in their home countries.
Looking to build
While lacking the sun and sand of more established medical tourism hubs in Asia, for instance, Serbia is located conveniently near the European Union and has high standards of treatment, said its economic ministry.
"We offer good quality medical services as well as competitive prices," said Renata Pindzo, an official in charge of tourism.
Pindzo noted however that stronger investments were necessary in order to offer services which would satisfy the demands of foreign tourists.
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