The Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic (TRNC) has taken part in a London Fair, with the aim of securing a share of the burgeoning international Health Tourism market that sees people travelling overseas in increasing numbers for medical and cosmetic treatments.

Zeki Ziya  director of Cyprus xp Travel –the  Northern Cyprus arm of Pegasus Airlines- and Near East University  Hospital Tourism Enterprises Ltd general director Ahmet Savasan  took part in the Destination Health and Medical Tourism Show at Olympus on Friday and Saturday.

Mr Ziya said: “Near East University Hospital assumed the promotion of  health services in the Northern Cyprus and we the promotion of tourism.

“Since the UK is the first step for us in that regard it is very important for us. We will continue to take part in such events in other countries as well.”

Mr Ziya said health tourism had become a huge international market recently but the Northern Cyprus did not have a toe-hold in it.

“Our aim is to ensure that the Northern Cyprus obtains the maximum possible share of this market.

Related posts:

A new board has been named at the  humanitarian organisation Volunnnnteer Doctors-Cyprus as from March 1,. President is dentist George Georgiou and vice president psychologist Fernando Dinamarca.

Dentist Despo Stylianou is secretary while marketing management expert Pambos Hannides has taken over duties of treasurer.

Photo-reporter Stefanos Kouratzis was appointed field coordinator.

The new board of directors pledged to make every possible effort to implement its targets on the basis of its charter.

“On the basis of humanitarian principles and volues, our efforts will focus on strengthening the organisation, through a new strategy for improving the strength and quality of help given to groups which we support until now and those that will emerge,” an announcement by the organisation said yesterday.

Related posts:

The American Hearth Institute  launched operations in its new euro50m Nicosia premises this week as Europes first green hospital, aiming to promote Cyprus as medical centre.

The hospital is environmentally friendly with 50% of its energy needs covered by renewable sources.

It covers an area of  10.000 m2 and has a capacity of 50 beds. Half the rooms are single-bed, minimising the possibility of infections during treatment, said one of its directors, Marinos Sotiriou.

“At the same it means the relatives can spend more time with patients, helping their morale with a direct positive effect on their recovery.” Sotiriou said.

The new hospital covers cardiology, heart surgery, general surgery and orthopaedics. Future plans include the creation of a centre to treat strokes.

The hospital in technologically advanced and perhaps the only medical centre in the Middle East offering a hybrid operating theatre where catheterisation and surgerycan be carried out at the same time. It offers luxury hotel style facilities patients can watch television on a personal screen through Wi-Fi as well as choose a video or tolk on skype and order food from the hospital’s restaurant.

Sotiriou said the cost of treatment at the new premises will not be higher than at the Instituute’s promises at Apollonion Hospital.

“In planning this hospital, we did not want to create a hospital for the elite that would be unapproachable to the average citizen. We wanted to offer medical services in line with or better than those currently offered by medical centres aboard, with the lowest possible cost and to help patients feel comfortable and safe from the moment they set foot in the building to the time they are healthy and discharged,” Sotiriou said.

The building is an “architectural jewel”, warm in winter and cool in summer using geothermal energy while heat storage units on its roof produce electricity.

A helipad on its roof will help cater for emergency cases.

“We hope to service the medical needs of our country and attract patients from aboard, with 30% of patients already being non-cypriot,”  said director Christos Christou.

Expressing pride in the new hospital. Health Minister Christos Patsalides said one of his ministry’s main strategic aims was to develop and support medical tourism with the cooperation of the private sector.

“The hospital is such a modern medical centre offering top medical services in Cyprus. our aims is also to bring under one umbrella the private and public sectors for the benefit of patients”, he said.

Related posts:

The tourists group confirmed that the Near East University Hospital had international standards of resources to cover all Health related and social needs of tourists visiting North Cyprus, adding that North Cyprus could well become the Health Centre of the Mediterranean following the contribution of the Near East university Hospital (NEU).

Related posts:

The Founder Rector of the Near East University (NEU) Dr. Suat Gunsel signed protocols aboard to encourage international tour operators to organise groups of tourist to visit North Cyprus and make it one of the tourist destinations of choice rather than just a likable destination. Now the effects of these international contacts have begun to come into action.

According to a protocol signed between the NEU and tour companies in Italy to develop health tourism in North Cyprus a group of 40 Italian tour operators visited North Cyprus and the NEU Hospital to develop mutual relations and conduct pre-studies of the location.

NEU Tourism and Travel Enterprises General Manager Ahmet Savasan and International Patient Coordinators accompanied the Italian tour operators during their tour and briefing at the NEU Hospital. Among the topics covered were the International standards of the health services available, doctor and care staff and the technology used by the hospital. Mention was also made of the care available to tourists and health tourism in general plus its contribution to the development of North Cyprus Tourism.

Related posts: