The XII International Congress “Sanatorium-Resort Treatment” hosted by the National Medical Research Center for Rehabilitation and Balneology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation took place in Moscow. The forum focused on new approaches and best practices in spa treatment, as well as challenges related to the development of the resort industry in Russia. Sergey Nechaev, General Director of VTB Medicine, took part in the plenary session. He presented his vision of medical care service export development and of the part the spa treatment industry plays within the overall healthcare system.
Mr. Nechaev pointed out that during the five years the federal medical tourism project was in operation (2019-2024), over 21 million foreigners visited Russia for treatment, with the market value exceeding $1.3 billion. The initial tourist flow was mostly from the CIS countries. Presently, demand from Arab countries and other regions of the world is growing steadily.
The Russian spa treatment industry has enormous potential. Over 7 million people improve their health annually, accounting for about 80 million nights spent in related institutions. The industry's estimated operating profit reaches RUB 45 billion.
The General Director of VTB Medicine is convinced that the future of medical tourism in Russia is not in selling isolated healthcare services, but in setting up end-to-end, transparent client pathways that need input from the spa treatment industry. For any foreign patient, diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation should be a seamless cycle:
“It is important for patients to not treat these functions as separate. They need a single point of contact managed by a dedicated account manager, transparent pricing, and treatment and accommodation schedule that is easy to understand. A sanatorium should become part of a client's medical pathway. We, at VTB Medicine, will integrate these components into a single pathway, helping clients solve logistics, payment issues, remove other international barriers that are now hindering patients, clinics, as well as health and wellness resorts.”
Holistic programs are vital to drive the effort. This approach will create an “infrastructure of trust” and significantly improve the industry's export potential.
The session concluded with VTB Medicine and the NMRC for Rehabilitation and Balneology signing the agreement.
