Baja California doctors organize to become one voice in Medical Tourism

Thursday, April 28, 2011 — Historic first takes place in Tijuana. The newly formed national Mexican Medical Tourism Association (Asociacion Mexicana de Turismo Medico - AMTM) accepts its first two members - the Asociacion de Turismo Medico de Baja California (ATMBC) and its sister organization in the state of California, Baja California Medical Tourism Association (BCMTA).

Becoming a part of the ATMBC/BCMTA and signing the cooperative agreement were the Colegio Medico de Tijuana represented by its President, Dr. Jesus Cornejo Rincon, and the Colegio de Ontologos (dentists) represented by its President, Dr. Silvano Barajas Padilla. The Colegio de Doctores Generales y Familiares (General and Family doctors) have agreed to also join the effort and will sign the agreement during ceremonies in the next few days.

Dr. Jorge Tagle, President of both the national AMTM and state ATMBC announced that conversations are underway with the various other specialty Colegios (Academies) and that in each case they have shown great interest and are expected to sign the cooperative agreement. "Tijuana," he said, "once again demonstrates to the nation that it is a city of innovation as this effort is the first of its kind and it will sweep throughout the country very rapidly."

During the presentation prior to the signing of the accord, Dr. Tagle said the importance of forming the ATMBC/BCMTA is that it will provide one voice for all the doctors that in turn will deal as one with municipal, state and federal governments and agencies. He stressed that other initiatives well intentioned and hard at work were not, however, guided by the most important persons in the medical tourism movement, the doctors.

Both Doctors Cornejo and Barajas expressed similar ideas. However, an invitation is to be extended to all medical clusters and other Colegios in the state and meetings are already planned to visit those in Mexicali.

Attorney Judith Wilson with the law firm, Bryan, Gonzalez Vargas & Gonzalez Baz, and president of the California organization said BCMTA will give voice to the doctors in California and surrounding states as well as throughout the United States through press and news releases, radio and television, conferences and health and wellness fairs. She said that the importance of having BCMTA efforts be coordinated with the leadership of the doctors cannot be understated as ultimately doctors are responsible for the quality and certification of the members of the various "Colegios."

Ms. Wilson also said that a working arrangement with the Baja California Arbitrage Commission is of outmost importance as BCMTA will provide information on the process to the general public in the United Sates so they may be aware that there is a formal process and an official agency that will provide a fair hearing to any complaint. This in turn will provide confidence for the usage of medical services in Baja California.

Present at the event to sign the accord on behalf of the Arbitrage Commission of Baja California was Dr. Antonio Tellez Amezcua substituting Dr. Rodrigo Robledo Silva, the Commissioner, as he was in Mexicali. Dr. Tellez said the Commission (CAMEBC) is fully supportive and will cooperate and work with the group.

Representing TransBorder Communications (TBC), the originators of the initial movement and organizers of BCMTA was Hector Molina. He related how it was that through a TBC produced the weekday call in radio program both on the air and through the Internet, The Baja Connection, the issue of Baja medical services was dealt with on Wednesdays. Dozens of local calls in San Diego and dozens of e-mails from near and far were received from interested persons, but most stating that they needed responsible information. They did not place a great deal of confidence on the numerous web sites as, many said, "anyone can have a good looking site." This experience gave birth to the idea and need for an organization to work with and for responsible doctors.

The event for the historic signing of this first important step in bringing order to the national and state efforts in attracting medical tourism took place at one of the oldest and renowned hospitals in Tijuana, Hospital del Prado. Maria Eugenia Aubanel, the hospital's Director General, gave the welcome and introduced the first speaker, Dr. Jorge Tagle.

Present to witness the event was Mariano Escobedo, President of the Tijuana Convention and Visitors Commission (COTUCO), and Carlos Rosette and Carolina Rosette of Hi-Tek the Tijuana based web design and web marketing that has created the BCMTA web site, www.BajaMed.org

Patrick Osio
POsioJr@aol.com