Alejandro Cambiaso presents the Dominican Republic’s health tourism success story in Guatemala and calls for a stronger regional vision for Latin America

He highlighted more than 300,000 international medical patients, progress on the bill, the start of the third national study and the push for new international accreditations and certifications.

Guatemala City. – The Dominican Republic is strengthening its position as a regional benchmark in health and wellness tourism. Dr Alejandro Cambiaso, president of the Dominican Health Tourism Association (ADTS), presented the progress and lessons of the Dominican model at the Guatemala Health & Wellness Conference 2026, organised by AGEXPORT.

In his talk “From vision to destination: the Dominican Republic’s success in health and wellness tourism”, Cambiaso highlighted that the country receives more than 300,000 international medical patients a year, consolidating an activity that brings in foreign currency, attracts investment, introduces new technology, creates specialised jobs and strengthens the quality of health services.

Among recent milestones he pointed to the Senate’s approval, on second reading, of the bill regulating health tourism, a significant step towards strengthening the institutional framework and continuing to drive the sector’s orderly, competitive development.

He also highlighted the start of the third Health and Wellness Tourism Study of the Dominican Republic, which will update national data, measure how the market is evolving and generate strategic information to guide public policy, investment and business decisions.

Cambiaso stressed that the next stage must focus on raising quality and safety standards further, encouraging more hospitals, clinics and specialised centres to obtain recognised international certifications and accreditations, and to strengthen their international departments with specialised teams able to manage the patient’s experience and continuity of care as a whole.

“Price can be an advantage, but it cannot be our strategy. International trust is built on quality, safety, recognised accreditations, measurable results and an excellent patient experience,” he said.

He also pointed to the opportunity to strengthen ties with the Dominican diaspora and promote “healthy remittances”, directing part of those funds towards prevention, medical care and family wellbeing, connecting health, diaspora and development more strategically.

As the main lessons of the Dominican experience, Cambiaso set out five priorities: a national vision and public-private coordination; data to measure and manage; quality, safety and results; the integration of health, tourism, diaspora, connectivity, investment and talent; and turning regional competition into regional collaboration.

He further proposed strengthening alliances between Latin American institutions through medical referrals, telemedicine, second opinions, talent exchange, research and cross-border continuity of care.

“Latin America has an extraordinary opportunity. We must raise our standards together and present ourselves to the world not only as countries that compete, but as a trustworthy, innovative, world-class health and wellness region,” Cambiaso concluded.

The participation in Guatemala showcased the Dominican Republic’s progress in regulation, data generation, international quality and public-private coordination, reaffirming an agenda aimed at turning health and wellness tourism into a driver of investment, innovation, high-value jobs and international standing, with greater involvement of the diaspora and growing Latin American integration.