Public Health, the Dental Association and ADTS drive medical and dental tourism

At CONAOD XXVI, speakers highlighted the sector’s potential to attract international patients, boost the economy and raise the quality of care Dominicans receive.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Medical and dental tourism represents an opportunity to attract investment, create specialised jobs, encourage the adoption of technology and improve health services in the Dominican Republic. Making the most of that potential calls for an offer backed by verifiable quality, patient safety and close public-private collaboration.

This was the view set out during the “Health Tourism” panel, held as part of the XXVI National and International Dentistry Congress (CONAOD XXVI) and the centenary of the Dominican Association of Dentists.

The panel brought together Virginia Laureano, president of the Dominican Association of Dentists; Alejandro Cambiaso, president of the Dominican Health Tourism Association (ADTS); Amelia Reyes Mora, vice-president of ADTS and president of AF Comunicación Estratégica; and Gerardo Mesa, director of Licensing and Accreditation at the Ministry of Public Health.

The conversation linked the country’s international positioning with opportunities for health professionals and for complementary activities such as hotels, transport and other services. Responsible development of the sector can widen the economic impact of each visit and encourage investment in infrastructure, training and equipment.

Participants highlighted the synergy between health authorities, the dental profession and ADTS as a way to tie those opportunities to better standards of care. The aim is that capabilities developed to treat international patients should also raise the quality of services for the local population.

Quality and compliance to strengthen the destination

The panel stressed how important it is for dental centres to comply with all applicable national regulations, including licensing from the Ministry of Public Health, and to move towards international certifications and accreditations relevant to their services.

In that context, NORDOM ISO 22525:2020 on medical tourism and service requirements was highlighted as a reference for strengthening the organisation and quality of international care, complementing compliance with national health regulations. Beyond contributing to safe care, these elements are decisive in building trust among patients considering treatment outside their own country.

The panel also addressed the importance of building a solid reputation for the destination, based on trust and evidence, which is built continuously through quality, compliance, transparency, consistency and responsible communication. In a sector where the patient’s decision is closely tied to the credibility of the provider and the destination, maintaining those standards must be part of institutions’ day-to-day management.

This view is also connected to the need to anticipate and properly manage risks. On that point, the panel discussed the implications of the new Criminal Code for professional and institutional liability, as well as the importance of strengthening prevention and a culture of compliance.

An experience that begins before the trip

Setting up international departments was another central theme. These units should handle responsible patient acquisition, guidance and coordination of care, from assessment before the trip to follow-up after the patient returns home. In this context, it was noted that communication is part of the patient experience from the very first contact.

Their work requires bilingualism, intercultural communication and coordination with clinical teams. To this are added evidence-based protocols, informed consent, proper documentation and the capacity to prevent and manage complications.

In the centenary year of the Dominican Association of Dentists, the meeting framed medical and dental tourism as an opportunity for economic and health development. Its greatest contribution will be turning international demand into investment, jobs and better care capabilities, for the benefit of visitors and Dominicans alike.