A journey through Jordan’s vibrant healthcare sector
Experts on Jordanian healthcare discuss the contributing factors behind the country’s reputation for high-quality services and evaluate cross-border care opportunities. By Lauren Haigh
According to the Central Bank of Jordan, tourist arrivals increased from around 649,000 in May to 716,000 in June 2022. After the disruption caused by Covid-19, the country was quick to welcome medical travellers again, following recovery measures, as Dr Hasham Al-Fadel highlighted: “During the pandemic, Jordan was among the first to reopen the country to medical tourists after meeting health requirements,” he told ITIJ. Indeed, Jordan responded promptly and effectively, reporting 453 cases and eight deaths from Covid as of April 30, which is among the lowest number in the world and testament to the country’s fruitful healthcare system.
By all accounts, Jordan boasts an impressive healthcare sector, with a generous portion of GDP allocation (in 2020, nine per cent of Jordan’s GDP was devoted to healthcare services), expert physicians, cost-effective care and a keen focus on safety. Dr Fawzi Al-Hammouri said: “Jordan offers high-quality services, state-of-the-art equipment and procedures and excellence in patient care.” For these reasons, the country is a popular destination for tourists and medical travel. “The healthcare system in Jordan is evolving and Jordan is considered the number one health travel destination in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region,” Dr Al-Fadel said. “Before the pandemic, Jordan received more than 250,000 patients annually, mostly from surrounding countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Yemen, Sudan and others.”
Jordanian health system composition
The country’s health system is mainly based on public organisations, which provide more than 70 per cent of health services. “There are currently 121 hospitals in Jordan offering services to Jordanian and non-Jordanian patients,” Dr Al-Hammouri, who is Chairman of the Private Hospitals Association (PHA) in Jordan, said. “The number of private hospitals is 71, while the government has 33 hospitals, 15 hospitals for the royal medical services and two university hospitals.” These offer high-quality patient care across a wide variety of specialties.
Jordan is known for highly qualified healthcare professionals and is one of the highest per capita for physicians and other healthcare providers
Dr Al-Fadel, International ISQUA Surveyor and Consultant, Healthcare and Technology, TEMOS International Healthcare Accreditation Regional Partner and surveyor and Chairman of Middle East Academy for Special Education, can attest to Jordan’s proven reputation: “Jordan is known for highly qualified healthcare professionals and is one of the highest per capita for physicians and other healthcare providers. This is one of the notable features about Jordan with regards to qualified manpower.” Dr Al-Hammouri agreed that exceptional staff are a driving force: “One of Jordan’s primary assets in the medical services sector is its workforce, as the country boasts over 35,000 physicians, most of whom are board certified in the US, UK, Germany or other countries,” he said. “This is in addition to the availability of highly qualified nurses that are well trained in patient-centred care.”
Hospital quality and safety in Jordan
The country places great importance on hospital quality and safety, therefore accreditation is widespread and highly prized. Indeed, Jordan is the first country in the region to have a national healthcare accreditation organisation – the Jordan Healthcare Accreditation Council (HCAC) – that is internationally accredited and recognised, as Dr Al-Fadel explained: “It's an independent accreditation that is not under any governmental ministry. Most major hospitals and healthcare centres are accredited, some with two. In addition, international accreditation is present at many hospitals that include Temos, Joint Commission International (JCI), Canadian accreditation and others.” Dr Al-Hammouri confirmed that accreditation is a process in which the PHA plays an active role: “The PHA is one of the founding members of the HCAC, which is internationally certified by ISQua. The private hospitals in Jordan have acquired an excellent global reputation,” he said.
Jordan is the first country in the region to have a national healthcare accreditation organisation
“There are 34 Jordanian hospitals accredited by the HCAC and 10 Jordanian hospitals achieved the JCI accreditation, in addition to applying other quality standards such as ISO 9001 and HACCP.”
Dr Al-Hammouri explained there are numerous advantages to applying accreditation programmes in hospitals that attract medical travellers: “These include: ensuring high quality of medical care, better outcomes – higher success rates, lower infection rates, lower mortality, patients’ and families’ rights, standardisation of medical care, increased satisfaction and loyalty. In addition, accreditation is a significant category the referral organisations request (governments, insurance, institutes). It is important to point out that Jordan is one of the first countries in the region to issue malpractice law regulating the relationship between the patient and the healthcare provider, to deal with any complications that may occur during the treatment period.”
Low-cost healthcare in Jordan
Affordability is another priority. “The cost of treatment in Jordan is very low compared to Western and some neighbouring countries with similar healthcare systems,” Dr Al-Fadel said. Indeed, investment in healthcare and wellness is actively promoted by the government of Jordan, said Dr Al-Hammouri: “This is achieved through the Ministry of Investment by creating an attractive environment.”
Jordan is known for highly qualified healthcare professionals and is one of the highest per capita for physicians and other healthcare providers
Furthermore, the country’s health and wellness sector boast a competitive cost structure: “It offers advanced medical services at the most affordable cost in the MENA region. Jordan’s expenditure includes upgrading medical facilities and equipment, with training opportunities for healthcare providers. This is reflected positively in the services for Jordanian and non-Jordanian patients. Jordan has a long and impressive history of medical achievements.”
Cross-border care opportunities
Delving further into cross-border care, Dr Al-Hammouri provided some insight. “Despite Jordan’s small size and limited resources, it is considered one of the best medical tourism destinations in the world. There are several drivers for this, including: highly trained Jordanian professionals and numerous distinguished private hospitals that are fully equipped with the latest technology. Also, it is easily accessible due to its unique geographical location, which is politically stable with a high level of security. This is in addition to the well-known Jordanian hospitality.” Indeed, in 2008, Jordan was ranked by World Bank medical travel experts as number one in the region and fifth in the world as a ‘medical tourism hub’. Dr Al-Fadel also noted that Jordan is popular for medical travel: “Most, if not all expats living in Jordan, receive their treatment in Jordanian hospitals and many Jordanian expats in other countries and other foreign patients come here for treatment as well,” he said.
Jordan has a vibrant healthcare sector, which offers high-quality services, state-of-the-art equipment and procedures and excellence in patient care
Inextricably linked is that Jordan is a pleasant and safe country for tourists to visit, as Dr Al-Fadel highlighted: “Jordan is safe and could be considered an open museum for tourist attractions within close proximity to hospitals ‒which is useful for some patients and companions and could mostly be arranged by healthcare providers. The people are friendly and hospitable and extend all help to visitors.” In particular, Jordan is known for spa tourism, involving health improvement though hydrotherapy or balneotherapy (treating disease by bathing): “Especially for treatment with water and products of the Dead Sea, which is the largest spa on earth in addition to hot springs,” Dr Al-Fadel specified.
One of the main features of choosing Jordan as a destination for health travel is that it contains all kinds of health travel segments that were mentioned in the Amman Declaration
Location is another key factor. “Jordan’s strategic and distinguished location has made it accessible for the Middle East and North Africa. Many nationalities do not need a visa to enter Jordan, while other nationalities can obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport,” Dr Al-Hammouri said. Furthermore, back in 2017, the Amman Declaration was announced by the PHA, with a view to expanding medical travel into eight segments, known as the Health Travel 8 (HT8), as Dr Al-Hammouri confirmed: “The HT8 segments are: Medical Tourism, Dental Tourism, Wellness Tourism, Spa Tourism, Culinary Tourism, Sport Tourism, Assisted Residential Tourism and Accessible Tourism. One of the main features of choosing Jordan as a destination for health travel is that it contains all kinds of health travel segments that were mentioned in the Amman Declaration.”
Sharing knowledge through events
In line with its reputation and expertise, Jordan hosts international medical travel events, including those associated with health quality and accreditation. Dr Al-Hammouri provided details on the importance and vast reach of the International Health Travel Forum: “As part of the PHA’s efforts to market Jordan as a destination for medical tourism and healthcare travel, the PHA organises the largest forum specialising in healthcare travel in the MENA region periodically. The International Healthcare Travel Forum (IHTF2022) will take place from 19-21 November 2022, in Amman, Jordan, held under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein. It will include local, regional and international parties, mostly specialising in the healthcare sector from hospitals, providers, insurance companies, pharmaceutical, medical equipment, tourism and much more. It will also include bilateral meetings between providers and buyers of health services, in addition to presenting medical and wellness topics by a selection of Jordanian, Arab and foreign speakers. The Forum is expected to be attended by more than 700 participants from over 50 countries.” Such events provide an opportunity for the international medical community to congregate and network, with Jordan showcasing its medical expertise.
The cost of treatment in Jordan is very low compared to Western and some neighbouring countries with similar healthcare systems
Jordan offers not only a wide variety of specialised care, but also a selection of medical travel segments thanks to the HT8. The country’s rapid and effective response to the Covid pandemic and ability to begin welcoming medical travellers into the country once again is proof of an efficient healthcare sector, suggesting that future unpredicted events would be handled in such a manner, with minimal disruption. Ultimately, Jordan provides abundant cross-border care opportunities and an excellent standard of patient care; a reputation that is well deserved, widely known and well respected.