Last of three suspects plead guilty to cross-border kidnapping plan
K. Mennem 6:15 p.m., May 21
- Dr. Karim Chalita Rodriguez II
Upticks in violent events in Tijuana and Mexico have brought a sudden halt to an encouraging rise in medical tourism to Baja, says Dr. Karim Chalita Rodriguez II, president of a medical group known as Clúster Médico Dental y Hospitalario de Baja California.
Quoted in Tijuana’s daily El Mexicano, the doctor went on to say that, despite efforts by his group and other business groups to publicize and maintain a positive image of Tijuana as a “secure city,” the murders that have occurred since the beginning of 2013 have put a crimp in what seemed to be an advance in the recuperation of the medical/dental industry and in the Tijuana economy in general.
According to the report, medical and dental services had been enjoying a 20 percent increase in 2012 compared to the previous year, but with international publicity over recent murders in TJ and the rapes of six Spanish tourists in Acapulco, medical and dental practitioners have noticed a sudden drop in business, which, according to Chalita, is being attributed to this negative publicity.
The doctor also pointed out that strong efforts by his group and other business interests would have to continue to promote the region in a positive manner, in conjunction with continuing crime-fighting efforts carried out on a national level.
The doctor stated that although Tijuana is a safe city, heavy international publicity can take a toll on tourism. He said the U.S. State Department’s travel warnings were also impeding recovery and growth for the sector.
Comments
Javajoe25 Feb. 23, 2013 @ 5:54 p.m.
Oyé, Amigo;
I used to go to TJ, and get my drugs for cheep, But now all those headless bodies, are giving me the creeps; I liked to go for dental, the price was nice and low, But getting caught in crossfire, just makes me not want to go; I miss my Senorita, my dentist and doctoor; But losing my head in TJ, is just not worth going for.
Maybe mañana.
Nuehealth Feb. 25, 2013 @ 2:05 p.m.
At Nuehealth we help Americans get healthcare abroad. Despite the violence in the past few years, Mexico continues to be one of our preferred destinations for medical and surgical care. We have carefully selected cities that have not been a factor in the drug war violence.
We are continuing to bring patients to Tijuana and this hasn't really slowed down even with the unfortunate violence - I think that is due to the fact that we only bring our US and Canadian patients to a top notch private hospital with JCI accreditation, and part of their services includes shuttle service directly from the airport to the hospital complex, which is gated, with security guards, and features all-private hospital rooms.
So, As a patient, your feet barely touch Mexican ground, and an American Patient Care Coordinator and personal travel concierge are checking in with the patient and the hospital constantly.
The hospital itself is in the Rio district which is an upscale business area and is not in the 'line of fire' of all the drug violence. Tijuana has always had an image problem, even without the drug war violence. The patients we send to Tijuana are often shocked at the modernity of the hospital, not to mention the much lower nurse:patient ratios and overall cost of medical and surgical care http://database.nuehealth.com/menu/Default.aspx?category=Gastroenterology
Barring a dramatic escalation of the amount and locales of the violence, we continue to expect to see Mexico, particularly Tijuana and Guadalajara and Mexicali, shine in the destination healthcare firmament.
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