Chinese to travel to Adelaide for medical tourism next year

CASHED-UP Chinese will travel to South Australia from next year to receive everything from IVF and cancer treatment delivered by top Adelaide doctors packaged with visits to wineries and the regions as the state positions itself in the lucrative medical tourism market.

• Chinese visitors push SA’s tourism spend to more than $1.1bn
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• Wildlife, wine and adventure luring high-spending Chinese tourists
• First direct China Southern Airlines flight lands in Adelaide

CASHED-UP Chinese will travel to South Australia from next year to receive everything from IVF to cancer treatment delivered by top Adelaide doctors.

The treatment will be packaged with visits to wineries and the regions as the state positions itself in the lucrative medical tourism market.

The Advertiser can exclusively reveal South Australian company Medical Care Australia is offering the services, which combines medical treatment, accommodation and tourist opportunities in SA for people overseas.

The services offered range from simple health checks to more complex cardiac surgery and would be undertaken by local doctors in private hospitals, including St Andrew’s Hospital and Calvary Hospital.

The state’s peak medical association has labelled the idea “fantastic opportunity” but urged caution because of the “potential medical and legal ramifications”. “It must not displace opportunities for South Australians to seek the medical care they deserve ... regardless of whether they’re public or private (patients),” Australian Medical Association (SA) president Associate Professor William Tam said.

It’s been a year since China Southern Airlines began direct flights between Adelaide and Guangzhou.

Health Minister Peter Malinauskas said it was “no surprise that people look towards visiting our state for medical procedures”.

A brochure states: “Whether it be a first opinion, second opinion, genetic review medical investigation or procedural care, MCA can facilitate the services necessary to anyone around the world using world class Australian medical assistance and care,” it reads.

“In conjunction with your medical care, MCA can provide an array of unforgettable tourism experiences, whether it be experiencing a private tasting Penfolds winery or guiding you through Australia’s mesmerising nature and outdoors. We make it our mission to provide you the most comfortable and unforgettable medical travel.” More than 20 top SA doctors, including urologist Dr Peter Sutherland, cardiologist Dr Prash Sanders and plastic surgeon Dr Tony Moore, are on board the venture, each spruiking specialist services to the market.

MCA chief operating officer Van Vlassis, who heads the company from its Gouger St offices, said there had been “a lot of interest” from the Chinese, particularly in the areas of IVF and state’s growing reputation in health.

“With their growing wealth and income of middle and upper class, the Chinese are taking a lot more notice of their health,” he said.

Mr Vlassis said the venture would not compromise health care for South Australians.

“It’s private – it’s got nothing to do with the public health sector (and) patients would pay in full before they come to Australia,” he said.

Mr Vlassis said the MCA would charge patients and the money would be distributed to the relevant parties, including doctors and tourism operators.