Santo Domingo:--- The Dominican Institute for Quality (INDOCAL) has announced the release of a Technical Standard for Medical Tourism, aimed at establishing quality criteria for the entire value chain of the sector. The standard aims to ensure the best practices and safety of patients and their families while promoting protocols and standards that enhance confidence in the Dominican Republic as a destination for health services.
Lorenzo Ramírez, the general director of INDOCAL, stated that the NORDOM ISO 22525:2020 standard, approved by the Dominican Council for Quality (CODOCA), takes a comprehensive approach to medical care throughout the patient’s journey.
Ramírez further explained that this standard, in line with national development goals, was developed through an extensive consultation process involving the INDOCAL Technical Tourism Committee. The committee consisted of experts from the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), the Dominican Association of Health Tourism (ADTS), the Association of Hotels and Tourism (ASONAHORES), and other entities. They reached a consensus to promote the standard in order to enhance the security of this thriving market niche.
Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso, president of the ADTS, praised the NORDOM ISO 22525 standard for medical tourism. He highlighted that it incorporates compliance with local licensing and accreditation standards of the Ministry of Public Health, regulatory standards of the Ministry of Tourism, and specialized ISO international standards for medical tourism. These international standards have been validated by numerous countries, representing a significant step forward.
Cambiaso emphasized that this regulation does not replace international accreditations but rather complements and strengthens them. It allows the country to aspire to the development of a culture of quality and compliance in the healthcare sector.
The adopted ISO standard can be applied to various organizations involved in medical tourism, including healthcare providers, plastic surgery centers, dentistry clinics, tour operators, medical facilitators, hotels, and specialized recovery centers.
