Jamaica says it is poised for a major expansion of health tourism.

Diane Edwards, the president of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation, says the island is developing a “competitive advantage” over other Caribbean countries by putting a focus on diagnostic and dental services for health tourists.

“We see opportunity for the health tourism industry taking off, having done research along with our international partners,” she said this week.

“What was really amazing is that people in the diaspora did not realize how much is going on, even in the private healthcare market here,” she said. “They didn’t realize the level of sophistication on our local medical scene, and so we have seen them now coming together and forming joint ventures between local doctors and their counterparts overseas.”

But other areas are also seeing growth, including newer medical procedures like plastic surgery and stem cell treatments.

“We are doing a number of really interesting procedures (from which) the diaspora can benefit, and also tourists,” she said.

— Caribbean Journal Staff