Nuevo León’s Secretary of Economy, Betsabé Rocha Nieto, stated that the state’s hospitals, general practitioners, specialists, and healthcare and medical tourism infrastructure will be ready by March 2026 to welcome visitors to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After the presentation of the Nuevo León Health and Medical Tourism Cluster, Rocha Nieto told the press, “During my presentation, I mentioned that as the World Cup approaches, all of our projects will be ready by March 2026. In June of next year, we begin a huge window of opportunity for the state, not only in the sports sector—it is said that for every dollar invested in this sector, there is a return of up to four dollars. Add to this the opportunity to learn about the state’s entire tourism offering.”
She explained that the Cluster has a safety committee focused on ensuring patient protection and risk management within establishments specializing in medical tourism. It also seeks to offer tourist experiences for companions.
They will have a platform for medical care at the World Cup
Rodrigo García González, director of the Health and Medical Tourism Cluster, indicated that the doctors who will be treating visitors with medical issues have been trained in telemedicine. For example, when a medical emergency call is received, the doctors on the other side of the screen will be able to attend to the patients’ needs and then refer them to a clinic or hospital, whether private or public.
García González explained that to provide the best care, a platform is being created. To date, between 200 and 300 general practitioners have signed up. These doctors will be able to provide primary care and redirect patients to where necessary. This service will be completely free during the World Cup games, from June 14 to 29.
“What we’ve discussed with the Ministry of Economy is that this is a service we’re beginning to offer to support the state government and to demonstrate to any other country that Nuevo León is fully prepared for all these types of issues and whatever may arise during the World Cup,” he emphasized.
Nuevo León Attractive for Medical Tourism
The United States and Canada are the main countries of origin for patients traveling to Nuevo León for medical care, although they have also treated people from as far away as South Africa, for example, for facial surgery.
In the case of Canada, he highlighted that there is a backlog of more than one million orthopedic surgeries in that country following the pandemic, which represents a great opportunity to attract patients.
Medical care in Nuevo León can be four to five times cheaper than in the United States, with significantly shorter wait times. This, coupled with the high quality of medical care and the favorable exchange rate for foreigners, has boosted medical tourism in the state.
It is estimated that Nuevo León generates between 15% and 18% of the national economic revenue from medical tourism, equivalent to several hundred million dollars annually, although precise figures are unavailable. The most requested treatments include facial surgery, orthopedics, and dental services.
The Cluster seeks to promote Nuevo León as an international destination, including the management of certifications such as the Joint Commission International (JCI), through collective schemes that reduce costs for clinics and hospitals interested in obtaining accreditation.
Source: eleconomista
