Building a Medical Tourism Business from Scratch

How one entrepreneur in Ethiopia launched their medical tourism business with My 1Health.

Introduction

Starting a medical tourism business can be daunting, especially when you're unsure how to get started. For one aspiring entrepreneur in Ethiopia, the journey was full of uncertainties. For example:

How do you establish agreements with international healthcare providers?
How do you handle the logistics of coordinating patient care abroad?
How do you reconcile payments while ensuring a seamless experience for clients?

These questions, along with concerns about marketing and scaling, weighed heavily on this individual’s mind.

Through My 1Health’s Referral Partner Network, the entrepreneur found the solution to these challenges, receiving the support, guidance, and resources needed to build a successful medical tourism business from the ground up.

Challenges

Before partnering with My 1Health, the entrepreneur faced several significant challenges

Global provider agreements

Navigating how to establish relationships with healthcare providers worldwide was a daunting task. They had no prior knowledge of the legal or logistical aspects of forming partnerships with hospitals and clinics abroad.

Learning the process

The medical tourism process from coordinating patient care, arranging travel, to post-treatment follow-up was unfamiliar territory. They were unsure of the best practices for ensuring patient satisfaction throughout their healthcare journey.

Reconciliation and payment

Managing the financial aspects, including how to reconcile payments between clients and healthcare providers, was another challenge. They needed to ensure that all parties were paid promptly and correctly.

Patient experience

The entrepreneur wanted to provide their clients with an exceptional experience but didn’t know how to deliver it consistently, especially when clients were traveling for specialised healthcare treatments.

Marketing the new business

Finally, they struggled with how to market their business effectively. Without a network of healthcare partners or established credibility, attracting potential patients seemed nearly impossible.

Solution

After hearing about My 1Health's Referral Partner Network, the entrepreneur reached out to explore the possibility of joining. Once approved for the program, they received the comprehensive support needed to jumpstart their medical tourism business.

Training and support

My 1Health offered extensive training on how to establish and manage a medical tourism business, including how to liaise with healthcare providers, manage logistics, and ensure smooth operations. This training gave the entrepreneur the knowledge and confidence they needed to move forward.

Access to international healthcare providers

Through the My 1Health network, the entrepreneur gained immediate access to 150+ leading international healthcare facilities. This allowed them to offer a wide range of healthcare options to their clients right away, without the need to establish individual agreements from scratch.

Technology platform

Managing the financial aspects, including how to reconcile payments between clients and healthcare providers, was another challenge. They needed to ensure that all parties were paid promptly and correctly.

Patient experience

My 1Health’s technology platform provided the entrepreneur with tools to manage client bookings, reconcile payments, and handle disbursements, all in one place. This streamlined approach removed the complexity of managing multiple client cases and payments manually.

Ongoing support

My 1Health assigned a dedicated account manager to guide the entrepreneur, providing ongoing advice and performance reviews to ensure their business was on track to succeed. This support was invaluable in helping them scale their business.

Implementation

My 1Health offers more than just a referral program. We provide you with the tools, support, and resources you need to succeed. Partner with My 1Health and make a difference in people's lives.

1
Service launch
With My 1Health's support, the entrepreneur quickly launched their medical tourism business, promoting the service to local clients in Ethiopia who were seeking treatment abroad. The ability to offer treatment options at renowned international healthcare facilities added immediate credibility to their business.
2
Client acquisition
Within the first month, the entrepreneur had secured six clients interested in getting treatment from various healthcare providers across the My 1Health network. These early wins validated the business model and built the entrepreneur’s confidence.
3
Hiring and scaling
After seeing success in their first month, the entrepreneur hired their first employee to help manage the growing demand and begin scaling the business. With a dedicated team, they were able to offer even better service to their clients.
4
Patient care coordination
My 1Health’s platform allowed the entrepreneur to coordinate each client’s treatment journey—from initial consultation and travel arrangements to post-treatment follow-up. This seamless process ensured that clients received top-tier service at every stage of their healthcare journey.

1 Service launch
With My 1Health's support, the entrepreneur quickly launched their medical tourism business, promoting the service to local clients in Ethiopia who were seeking treatment abroad. The ability to offer treatment options at renowned international healthcare facilities added immediate credibility to their business.
2 Client acquisition
Within the first month, the entrepreneur had secured six clients interested in getting treatment from various healthcare providers across the My 1Health network. These early wins validated the business model and built the entrepreneur’s confidence.
3 Hiring and scaling
After seeing success in their first month, the entrepreneur hired their first employee to help manage the growing demand and begin scaling the business. With a dedicated team, they were able to offer even better service to their clients.
4 Patient care coordination
My 1Health’s platform allowed the entrepreneur to coordinate each client’s treatment journey—from initial consultation and travel arrangements to post-treatment follow-up. This seamless process ensured that clients received top-tier service at every stage of their healthcare journey.

Results

The partnership with My 1Health quickly produced positive outcomes.

Client acquisition

Within the first month of launching their business, the entrepreneur secured six clients, each seeking treatment options from a wide range of hospitals. This initial success gave them the momentum they needed to continue growing their business.

Confidence and growth

The success of these first few clients empowered the entrepreneur to scale their operations by hiring additional staff, allowing them to take on more clients and expand their reach.

Operational efficiency

My 1Health’s platform simplified the complex task of managing multiple client cases, payments, and healthcare provider coordination, enabling the entrepreneur to focus on growing the business rather than getting bogged down by administrative tasks.

Exceptional patient experience

With the support and training from My 1Health, the entrepreneur was able to provide clients with a seamless and stress-free experience, ensuring that each client felt supported throughout their medical journey.

Conclusion

For this entrepreneur in Ethiopia, partnering with My 1Health was the turning point in starting and scaling their medical tourism business. With access to a global network of healthcare providers, advanced technology, and ongoing support, they were able to quickly attract clients and grow their business. Their journey from uncertainty to success is a testament to how the right partnerships can transform a business idea into reality.