Health, wellness and medical tourism to be further developed in Belarus
Belarusian sanatoriums are experiencing a peak in popularity: the average occupancy rate last year was 84.3 percent, exceeding the level of the most successful year 2019 for the first time. 1,568m+ people underwent rehabilitation, and that was a record as well. At present, the industry is tasked with increasing the attractiveness of recuperating in health resorts not only during the high season, but also all year round.
To meet the goals set, the system of providing the most popular medical services is being improved. Aleksandr Tsai, the Deputy Director of the Republican Centre for Health Improvement and Sanatorium-Resort Treatment, explained, “Last year alone, fifty-nine new sanatorium treatment programmes for different periods of stay — from 3 to 21 days, or sometimes more – were prepared. Physiotherapy methods, cosmetology, and dental services are developing, and the list of Belarus’ sanatorium-resort organisations now includes more than 200 medical services.”
Mr. Tsai believes there are possibilities to maintain high demand for sanatorium services, and it is necessary to develop the infrastructure, expand the list of offers, and optimise prices. Natural healing resources also need to be actively used. At the same time, the specialist recommends that everyone who wants to relax and improve their health in Belarus hurry up: up to 75 percent of sanatoriums are booked for the end of winter and the beginning of spring, 60 percent – for April, and 50 percent – for May. Summer months bookings are in full swing as well.
As for foreigners, they also like Belarusian resort centres and highly appreciate the local medical services. Yan Bedushevsky, who heads the Clinics of Belarus state project, noted, “Last year, more than 160,000 people from 159 countries visited Belarus as part of medical tourism. Most often, those were citizens of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Syria, Germany, the United States, and Israel. Representatives of the CIS states accounted for more than 60 percent. The growth in exports of medical services amounted to over 10 percent by the end of 2024.”
Transplantology, cardiac surgery, plastic surgery, obstetrics, traumatology, diagnostic examinations, rehabilitation, as well as wellness recreation are among the most popular areas of medical tourism. Mr. Bedushevsky has no doubt that exports of medical services will continue to grow, “Foreigners are attracted not only by prices, but also quality. Patients often come for treatment to specific specialists with world-class qualifications. Moreover, a visit to Belarus for a relatively small amount often allows people to start treatment at an earlier stage.”
In Q1 2025, a new version of the Clinics of Belarus portal will be launched to help doctors and patients find each other in the shortest possible time.
