Costa Rica will be hosting the fourth edition of the Medical Travel International Business Summit this year. The event is from April 24 through April 26th in the Hotel Los Suenos Marriott in Playa Herradura, Puntarenas.

250 businesses, spanning over 15 countries, will be participating. The event provides an opportunity for Latin American companies in the medical field to do business and interact with companies and health care providers from the US and Canada.

A press release from the International Promotion of Costa Rica Medicine (PROMED) stated that  more than 50 million US residents lack health insurance. Costa Rica ranks fourth in Latin American health care quality. Costa Rica also ranks in the top five most retired to destinations in the world. During the summit, Costa Rica and other areas in Latin America will be promoted as good destinations for quality and affordable health care, as well as a good place to retire.

“Costa Rica has gained a broader awareness of the potential retiree market in terms of generating dollar incomes, health expenditures, food, tourism and other services. With attractive pricing on health care, security, housing and tourism activities, Costa Rica can become a favorite destination for thousands of North Americans and Europeans who are looking for a better quality of life at a better price,” PROMED President Jorge Cortés said.

In 2011 there were an estimated 48,000 health care tourists that traveled to Costa Rica, which generated over $338 million in profit for the country.