When it comes to elective procedures, fewer people are turning to their neighborhood clinic or family doctor. More than 14 million people around the world elect for medical care outside of their home countries, and over $7 billion USD is spent every year by Americans traveling for care in Mexico. Salubrum Inc., a Toronto based health-tech startup, has staked its claim in the growing global market while working to make medical tourism safe, affordable, and easy through its new free-to-use product, the Travelwise Passport.

“Choosing an elective procedure isn’t a small decision, let alone choosing to travel to a different country to have it done,” says Salubrum’s founder, Osama Usmani. “We’re helping travelers explore their treatment and travel options with more clarity and confidence.”

Understanding the Healthcare Travel Trend

Medical tourism, once viewed with skepticism, has surged in recent years as patients look beyond borders for high-quality, affordable elective care. From fertility treatments to cosmetic surgeries, medical tourists have often faced challenges in navigating the complexities of international healthcare, understanding quality standards, and ensuring post-operative care. Salubrum seeks to eliminate these barriers by creating digital tools that make the industry safe, affordable and easy to navigate.

Patients choose international care for various reasons, says Usmani, including lower costs and access to procedures not available in their home country. Cancer treatments, bariatric surgery, cosmetic procedures, and fertility treatments are some of the more popular choices for U.S. travelers, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But undergoing a major medical procedure away from home isn’t always easy, especially if strict post-operative care is needed. Travelers can struggle to find housing solutions, transportation and insurance packages that fit their niche needs. Solutions like Saluburm’s Travelwise Passport offer a one-stop-shop to verify the price and quality of their medical procedure, bundle travel/stay, and bespoke insurance packages into an all-inclusive package—a sort of Expedia for medical tourism. The platform also empowers users to budget accordingly, offering insights into the prices being offered to tourists using their internal price database.

Making Elective Care Easier for Patients and Providers

Formed by their student founder at the University of Ottawa, the brand recently introduced its new backer, LA based Artest Management Group, led by former Los Angeles Laker Metta World Peace, to help in its mission to  bridge the gap between patients and world-class medical service providers. Salubrum was recently named #15 on Toronto's top up-and-coming technology brands by FoundersPress and its founder Osama Usmani, was also recognized as a 30 Under 30 Emerging Leader by FoundersBeta.

The startup plans to launch their software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution for medical providers around the globe and has secured industry giant Quironsalud as their evangelist client, the largest private healthcare network in Europe. According to Usmani, “As a provider, if you want to serve patients outside of your city or region, you are making a huge investment that changes the trajectory of your business. Or, you become beholden to local agencies or brokers that come with steep fees.”

Saluburm offers an out-of-the-box solution that “allows doctors to focus on being doctors,” says its founder, while taking care of other essential business processes like branding/marketing, travel and HSA/FSA billing for US based patients. Providers can tap into a broader pool of potential clients, maximizing profits and allowing them to maintain control over their practice.

The company recently launched at the 2023 Collision Conference, North America’s largest tech industry event. The Salubrum team also recently announced an affiliate partnership with Expedia Group ahead of its next-phase launch in Fall 2023, providing access to over 3 million properties and over 500 airlines. Discover how Salubrum is working to make medical tourism safe, affordable, and easy at www.salubrum.com.