2008-04-23 23:42:22 -

- New Zealand emerges as one of the most affordable options for Americans and Canadians seeking medical care and treatment in a first world environment where English is the primary language, reports Medtral New Zealand, a health care organization based in New Zealand (www.medtral.com) which coordinates medical travel packages to this destination. New Zealand is highly accessible for patients residing

on the west coast -- with daily 12-hour direct flights -- and offers world class medical treatment in some of the country's finest private hospitals at a significantly lower cost than the comparable USA procedure.

"New Zealand is not only one of the most affordable destinations for medical care, but it is also clean, green, American and Canadian friendly with a safe peaceful environment," states Edward Watson, MD, chairman and founder of Medtral New Zealand. "It also offers extraordinary tourism opportunities, including stunning scenery, winery tours, golf, and fly fishing. Our team of medically focused professionals is ready to assist patients with personalized attention that helps to guide their medical travel experience."

Private hospitals and medical specialists in the Medtral New Zealand network represent the highest standards, with all specialists speaking English as their first language, and have received their specialist training in either North America or the United Kingdom as well as in New Zealand.

"New Zealand won't be a foreign experience for medical travelers," notes Dr Watson. "We are an English-speaking country with a culture that is very similar to the United States and Canada. Our facilities are accredited by the recognized and respected International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua) -- but the price tag is a fraction of the cost in North America."

Medtral New Zealand can help medical travelers to undergo:

-- Total Hip Joint replacement

-- Total Knee Joint replacement

-- Hip Resurfacing

-- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG)

-- Robotic Prostatectomy

A comprehensive list of the operations is found at www.medtral.com

"Heart bypass surgery - better known as CABG -- might cost $110,000 - $125,000 in the U.S. but would cost only $38,000 at one of our facilities," Watson states. "Our price is all inclusive, including round-trip airfare, accommodations and the procedure itself. Other medical travel organizations operating in a first world environment would be hard-pressed to match this package."

According to a report issued by the New York-based Commonwealth Fund, New Zealand has one of the world's best health systems. The country's private hospitals rival the best in the world, with the latest medical facilities and excellent accommodations. All facilities are staffed by experienced English speaking doctors and nurses who, in many cases, have had training and experience in the United States or Great Britain.

New Zealand maintains strict hygiene control standards in all its hospitals and employs rigorous standards of enforcement regarding appropriate use of antibiotics. As a result, the rates of hospital acquired infections including MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus) and VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus) remain low. New Zealand also has a low incidence of HIV infection.

About Medtral New Zealand.

Medtral New Zealand is the leading provider of medical tourism in New Zealand for North American patients, providing world-class, non-acute care and treatment in some of the country's finest private hospitals. Headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, Medtral New Zealand can be reached at +64 9 623 6588, or www.medtral.com.

CPR Strategic Marketing
Rachael Fisher, 201-641-1911 x49
rfisher@cpronline.com