Treatment Abroad, a leading provider of online information on medical tourism, has appointed its first overseas franchisee - the In Malta Online Group - to operate the 'Treatment in Malta' portal at www.treatmentinmalta.com.
The new website will be aimed at inbound medical tourists to Malta. It features information on cosmetic and elective surgery, dentistry, fertility treatment, obesity operations and weight loss treatments and orthopaedic surgery, among others.
There is a comprehensive guide to obtaining treatment in Malta, an online quote facility and latest news. The Code of Practice for Medical Tourism is also featured.
The In Malta Online Group currently operates a number of online services including 'In Fashion', 'In Properties', 'In Fusion' and has invested in the franchise to expand its range of Malta-based web portals into the healthcare market.
Treatment Abroad is part of Hertfordshire-based Intuition Communication Ltd, the company behind several leading health information portals including 'Treatment Abroad', 'Private Healthcare UK', the 'Harley Street Guide', and 'OHS Directory'.
The new website will follow the successful 'Intuition' business model, and reflect the branding and content of its other medical tourism portals, like 'Treatment In Cyprus', 'Treatment In Spain', 'Treatment In Hungary', and the recently launched 'Treatment In India'.
Intuition Communication will work closely with the In Malta Online Group, and will provide web technology, business development, marketing and operational support to ensure its success.
"Franchising our business model and brand is a logical step for us in expanding our business, particularly into overseas markets," Keith Pollard of Intuition Communication said. "We see this as an opportunity to grow our revenues by licensing our technology and business model to web businesses and healthcare operators in other countries who wish to develop health information portals or medical tourism content."
Mr Pollard said franchising will enable the company to benefit from the use of local sales and marketing partners and franchisees to achieve these revenues. The company is seeking partners who, like the In Malta Online Group, want to extend existing web businesses or set up new web ventures, while minimising the investment required to develop and set up such a site.
The franchise will offer partners the expertise, knowledge and ongoing support to build a successful portal within the health information sector of their own country, he said.
For information on 'Treatment in Malta' visit www.treatmentinmalta.com or e-mail sales@treatmentinmalta.com.