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Wider access must not weaken quality.
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The foundation of trust: open principles
We aim to support trust in health tourism through clear, traceable and independent reference frameworks. We develop our quality work with field experts, voluntary participation and transparent methods.
Ethical principles
At every step of the service journey
Our statement of ethical principles is being prepared with expert input. The headings below frame that work.
01
Human dignity
Respecting each person’s dignity, privacy and quality of life throughout the service journey.
02
Accurate, clear information
Open, clear and evidence-based communication about services, processes and expectations.
03
Price transparency
Sharing the scope and cost of services clearly and in advance.
04
Coordination & continuity
A seamless journey from before travel to after return, with clearly defined responsibilities.
05
Accessibility
Equal access for people with disabilities and special needs.
06
Staff competence
Supporting the professional and intercultural competence of care teams.
07
Clear clinical responsibility
Clinical decisions and responsibility rest with the competent providers of care.
08
Independence
Commercial relationships never influence assessment, content or referral decisions.
Evaluation framework
Four dimensions, one balance
We evaluate all our programmes across access, cost, quality and sustainability. A gain in one must never come at the expense of another.
Cost
Cost advantages must not come before trust.
Quality
Open criteria and independent reference frameworks.
Sustainability
International activity should also benefit the local health system.
Initial outputs
Statement of ethical principlesIn preparation
Institutional self-assessment guideIn preparation
Service-journey checklistOn the roadmap
Thematic publications with expert inputOn the roadmap
First-year approach
Testing the method with a small number of volunteer stakeholders from different types of institutions, reviewing the results and improving the criteria together.
Open criteria, separation of paid services from assessment results, and clearly defined feedback processes are essential.
DSTP Accredited
An independent reference system for trust, quality and ethics
In development
“DSTP Accredited is an independent reference system planned to support trust, quality and ethics in health tourism. Work on the programme’s method and implementation framework is set to be developed.”
Target institution groups
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Wellness centres
- Thermal facilities
Because institutions differ, no single scoring form will be applied to every group.
Development roadmap
- 1
Concept design
Purpose, scope, institution types and ethical principles.
Gate to next stageReview by an expert working group - 2
Criteria development
Indicator definitions and evidence requirements.
Gate to next stageMeasurability and feasibility review - 3
Pilot
Trials and feedback with volunteer institutions.
Gate to next stageReporting of pilot findings - 4
Independent review
Review of method, decision and appeal processes.
Gate to next stageGaps addressed and institutional approval - 5
Controlled roll-out
An assessment programme with a clear scope.
Gate to next stageRegular monitoring and periodic method updates
Separation of roles
The standard owner, the assessors and the appeals body are kept separate.
Independent decisions
Training and sponsorship relationships never affect assessment decisions.
Published in advance
Criteria version, validity period, eligibility and assessment scope are published in advance.
DSTP Accredited is currently in development; certification is planned to be introduced once its method and scope have been finalised with experts.
Independence & governance
Building trust through references
We propose policy, develop principles and create voluntary reference frameworks. Licensing, inspection and enforcement powers belong to public authorities.
- Managing conflicts of interestWe draw clear lines between the commercial activities of leaders or stakeholders and institutional decisions.
- Documented choicesWe document partner and sponsor choices, and make interests visible in assessment, scholarship and content decisions.
- Criteria, not connectionsInstitutional recommendations and references rest on criteria independent of personal relationships.
- Independent of brokeragePatient referral commissions or commercial brokerage are not part of the platform’s identity.
An invitation to collaborate
Contribute to our quality work
If you would like to contribute to the ethical principles, the self-assessment guide or DSTP Accredited pilots as an expert or volunteer institution, get in touch.