Jordan is an Arab Kingdom known for its governmental stability and hospitality toward refugees. Not only is it considered one of the safest countries in that region, but also has managed to keep terrorism out of its borders. According to a 2016 Jordanian article, there are 6.6 million citizens and 2.9 million residents living in the country, from which 44 percent of those residents are Syrian refugees. This open-door policy has strained many aspects of their country, such as public services and finances, with its public debt reaching 90 percent of its GDP. Jordan’s nominal GDP is the 93rd biggest worldwide, and its economy relies on mining, phosphates, fertilizers and tourism to support the government’s coffers. Having some historic sites in its territory has allow them to attract more than 4 million annual tourists to the country, mainly to places like Petra, the famous stone city.
According to the World Bank, Jordan is considered the best healthcare service provider in the Middle East. Its healthcare system is a mix of both private and public institutions with 70 percent of Jordanians having medical insurance after 2007. The Ministry of Health operates 27 hospitals and 1,245 primary care clinics. The private sector operates 56 hospitals, and the Royal Medical Service operates 11 hospitals. In 2007 Jordan Hospital, the largest private hospital was the first general specialty hospital to receive JCAHO international accreditation. King Hussein Cancer Center is the only specialized cancer treatment center in the Middle East and one of the top cancer treatment facilities in the world. The World Bank ranks Jordan as a top medical tourism destination in the Middle East and North Africa. Medical tourism revenues exceeded more than US $1 billion in 2007 with more than 250,000 patients seeking treatment. The physicians and surgeons are generally proficient in English with some making efforts toward becoming affiliated with top US medical institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic and the famous Johns Hopkins. The country currently has 9 JCI accredited hospitals and cancer centres.
