Medical tourism is basically the practice of traveling outside your national country to obtain health care. As health care costs in the United States continue to rise, many patients, doctors and insurance plans are looking to more exotic locations for first class service at half the price. In the past, only movie stars and glamorous celebrities would hide in Costa Rica, Panama or France for cosmetic surgery, but that is ancient history now. Everyday folks are realizing that for a fraction of the cost, they can have heart surgery, hip replacement and a host of other procedures done in other countries, do a little sightseeing while they recuperate and come home to have their insurance company foot the bill--for the surgery only of course. And in spite of the associated travel costs, the savings is still substantial.
History
Individuals have practiced medical tourism for thousands of years. In ancient Greece, pilgrims traveled all over the Mediterranean to the healing god, Asklepios, at Epidaurus. In Roman Britain, patients traversed the countryside in hopes of curing ailments at the shrine at Bath. Europeans traveled to Germany and the Nile for curative waters and Ireland for soaking in tubs of Irish sea moss.
Benefits
Individuals travel to other countries for medical care for a number of reasons, such as lower prices, less wait times and new technological improvements. Many countries are able to offer complete travel packages including airfare, transfers, surgery costs and even post-operative vacation care. The entire package is often significantly less than the surgery costs in the United States, making medical tourism more realistic for everyone, not just for celebrities.
Additionally, a medical vacation allows you to bring friends and family, provide some post-operative rest and relaxation, often a very high quality of service and care in luxurious accommodations.
Geography
Countries that actively promote medical tourism include Cuba, Costa Rica, Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia and Thailand. Belgium, Poland and Singapore are entering the field. South Africa specializes in medical safaris--visit the country for a safari, with a stopover for plastic surgery, a nose job and a chance to see lions and elephants. There are currently over 50 countries which medical tourism and have identified it as an income-producing industry.
Panama boasts facilities providing a wide variety of procedures including cosmetic surgeries, dental implants and orthopedic surgery.
India has many corporately owned hospitals that do not have the overcrowding issues that many public hospitals have. India's Escorts Heart Institute performs over 15,000 operations a year and holds a mortality rate that is less than half that of many U.S. and European hospitals.
Brazil has become one of the top countries in the world for plastic and cosmetic surgery. Their doctors must undergo 11 years of rigorous medical school and residency to practice and therefore have some of the most skilled doctors available.
Types
A number of types of general and elective surgeries are available today. Complex specialized surgeries such as cardiac, dental and joint replacement are available as well as psychiatry and alternative health treatments. Reproductive tourism is also becoming more and more prevalent, providing clients with in-vitro fertilization, surrogate pregnancy and freezing embryos for retro production.
Considerations
Accreditation and quality measurements vary widely around the world so you will want to thoroughly check out the doctors, the hospital and the staff with every possible means available. Some destinations may also be hazardous or risky. Due diligence is especially critical.
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