The Preferred Guest

It could be a slogan for a great luxurious place. Yet, it seems now that this is one of the next trends.

Medical tourism is the act of traveling to other countries to obtain medical, dental, and surgical care. The term was initially coined by travel agencies and the media as a catchall phrase to describe a rapidly growing industry where people travel to other countries to obtain medical care while at the same time touring, vacationing and enjoying the attractions of the countries which they are visiting.

You want to get pampered/treated in high class hotels by someone expert in Medical Destination Management? Lot's of qualified companies are already working for you. Here are a few: MedRetreat, GlobalChoice Healthcare, Planet Hospital, Surgical Attractions, Careist, Epidauria, and more...

Why go to a hospital/MD in your country? Instead pack your clothes, your phone, your x-rays and medical examinations and go to : For Teeth > Hungary, for Heart > Malaysia, for Nose > Costa Rica, for Body Sculpture > Brazil, for Hips > India, and many many more...

There you will pay half prices, get fixed, get high quality treatment and great vacations, and come back a new rejuvenated person. Of course, it is nice to check first the credibility and effectiveness of each institution.

A combination of many factors has led to the recent increase in popularity of medical tourism: the high cost of healthcare in industrialized nations, the ease and affordability of international travel, and the improvement of technology and standards of care in many countries of the world.

A large draw to medical tourism is the convenience in comparison to that of other countries. Some countries that operate from a public health-care system are so taxed that it can take a considerable amount of time, sometimes even years, to get needed medical care. The time spent waiting for a procedure, such as a hip replacement, can be a year or more in Britain and Canada; however, in Bangkok or Bangalore, a patient could feasibly have an operation the day after their arrival.

Above all else, the real lure to medical tourism is saving money on costly procedures. According to research found in an article by UDaily:

the cost of surgery in India, Bolivia, Thailand or South Africa can be one-tenth of what it is in the United States or Western Europe, and sometimes even less. A heart-valve replacement that would cost US$200,000 or more in the U.S., for example, goes for $10,000 in India—and that includes round-trip airfare and a brief vacation package. Similarly, a metal-free dental bridge worth $5,500 in the U.S. costs $500 in India, a knee replacement in Thailand with six days of physical therapy costs about one-fifth of what it would in the States, and Lasik eye surgery worth $3,700 in the U.S. is available in many other countries for only $730. Cosmetic surgery savings are even greater: A full facelift that would cost $20,000 in the U.S. runs about $1,250 in South Africa."

Medical tourists are generally residents of the industrialized nations of the world. The countries to which they travel are typically less developed and have a lower cost of medical care. This is, in some cases, due to favorable currency exchange ratios. Currently, many of the procedures accessed are considered "elective procedures," such as cosmetic surgery. Because elective procedures are rarely covered through health insurance plans, there may be greater incentive to find such care at lower costs.

The list of countries currently promoting medical tourism include: Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Costa Rica, Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, The Philippines, and Thailand. Belgium, Poland and Singapore are also breaking into the business. South Africa is taking the term "medical tourism" very literally by promoting their "medical safaris": Come to see African wildlife and get a facelift in the same trip. However, feelings towards medical tourism are not always positive. In places like the US, where most have insurance and access to quality health care, medical tourism is viewed as risky.

So, you decided to go for it? Check if the hospital is accredited by these two organizations:

• Joint Commission International (www.jointcommissioninternational.org). This organization helps to improve the quality of patient care in many nations. Joint Commission International has extensive international experience working with public and private health care organizations and local governments in more than 60 countries.
• MEDEX Assistance (www.medexassist.com). MEDEX Global Group, Inc. is a recognized leader in emergency travel assistance and international medical insurance. Providing quality services to millions of members and hundreds of global organizations, MEDEX provides peace of mind to travelers and those who care about them.

Notice from the authors: Some credit for this article is given to wikipedia.