What is Medical Tourism?

Answer 1

that's when people decide to visit countries or places to avail quality medical services... example go to a place notable for nose jobs, operations etc... price and quality service is the reason why nowadays many people are into Medical tourism...

hope this helps :D

Answer 2

Medical tourism is simply obtaining medical or surgical services while traveling or vacationing in another country.

Answer 3

Its when people go to another Country for a medical procedure or to obtain prescription drugs to save money.

Answer 4

travelling to another country to get cheap surgery

Answer 5

you can visit this site for your question..

Answer 6

Medical tourism or medical travel, 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. Leisure aspect of traveling may be included on such a medical travel trip. It includes medical services (inclusive of elective procedure and complex specialised surgeries) like knee/hip replacement, heart surgery, dental procedures and different cosmetic surgeries.

[edit] Description
A combination of many factors has led to the recent increase in popularity of medical travel: 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 travel 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, 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 Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, Philippines or Bangalore, a patient could feasibly have an operation the day after their arrival.[1]

Reasons pushing medical travel include lower healthcare costs as well as the search for medical expertise , quality of care and safety.

According to research found in an article by the University of Delaware publication, UDaily:

“ the cost of surgery in Bolivia, Argentina, India, Thailand , Philippines 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 the Philippines and 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 or Bolivia and only $200 in the Philippines, 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 $2,700 in the Philippines or $2,500 in South Africa or $ 2,300 in bolivia."[1] ”

To understand the phenomenon of Medical travel, we can compare the average costs of cosmetic surgeries between the industrialized nations and the most popular countries in latin america which are specialized in medical tourism and cosmetic surgery tourism (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Philippines, Mexico). All the prices have been provided us by the offices affiliated with the ministries of health in USA, Europe (France, Spain, Switzerland), Argentine, Bolivia, brazil, Costa Rica, India, and Mexico.

USA Europe Argentine Bolivia Brazil Costa Rica India Mexico Philippines
Rhinoplasty $ 6,000 $ 5,500 $ 2,300 $ 1,200 $ 2,100 $ 2,000 $ 1,500 $ 1,700 $ 1,500
Face Lift $ 15,000 $ 12,500 $ 4,300 $ 2,600 $ 4,500 $ 4,200 $ 2,900 $ 4,500 $ 3,000
Breast Augmentation $ 8,000 $ 7,500 $ 3,700 $ 2,500 $ 3,800 $ 3,400 $ 2,900 $ 3,900 $ 3,400
Breast Reduction $ 9,000 $ 8,000 $ 3,900 $ 2,400 $ 3,600 $ 3,200 $ 3,000 $ 3,700 $ 2,600
Complete Liposuction $ 13,500 $ 11,000 $ 4,500 $ 2,700 $ 4,700 $ 3,800 $ 3,200 $ 4,800
Gluteal Augmentation $ 9,000 $ 9,000 $ 4,000 $ 3,000 $ 4,200 $ 3,800 $ 3,200 $ 4,500


Medical tourists can come from anywhere in the world and may seek essential healthcare services such as cancer treatment and brain and transplant surgery as well as complementary or 'elective' services such as aesthetic treatments (cosmetic surgery).

Popular Medical travel worldwilde destinations are : Brunei, Cuba, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and recently, UAE.

Popular Cosmetic Surgery travel destination are:Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico and Turkey.

In Europe Belgium and Poland 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. [2] 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. In some parts of the world, wider political issues can influence where medical tourists will choose to seek out healthcare; for example, in late 2006 some patients from the Middle East were choosing to travel to Singapore or Hong Kong for health care rather than to the USA.

While the tourism component might be a big draw for some Southeast Asia countries that focus on simple procedures, India is positioning itself the primary medical destination for the most complex medical procedures in the world. India's commitment to this is demonstrated with an ever growing number of hospitals that are attaining the US Joint Commission International accreditation.

Singapore positions itself as a medical hub where healthcare services, medicine, biomedical research and pharmaceutical manufacturing converge. Singapore has made international news for many complex surgeries in specialties such as neurology, oncology and organ transplants procedures. Currently Singapore boasts the largest number of US Joint Commission accredited hospitals in the region.

On the other hand, in South America, countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil lead on plastic surgery medical skills relying on the vast experience their surgeons have in treating the style-obsessed. It is estimated that 1 in 30 Argentinians had taken plastic surgery procedures, making this population the most operated in the world after the US and Mexico.

In Bolivia the situation is impressive. According to the "Sociedad Boliviana de Cirugia Plastica y Reconstructiva", more that 70% women who belong to the middle and upper class had taken plastic surgery procedure.

There are companies emerging to offer global healthcare options that will allow North American patients to take full advantage of dramatic reductions in air travel and access world class healthcare at a fraction of the cost. Companies that focus on 'Medical Value Travel' typically will have experienced nurse case managers to assist patients with pre- and post-travel medical issues. They will also help provide resources for follow-up care upon the patient's return. While these services will initially be of interest to the self-insured patient, several studies indicate that the rapid growth of Health Savings Accounts will also drive interest to healthcare in other countries.

Because standards are everything when it comes to healthcare, there is a parallel issue around hospital accreditation. Potential medical tourists may be assisted in making their choices by whether or not hospitals have been assessed and accredited by reputable external accreditation bodies. In the USA, JCI (Joint Commission International) fulfills such a role, while in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, the Trent Accreditation Scheme is a key player.





[edit] Philippines
Medical tourism in the Philippines meets a higher standard, because they know there's more on the line. They provide each and every tourist-patient high-quality experience with such outstanding results that you go back home to the United States and tell 20 people.

The Philippines has been growing as a tourist destination of choice for health and vacation because of our world class physicians, modern technology, and our uniquely Filipino brand of caring and compassion at great values for money at a fraction of the cost in developed countries. They are home to some of the best hospitals and stand alone Specialty clinics in the world, offering world-class expertise, state-of-the-art facilities, and the distinct warmth of the Filipino hospitality. They also have some of the world's best spa retreat resorts and tour destinations in this part of the earth.


[edit] India
India is one of the most touted destinations in the world for medical tourists. It is known in particular for heart surgery and hip resurfacing, areas of advanced medicine in which India is generally considered a global leader. Probably no country has been in the news for medical tourism than India in 2005-06, and the government and private hospital groups both seem committed to a goal of making the subcontinent a world leader in the industry. Indian medical industry's main appeal is low-cost treatment. Most estimates claim treatment costs in India start at around a tenth of the price of comparable treatment in America or Britain. [3]Morever Indian Hospitals also provides more personalized care than available in west.

For example, in April Madras Medical Mission, a Chennai-based hospital, successfully conducted a complex heart operation on an 87-year-old American patient at a reported cost of $8,000 (€7,000, £4,850) including the cost of his airfare and a month's stay in hospital. The patient claimed that a less complex operation in America had earlier cost him $40,000. Take the rising popularity of "preventive health screening". At one private clinic in London a thorough men's health check-up that includes blood tests, electro-cardiogram tests, chest x-rays, lung tests and abdominal ultrasound costs £345 ($574, €500). By comparison, a comparable check-up at a clinic operated by Delhi-based healthcare company Max Healthcare costs $84.

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center in Delhi and Faridabad, India performs nearly 15,000 heart operations every year, and the post-surgery mortality rate is only 0.8 percent, which is less than half of most major hospitals in the United States.[1]

Estimates of the value of medical tourism to India go as high as $2 billion a year by 2012.[4] In 2003, Indian finance minister Jaswant Singh called for India to become a “global health destination".[5]. However, the biggest stumbling block preventing the rapid growth of India as a healthcare destination is its poor infrastructure and lack of quality hotels.


[edit] Singapore
Singapore’s healthcare services built on a heritage of excellent quality, safety and trustworthiness, coupled with advanced research and international accreditation, and is Asia's leading medical hub. Nine hospitals and two medical centres in Singapore have obtained Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation. JCI is the main hospital accreditation agency in the United States.

According to statistics at the official website, www.singaporemedicine.com[6], 374, 000 visitors came to Singapore purely to seek healthcare in 2005.

Many of these patients come from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. However, patient numbers from Indo-China, South-Asia, the Middle East and Greater China to Singapore are seeing fast growth. On top of that, patients from developed countries such as United States also choose Singapore as their medical travel destination for relatively affordable quality healthcare services in a clean cosmopolitan city for a peace of mind.

Singapore made news for many complex and innovative procedures such as the separation of conjoined twins and tooth-in-eye surgery. The successful separation of the 10-month-old nepalese conjoined twins in 2001 puts Singapore's medical expertise onto the World's headlines. Singapore has since accomplished many more milestones both in Asia and in the world arena.

Recently, Singapore also hosted the first International Medical Travel Conference (IMTC) from 12th - 15th December 2006. The four-day event attracted participants and media from 21 countries, setting pace and platform for the development of the budding medical travel industry. The conference aims to bring together thought leaders to examine some of the fundamentals, issues and challenges involved in the burgeoning international medical travel industry. [7].

As of late 2006, Singapore Hospitals have mainly chosen to accredit themselves through Joint Commission International (JCI), a US-based group. This could be part of the reason why JCI has chosen to set up its Asia Pacific office in Singapore in 2006[8]. In time, Singapore Hospitals may look towards other European or Asian-based systems of hospital accreditation in an attempt to broaden their credibility and appeal.


[edit] Thailand
Medical tourism is a growing segment of Thailand's tourism and health-care sectors. Lower labor costs translate into significant cost savings on procedures, compared to hospitals in the United States, and a higher, more personalized level of nursing care than Westerners are accustomed to receiving in hospitals back home. In 2005, one Bangkok hospital took in 150,000 treatment seekers from abroad. In 2006, medical tourism was projected to earn the country 36.4 billion baht.[9]

One patient who received a coronary artery bypass surgery at Bumrungrad International hospital in Bangkok said the operation cost him US$12,000, as opposed to the $100,000 he estimated the operation would have cost him at home in the US.[10]

Hospitals in Thailand are a popular destination for other Asians. Another hospital that caters to medical tourists, Bangkok General Hospital, has a Japanese wing and Phyathai Hospitals Group has interpreters for over 22 languages, besides the English speaking medical staff. When Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala needed medical care in 2006, he went to Bangkok.[11]

While it is not commonly known outside Thailand, the modern Thai medical system had its origins in the United States when Prince Mahidol of Songla, the King's father, earned his MD degree from Harvard Medical School in the early 20th century. Prince Mahidol and another member of the Thai Royal Family paid for an American medical education for a group of Thai men and women. Prince Mahidol also convinced the Rockefeller Foundation to provide scholarships for Thai citizens to study medicine and nursing. Funds from the Rockefeller Foundation were also used to help build modern medical training facilities in Thailand. The men and women who studied medicine and nursing as a result of Prince Mahidol's efforts became the first educators for the modern Thai medical system.

Today many Thai physicians hold US professional certification. A number of Thai hospitals have relationships with facilities in the US. The US Consular information sheet gives the Thai healthcare system high marks for quality, particularly facilities in Bangkok. In Thailand, there is modern infrastructure, with clean, safe streets. According to the US Consular information sheets, the crime rate in Bangkok is lower than that of many US cities. Personal safety is another factor to consider when traveling abroad both for vacation as well as healthcare. Thailand offers everything from cardiac surgery to organ transplants at a price much lower than the US or Europe, in a safe, clean environment.

Thailand has long been a destination for medical tourists, and has a growing number of hospitals with JCAHO accreditation. Over one million people per year travel there for everything from cosmetic surgery to cutting edge cardiac treatment. Don Ho, the famous Hawaiian entertainer, recently received cutting-edge adult stem cell cardiac treatment at a Bangkok hospital. Six weeks later he had recovered sufficiently from his nonischemic cardiomyopathy and was able to return to the stage.


[edit] Medical Travel Risks and Rewards
Medical tourism does carry risks that local medical procedures do not. Should complications arise, patients might not be covered by insurance or be able to seek adequate compensation via malpractice lawsuits, though it should be noted that the malpractice insurance is a considerable portion of the cost in the West.

Nations such as India or Thailand have different infectious diseases, and different prevalence of the same diseases, than home nations such as the US, Canada, UK. Exposure to foreign diseases without having built up natural immunity can be a hazard for weakened individuals, specifically for gastrointestinal diseases (e.g Hep A, amoebic dysentery, bacteria) which could weaken progress, mosquito transmitted diseases, and influenza, TB, etc. (75% of South Africans have latent TB)

Also, travel soon after surgery can increase the risk of complications, as can vacation activities. For example, scars will be darker and more noticeable if they sunburn while healing. [12] Long flights can be bad for those with heart (thrombosis) or breathing related problems (low oxygen environment), not to mention uncomfortable.

However, because in poor tropical nations diseases run the gamut, doctors seem to be more open to the possibility of any disease, including HIV, TB, and typhoid, there are cases in the West where patients were consistently misdiagnosed for years because it is perceived to be "rare" in the West [13], a famous case of the misdiagnosis and death of a CDC researcher from TB, something that few would rule out in India or Thailand.
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