Medical Tourism - one of the fastest growing businesses of the 21st century
Posted on May 6, 2007
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Hungarian Dental Travel has released a press release describing Medical Tourism as one of the fastest growing industries in the 21st century.
Further the press release states:
“It has been reported,last year more than 150 000 patients decided to travel for more affordable treatment. Investors see medical travel sector as a lucrative business opportunity and for bigger market share and profit the quality often suffers.”
Medical Tourism Australia
Posted on April 11, 2007
Filed Under Destinations | 2 Comments
Medical tourism in Australia (aka. medical travel, health tourism) can be defined as healthcare abroad with a provision for cost effective, high quality medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry. It’s basically going on holidays to exotic locations and receiving top quality medical care at significantly lower prices than in the USA or UK.
Medical tourism is being promoted by governments and businesses all over the world. With global revenues of over 20 Billion US dollars in 2005, the medical tourism industry is the one of the world’s largest industries. Australia is one of the upcoming destinations.
A medical vacation to Australia combines wellness and healthcare. It promotes leisure and relaxation aimed at revitalizing a person; both mentally and physically. Health tourism draws you away from your daily routine to relaxed natural surroundings in exotic locations.
Medical tourism has been around for quite some time, decades in fact. It’s not a new phenomenon, although a lot of people seem to think it is. Nowadays, more and more people are taking advantage of it.
People in the North of Africa and the Middle East have been practicing medical tourism for a long time. For years they have been visiting medical facilities in Bavaria. It’s also popular with Hollywood celebrities, often choosing to visit spas and clinics in Switzerland.
In Australia, they have very high quality medical services and offer a wide range of practices and procedures. Patients gain access to first class Australian medical expertise and the latest medical technology.
There are various companies in Australia (including Avisis Health) that can manage all the arrangements for the medical tourist - from the time of initial enquiry to the eventual return home. You’ll be offered the most relevant options after careful discussion and determination of your specific needs.
Every effort will be made to ensure your experience is safe and comfortable, with the highest standards of both medical and non-medical services.
Primary Procedures and Medical Practices
Some of the more common procedures in Australia include; Executive Health Checkups; Cardiac Check-up Programs; and Cosmetic Surgery.
Cardiovascular tests include; Electrocardiogram; Exercise Stress Test/Treadmill Test; Echocardiogram; Transoesophageal Echocardiogram (TOE); Stress Echocardiogram; Pharmaceutical (Chemical or Isotope) Stress Echo; and Carotid to name but as few…
Typical Cardiovascular Procedures include; Cardioversion; Coronary Angioplasty; Coronary Angioplasty with Stent Insertion; and Drug Eluting Stents.
Common cosmetic procedures in Australia include; Browlift; Asian Eylids; Octoplasty; Rhinoplasty; Lip Augmentation; Facial Implants; Jaw and Cheek Surgery; Breast Surgery; Liposuction; Cosmetic Dentistry; and Hair Restoration amongst others….
One area of cosmetic surgery, which has become increasingly important in Australia, is breast enlargement. They’ve already started a campaign to lure foreigners here for their surgery. The campaign, headed by Brooke Stevenson (implant spokesperson) is expected to increase procedures in Australia by a third, all from American patients.
It will cost you about the same amount of money to get a breast enlargement in Australia as it would in the US but there’s the added bonus of a two-week long holiday in Australia included in the price.
A lot of surgeons also believe that the breast enlargement techniques used in Australia are far superior to the traditional American procedures. In Australia they use “gummy bear gel” rather than traditional Saline implants, which are more likely to be rejected.
The Australian tourism Development Association is delighted at the increase in medical tourism the country has seen. They are very keen to push for American medical tourists for their cosmetic surgery industry.
Medical Tourism Boosting Due To Long Wait Times
Posted on April 10, 2007
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The Embassy Newspaper report that Medical Tourism Boosting Due To Long Wait Times.
The favourite medical destination for Canadians seems to be India, but some companies are promoting Cuba. Worldwide, Singapore and Thailand rank high.
Medical Tourism Maylasia
Posted on March 26, 2007
Filed Under Destinations | 4 Comments
A “medical vacation” in Malaysia is one of the best ways to renew oneself, both mentally and physically. When your body is relaxed and the mind is at ease, the quality of healing can be exceptional.
Medical tourism (also known as health tourism, medical travel, healthcare travel) has become one of Malaysia’s most important industries. Nowadays, over 250,000 patients a year visit Singapore alone; nearly half of whom are from the Middle East.
Medical expertise in Malaysia is described as “among the best in the world”, according to the Malaysian Tourism. Most of the private hospitals here have internationally recognized quality standards and all private medical centres have to be approved and licensed by the Ministry of Health.
Malaysia’s economy is booming at the moment. It’s the strongest in Southeast Asia and has growth rates or around 10% per year. It’s also strategically located right in the heart of the Southeast Asia Triangle.
Malaysia’s economic goal was to become a fully developed country by the year 2020 and it’s fast being realised. If they keep up the current pace, it looks likely that they will achieve their goal well before that date.
Why choose Malaysia for your medical vacation?
Malaysia is blessed with an abundance of idyllic beaches. You’ll find hotels and resorts all along the coastline along with frequently visited areas and beautiful secluded lagoons. Most of them boast of luxurious spas and rejuvenating massages. It’s the perfect place to ease your mind and relax your body.
Malaysia also has the perfect climate. It’s warm all year round. The country has excellent hotels, a superb infrastructure and streets that are safe and well policed. A medical vacation to Malaysia can be just what the doctor ordered.
The quality of most of the hospitals in Malaysia is excellent. Some of them even have the ambience of a high-class hotel. They’re exceptionally clean, very well equipped, and use state-of-the-art equipment (including, CT scanners and true 64 slice units that can scan the heart and coronary arteries in less than 5 seconds).
The staff are all highly trained and skilled professionals. 95% of the doctors have received training in the United Kingdom. Others had gone to Australia or the USA.
Hospitals in Malaysia are only 60 - 80% utilized. This means that there’s no waiting lists. You can make your arrangements for hospitalization immediately upon arrival in the country. Compared to Canada, for example, where people have to wait an average of 40 weeks for orthopaedic surgery.
Primary packages and procedures Malaysia
There’s a wide range of elective surgery available in Malaysia including cosmetic surgery and dental treatment. It can all be obtained for bargain rates, while combining a tropical vacation.
Some common procedures include; diagnostic; radiology; dialysis; diabetics & nutrition; rehabilitation; wellness & aesthetics; critical care; audilogy; and speech therapy.
Medical tourism is not new to Malaysia. It’s been around for quite some time. Nowadays, even the English are encouraging their people to go to Malaysia for medical treatment in order to relieve their overburdened system.
If you require medical attention in a hurry you would be wise to think globally rather than locally, especially if you are living in the UK or Canada. Medical tourism in Malaysia could have some answers that are well worth looking into.
Medical Tourism Philippines
Posted on March 26, 2007
Filed Under Destinations | 2 Comments
Medical tourism in the Philipines has evolved out of the skyrocketing costs of private medical care in the USA, as well as the long waiting periods in the NHS (national health systems) of some European countries.
Also known as; healthcare travel; health tourism; medical travel; and overseas healthcare, medical tourism is a growing trend where people from wealthy nations in the west and middle east travel to other countries for affordable and timely healthcare along with rest and recreation.
In the Philippines they have the perfect blend medical skills, technologies and facilities, making it a top class medical tourism destination. And then there’s the costs; you’ll pay only a fraction of the amount you’d spend on a treatment in the US or Europe.
Quality of overseas healthcare in the Philippines
Education and training:
Medical specialists in the Philippines are some of the best educated, trained and highly skilled practitioners in Asia.
Medical education and training in the Philippines is patterned after the American model. Doctors have to do four years of undergraduate studies followed by another four years of medical school, and then a year of clinical internship. Only then can they take the licensure examination.
After the licensure examination, there’s a three or five year postgraduate residency where the doctors train in a specified clinical specialty. After this they’ll take the certifying examination held by the relevant medical specialty board.
Once they have passed the certifying exam, physicians have to undergo fellowship training in various sub-specialties. This takes another two or three years. Finally, there’s a certifying examination by the medical sub-specialty board.
In total, physicians in the Philippines undergo at least 10 years of medical education and training. Most of them have graduate medical training in the USA, Japan, Australia, or in Europe. They all speak very good English.
Medical facilities:
The standards of facilities in the Philippines are excellent. All medical centres (in Metro Manila) have to undergo regular accreditations from the department of health. Most of them are ISO compliant. Other centres are Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited.
Medical health facilities are regularly checked for; proper organizational management; service delivery; management of service delivery; patient rights; and safe and appropriate environment.
Primary Medical Procedures Philippines
Primary Procedures
The Philippines boasts a huge variety of medical and surgical services.
Some of the more common ones include; Cardiology; Infectious Diseases-Tropical Medicine; Nephrology; Hematology; Endocrinology; Medical Oncology; Radiotherapy; Clinical Nutrition; Immunology-Allergology; Rheumatology; Neurology Dentistry; Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG; Coronary Angiography; Vascular Surgery; Cancer Cellular Therapy; Cataract and Refractive Surgery; and many many others…
Popular cosmetic procedures include; Abdominoplasty; Liposuction (Liposculpture; Acne Scar Removal; Nose Surgery; Lip Augmentation/ Reduction; Lipo Dissolve
Liposuction Surgery (Lipoplasty); Male Pectoral Implants; Mastopexy; Mesotherapy for Skin Rejuvenation; Midface (Cheek) Lift; Rhinoplasty (Nose Job, Nose Surgery); Rhinoplasty for Asians; and hytidectomy (Face lift), to name but a few…
Medical Travel Destinations Philippines
Some of the world’s top and world-class health institutions are located in the Philippines, most notably; St. Luke’s Medical Centre; Makati Medical Centre; Metropolitan Medical Centre; and the World Citi Medical Centre.
Why choose the Philippines for a medical vacation?
Firstly, you’ll pay a fraction of the cost, get the same world-class quality care and at the same time spend a vacation in an exotic locale.
Filipino doctors are among the most capable physicians along the Pacific Rim. Most study in Asia’s best medical schools, and have spent time in the US, Japan, and further a field gaining additional exposure and experience.
Once the procedure is over you can relax and pamper yourself with one of the Filipino blend of Spa retreats or go on one of the many ecotours, adventure tours, and cultural tours.
The Philippines is an ideal medical tourism location - recovery could never be this fast or enjoyable anywhere else.
Medical Tourism Thailand
Posted on March 14, 2007
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Medical tourism in Thailand is a rapidly growing industry. Also known as; healthcare travel; health tourism; and medical travel, this is one of the most important segments of the Thailand’s tourism and health-care sectors. In 2005, one Bangkok hospital took in 150,000 treatment seekers from abroad.
Cost is one of the biggest attractions to westeners. For example a coronary artery bypass surgery at Bumrungrad International hospital would cost around US$12,000, as opposed to $100,000 back in the States.
Thailand’s lower labour costs mean significant savings on procedures, especially compared to hospitals in the USA. You also get a more personalised level of nursing care than you would in hospitals back home.
It’s not just westeners that choose Thailand as the number one health tourism destination. Other Asians (many from Japan) come here for low cost, high quality medical treatment. In Bangkok General Hospital, they have a Japanese wing and the Phyathai Hospitals Group provides interpreters in over 20 languages (as well as English).
The standard of healthcare in Thailand is highly regarded in the USA. The US Consular information sheet rates the Thai healthcare system highly on quality, especially the facilities in Bangkok. Most doctors in Thailand actually hold US professional certification.
Thailand has been a top healthcare travel destination for quite some time. Over one million people travel here each year and it has a growing number of hospitals with JCAHO accreditation.
Risks and Rewards
Medical tourism does carry risks. If there any complications you might not be covered by insurance. Also, you might not be able to seek sufficient compensation through malpractice lawsuits. Having said that, malpractice insurance does constitute a large part of the costs in the west.
That said, Thailand can offer everything from cardiac surgery to organ transplants at a price significantly lower than in the USA or Europe, in a safe, clean environment.
In most cases you’ll be able to communicate with the doctors/surgeons prior to departing for your medical treatment. Sometimes you can even meet “face-to-face” through video conferencing.
Primary Medical Tourism Destinations Thailand
Some of the top healthcare travel establishments in Thailand include; Bangkok International Hospital; BNH Hospital; Bumrungrad Hospital; and Samitivej Hospital…
Bangkok International Hospital
Bangkok International Hospital has first class facilities and is widely recognised as the leader in medical tourism within Thailand. It’s also home to some of the latest advancements in medical treatment.
BNH Hospital
The BNH Hospital has been around since 1898. It was formerly called the “Bangkok Nursing Home”. It has a long tradition of dealing with foreign patients and has won various coveted awards.
Bumrungrad Hospital
The Bumrungrad is one of Thailand’s leading hospitals. It offers a wide range of services available for overseas patients; it even has an International Department, dedicated solely to foreigners.
Samitivej Hospital
The Samitivej Hospital is located on Sukhumvit Road right in the centre of Bangkok. It forms part of a group of hospitals and has branches in the Srinakarin area of Bangkok as well as Sriracha in Chonburi.
Primary procedures:
Cosmetic Surgery in Thailand
Typical cosmetic services in Thailand include; chin lifts; breast enhancements and reductions; and rhino surgery. In Thailand you’ll find international-standard cosmetic surgery at local prices.
Laser Sight Correction in Thailand
There are a number of lazer clinics (Lazik clinics) in Thailand where they provide the same service you would receive at home but at a significanly lower price.
Cosmetic Dentistry in Thailand
Thailand has a number of clinics offering a wide range of cosmetic dentistry services. Popular treatments include; laser and chemical teeth whitening and corrective surgery. Again, treatment reaches international standards but costs are a lot lower.
Thailand has become one of the most popular medical tourism destinations in the world because of its extremely high standards, world-class facilities, state of the art hospitals, and of course, low costs.
Medical Tourism Destinations
Posted on March 6, 2007
Filed Under Destinations | 5 Comments
The medical tourism industry has grown rapidly and nows exists in countries all over the globe. Nowadays people can travel to a huge variety of places for affordable, top quality and timely healthcare.
Other popular terms used to describe medical tourism are; healthcare travel; health tourism; medical travel; healthcare abroad; and international healthcare.
Some common medical procedures include; Cosmetic surgery; Elective surgery; Dentistry; Infertility treatment; Diagnostic imaging; and Medical spa treatment.
See below for a brief overview of just some of the top destinations…
Medical tourism India
Indian doctors are considered to be among the best in the world. Their hospitals are at the forefront of medical technology and equipped with modern state-of-the-art equipment.
Medical tourism Thailand
Thailand (one of the most popular medical tourism destinations in the world) has extremely high standards, uses world-class facilities, and has very low costs.
Medical tourism Italy
Not only is Italy a beautiful place to spend a holiday it also has excellent health care facilities. Popular cosmetic surgeries here include hair restoration.
Medical tourism Latvia
Latvia offers a high quality of care at low prices. Low cost flights from the UK make it a popular destination with British people who are seeking surgery and treatment abroad.
Medical tourism Argentina
Argentina has a growing reputation for being a top class health tourism destination. It attracts visitors from around the world seeking remedies for a wide range of medical needs, including cosmetic surgery.
Medical tourism Belgium
Belgium also offers high quality medical care at low prices. It’s a very easy county to get to either by plane, train or boat. The Eurostar train makes Belgium a popular overseas healthcare destination for the British.
Medical tourism Cyprus
In Cyprus you can get a very high standard of dental treatment at a fraction of most UK and continental prices. Dental implants and cosmetic dentistry are popular options.
Medical tourism Czech Republic
In the capital of Prague you can receive affordable plastic & cosmetic surgery from highly qualified and experienced surgeons. Popular procedures include breast reduction.
Medical tourism Estonia
Estonia is also a popular destination with the British. Here you can receive high quality medical care at significantly lower prices than in the UK. It’s also very easy to travel here from the UK. Popular procedures include Elective surgery.
Medical tourism France
For years, France has been well known for its top class medical services. The technologies and standards are among the most advanced in the world. If you are looking for first-class medical treatment, France should be given some serious thought.
Medical tourism Hungary
Easy travel, high quality of care and low prices make Hungary a popular overseas health tourism destination for patients from the UK. Dentistry procedures are among the more popular procedures here.
Medical tourism Malaysia
Malaysia welcomes visitors from around the world seeking remedies for a wide range of medical needs and for cosmetic surgery. The standards of treatment are incredibly high.
Medical tourism Philippines
The Philippines are well know for their dental surgeries (equipped with up-to-date technology) which provide diagnostic services, restorative and prosthetic dentistry along with cosmetic dentistry and dental implant treatments.
Medical tourism Poland
Similarly, in Poland Dental surgeries provide diagnostic services, restorative and prosthetic dentistry as well as cosmetic dentistry and dental implant treatments.
Medical tourism Slovakia
In Slovakia, procedures such as cosmetic dentistry and dental implant treatments are becoming more and more popular. All surgeries are equipped with the most up-to-date technology.
Medical tourism South Africa
In South Africa you can receive cosmetic surgery at very low costs. You’ll also be able to enjoy a period of recuperation in a very pleasant climate.
Medical Tourism Risks
Posted on February 9, 2007
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The risks come mainly in the form of environmental factors; not poor medical standards. Places like India or Thailand have different infectious diseases than home nations such as the US, Canada, UK. Exposure to these can be a hazard to anyone in an already weakened position. Gastrointestinal diseases (amoebic dysentery, bacteria) can seriously slow progress. Other infections causing concern include mosquito transmitted diseases, influenza and TB.
That said, because diseases are more commonplace in these locations, doctors appear to be more open to the possibility of any disease (including HIV, TB, and typhoid) and are often better able to cope.
Insurance is also an issue. You might not be covered by insurance or be able to seek compensation for malpractice lawsuits. Although it should be noted that malpractice insurance has always been a considerable portions of the cost in the west.
Traveling soon after surgery can also create complications. As can long flights - not recommended for anyone with heart (thrombosis) or breathing related problems.
Certain holiday activities and sports (e.g. scuba diving) are only suitable for certain patients and procedures.
For those undergoing any kind of cosmetic surgery it must be remembered that scars will be darker and more noticeable if they sunburn while healing.
New Page: Medical Tourism India
Posted on January 26, 2007
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We have just set up a new page covering general information about Medical Tourism in India. Please check it out.
What is Medical Tourism anyway?
Posted on January 17, 2007
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The term “Medical tourism” covers any holiday or vacation where people travel to other countries to receive significantly cheaper medical, dental or surgical care. It’s also known as healthcare travel; health tourism; medical travel; healthcare abroad and overseas healthcare…