Medical Tourism - Winning Over High Medical Costs In First World Countries

By Jason Ming

It is a sad reality of our time that, notwithstanding huge advances in medical and dental technology, many of those life saving or enhancing procedures are beyond the average man financially. The reasons for this are complex and unlikely to change meaning that the situation is likely to worsen as time passes. It is possible, however, to have expensive treatments carried out at greatly reduced rates by considering the medical tourism phenomenon.

Simply put, medical tourism is the global trend of travelling to foreign shores to get medical care at reduced rates or to capitalize on medical skills or procedures not available at home. Listed below are just a few of the world locations that are becoming ever more popular for their affordable, fast and excellent medical treatment.

Mexico has seen a huge amount of development in the area of medicine and in particular medical facilities. Some of Mexico's new hospitals and clinics are world class, state-of-the-art facilities and many Mexican doctors have more experience in certain procedures, particularly those that are more new and ground breaking, than their American counterparts.

Some of the main reasons for Mexico's popularity as a destination for medical care are the comparatively low costs and the almost non-existent waiting periods for those treatments. Patients can be treated on the day after their arrival at approximately a tenth of the cost. For instance a heart valve replacement in Mexico would cost approximately $15, 000.00. The same procedure in the US would set the patient back $150, 000.00.

Staying in South America, Costa Rica is another prime medical tourism destination known for its cost effective and top class treatments. If it's a face lift you're after then this is perhaps one of the best places to consider. The price in Costa Rica is a scant $3,000. Impressive when you consider the same operation in the US will put you back in the region of $7,000 to $15,000!

Costa Rica's extensive network of world class specialist surgeons use the latest technology in cutting edge facilities to deliver some of the worlds best plastic surgery services. A face lift in Cost Rica costs around $3,000.00 where the same operation in America would cost $7,000.00 - $15, 000.00. Post-operative care is excellent and the country offers the added bonus of excellent general tourism for recovering patients.

Now over to Asia. India counts as one of the most promising new medical tourism destinations and is working hard to build that reputation. Boasting some of the worlds best cancer treatment, neuro and cardiac surgery and organ transplant facilities, India is an excellent choice for offshore medical treatment.

Recently a complex heart operation was carried out at April Madras Medical Mission in Chennai at a total cost (including a month's post operative care) of $8,000.00. A less complex operation elsewhere would have cost $40,000.00. Indian facilities even offer expert tele-consultancies for those interested in using the countries facilities for treatments.

At a time where so many people have to pass up live saving and life enhancing medical procedures because of the exorbitant cost of these treatments, medical tourism is a welcome and much needed blessing that is making world class medical care an affordable reality. - 30516

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here