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Medical Tourism 2008
Adam McCulloch January 10, 2008PAGES: 1 2
See our list of 2008 international medical destinations
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So, understand the risks. For globe-trotting medical tourists, it’s crucial to know which countries specialize in which procedures. Brazil, for example, is tops for nips and tucks; and Mexico shines when it comes to fixing up those pearly whites. And while some countries like India have a long history of sending their own citizens overseas for top-quality medical training, others like Thailand, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan have been prioritizing their domestic health care systems for many years.
“Singapore, 50 years ago, was a sewer,” says Woodman. But in 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) placed this small city-state at number six on its list of the world’s best health systems. (Interestingly, the U.S. was ranked 37th.)
Still, no one suggests that you book a ticket the next time you get a splinter. Generally, says Woodman, unless you’re quoted more than $6,000 in the U.S., it’s not economic to pack your bags.
See our list of 2008 international medical destinations
The most expensive procedures offer the greatest savings—chiefly: cardiovascular, bypass and transplant procedures, angioplasty and more invasive orthopedic work. “A $50,000 hip replacement in the U.S. can cost as little as $9,000 in Singapore,” says Woodman. Our other experts back him up. We spoke with owners of companies devoted to organizing comfortable, stress-free sojourns for patients as varied as those seeking new hips in India, teeth in Costa Rica or hearts in Malaysia.
In many ways, Southeast Asia has played leapfrog over more developed nations. Woodman cites access to inexpensive instrumentation and pharmaceuticals, a legacy of decades of medical research now in the public domain, slick new digital administration, and a lack of the kind of cumbersome and entrenched infrastructure typical of the U.S. as three reasons for the new crop of outstanding hospitals.
Unfortunately, the JCI doesn’t compile comprehensive global rankings of hospitals, and the WHO no longer ranks countries according to their health care systems. The best medical tourist, therefore, is an aggressively self-educated one. It’s not enough to confirm that a hospital’s staff is properly qualified. Representatives should also be willing to divulge to you the number of operations performed annually and the success rate. You should also get everything in writing, and insist on dealing in a language you’re comfortable with. And don’t forget about recovery – be sure to bone up on the area’s post-op facilities. It also helps to book your trip through an American-based company, as you may have legal recourse if something goes wrong.
With careful planning and thorough research, this is the vacation that is truly therapeutic. Here are 10 international medical tourism destinations that offer quality medical services at sensible prices.
See our list of 2008 international medical destinations
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