It is worthy of note that the health services that medical tourists commonly seek to have include dental surgery, joint (hip or knee) replacement surgeries, cosmetic surgeries, cardiac surgery, psychiatry, alternative treatments, in-vitro fertilization and freezing embryos for retro-production, and surrogate pregnancy.

Countries Associated with Medical Tourism

It is worth stating again that one of the major causes of medical tourism is the relative cost of undergoing a certain medical procedure. For instance, carrying out a liver transplant surgery costs about $250,000 in United States compared to that of Taiwan which costs about $90,000 USD. Another major reason is the lack of adequate health care facilities and services.

As a result, more of medical tourists come from places like Europe, the US, Canada, Japan and the Middle East. Health service providers from such countries stand the chances of losing billions of dollars revenue.

In the same vein, the countries where medical tourists usually consider for medical procedures include India, Jordan, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, South Korea, Tunisia, Argentina, Israel, Ukraine, and New Zealand.

Potential Risk of Medical Tourism

It is quite vital for medical tourists to be well aware of the risks involved in seeking health care in some other countries. This will help to determine what could be done so as to minimize or eliminate the risk factors of medical tourism.

1. Low level of expertise of some health-care service providers. There have been cases where some even practice outside of their field. This is highly risky.
2. Low health-care standards. Some countries other than First World have low standards in the health sector.
3. Lack of proper Health Insurance Scheme in some Medical Procedures.
4. The possible risk of post-operation complications after tourists’ return to home countries.
5. Lack of physical contact with the physician after medical care for essential medical check-up.

Factors Responsible for Medical tourism

1. High cost of health-care service. In fact, one of the major reason why medical tourist travel from First World countries to other places is as result of the high cost of health-care services.

2. Convenience and speed. In countries like US and UK unlike in some other countries, many health care services require long waiting times before the medical procedures are embarked on.

3. There is advanced medical technology in many countries today. Many countries are taking advantage of medical tourism by providing high standards of health care services.

4. Lack of local health-care services on certain medical problems. For instance, a medical tourist may seek help for in-vitro reproduction in a foreign country if it is not available in his own country.

From the foregoing, the views held by individuals about medical tourism are not the same at all. Some people from First World countries see it as a risky medical alternative. However, since many countries are now taking to advanced medical technology, some still consider that it is worth doing.

http://www.aetda.com/some-facts-on-medical-tourism/

Dental Implants Quotes Cancun Quitana Roo

Dentista Vacation Medical Tourism

Medical Tourism Resource Online
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The “shocking truth about first world care” is as follows:

The hospital had no working sprinkler system, and no functioning smoke alarms. Staff had no fire training and many members fled when the blaze began in the early hours of the morning.

http://www.globalpost.com/

http://www.kosansh.com/news/indian-hospital-fire-dark-side-medical-tourism-part-two

MMedicalsolutions Medcial Tourism Resource Online
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When visiting one more nation for medical therapy it is essential for the patient to conduct cautious analysis on the top quality and achievement rates of the hospitals and teams they are taking into consideration. Techniques and accepted practices can differ tremendously from place to location.

As properly as the growing costs and decreasing availability of medical services in their property nations, medical tourists are driven by quick access to international travel, the rise of advanced remedies even in creating countries, and the careful attention they receive by governments eager for foreign revenues. These all apply to medical tourism in Mexico as the country’s largest hospital network, Angeles Health International, is located in Tijuana which is just across the US border. The hospital boasts Stanford trained physicians and personal rooms and nurses are supplied.

Several medical tourists come across medical doctors in foreign countries have been trained in the west to standards matching those of their home nations. Individual rooms and a focus on their comfort and private requirements are a different attraction. Some treatments not yet approved in the west can be located in other countries that are now promoting medical tourism. A number of extremely contemporary facilities are getting built in Mexico and other countries to cater to this new demand.

The latest research demonstrate that today’s medical travelers come from Europe, Canada, the United States, the Middle East and Japan. Incomes are rising immediately in oil-rich nations, enabling residents to select exactly where to go for their healthcare. Currently the country of India is the leader in providing medical services for this type of traveler. Exotic locations like are already preferred holiday destinations and so typically patient’s close friends and households will join them on their trip.

Complicated medical treatments like hip-replacements and heart surgeries are performed in escalating numbers. These, as properly as “elective” procedures such as plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry and liposuction are proving significantly more and alot more preferred.

Some nations have the medical abilities to rival the west, or even surpass it, especially in areas such as stem cell procedures, option cancer treatments and ground breaking several sclerosis therapies. These services can typically be performed at a fraction of the price of property-nation treatments, and they increasingly employ very-skilled and experienced surgeons.

Preferred destinations for medical tourism now include Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, Malaysia and South Africa. Western nations are now also keen on providing some of these services, which includes: Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Spain. Turkey is also becoming identified for its escalating expertise in cosmetic surgeries.

Mmedsolution Medical Tourism Resource
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Medical strategies are different from marketing campaigns. Medical Strategies are use to catch the attention of numerous medical tourist that needs complicated medication while marketing campaigns are intended for casual international health and wellness traveler.

The psychological profiles of international patients seeking medical procedures that are complex require marketing plans featuring competent, confidence building messages rather than the “fun in the sun” campaigns designed for medical travelers seeking low acuity treatments. Understanding the different between these two market segments is vital to achieving success in the medical tourism industry.

There are differences in motivational factors among individuals having an orthopedic or cardiac procedure compare to someone having a minor cosmetic on dental medication. Understanding their differences is essential for marketing campaign creations that will catch the attention of numerous health travelers.

More and more countries are now placing vast priority on medical tourism as their identify the importance to the industry. Competition on attracting international patients that needs serious medical treatment is

As more and more countries identify medical tourism as a national priority, competition for international patients who require complex care are a ripe target in that they purchase high cost, high margin medical care as well as staying in country for an extended period of time. These types of international visitors are a substantial value added to the local economy and are going to be the focus of more and better targeted marketing efforts, Marketing tips and other helpful hints will be provided as part of Mr. Stackpole’s presentation to help organizations secure the types of clients they seek.

Established in 1991, Stackpole & Associates provides marketing, market research, and business development solutions for providers, consumers, and customers in healthcare, senior living and human services. For the medical tourism industry, Stackpole & Associates can help businesses identify prospective clients globally with a focus on the US, UK and Canada, and then ensure that the products and services offered to those customers carry the right message in the right way. The company is an active member of the Medical Tourism Association.

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Merida resident and American Alan Graham, the founder and director of MTY and former non-profit executive states, “It just doesn’t make good sense, health-wise and money-wise for patients to be deprived of a new heart valve or shoulder surgery. Or pay two to four times what they should for gastric bypass surgery or a face-lift or dental veneers, when Merida is less than a 2-hour non-stop flight from Houston or Miami.”

MTY matches medical travelers with board certified, English-speaking surgeons who have had training, continuing education, or affiliations in the United States. And MTY conducts consumer evaluations of the selected hospital to insure superior medical care for patients.

Patients traveling to Merida for medical care through MTY can expect substantial savings of 35% – 75%. Medical travelers discover that they are informed of hospital and surgery costs – before they decide on their surgical trip. Since the American-Canadian MTY team is located in Merida, the company has the advantage of maintaining personal contact with hospital administrators and individual doctors.

Continues Graham, “Here in Merida our close relationships allow us to be effective in negotiating the very best surgery and hospital fees for our patients – without sacrificing the highest level of medical quality.” Besides authoring a series of articles on medical tourism, Graham has received all of his medical and dental care here in Merida, Yucatan – including major surgery – for the last half-decade.

MTY team members make all medical arrangements, in-person. Patients can expect their experience in cosmetic, weight loss, orthopedic, oncology, cardiovascular, fertility, vision, or dental procedures to be equal to – and usually better than at home. And MTY also coordinates non-medical arrangements including transportation, hotel, patient monitoring, communicating with patient’s family, and meeting special needs. Patients are met at the airport by their countrymen who accompany them throughout their medical stay.

Medical tourism is growing by more than 30% each year. By 2015 it is estimated that between 10 and 20 million Americans and Canadians will travel outside of their country for medical care.

Medical Traveler Yucatan is partnered with Merida’s Star Medica Hospital, a new state of the art, pristine, high-tech facility. It is the number one choice for thousands of Canadians and Americans who live in Merida. Star Medica is a current applicant for the prestigious JCI-accreditation.

As for safety, patients can be secure in the fact that Merida, with a metropolitan area of just over a million (including the nearly 10,000 Americans and Canadians who live in Merida and the state of Yucatan), enjoys a reputation as being a very safe city. Merida’s distinct geographic advantage – far away from the violence of other North American cities – contributes to its standing as a city where you can still stroll the streets at night.

Medical Traveler Yucatan (MTY) is located in Merida, Yucatan near Cancun and is a quick flight from most U.S. and Canadian cities. Quality care, substantial savings, safety, and easy access make medical trips to Merida a practical decision. This, combined with the fact that MTY’s U.S.- Canadian team is on-location at the patient’s destination, presents new options to Americans and Canadians seeking sound medical solutions.

source: pr.com

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Not that it is without controversy – a recent report in The Lancet warned that antibiotics’ days were numbered because of global travel and medical tourism.
According to currency broker Currencies.co.uk, one in 20 people have recently had a medical or dental procedure outside Britain – or are planning one. Sterling’s strength against eastern European currencies and NHS cutbacks have meant countries such as Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic have seen increasing numbers of medical tourists.
With spending cuts expected to hit the NHS, more people might be tempted to look overseas. So how do you ensure that you save without risking your health?
A spokesman for the British Medical Association (BMA) said thorough research was essential before any patient considered going abroad for treatment.
“It is extremely important that patients consult their GP for advice. Patients should also investigate all aspects of their proposed treatment. This must include the health and safety standards of the facilities and the potential impact of long-distance travel on their recovery from all forms of medication or surgery abroad,” he said.
There are several ways to check the standard of care. Dr Edward Watson, a former accident and emergency doctor, said there was no global regulatory body for medical travel, but there is a universal body for accreditation – ISQua (the International Society for Quality in Health Care). Dr Watson set up Medtral New Zealand for Americans looking for more affordable treatment.
“ISQua has members in 70 countries, including Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, as well as Japan and Taiwan,” he said.
”You should also check your surgeon’s training, patient testimonials and published ‘adverse event rates’. You have to be careful with these as they are not independently verified and some hospitals we find do lie. Also, some hospitals talk about their overall adverse event rate. If they do thousands of eye operations and endoscopies then their overall event rate is very low compared to a hospital that does a lot of complex surgery.”
There are also international hospital accreditation programmes. The Joint Commission International (JCI) accredits hospitals, while QHA Trent, a British company, accredits and provides consultancy services for hospitals and clinics globally.
Many hospitals in India and other parts of Asia will have doctors who trained in Britain or America. Not only are their qualifications easier to verify, but they are more likely to speak good English. Check the level of English spoken at the hospital or aftercare facility – communicating with nurses can be paramount.
As well as cosmetic and elective surgery, it is increasingly common for patients to go abroad for addiction therapy, obesity treatment, fertility treatment and hair transplants.
According to figures based on the Medical Tourism Survey on behalf of Treatment Abroad, 43pc of British patients travelled abroad for dental treatments, 29pc for cosmetic surgery and 28pc for other items such as orthopaedic surgery and infertility treatment.
With dentistry, although you can save £170 having a crown in Spain (36pc cheaper than in Britain), it will cost you £33 more to have a dental X?ray, which you will need before and after treatment. This loss can be recouped when considering the cost of an oral examination and consultation – £45 in Britain but free in Spain.
It is also vital that you ensure that any aftercare you require is included in the package, or that you have made arrangements for yourself. The BMA considers this to be as important as the treatment itself. “Patients should guarantee that their treatment includes clear provisions, agreed with their overseas clinicians, for follow-up care after any medical procedures,” it said.
Booking through an agent or operator will mean that you can negotiate all-inclusive packages. Although more expensive, you are more likely to receive a higher quality of care before, during and after a procedure.
TreatmentAbroad.com provides information for patients about clinics, hospitals and specialists worldwide that are attracting medical tourists. Keith Pollard, director of Treatment Abroad, said you should think about how much time you will need for rehabilitation and whether you wish to have a friend or partner support you.
He advised patients to ask operators for a breakdown of costs and to provide them with as much detail as possible about your needs, including medical history, dietary requirements and allergies. Mr Pollard warned that many patients made the mistake of thinking their annual travel insurance policy would cover elective surgery abroad – just because it covers an accidental occurrence that leads to them requiring medical treatment.
Jennifer Thomas, from Direct Line Insurance, added: “Our policies do not provide cover for medical costs if a patient has elected to go abroad for treatment. This includes any costs relating to complications arising from the elected surgery. The main purpose of the cover in our policies is for emergency medical situations arising from accidental occurrences.
“However, should a customer choose to take a holiday for rest and recuperation after the elected surgery, and they have an unrelated accident or illness, cover is provided. Cover would also be provided in the event of accident and illness in the days leading up to the elected treatment but not while directly on the way to the hospital or clinic.”
Patients should opt for a specialist ”enhanced medical” insurance policy such as those provided by Seven Corners (www.seven corners.com), Health Traveller (www.health traveller.co.uk), P J Hayman (www.freespirittravelfor treatment.com) and Angelis (www.angelisgroup.com)
Medical tourism will continue to be on people’s agenda in time of economic hardship and NHS cuts, but anyone considering treatment overseas needs to consider it very carefully: it is a step into the unknown.

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Qatar, the 5th of October 2010: Dr. Surapong Ambhanwong (Phayathai Hospital Chief Medical & International Business Officer) explained that the passage of international patients was currently producing an estimated 920,000 travellers to the Kingdom of Thailand annually, making it the number one destination for medical tourists.

Speaking at the inaugural Medical Health and Wellness Roadshow in Doha, Qatar, Dr. Ambhanwong explained that the scope of procedures being undertaken in Thailand was wide, covering areas such as plastic surgery, joint replacement, cancer treatment, open heart surgery and dental care.

“Many also visit Thailand to seek professional advice for a better quality of life, through Thailand’s many alternative medical centres and hospitals, to help control and reduce the threat of diabetes, cholesterol, obesity and blood pressure,” he said.

The roadshow, organised in conjunction with the TAT, was aimed at promoting Thailand’s expertise and specialisation in providing cutting-edge medical care throughout the world and in particular focusing on the Gulf States.

The initiative will see representatives from Thailand’s leading hospitals and wellness centers visit the Middle East to meet directly with industry professionals and medical travel consultants as well as regional government administrators.

Present at the roadshow, TAT director Pramoth Supyen revealed that Middle Eastern travel to Thailand was constantly on the rise, whether seeking medical care or leisure travel. He stated that the TAT was now focusing its aims on further promoting tourism in the region based on the success of initial cooperation with region governments.

“Thailand proves an attractive option as a medical destination due to the country’s well established industry to provide high quality, cost effective treatment of international standards,” he said “the medical industry has proven itself with the added advantage of providing far superior nursing care, as well as the unique Thai approach and attention to personal care”.

source:

This 2011 campaign will showcase Germany’s modern and cutting-edge facilities, luxury hotels, spas and spa-towns. This is intended to appeal to travellers who value active and affordable holidays linked with culture and indulgence. The campaign will highlight the top German medical clinics for international patients as well as the tourist attractions of the nearby towns and cities.

Currently about 400,000 tourists visit Germany annually for health related holidays, and this number is growing. This is in addition to the estimated 70,000 medical tourists using German clinics and hospitals that are renowned for their excellent quality and reasonable prices.

Germany’s healthy climate, healing waters, natural therapies and countless hotels, spas and health resorts offer programmes to refresh the mind and reinvigorate the body. The offerings include health and beauty care involving fun and physical and mental relaxation using a wide variety of therapies, massages and treatment methods. Around 300 mineral and mud spas, hydrotherapy resorts, climatic health resorts and seaside resorts in Germany offer a wide choice of preventive and therapeutic well-being treatments. Germany is a land of spas and thermal baths promoting health, beauty and well-being.

source: imtj.com

Australia does not yet offer medical tourism in any organised way as the number of international inbound visitors that meet the definition of a medical tourist is, according to the report, a consistent 7,000 a year from 2006 to 2009. While official figures suggest that there are over a million medical tourists in Australia each year, this is a definition that comes out of the unusual state based and insurance based healthcare systems in the country; so almost all of these are simply Australians travelling away from their home town/city, frequently a relatively short distance by Australian standards, but not by European standards, for medical treatment.

There are a much larger number of health and wellness travellers, but again the vast majority of these are from within the country. There are very few hospitals or clinics offering facilities to medical tourists from overseas. This research suggests that Australia would benefit from developing niche medical tourism offerings based on Australian medical strengths/expertise, as has occurred with the Cairns Fertility Clinic and its IVF services. Possible areas for development of Australian medical tourism services include cardiology, urology, orthopaedic surgery and oncology. The report recommends that Australia seek a competitive advantage internationally by focusing on the provision of quality services at a lower price point than the United States, and based on niche medical offerings in which Australia has an international reputation and expertise.

There is no state or national government policy on or support of medical tourism and no particular recognition of this as an area of distinctive opportunity. The prospect of medical tourism is seen by all these governments as fraught with difficulties for governments concerned with voters’ perceptions of medical resources being handed over to private sector entrepreneurs. The research suggests that the best way forward would be for the national government to establish and fund a body that develops a nationally coordinated medical tourism policy and actively promotes Australia as an international medical tourism destination through trade shows and other forums. To encourage the development of medical tourism, it is recommended that submissions are developed and presented to government to illustrate the potential for medical tourism to contribute to the supply of medical services and facilities in Australia and to contribute export income to the Australian economy.

One problem identified is that the visa application process for medical tourists is so complex that most medical tourists enter Australia on a tourist visa rather than go through the process of applying for a medical visa due to the associated delay. It recommends that the application process for medical visas (long-stay and short- stay) be reviewed and streamlined. The report identified a problem on price as Australia does not have a comparable selling point on price to India, but Australian medical services are still considerably cheaper than in the United States and several treatments are also less costly than in South Korea.

source: imtj.co

Previously known as the sports and salsa capital of South America, Cali now counts some 50,000 visitors a year who are looking for cheaper and higher-quality medical treatments.

Almost a third of the city’s medical tourists arrive from other countries and, according to Cali’s trading association, the majority are from the U.S. and Spain.

According to the report, many people – predominantly women – travel to the city for plastic surgery treatments.

Cali has become one of the country’s best equipped cities for providing specialized health care. The city has a total of 105 doctors who belong to the Colombian Association for Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Reconstruction, 61 of whom belong to the Ibero-Latin American Foundation for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Proportionately, Cali has the most working plastic surgeons in the country, with five surgeons per 1000 people. Second are Bogota and Barranquilla with four surgeons per 1000 residents.

Cali also offers 40 specialized clinics, second only to Bogota which has 60.

Medical tourism is one of Colombia’s biggest industries and one that continues to grow in strength. Foreigners are increasingly traveling to the country to undergo medical procedures, due to its competitive prices. For example, cosmetic surgery in Colombia costs around one quarter of the price it would cost in the U.S.

source: colombiareports.com