Medical Tourism – What You Need To Know

“Health is Wealth “we all have heard this saying, and this is true in every sense. Considering how important health is for a person’s overall well being, you may think that visiting a doctor is a simple process. But, think again, as unfortunate it may sound, but it is not simple as it is very costly in the USA, and not everyone can afford it. The cost is where Medical Tourism enters the equation.

The unavailability of healthcare to everyone in the USA leads people to opt for medical tourism. In the article, we will explain all the aspects related to it and answer questions related to it. You will find the various aspects like cost and most favorite destinations for medical tourism in the article.

We have also given answers to questions like, what is medical tourism? What are the factors responsible for its rise? What are the risks in Medical Tourism? And more. 

All the aspects that we will explain in the article will help you choose the medical tourism destination for you. Choosing the right destination is like choosing the right Travel Agent as it may completely change your experience.

What Is Medical Tourism? 

The term medical tourism is used when a person travels for the sake of health. In simple terms, it refers to people traveling to other countries to obtain medical treatment. 

People generally go for medical tourism due to various factors like cost, drug regulations, availability of treatment, and more. 

History Of Medical Tourism

When we look at the history of medical tourism, the first instance of people traveling for healthcare dates back to thousands of years. In ancient Greece, people used to travel from the areas of eastern Mediterranean to a small area known as Epidauria in the Saronic Gulf. This area in the Gulf was known to be the healing sanctuary of Asklepios.  

In medieval times forms of medical tourism such as Spa treatments and Sanitaria were common among Europeans. 

At the start of the modern era, medical tourism was common among people belonging to less developed countries. These people from such countries would often travel to more developed nations for treatment, which may be not available in their own country. 

This trend of medical tourism has changed in recent years, as now people travel from developed to less developed countries. People from countries like the USA mainly undertake it due to healthcare costs, making it unreachable for everyone. Source

Reason For Medical Tourism

There are many reasons why people go to this tourism. The reason may vary from country to country and even according to various other factors. 

For instance, when we talk about medical tourism from the USA, the main reason for it is cost, whereas when it comes to the UK, the reason is Waiting Time. 

To help you understand the reasons for medical tourism better, we have put together a list after breaking down all aspects for you:

Cost 

Cost is one of the major factors which lead people to undertake medical tourism. The cost of medical treatments is very high in countries like the USA due to things such as privatization. 

Hush costs for health care make it difficult for people to avail of the service, and thus they prefer the less developed countries like India. In less developed countries, the cost of medical treatments is way less in comparison to the USA due to government regulations. One more factor for low costs in less developed countries is the use of generic medicines, which are very cost-effective. 

Another factor that affects the cost of healthcare in the less developed countries is the industry laws, which allow for trained professionals at low rates. Even after low costs, the quality of treatments is as per the world standards and thus a very lucrative destination for medical tourism.

Waiting Time

The waiting time for a certain type of treatment may belong in one country while being easily accessible in another. This kind of medical tourism is generally popular in countries like the UK where the cost is low, but waiting time is high. 

To avoid the waiting period, people from such countries ought to travel for medical tourism. They generally visit countries like Taiwan, where cost and waiting time for healthcare both are low. The waiting time of treatments is also affected by the regulations of the country as well as the availability of various kinds of treatments. 

For example, the treatment for bronchitis may only be allopathic in one country, whereas treatments like Ayurveda can be done in other countries. People who like and trust natural remedies more also prefer such treatments. This leads to low waiting times in countries with various kinds of treatments available. 

Quality 

The quality of treatments is yet another reason which leads people to go for medical tourism. The quality and standard of treatments in less developed countries like India are good at low costs. 

The standards of healthcare have improved a lot in such countries, which also attracts tourists. Other tourism from less developed to less developed this trend is more leaning towards the developed countries. 

People from less developed countries visit more developed countries like the USA for treatment like that of Cancer. The treatments for serious ailments like Cancer are way better in countries like the USA in comparison to other countries. 

Ease Of Tourism

This is also one of the major reasons when it comes to medical tourism. As it comes to traveling, the ease of traveling has improved a lot in the past decades. The improvements in travel facilities like air travel, inspire people for tourism.

Improvements in air travel and other means have also led to a reduction in travel costs, making it a cost-effective option. 

Availability 

The availability of the treatment for a certain ailment in one country may not be available or low quality. These factors lead people to visit countries where the treatment is available and that too, with good quality. 

Regulations

The healthcare regulations of a country are yet another factor that affects people. For example, a certain kind of medicine or medical procedure may not be permitted in a particular country while valid in others. 

This leads people to visit other countries where healthcare rules are lenient, making the treatment they want legal. Another reason is the authenticity of certain therapies like Ayurveda. 

In some countries, the Ayurvedic Medicines treatments may not be permitted, or quality may not be as per need. This leads people to visit countries that have better quality and variety of treatments. 

Risks Of Medical Tourism

Like any other thing, there are risks involved in medical tourism. The risks which a person may face when undertaking medical tourism are not specific and may vary. Generally, the risks vary from country to country. 

Some general risks which a person may encounter are:

Treatment Quality

This is one of the major risks which is involved in medical tourism. The quality of treatment for a particular ailment may not be as per the standards in countries like the USA or UK. This may lead to complications or Infections. 

Post-Operative Care

Post-operative care is one of the major parts of treatment. It is what makes sure that the patient recovers completely and safely. The post-operative care facilities may vary from hospital to hospital and may differ from European countries or US standards. 

Traveling

Traveling is another risk in medical tourism as traveling long distances after surgery can increase the risk of complications. The risk of developing Deep Vein Thrombosis and pulmonary embolism increases significantly due to long travels. (1)

Infections

The disease epidemiology of countries like South-Africa or Thailand may be different than that of the USA and European countries. This may lead to disease exposure without a person having natural immunity like the local population for that certain disease. 

One major risk when traveling to tropical countries for medical tourism is that of mosquito-transmitted diseases. 

Legal Complications

A patient if traveling abroad for treatment, which was refused by doctors in their home country, may face this issue. As the insurance may not cover the treatment and the post-operative care if any complications arise. 

Another problem is medical malpractices, as many countries with lenient laws don’t protect patient rights. One more issue is the laws of home countries, as some countries may not permit certain procedures. In such cases, countries may arrest or fine the patient once they return home for illegal medical procedures. 

Ethical Issues

This is the dark side of the medical tourism industry. In countries like the Philippines, India, and China, the organ transplant is easy, but the organ donor may be doing it for money or under pressure. 

The practice of organ trade in third world countries is also an ethical issue as the organs may be harvested from kidnapped people. Organ harvesting farms are not rare in third world countries where women are forced to give birth to fulfill medical needs like bone marrow. 

Conclusion

In the article, we have explained all the aspects related to medical tourism. We have explained the various reasons and benefits of medical tourism, like the cost and availability of treatment in the article.

In the article, we have also listed the risks like post-operative care and ethical issues. All these will help you in choosing what’s best for you.

What are your thoughts on medical tourism? Please do let us know in the comment box.