Medical Tourism - popular locations & common treatment prices
Visiting doctor and undergoing treatment are always scary (especially when you are really sick). How about doing these while traveling? Medical Tourism merges medical care with tourism, you could enjoy the fun of traveling aboard, at the same time, receive treatment with possibly lower price. Read now the popular locations & common treatment prices in under “medical tourism”!
Meaning of Medical Tourism
As its name suggests, “medical tourism” is the combination of medical treatment and tourism. Due to the disparities in healthcare standards, prices and technology across different countries, if patients cannot access proper treatment locally, they may consider seeking medical treatment overseas.
This term may seem novel, but the industry has long been well underway. Since many years ago, celebrities have made special trips to other places for different treatments. And as the barriers to travel are on the ebb, medical tourism is becoming more prevalent.
According to GlobeNewswire, the global medical tourism market size is expected to exceed HK$280 billion in 2022. As the world recovers from the COVID-19 impact, local governments have begun to gradually ease entry and exit restrictions. It is believed that the total market value will continue to rise steadily and reach HK$430 billion in 2026.
3 factors making medical tourism so popular!
1.Desire for quality medical services
Every patient wants to enjoy the best medical services. Given the effects of globalization, patients benefit from the greatly reduced cost of cross-border travel, which directly lowers the threshold for medical tourism. If local medical services are inadequate, patients are more likely to consider going overseas for medical treatment.
2. The meteoric development of the Internet
Due to the rapid proliferation of the Internet, people can more readily obtain information about overseas medical services and even consult foreign doctors remotely to find out whether it is necessary for them to go abroad for treatment.
3. Active promotions by local governments
Medical tourism not only helps patients get the best care for their needs but is also a considerable source of revenue for the local area. In order to seize the opportunity, the governments of many countries or regions have begun to develop international medical tourism services at full tilt in order to provide tourists with an exemplary environment for recuperation.
Take Thailand as an example, as one of the most popular medical tourism destinations, the local government is contemplating the possibility of easing visa restrictions and even gearing up to introduce an exclusive visa for medical tourists in order to afford overseas patients greater convenience.
6 Benefits of medical tourism
1.Possibly lower medical costs
Many people consider seeking more affordable options in other countries because they cannot afford the high local medical costs.
For example, Americans can save 30% to 90% on medical bills by going abroad for treatment.
2. Higher quality of healthcare
The pace of medical development varies from country to country. India, for example, is particularly good at heart surgery, while South Korea is internationally acclaimed for treating spinal cord injury and associated complications.
3. Comprehensive medical insurance coverage
In view of the strong market demand for medical tourism, a growing number of insurance providers are offering coverage worldwide, expanding coverage to include qualified medical expenses both at home and abroad.
4. You can access to medical service faster
Even though some areas have adequate healthcare, patients may not be able to receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment within a reasonable period of time due to excessively long waits. Take Hong Kong as an example, the waiting time for joint replacement surgery in public hospitals can be up to four years.
5. Tourism takes the pressure of treatment off your shoulder
Although the focus of medical tourism is getting medical treatment, it is nevertheless a golden opportunity to travel abroad. Many patients choose to arrive at their destination early. Before the actual surgery, they would visit the famous local scenic spots for sightseeing and to revel in the exotic atmosphere. Alternatively, they would stay on for a period of time following the surgery to travel as well as recuperate.
6. You could receive treatments which may not be available in your own country/ city
Certain medical procedures may be unavailable in some countries such that patients who want to receive them have to go abroad for treatment.
5 Popular Medical Tourism Locations
- Thailand
In tandem with its stable economic development, Thailand’s healthcare services have become quite popular in recent years.
Not only did Thailand rank fifth in the “Global Health Security Index 2021” but as many as 66 hospitals across the country — the largest number in the entire Southeast Asia region — have also passed the JCI assessment. The quality of Thailand’s medical services is indisputable.
The most popular medical procedures in Thailand are -
- regenerative medicine
- dental care
- assisted reproduction,
- and sex reassignment surgery.
In addition, the local technology in cardiology and physical examination is also widely recognized, and prices are nearly 80% lower than those in developed countries.
2. Singapore
Given its first-class medical standards and stunning urban scenery, Singapore has always been an internationally renowned medical tourism destination.
In 2003, leveraging its comprehensive tiered healthcare system, the Singapore government launched the “Medical Tourism Policy” to make a hit with medical tourists. At the same time, Singapore is also actively advancing in the medical technology space. 18 medical centers across the country are JCI-accredited, which helps build patients’ confidence in the local healthcare system.
Singapore offers a wide range of medical services, including, but not limited to -
- orthopedic surgery
- cardiac surgery
- cancer treatment
- ophthalmology
- and cosmetic procedures
3. India
India is also one of the popular destinations for medical tourism. India, along with Thailand and Singapore, account for a combined market share approaching 90%.
Seeing that India’s medical system has distinctively competitive advantages compared to advanced countries, the local government has been actively developing unique medical tourism packages in recent years, such as encouraging cooperation between hospitals and hotels to provide patients with an ideal environment for recuperation. In order to promote the development of medical tourism, India has been committed to easing the entry requirements for medical tourists and streamlining the procedures for foreigners to access medical services as much as possible.
The medical services most attractive to foreign tourists in India are -
- replacement therapy
- cardiac surgery
- bone marrow transplantation,
- and hip replacement surgery, which are highly rated internationally.
4. Malaysia
Malaysia is arguably a rising star in medical tourism, attracting more than 1 million medical tourists in just one year, thanks to the excellent air connectivity, affordable hotel accommodations, and top-notch medical technology.
Data shows that the cost of treatment in Malaysia is nearly 65% to 80% cheaper than in the United States, Australia and Europe. In addition, the local Ministry of Health is committed to promoting the healthcare tourism industry and ensuring that medical tourists can enjoy high-quality medical services at fair prices. Thus, Malaysia is rapidly emerging as a world-class medical tourism destination.
Malaysia offers a wide range of medical and specialist services, including cardiology, orthopedics, pain management, orthopedics, oncology and physical examinations.
5. South Korea
The quality of medical services in South Korea is also considered exceptional in Asia. Coupled with its comprehensive medical equipment and favorable immigration policies, South Korea possesses a robust global competitive advantage.
In 2009, South Korea introduced a special medical visa, allowing medical tourists to enter the counter via a more simplified route. This has successfully attracted many patients from neighboring countries to visit South Korea for medical treatment.
In addition to cosmetic surgery and dermatology, in South Korea, health examinations, gynecology, ophthalmology, dentistry, neurosurgery and traditional Korean medicine are also very popular with foreign tourists.
Costs for common medical tourism treatments
*💰 indicates the country with the lowest medical charges
* Charges in the above table are for reference only
Original Article: Medical Tourism
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