Increased popularity in the late nineties (John Connel, 2008) Medical Tourism consists of a necessity to find low-cost medical procedures that are almost unattainable to receive since most insurances do not cover the desired procedures.
It has become popular among US citizens. However, many countries practice medical tourism to many destinations, such as: Mexico, Turkey, Thailand, South Korea, Costa Rica, Colombia, and more.
The most common procedures are cosmetic surgery or plastic surgery, cancer treatments, dental health, bariatric surgery, eye surgery (LASIK surgery), and even fertility treatments (CDC, 2023).
The medical tourism market is wide, however, here are a few things to have in consideration to travel abroad for any health procedure.
· Costs: There are different reasons for medical tourism being more affordable. For instance, lower labor costs, currency exchange rates, specialized facilities, and lower infrastructure costs.
— What does this mean?
In some countries labor can be cheaper. For example, Mexico. Mexico has low-priced labor, thereby facilities and infrastructure are more affordable than the US.
· Medical staff: While searching for medical tourism companies, dental offices abroad, or even specific surgeons it is most important to verify the professionals you want to work with. With that in mind, check each one of the next steps.
— Do your own research: Do not be afraid to ask for pictures, videos of the facilities, or give a quick search on google or their social media.
— Consult the health professional beforehand: It is crucial to check on the physician or health professional prior to the procedure. Require a video call at first, then, ask for their portfolio of patients. Another major thing is to require any type of license. If you look for a physician in Mexico, make sure to ask for their cedula profesional.
— Ask for referrals: Find references from your own on different websites or ask the medical facility itself to ensure your procedure and stay.
— Consult your primary care doctor: Seek advice from your family doctor and show them your previous research.
· Benefits: The beneficial part of medical tourism is wide. Here are some of the advantages that medical tourism can offer to patients:
— Reduced waiting times: Some countries have long waiting lists to do the simplest procedures, however, when opting for medical tourism the waiting time to do a procedure is very short.
— Access to expert specialists: Highly skilled medical professionals are across the globe. Patients can take advantage of what destinations can offer depending on the field they look up for.
— Choice of healthcare providers: Patients can explore as many options as they desire. Abroad there are plenty of health care providers with different expertise, costs, and reputations.
— Combination of treatment and vacation: Simple treatments without a long recovery allow patients to do leisure activities, such as: visiting popular destinations, discover new activities in the city, or simply, have a proper break in all-inclusive hotels.
· Risks: Just like any other service, medical tourism has its benefits and risks. That is the reason you need to search thoroughly in advance.
— Language barriers: While traveling abroad to a foreign country it is very likely to have miscommunication or even misunderstandings due to not knowing the language. Make sure your physician or providers have a language in common.
— Preoperative complications: Some patients do not give full information of their medical records to the health professional performing their procedure which can lead to difficulties during surgeries or any other procedure.
— Postoperative complications: While recovering it is important to follow each step given by the professional. Flying without recuperating to their home country might affect their health status. It is crucial to have follow-up care.
— Zero follow-up care: As mentioned before, as a patient, you must ensure that the chosen medical package includes pre-operative and post-operative care despite the distance for best and healthiest results.
