Medical Tourism in a Nutshell
Medical procedures in this day and age now have an appeal that was once unthinkable – that of taking a trip to a destination where one can mix rest and relaxation with a surgery that would otherwise cost more than the two put together. Welcome to Medical Tourism! A health vacation, if you will, for both the body and the soul.
This concept of combining vacations with medical procedures is increasing in popularity, and it is interesting to note that these medical vacations are said to trace their roots to Greek history when pilgrims traveled to Epidauria, the sanctuary of the healing god Asklepios. Today, one can travel to many destinations – Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, India, Argentina, and Brazil, among others – for a medical procedure and then a vacation. Or the other way around.
Countless Procedures and Destinations to Choose From
Whether it’s bariartric surgery in the Philippines, dental implants and dental surgery in India, laser sight correction (LASIK) in Thailand, liver transplants in Singapore, plastic surgery in Argentina, or sports medicine in Brazil, medical tourism is making its mark as a cost-effective alternative to having procedures done in the US or Western Europe. According to some sources, medical tourists can save as much as 80%. And according to the University of Delaware, these surgeries can cost one-tenth of the price, sometimes less, in these destinations.
One such example can be found in the price comparison of a heart-valve replacement. In the US, this comes with a price tag of $200,000 or more. Next to India’s price of $10,000 (which includes round-trip airfare and a brief vacation package), it’s an obvious choice for one seeking a less costly alternative.
So the next time you need to have a procedure done – be it cosmetic or life-threatening – medical tourism just might be that excuse to go overseas. Or vise-versa. Plan a vacation, get surgery. Either way, think of the money you’ll save. That extra cash could be set aside for another procedure. Or vacation. Or both.
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