Medical tourism
Photo: Matthew Logelin, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- See History of medicine for the study of medicine as a tourist attraction.
Medical tourism is a category of travel where people go to another country for medical treatment, often for lower costs or to enjoy a vacation along with their treatment.
Typically, medical tourism involves residents of high-income countries seeking medical treatment in low-income countries; often, the costs are much lower. The reverse also happens; residents of less-developed countries may travel to a place with more modern hospitals and better-trained staff.
Residents of countries with national health care schemes – such as Canada and Great Britain – may travel to avoid the long waiting times that elective procedures sometimes have in those countries. Others may travel for work not covered by insurance; many insurance schemes do not cover cosmetic surgery or gender reassignment operations, Canadian health care does not include dental, and so on. Also, couples are increasingly seeking fertility treatments abroad.
Residents of countries with heavily-regulated pharmaceutical and healthcare systems may seek treatments not approved within their home countries, but approved in countries with different regulatory systems. This includes exotic treatments with limited to no scientific backing. These instances of medical tourism can be highly risky or serve as a last-ditch effort when other treatment options have been exhausted.
Availability of good low-cost medical services can also be a factor in selecting a destination for working abroad, studying abroad, and especially retiring abroad.
Possible benefitsThe most common reason for medical tourism is the lower cost of treatment at the destination.
Important considerationsFirst, consider whether the treatment you are planning is right for you. If you were denied the treatment, the denial may have had a good reason. Are you sure it will help you? What risks are there?
ChildbirthIf your country, or the country you're visiting, uses jus soli as a basis for citizenship, your child's birthplace will affect their eligibility for a passport.
Generic medicationsLower cost or better availability of some medications can be reasons for seeking treatment abroad.
Alternative medicineAlternative medicine includes traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, homeopathy, naturopathy, unani, yoga, and others, which are not supported by mainstream medicine, often called "allopathy" by alternative…
DestinationsThe following are some of the popular medical tourism destinations worldwide. Other destinations include Brazil, Brunei, Colombia, Cuba, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Stay safeS.). Medical tourism today is far removed from these scammers, but one must still be vigilant. At the very least, see a trusted doctor in your home country and discuss your plans for overseas treatment.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Medical tourism" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Matthew Logelin, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons