Top Destinations For Medical Tourism Across The Globe
Medical tourism is the movement of people of different nations to the other countries to access medical treatment which is either not offered in their home countries or is offered at a lower cost in other countries. The most common form of medical tourism is surgery, which could either be health related or for cosmetic purposes.
In many cases, the treatments are a success. However, there are negative consequences that may come with it such as low standard post-treatment care that can worsen a patient’s condition. Sometimes, those accompanying the patient may get exposed to other diseases that are prevalent in countries they are visiting. The following are the top destinations for medical tourism in the world.
Thailand
Thailand is located in the southeast of Asia. The country has about 39 approved hospitals offering excellent medical services which have led to it being one of the most reliable and preferred medical tourism destinations in the world. Previously, Thailand was known for its high standard dental treatment. However, the country has not been left behind in keeping up with advancement in technologically related treatments, with the current one being sex reassignment treatment that has given the country a huge boost in terms of medical tourism.
Mexico
Mexico is located in the southern part of North America. In its early years after independence, it was categorized as a middle-class income country which has since changed and it is now among the top fifteen states experiencing economic upswing. It is served by medically trained students from America and has its treatment costs lower than most parts of America. The low cost of medication and availability of medical staff has given it an edge over the rest of the states in America in terms of patient traffic accessing the treatment. However, there are still some parts in the rural settings that do not have access to the advanced equipment and patients have to move to urban areas to seek treatment.
United States
The United States of America is one of the largest countries in the world by total area and human population. It is known for its technological advancement with many discoveries having originated in the country. It has significantly contributed to the major innovations in the medical field, making it one of the most preferred destinations for medical tourism. It offers various medical procedures ranging from health related issues, cosmetic surgery, sex reassignment and other advanced treatments.
Singapore
Singapore is located in the southeast of Asia. It is ranked among the top ten nations with excellent systems of health care by the World Health Organization. The country has accredited medical facilities where the cost of treatment is lower than most of developed countries. The low cost of treatment has resulted in Singapore being one of the most preferred destinations for people seeking medical treatment across the globe. It attracts nationalities from both developed and third world countries. It also enjoys political stability which makes other nationalities comfortable when visiting the country.
India
The Republic of India is the second most populous country in the world. India has highly rated medical facilities and offers treatment at a lower cost compared to other countries such as the United States. The level of compliance in terms of standards of the medical procedures has also contributed to it being one of the most preferred medical tourism destinations in the world. Most people traveling to India enjoy the ease of access following waiver of visa restrictions by the government. English is spoken widely in India and is a popular language used by the medical professionals of the country, which contributes to the ease of communication with many travelers.
Top Destinations For Medical Tourism Across The Globe
Rank | Country | Number Of Tourists (in thousands), 2013 |
---|---|---|
1 | Thailand | 1,200 |
2 | Mexico | 1,000 |
3 | United States | 800 |
4 | Singapore | 610 |
5 | India | 400 |