International health travelers planning medical travel abroad have to decide where to go for health care. There is a big deal of medical directories, different associations, societies and et cetera registered all over the world which are competing in helping to find the best place for treatment oversees and promoting particular countries, hospitals and providers.

The problem is that such helpers have as a rule no legal obligations, and approaches used are not always convincible, appropriate and efficient. (more…)

The British newspaper The Independent reports that Britain’s National Health Service could save millions if the Department of Health considered utilizing medical tourism. “Thousands of patients waiting for operations such as hip replacements and hernia repairs could be treated more cheaply and quickly if the Government set up formal agreements” with medical tourism destinations, the report says.

Currently, the publicly-funded health service provides healthcare to all residents free 0f charge, but there has been criticism surrounding the wait times for many elective procedures. The Independent article argues that these wait times could be reduced through medical tourism, while saving a significant amount of money.

“At least £120m could be saved,” says the article, “if NHS patients currently waiting for just five different operations went to India, with a companion, for treatment in an accredited hospital, according to health economists’ calculations.” India is one of many medical tourism destinations, many of which provide a quality of healthcare equal to or better than that in Britain, say experts.

Hundreds of thousands of people are already taking advantage of medical tourism on their own. Britons make up a large portion of medical tourists, as do uninsured Americans who cannot afford the high cost of many medical treatments in the United States. “The estimated number of medical tourists worldwide each year ranges from four million to 617 million,” says the Independent.

In the coming years, many expect that governments around the world will start to consider medical tourism as a solution to rising medical costs and wait lists. Developing countries such as India, Thailand, and Mexico, as well as highly-developed countries such as Singapore and Taiwan can provide many medical procedures for a fraction of the cost in Britain and the United States. As populations continue to age in western countries, many expect medical tourism to experience tremendous growth.

Don Gilliland is the Chief Operating Officer of Formosa Medical Travel, an agency promoting medical tourism in Taiwan.

With the economy heading back to normal and credit markets easing, there is a relief in the market. There have been signals that the deep recession will end soon. This has sent across a wave of happiness among people and all are getting a common feeling of relaxation, going on a shopping spree, planning an adventurous trip, etc. The tight pockets are now ready to spend lavishly on things they desired for a long time but were held back due to various economic reasons. Majority of them are planning to go for a cosmetic surgery. They will be endowed with a complete makeover and will have a ‘feel good factor’ about themselves.

“This holiday season has brought a huge surge in our business. As compared to last year, we at Cosmetic Harmony see a 300% increase in reservations of holiday seasons. People who were held back due to the credit crunch in the market are now ready to go for a vacation and at the same time undergo a cosmetic surgery treatment. Medical-tourism is gaining popularity day-by-day and it is a sensible option to obtain a low cost, high quality medical treatment along with a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation. Currently Cosmetic Harmony has only a few December and January holiday season reservations left. We have never seen such a busy holiday. It is definitely a positive sign for our business. It adds up to our company’s growth and profitability and is spreading smiles across all our surgeons”, says Anthony Giudice, Vice-President of Sales of Cosmetic Harmony. (more…)