Medical tourism, also called health tourism, surgical tourism, or medical travel, international travel for the purpose of receiving medical care. Examples of such procedures include stem-cell transplants and gender-reassignment operations.

What is the importance of medical tourism?

What are the reasons for the medical tourism?  Search of better and higher quality of medical treatments that may not be available in the native country.  To find a cheaper place for the medical procedures of same quality.  In some countries, certain medical procedures are not legal, such as fertility procedures.

Is medical tourism good or bad?

Medical tourism is something that can allow you to get the medical treatment you need when you need it, and at a more affordable price. With careful planning and preparation, you can save thousands while getting the treatments you need so you can start feeling better sooner.

What are the types of medical tourism?

There are multiple types of medical tourism, however, given below are the top 10.

• Dental or Dentistry:
• Orthopedics:
• Cosmetic/Plastic surgery:
• Cardiology:
• Bariatric surgery:
• Fertility treatment:
• Eye surgery:
• Ears, nose, and throat:

Is medical and health tourism the same?

However, almost all types of health care are available, including psychiatry, alternative medicine, convalescent care, and even burial services. Health tourism is a wider term for travel that focuses on medical treatments and the use of healthcare services.

Why is medical tourism cheap?

Typically, medical tourists are people from richer, more developed countries travelling to less developed countries to access low cost healthcare, helped along by cheap flights and online access to information.

What are the risks of medical tourism?

Medical tourism: Risks and safety concerns

• Bloodborne organisms such as hepatitis B and HIV because of improper use or reuse of needles and syringes.
• Bloodborne organisms if the safety of the blood supply is compromised.
• Antibiotic resistant infections that are more prevalent in some parts of the world.

What are the main drivers of medical tourism?

The cost and quality of medical services offered are the two main factors that drive the medical tourism industry. Apart from these, factors such as limited insurance coverage, medical interventions not supported by home country, commercial organ transplants are other factors that make medical tourism thriving.

What does medical tourism mean in medical terms?

Medical tourism, also known as international surgery or surgery abroad, is the process of leaving your home country in order to have treatment in another country. This should not be confused with having an unplanned surgery in a foreign country due to an unexpected illness or injury.

What is the growth rate of medical tourism in India?

India’s medical tourism sector is expected to experience an annual growth rate of 30%, making it a $2 billion industry by 2015. The city of Chennai has been termed India’s health capital. Multi- and super-specialty hospitals across the city bring in an estimated 150 international patients every day.

Are there insurance companies that promote medical tourism?

Some insurance companies have started promoting medical tourism due to the dramatic savings. Blue Cross and Blue Shield has started a program where the patient has an assigned case manager who will arrange for travel and accommodations for both the patient and a companion of their choosing.

What are the benefits of medical tourism abroad?

Also, malpractice insurance, which can top $250,000 for some specialties, is significantly lower abroad. When the cost of labor is low, everything is less expensive, from the building where care is provided to the cost of meals provided in the hospital. Some insurance companies have started promoting medical tourism due to the dramatic savings.