Medical Tourism

What is Medical Tourism?

Medical tourism is not a new concept by any means. People have been traveling to get treatment from healers and doctors for thousands of years. The first recorded instance of medical tourism dates back thousands of years to when Greek pilgrims traveled from all over the Mediterranean to the small territory in the Saronic Gulf called Epidauria. This territory was the sanctuary of the healing god Asklepios. Epidauria became the original travel destination for medical tourism. This kind of travel has become increasingly popular in recent years, largely because for many it has become difficult to get quality treatment at affordable prices at home.

Medical tourism (also called medical travel, health tourism, dental tourism or global healthcare) can be defined as the act of traveling outside one’s own area of residence for health care. For people without insurance or those needing medical procedures that insurance won't cover, medical tourism offers an attractive alternative to rising healthcare costs.

Medical tourism services usually include elective procedures as well as complex specialized surgeries such as joint replacement (knee/hip), cardiac surgery, affordable dentistry, cosmetic surgeries. However, virtually every type of health care, including psychiatry, alternative treatments, convalescent care and even burial services are available.

The typical process is as follows: the person seeking medical treatment or dentistry abroad contacts a medical tourism provider who can offer also service of dental surgeries abroad. The provider usually requires the patient to provide a medical report, including the nature of ailment, local doctor’s opinion, medical history, and diagnosis, and may request additional information. Certified medical doctors or consultants then advise on the medical treatment. The approximate expenditure, choice of hospitals and tourist destinations, and duration of stay, etc., is discussed. The patient travels to the destination country, where the medical tourism provider assigns a case executive, who takes care of the patient's accommodation, treatment and any other form of care. Once the treatment is done, the patient can remain in the tourist destination or return home.

Medical tourism is also popular for the tourism aspect. Getting away from the stresses of home and work can be a much better and more relaxing way to recover from an operation. Many people find it more convenient to combine these two, and companies specializing in medical tourism packages have made it easier than ever to do so.

For many, medical tourism is simply a better option than staying in their home country to get treatment. Lower costs, quicker treatment, and the possibility of recovering in some beautiful place have helped to make medical tourism a growing international phenomenon.