With the growing cost of treatment in the USA, more and more people are considering medical tourism as an option. There are several countries today competing to get accreditation from the top governing bodies. They are all hoping to become the best for providing medical tourism packages. There are 3 nations that have proven very consistent in providing quality care, as well as the most attractive tourist spots in the world. Here are some more details on what to expect and why they are rated as the 3 best countries for medical tourism.
Which countries are best for medical tourism?
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is situated just between Nicaragua and Panama. It is located between the North Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, so you can expect beautiful scenery and great weather most of the year. A relatively short 2.5-hour flight from Miami, Florida will see you in Costa Rica.
Some nations in Central America are struggling, but Costa Rica boasts high standards of living, as well as being a stable, democratic country. From a tourism point of view it offers fabulous water sports including scuba diving, swimming, surfing, parasailing, and of course sunbathing.
But why should you consider it for medical treatment? Well for a start there is the language. Spanish is the main language but, many of the country’s medical institutions require their staff to speak English as well.
Costa Rica is worth considering for your medical care offering top quality health institutions with modern equipment and facilities. The health care system is highly ranked. The system is comparable to the United States but available at a fraction of the cost. A couple of hospitals are accredited by the JCI.
Some of the most common procedures for tourists in Costa Rica include dental work, weight-loss operations, cosmetic surgery, and orthopedics.
India
India is in Asia surrounded by countries like Pakistan, Myanmar, China, and Bangladesh. Of these the one that is popular for medical tourism is India. The country has gone through huge growth in both the technology and medicine fields in recent years. It aims to become one of the top medical tourist destinations in the world and is working to get more of it’s hospitals accredited. So far there are 13 hospitals in the country that are already accredited by the JCI.
Common procedures for visiting patients include cosmetic surgery, dental work, heart surgery, and cancer treatment. The cost of care in India is one reason for it’s growing popularity. Living costs in India are much lower than in other countries and that reflects in the cost of treatments.
Most Indians speak very good English so communication is not a problem. Depending on what procedure you are having done you will hopefully get to enjoy some of India’s rich culture and unique sights, sounds, and attractions. You could have a vacation to remember while saving on your medical costs.
Thailand
Another country that will provide a wonderful vacation in addition to treatment is Thailand. It is one of the most popular medical tourism destinations. It lies in Southeast Asia, just west of Cambodia and south of Myanmar. You could even make a tour and visit several other countries while you are there.
From a medical point of view a number of private hospitals have JCI accreditation and offer top quality medical services.
Patients go to Thailand for many procedures. Some popular options are spinal fusions, orthopedics, prostate surgery, coronary artery bypass grafts, and gastric bypass. There are also medical institutions in Phuket that specialize in cosmetic surgery, dental work, and eye surgery.
Again many of the hospitals have staff that can speak English.
Should you go abroad for medical treatment?
Costa Rica, India and Thailand are definitely 3 of the best countries for medical tourism. All three have interesting cultures, places to visit and things to do on vacation. On top of this, they all offer high quality medical services at much lower prices than you will get at home. This is a trend that will continue to grow. Just be sure to do your research before you go.
