Top 8 Medical Tourism Countries In The World
A growing number of healthcare sectors are participating in medical tourism. The aim behind this drive is to provide less-priced healthcare to those who do not live in the nation. Certain nations’ healthcare expenses are prohibitively high for people who actually need medical care. Therefore, it prevents those receiving the medical care who really need it. On the other hand, instead of money, medical tourism helps people in need at a lesser cost.
Now, if you want to explore some best medical tourism destinations, here’s the list.
#1. Mexico
This is one of the most affordable destinations for medical tourism. Mexico is close to the United States and therefore, it’s one of the most preferred countries. Due to its closeness to America, there’s very much similarity between the training methods of both countries’ medical staff. Therefore, you can expect the same grade of care at a considerably lower cost. Mexico places a lot of emphasis on dentistry. So, if you are having trouble paying for dental care, you might want to look into what Mexico has to offer.
#2. Costa Rica
The healthcare system of Costa Rica is among the best in the world. Due to its reputation as one of the safest and greatest destinations for medical tourists, many people decide to retire here. Additionally, it uses US dollars and has considerably more affordable healthcare options.
#3. Czech Republic
Travelers who want to visit the European Union should consider the Czech Republic. It provides the same advanced medical services at a significantly lower cost than other EU members. The Czech Republic is widely popular for providing less-priced cosmetic surgery and teeth whitening. Moreover, you could work as a medical assistant in the Czech Republic if you want to pursue a career in the medical field. Check out the best schools for this by looking up the best medical assistant education.
#4. Turkey
This is one of the most underrated destinations for medical tourism and is on the rise. Turkey is a fantastic destination for medical tourism since it offers inexpensive airfare and affordable lodging. Moreover, it is often inexpensive once you arrive. If you are saving for eye surgery, you might want to look into Turkey first. It has many renowned eye specialists. Besides, the most expensive procedure there only costs 5000 USD.
#5. Thailand
There is a good reason why Thailand has traditionally been one of the top destinations for medical travelers. It has very affordable healthcare prices when compared to many other nations. Therefore, Thailand is excellent for expats. The large hospital in Bangkok is quite modern. Besides, most of the medical staff members have received their training in English-speaking nations. Additionally, Thailand is a fantastic option for people seeking low-cost cosmetic surgery.
You might be able to save a ton of money by using medical tourism, which is also an excellent way to travel. We are fortunate that people and professionals here also speak English. So, language will not be an obstacle to obtaining low-cost, high-quality healthcare.
#6. Canada
It is not surprising that Canada is in the Medical Tourism Index as it has a thriving tourism sector that draws more than 14 million Americans annually. Canada is the second-largest country in the globe. Due to its closeness to the US, the nation has a massive influx of visitors. Similarly, a lot of patients visit this country who wish to avoid long waits and expensive healthcare bills back home.
Moreover, Canada has a strong reputation for providing high-quality. It has highly specialized medical care as well as world-class healthcare facilities. However, this has led to protracted waitlists for important medical services in the nation. This has also sparked an increase in outbound medical tourism in the country.
#7. Singapore
The country ranks at the top for the quality of healthcare facilities and services worldwide. This has also put Singapore in the top position on the Medical Tourism Index. As of 2019, Singapore’s accessible and high-quality healthcare services attracted more than 500,000 overseas visitors.
Moreover, to mediate between foreign patients and Singaporean healthcare practitioners, it recently established International Patient Service Centers (IPSCs). They function as medical travel agents.
Besides, one of Singapore’s top hospitals, Gleneagles Hospital provides top-notch healthcare along with cutting-edge amenities and qualified doctors.
A patient can spend between 25% and 40% less on the same service in Singapore than they would have in the US. For example, heart bypass surgery in the US costs $140,000 while it takes just $25,000 in Singapore. Also, a hip replacement procedure that would cost over $45,000 in the US would only cost roughly $13,000 in Singapore.
#8. Japan
By all standards, the healthcare system in Japan is among the most advanced in the world. Japan continues to provide top-notch healthcare services to its residents and international visitors. The majority of these are from mainland China. Moreover, Japan has recently led improvements in technology and medicine.
According to the nation’s Foreign Ministry, the number of medical visas granted to foreign patients has also increased from 70 in 2011 to 1,650 in 2018. This is a result of foreign patients drawn to the nation’s world-class cancer treatment facilities and skill in cosmetic surgery.
Besides, a significant factor in Japan’s inbound medical travel is the country’s low cost of care. In Japan, hip replacement surgeries that would cost $30,000 in the US will cost you just $4,126. Thus, it helps you save more than 70% of the cost of care there.
