Patients can find healthcare providers through the Internet at a fraction of the cost. This new trend called “Medical Tourism” has a dramatic impact on the economy of developing countries. The election to travel abroad for healthcare raises questions about the limitations of the
USA healthcare system. As Michael Moore pointed out in his latest movie SICKO, “Some of the procedures these patients are seeking are not available in the
United States”.

The most popular countries for Medical Tourism are Thailand, India and
Costa Rica. Dr.Bookman, Saint Joseph’s University Economist, pointed out that “the level of care patients receive is just as good, and sometimes better, than care offered in the
United States. Many of these individuals use this as an opportunity to vacation as well. Hospitals often offer courses and programs for families to take advantage of during their stay”.

Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/76833.php

India earned US $600M followed by Thailand with US $300M and Malaysia with

US $140M from its medical tourism industry in 2004.

The Philippines is pushing for medical and surgical services that foreign clients can get for lesser costs than in their countires, in cardiac, ophthtalmology and cosmetic dermatology areas.

Medical specialits are well-trained and most have a post-graduate training abroad.

As costs for healthcare are rising in US, United Kingdom, Canada and Europe, the medical tourism in Asia has emerged. Other factors that make medical tourism favourable to Asia apart from the hight cost of medical treatments in developed nations are the long waiting period of medical appointment in Europe, the improved medical technology in developing countries and the fact that is easy and affordable to travel international.

Source: www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p070523.htm&no=42

An article pubished by “The News Observer”, May 23, 2007, tells about the personal experience of an individual who felt sick while in Bumrungrad. He was taken to “Bumrungrad International” hospital where he was taken care of by nurses and doctors. After doctors gave him an array of medication for his pain and a program for his recovery, he went to the cashier and, to his surprise, paid less than US$ 100 for the admittance to the emergency room, a consultation, a room and bags of medications.

Americans know they can obtain less-costly health care abroad and travel to Mexico for small surgeries or Canada for prescription drugs. But now recognize foreing hospitals can deliver not only low-cost but high-quality medical tourism even for serious health problems.

Insurers still worry about quality control and liability risk at foreign hospitals but smaller employers and individual Americans without insurance are looking at overseas care as an alternative for expensive treatments, even for complex procedures like heart

surgery and those excluded from coverage in USA. Already, more than 150,000 people travel to other countries for health care each year.

Some insurance companies now offer plans that reimburse some overseas care in India and Mexico.

Travel companies are starting to bring Americans to foreign hospitals and sometimes combine treatment with a short vacation or recovery period, like an African safari or a recovery weekend at a Thai beach.

Source: www.newsobserver.com/105/story/576010.html

India´s tourism office has convinced the government to launch a medical tourist visa which will allow visitors to stay in India for one year and it can be extended to three if the purpose of the trip involves a surgery or any other medical procedure.

“Medical Tourism is one of the most lucrative industry as it is anticipated to attract tourists from world over especially the UK, South Africa, Canada and Malaysia and is expected to grow into $ 1.5 billion industry by 2010.” said Raja Rani Health Alliance´s Abhiject Patil, as reported by The Financial Express on May 4, 2007.

The growing medical toursim will be one of the key sources bringing foreign exchange to the country and is one of the most important issues discussed at the internacional seminar “Maharashtra Vision” held on May 3, 2007.

Source: www.freepressreleases.co.uk/Press_Releases/Business/Medical_Tourism_to_Drive_the_Tourism_Industry_in_India_200705175112/