Every year millions of people travel to another country for medical care.
My friend Ann* is one of them. My first answer when I heard she wanted to have surgery abroad: No. NO. Absolutely not. I’ll call your mother.
She laughed at me, but I was serious. (Her mother and I exchanged numbers a long time ago.) And what happens if something goes wrong during the procedure and we can’t reach her?
But Ann was convinced. She had researched the facility, spoken to health care providers (HCPs) on the phone, and knew people who had had positive experiences.
The reason she even considered medical tourism? Cash. She couldn’t afford to have the cosmetic procedure done in the US and it was literally thousands of dollars cheaper to have it done abroad.
Ann ended up having surgery and I didn’t call her mother. Everything went well and she was happy with the results.
However, there are many factors to consider when traveling internationally for medical care.
Why do people travel for medical care?
Like Ann, many people travel to other countries for medical care because of costs.
Procedures performed outside the United States can be significantly less expensive for many different reasons, such as: B. due to lower overhead costs, lower cost of living and favorable exchange rates.
Medical tourism is also an opportunity to receive a procedure and/or therapy/treatment not offered in the United States or to see an HCP with a similar cultural background.
Women and medical tourism
Rhett Stoney, an epidemiologist with the Travelers’ Health Branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said there is no concrete data on how many women participate in medical tourism each year.
But reproductive tourism, including fertility treatments, is a common reason people travel abroad for treatment.
Other common reasons for medical tourism include:
- Cosmetic surgery
- Dental care
- Tissue and organ transplantation
- Cancer treatment
- Substance use disorder treatment and rehabilitation
Where do people travel for medical tourism?
People from the US travel across North America and beyond for medical tourism.
The most popular locations include:
- Mexico
- Canada
- Central America
- South America
- Caribbean
Many people use medical concierge services or private companies to find medical professionals, hospitals, clinics and accommodations that cater to medical tourists.
The risks of medical tourism
Stoney said the risk of complications varies depending on the destination, the facility where you receive the treatment/procedure and whether you are healthy enough for the treatment or surgery.
Risks to consider when thinking about medical tourism include:
- Standard of care. Standards for licenses, accreditations and qualifications may not be comparable to requirements in the United States. The same applies to the quality of medical devices and medications.
- Infection and non-infectious complications. With every procedure there is a risk of infection – regardless of where you are. But the most common complications reported by medical tourists are infection-related.
Some countries lack adequate infection prevention and control practices, putting people at higher risk of bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, donor infections and blood-borne infections, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
Blood clots, surgical wound openings, and contour abnormalities such as skin lumps and dimpling after cosmetic surgery are common complications.
- Antibiotic resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when germs (microbes) that make you sick don’t respond to antibiotics. This means infections are more difficult to treat and medical procedures such as surgery or chemotherapy are riskier. It is important to note that AMR is a global problem and highly drug-resistant bacteria and fungi have led to disease outbreaks among medical tourists.
- Communication problems. If you don’t speak the language, you may not be able to express your own opinions, ask the right questions, or understand exactly what your HCP is telling you.
- Traveling after a procedure. Air travel after surgery can increase the risk of blood clots. The CDC recommends waiting 10 to 14 days before flying after major surgery.
- Aftercare. Depending on the type of medical care, complications and/or follow-up appointments with an HCP may be costly or unavailable upon return to the United States
Research is key when deciding on medical tourism
Before deciding on medical tourism, it is important to do your own research and be as prepared as possible for any complications.
- Verify the qualifications of the HCP performing the procedure/treatment.
- Find out what costs are associated with aftercare in the USA
- Find out about the cost of emergency care, including medical evacuation (additional travel medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation insurance are options you should consider).
- Talk to your primary HCP about specific risks to your health, destination, travel before and after medical care, and follow-up care options in the United States
- Find out about accommodation, including where you would stay immediately after the treatment/procedure.
- Learn your communication options if you don’t speak the language.
Medical tourism is not just a trend
Medical tourism is now more popular than ever. And the industry shows no signs of slowing down.
If you or someone you know is thinking about medical tourism, it’s important to get all the facts and have all your questions answered before seeking treatment abroad.
Either way, you’ll get receipts to show your well-meaning best friend.
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