According to the survey data gathered from medical tourism services in the United Kingdom, in 2009, around 60,000 patients from the country traveled outside their country for treatment. Out of this, 43% were for dental care (around 25,800 patients), 29% were for cosmetic surgery (around 17,400 patients), and 28% were for other treatments and surgeries like infertility treatment and orthopedic surgery.

Britons save around 50% of money by traveling abroad, even taking into account the expenses incurred for accommodation and travel. They save up to 60% on dental implants, around 44% on complete acrylic dentures, and around 52% on extraction of wisdom tooth. By traveling to India, Britons save up to 56% on knee replacement, even with accommodation and travel (In France, they can save up to 36%).

In 2007, 500,000 to 750,000 American patients traveled abroad seeking comparatively less expensive health care and surgical interventions. This has increased to around an average of half a million Americans traveling abroad in the last 3 years. American medical tourists prefer various destinations depending on the type of treatment and proximity.

For dental services, most Americans prefer Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico, as it takes less time to travel. In general, South American countries are preferred for cosmetic and plastic surgery, as they offer some of the world’s top plastic and cosmetic surgeons. Mexico is preferred by senior Americans, as it is the closest to the USA. Every year, around 80,000 senior Americans travel to Mexico to spend their retirement.

The surgeries for which Americans travel abroad the most are for cosmetic surgery, weight loss surgery, infertility treatment, cardiac procedures, and orthopedic procedures. Medical tourists for cosmetic surgeries, infertility, and weight loss surgeries are high on the list, as these are not covered by most medical insurance companies in the USA. According to American medical tourism companies, India, Thailand, and Costa Rica are the most visited countries by American patients.

India and Southeast Asia are preferred for cardiovascular and orthopedic problems mainly because of world-class cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeons as well as the fact that there are lots of hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI). Among Asian countries, Singapore is the one of the most preferred by American patients, as there are 13 JCI accredited hospitals, and the country offers a very clean environment. The number of medical tourists in the country increased from around 270,000 to around 400,000 in 2009. It is expected to reach close to a million by 2012.

Other than Singapore, India and Thailand have emerged as two hot destinations over the past 2 to 3 years. Medical tourists from the USA save between 20% and 30% of their health care costs traveling to these two countries. A large chunk of medical tourists visited India (1.2 million patients) and Thailand (1.1 million patients) in 2004 for health care and surgery.

Medical tourism is expected to grow into a $4.4 billion industry in Asia by 2012, with India expected to benefit half from it.
It should be noted that most statistics for medical tourism is based on surveys done on just around 20% of medical tourists worldwide, and most of the data are very rough estimates. However, there is no doubt that in the coming years, medical tourism is going to flourish in most of the developing world.

Other than the Joint Commission International (JCI), the association authorized to accredit foreign hospitals, from the United States, a lot of hospitals in the Philippines are also accredited by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO).
Some of the most common procedures that medical tourists travel to the Philippines for are plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, ophthalmology, dermatology, dentistry, and weight loss surgery.

Medical tourism patients from the United States can save a lot of money by choosing a hospital from the Philippines. Let us look at some of the comparative rates between the USA and the Philippines. a coronary artery bypass surgery which costs around $70,000 to $133,000 in the United States costs around $11,500 to $17,500 in the Philippines, a knee replacement which costs around $30,000 to $53,000 in the United States costs around $5200 to $7700 in the Philippines.

A dental implant which costs around $3500 to $5500 in the United States costs around $500 to $600 in the Philippines, nose surgery (rhinoplasty) which costs around $5500 to $6500 in the United States costs around $2000 to $2500 in the Philippines, complete liposuction (lipoplasty) which costs around $13,000 to $14,000 in the United States costs around $3000 to $4000 in the Philippines.

Most of the Filipino physicians and nurses are trained in the west and are familiar with the kind of care patients from the west are comfortable with, and this is a very distinct advantage the Philippines has over other Asian countries like India and Thailand. The Philippines started to take medical tourism seriously as early as 2006, when the government created the Medical Tourism Bureau after a bill was passed in the Philippine Congress. This helped in creating over 2000 hospitals in the Philippines with well-trained staff and world-class facilities.

All the hospitals in the Philippines have to be periodically accredited by the Philippines Department of Health. However, medical tourists are advised to select only those hospitals that are either accredited by the JCI or ISO. Some of the best hospitals in the country are from the Metro Manila or National Capital Region, which offer luxurious 5-star accommodation and world-class facilities that equal the facilities offered by hospitals in the west, but at less expensive rates. These hospitals are the ones recommended by medical tourism companies in countries from the west.

Some of the top hospitals in the Philippinesfor medical tourism are the St. Luke’s Medical Center (JCI accredited) in Quezon City and Fort Bonifacio Global City, the Medical City (JCI accredited) in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Manila Doctors Hospital (ISO Certified) in Ermita, Manila, and World Citi Med (ISO certified) in Quezon City, Metro Manila.

Other than world-class hospitals and doctors, Philippines boasts of some of the world’s best spa retreat resorts, which make it one of the most popular Asian countries for medical tourism. A lot of medical tourists, especially from the English-speaking countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand prefer the Philippines, as English is one of the official languages and there is no language barrier.

According to the medical tourism statistics of 2011, around 2.65 million patients from the United Kingdom have either traveled or are planning to travel abroad for emergency surgical interventions. This would mean that around 1 out of 20 Britons would have a medical surgery outside their country this year. This is not surprising if one sees some of the cost comparisons. A knee surgery (arthroscopy) which costs around £2200 in the UK costs around £583 in Poland (amount saved 74%) , tooth whitening which costs around £315 in the UK costs around £97 in India (amount saved 69%), hip replacement which costs around £9500 in the UK costs around £2900 in Tunisia (amount saved 69%).

Laser eye surgery (Lasik) which costs around £1100 in the UK costs around £458 in Hungary (amount saved 58%), dentures (full set, acrylic) which costs around £565 in the UK costs around £156 in Latvia (amount saved 72%), varicose vein surgery which costs around £1985 in the UK costs around £461 in Poland (amount saved 77%), cataract removal which costs around £2175 in the UK costs around £490 in Bulgaria (amount saved 77%), and heart surgery (coronary bypass) which costs around £13,650 cost around £4721 in India (amount saved 71%).

The cost of health care in the United States in general is exorbitant compared to the rest of the world. A routine visit to the hospital in the United States costs around $3180 compared to the $1050 in the rest of the world and having a baby delivered costs around $7400 compared to the around $3400 in the rest of the world. Around 16% (around 45 million) of the American population is uninsured. Although the cost of surgeries in the United States is less expensive compared to the United Kingdom, Americans from a lower economic background cannot afford expensive surgeries.

A bone marrow transplant which costs around $2,50,000 in the USA costs around $69,200 in India, a liver transplant which costs around $3,00,000 in the USA costs around $69,000 in India, heart surgery which costs around $30,000 in the USA costs around $8,700 in India, root canal treatment which costs around $1000 in the USA costs around $110 in India, cataract surgery which costs around $2000 in the USA costs around $1350 in India, orthopedic surgery which costs around $20,000 in the USA costs around $6300 in India, and primary rhinoplasty which costs around $7300 in the USA costs around $2900 in India. Non-surgical procedures like laser hair removal, laser acne treatment, and laser scar treatment cost somewhere between $500 and $550, whereas in India it costs somewhere between $200 and $225.

A lot of patients from the USA come to India not only because the costs are very low, but also because there is no language barrier, as most people in the country speak English quite well. There are also exclusive packages offered by medical tourism companies, which helps medical tourists save money on travel.

Other than the low costs and quality healthcare, medical tourists from the English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom prefer travelling to India, as they wouldn’t have to face the language barriers like they would face in countries like China and South American countries, where English isn’t spoken much. The Indian government has also shown a lot of interest in formulating policies to encourage medical tourism in the country.

Today, there is a lot of competition between the private and the public sector to make India one of the future hubs of medical tourism.  A lot of private hospitals, over the years, have invested in the latest, world-class medical technology to woo medical tourists from all over the world.

To convince the medical community and patients from the United States, who have always been a bit skeptical about the healthcare standard in India, most top hospitals have acquired the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation or are in the process of applying. Some of the Indian hospitals with JCI accreditation are the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Calcutta; the Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai; and the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi.

Ancient India had already been the hub of alternative medicine in yoga and meditation centers across the country. However, due to constant foreign invasion, British colonialism, and the advancement of Western clinical medicine, alternative Indian medicine lost its popularity. However, things have now changed with the advent of medical tourism, and people visit India for both Western medicine and alternative Indian medicine.

Medical Tourism in India Costs

According to a recent survey, around 10,000 medical tourists from the United Kingdom have been visiting India over the last few years for cosmetic surgeries like facelifts and tummy tucks. A tummy tuck, which costs around £6500 in the United Kingdom, costs just around £1500 pounds (inclusive of a vacation package) in India. While a surgery for mitral valve prolapse costs around $200,000 in the United Kingdom and around $40,000 in the United States, in India it costs around $7,000.

The rise of medical tourism in India has also created a lot of job opportunities in the country, as the industry requires a lot of planning and processes to be implemented. With a lot of high-tech Indian hospitals entering the fray, fresh Indian graduates can earn up to Rs. 15,000 per month. Medical tourism is also seen as a future growth opportunity for insurance companies, which would create even more jobs. Judging by the zeal shown by both hospitals and the government, the future of medical tourism looks a lot brighter than it was a few years back.

The Joint Commission International (JCI) is a non-profit private organization that was set up in the USA in 2006. It was formed as a part of the Joint Commission Resources (JCR), which is a subsidiary of The Joint Commission (TJC), which helps in the accreditation of various healthcare programs and organizations in the United States.

The JCU certifies and accredits hospitals and healthcare providers all over the world. This process helps Americans traveling abroad choose the best hospitals outside their country depending upon the treatment and surgery they require. All the hospitals and medical care facilities have to undergo periodic accreditation processes, which helps in focusing on patient care over an extensive period of time. All the facilities have to be re-accredited at least once in 3 years.

The primary goal of the JCI is to mitigate the risks of American medical tourists when they travel abroad. For this, a thorough analysis is done of the commitment and efficacy of the healthcare facility, its staff and doctors, to ensure a safe environment for patients. The members of the JCI also offer suggestions for improvement of quality of any healthcare provider, if required. This ensures high medical tourism accreditation standards.

The JCI consists of medical experts and surveyors from all over the world, and all the decisions are made according to the reports provided by advisory councils from various regions and other healthcare professionals and experts. The surveyors consist of healthcare professionals like doctors, nurses, lab technologists, and hospital administrators. They randomly analyze and record patient medical records and the personal experience of medical tourists in various countries and hospitals. It should be noted that the JCI doesn’t survey insurance payment and billing.

Other than hospitals and healthcare providers, the quality of medical service is also gauged in extended medical facilities like laboratories, assisted living environments, rehabilitation units, and ambulance services. The services provided by the JCI go a long way in offering peace of mind to American patients, who are sometimes a bit skeptical about the overall quality of services provided in developing nations.  This is why medical tourism accreditation is sought after by many medical tourism providers. Medical tourism international accreditation is an important step for medical tourism hospitals.

Some of the medical tourism accredited hospitals in India (accredited by the JCI), are the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai (first accredited on January 29, 2006 and re-accredited on January 31, 2009), Bangalore (first accredited on July 18, 2008 and re-accredited on July 22, 2011), Calcutta (accredited on January 24, 2009), and Hyderabad (first accredited on April 28, 2006 and re-accredited on April 17, 2009); the Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai (first accredited on October 20, 2006 and re-accredited on November 19, 2009), Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi (accredited on February 20, 2010).

Till date, the JCI has accredited hospitals, medical care facilities, ambulatory care, care continuum, clinical laboratories, medical transport, and primary care centers in around 50 countries in Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa.

The Medical Tourism Association (MTA) is a non-profit association started with the aim of making sure that world-class healthcare is provided to American patients who travel abroad. The MTA was founded in May 2007 by a group of industry leaders with its international headquarters in West Palm Beach Florida, USA. MTA offices and workshops were later started in Costa Rica, Argentina, and Germany over the next several months. The MTA advisory board was subsequently set up in October 2007 followed by the issue of the first medical tourism association magazine in December 2007.

This international medical tourism association consists of insurance companies, top international hospitals, medical travel facilitators, and individuals. It makes sure that the interests of medical tourism providers and facilitators are promoted to the maximum extent. Several insurance companies like Swiss Re, Aetna, WellPoint, and Blue Cross Blue Shield have developed pilot programs for medical tourism.

The medical tourism association (MTA) adopts international accreditation standards that enhance the reputation of the concept of medical tourism as well as the reputation of the hospitals and facilities that provide it. The MTA has created a web portal, which helps people from all over the world in getting authentic information about medical tourism and the hospitals certified by it.

The three tenets of the MTA are communication, transparency, and education. According to the MTA, the success of medical tourism mainly depends on effective communication, which would ensure that patients have a positive healthcare experience outside their countries. The MTA has got exclusive committees to monitor crucial aspects like patient financing, insurance, media support, and legal/economic issues.

Transparency is very crucial for patients who travel abroad. It is made sure that patients don’t have to come across any hidden costs or unexpected expenses. This helps in preventing any negative perceptions about the healthcare processes in developing nations. In this regard, MTA believes that patient education is key to tackling any unexpected problems. This helps patients select the best hospitals according to the treatment or surgery they require. The media, in the form of magazines and online resources, provides the latest updates on healthcare worldwide.

The MTA released a Medical Tourism Magazine, which is medical tourism’s first trade magazine. This magazine has useful information from doctors and professionals in the field who discuss legal issues, quality of care, and tips in choosing the right hospital and doctor. The magazine also advises healthcare providers and insurance companies that are interested in entering the medical tourism arena. This magazine is available free both through subscription and online.

MTA also holds official medical tourism association conferences in the form of the Global Health Congress and World Medical Tourism. These conferences are attended by government representatives, healthcare providers, and insurance providers.
Similar organizations like the European Medical Tourism Alliance (EUMTA), International Medical Travel Association (IMTA), and Council on the Global Integration of Healthcare (CGIH) were formed. These organizations also have similar goals of promoting medical tourism on a global basis and promoting the interests of healthcare and insurance providers.

Medical tourism insurance in most cases also covers unexpected expenses such as lost baggage while in transit. Additionally, medical tourism insurance gives you a solid blanket of protection in the event of an accidental death during your medical trip.

Needless to say, medical tourism insurance is a must for patients traveling abroad to get complicated and extensive medical treatment. Making sure that your trip is covered against any unforeseen circumstances is crucial during the planning of your medical trip overseas.

Some of the leading countries that are attracting medical tourism are India, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore & Malaysia. These countries have qualified medical professionals who offer their services for a fraction of the cost elsewhere in the world. Medical tourism is a boon for patients needing complicated and expensive medical treatment in their home countries. These patients now have an option to get quick, affordable and expertise medical treatment in other countries at affordable rates.

For example, a complicated heart valve replacement surgery would cost anywhere in the region of $200-250K in the United States. A similar procedure could cost just between $10-25,000 in India or Thailand. Not only would this price cover the surgery and hospitalization charges, it would also cover the return airfare and leave enough cash to even enjoy a relaxing post surgery vacation in these countries. Similarly, many dental procedures like a non metal dental bridge which averages around $6000 in the U.S, can cost around $500-600 in India. Plus, the quality and expertise of the medical professionals in many cases is on par or even higher than those found in the U.S or other western countries.

Some other destinations for medical tourism are South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Turkey, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Jordan, Lithuania, Singapore and Hungary. Argentina and Brazil are especially growing in prominence for their cosmetic/plastic surgery skills.