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Comparison of Medical Treatment Costs

Medical tourism has now become hugely popular all over the world. When medical treatment is delayed due to long waiting lists or when the cost of the procedure is prohibitive, many in the US, UK and Europe consider traveling to countries like Thailand, Singapore and India, among many others, as a viable alternative to getting treated in their own country.

Medical tourism has now become hugely popular all over the world. When medical treatment is delayed due to long waiting lists or when the cost of the procedure is prohibitive, many in the US, UK and Europe consider traveling to countries like Thailand, Singapore and India, among many others, as a viable alternative to getting treated in their own country. The lower cost of medical treatment in these countries is made attractive by the superior quality of treatment and service that is delivered. With several state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, highly qualified healthcare professionals and implementation of cutting edge technology, medical tourism destinations offer services well on par with the services available to patients in the US, UK and Europe. The added bonus of going to a medical tourism destination for getting treated is the holiday or vacation that you can enjoy along with the treatment. There are several medical tourism operators who provide attractive packages where the cost of treatment, accommodation and a short vacation for the patient and companions comes up less than the cost of the treatment alone in the patient’s own country. Apart from the economical aspect, the other incentives to choose a particular destination for medical treatment include the overall appeal of the foreign country, what stage of development it is in, how far it is and the tourist values in the country. Several countries are wooing medical tourists with attractive tourism packages and the governments are also very keen on attracting as many visitors as possible. Overall, the climate for medical tourism is very positive at the moment, and high quality of treatment combined with exceptional service is guaranteed to the patient. Of course, the cost of treatment in countries like India, Thailand and Singapore is just a fraction of what similar treatments would cost in the developed countries. Not all medical conditions may be ideal for treatment abroad. Physical fitness is a key factor, and if the patient is not in good enough shape, then travelling great distances for medical treatment may not be the wisest idea. Most medical treatments performed abroad are for elective procedures though pretty much any procedure can be performed if the patient is in good physical shape to travel. The patient must also thoroughly research the hospital and the facilities, and have a frank discussion with both the doctor in his home town as well as the new doctor in the new country, before embarking on the journey. Time Magazine ran an article on the comparative costs of various medical procedures in countries like the US, India, Singapore and Thailand. India seems to offer the lowest price for any procedure.
 
(all numbers refer to US dollar rates)

(Source : Time Magazine - July 2006) The prices above may be considered just as an indication. Before deciding on the travel it is essential that all the cost and treatment aspects are discussed with the hospital that your are considering or the tour operator. Prices may vary across hospitals or if complications arise.

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