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General discussion

medical tourism

by JP Bill Apr 26, 2005 2:14PM PDT

Medical tourism: Need surgery, will travel

A worldwide market

What's called medical tourism ? patients going to a different country for either urgent or elective medical procedures ? is fast becoming a worldwide, multibillion-dollar industry.

The reasons patients travel for treatment vary. Many medical tourists from the United States are seeking treatment at a quarter or sometimes even a 10th of the cost at home. From Canada, it is often people who are frustrated by long waiting times. From Great Britain, the patient can't wait for treatment by the National Health Service but also can't afford to see a physician in private practice. For others, becoming a medical tourist is a chance to combine a tropical vacation with elective or plastic surgery.

I listened to this program on the radio this morning. The person from Canada had gone to India to have hip surgery and after the surgery he spent a week at a seaside resort.

The way the person described everything, it sounded like he was on a vacation.

Hospital where he had operation

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Dental Spas ...

by Evie Apr 26, 2005 9:30PM PDT

... seem pretty popular. If you know who to go to you can get very cheap but good dentistry in Eastern Europe. My FIL's wife knew the dentist he and his wife had a ton of work done by last summerin Ukraine. The entire cost of the trip was about half what his bill alone would be in the States. I wouldn't chance it if I didn't know the dentist though!!

My concern would be post-op problems. I've known people that have one tooth worked on and have to go back half a dozen times over a year to get it right. Re-doing a botched surgery is more difficult and costly than getting the first surgery done right. I've seen enough cosmetic surgery gone wrong shows to scare me away from it (at least yet ), couldn't imagine going abroad for it no matter how fancy schmancy the hosiptal and recovery "resort" are!