Medical Tourism, Looking Ahead Ten Years

Copyright © 2008 Medical-Tourism-Guide.com
by Jay Siva

The 21st Century is bringing a new way of getting needs met, and traveling a day to obtain services in another country will soon be as commonplace as traveling a couple of hours within a country is now! Medical tourism is commonly described as the practice of obtaining medical services in a foreign destination.

For nearly a decade, the concept of medical tourism has been misunderstood and received bad media coverage in developed countries. Today not only has that trend reversed, but medical tourism is being embraced as a viable option for people in need of affordable medical care. Well known newspapers and television networks are doing pieces medical tourism as a whole and are spotlighting individuals who have taken advantage of the cost saving option.

A developing trend in medical tourism is that insurance companies are beginning to send their patients overseas for treatment. These companies realize that it is going to save them money by sending a patient into the global medical community rather than into the local hospital for surgery.

Medical tourism facilities have also started heavy marketing campaigns to Western employers, particularly those who employ the blue collar labor force. The reason for targeting the employers of the blue collar labor force is that it is these companies that have a higher rate of injury and worker’s compensation claims. Those in the medical tourism industry recognize that time is a precious commodity.

We are truly living in a global medical community that knows no borders. With the Internet readily at the fingertips of anyone desiring to use it, information about various facilities, services, and destinations can be searched out. An emerging trend is for the facility to offer “inclusive” packages. Medical travel agents are standing by, offering a package that includes discounted airfare, ground transportation, all meals and accommodations in a resort type facility, with internationally trained doctors and medical staff who will be extremely attentive before, during and after your procedure. The all inclusive price is a fraction of the cost of just the medical procedure in a developed country.

The bottom line is that medical tourism is here to stay. The concept of going to a developing country to obtain a package of services that supercedes what is available at home is becoming more widely understood and accepted. Just as the economy has become a global economy, so it is with the medical field.

India and Thailand have both set goals of becoming the number one destination in the world. Other countries are setting similar goals. As they begin to compete with each other, vying for our business, services and options are increasing while the costs remain low. Most countries are seeing a growth of 20-30% in medical tourism, as medical services in the Western countries are being outsourced. India is experiencing a medical tourism growth rate of 15-20% annually, and it is anticipated that 2.3 billion in revenue will be generated by 2012. The monies can then be used to provide a better lifestyle, including medical services, to the citizens of India who are living in poverty. It is anticipated that the flourish in the medical tourism industry will provide 40 million jobs to Indians.

If a person would travel thousands of miles to vacation, why not travel that far to have a medical procedure done? The destination is really a matter of deciding where it is that you have always longed to visit, and then combining that with choosing your medical provider, to create a “health holiday”. Living in the 21st Century means that we are world travelers, and that there are no medical borders. If you have a passport, the world awaits you! For the same price as a week at a theme park or a ski resort, a person can have lunch and a facelift in South Africa. India offers the Taj Mahal, spectacular mountain, and city life. Thailand offers some of the most pristine beaches in the world. Brazil offers rainforests, Costa Rica offers jungles and beaches both, France offers beautiful countryside and the glitter of Paris, Italy offers romantic villas, and Switzerland (of course) offers the Swiss Alps! There are many more, unnamed that are options that a qualified medical travel agent can assist you with searching out.

We are seeing, in the 21st Century, that we are truly living in a world with no medical borders! The world used to be a very large place, and traveling an hour for services was unheard of. Today, people are beginning to grasp the concept of medical tourism. Ten years from now, flying to another country to obtain medical treatment will be as commonplace as going into the city to go shopping. Whether you are on a limited income and do not want to choose between vacations and medical needs, or you are someone who desires to use your money in a more wise way; medical tourism is a viable option that will be commonplace within another decade.

Jay Siva is the author of the best seller book "The Complete Guide to Medical Tourism" where he reveals crucial information on how to successfully plan your medical trip abroad, find discount airfare, American-trained doctors, and internationally-accredited hospitals. You’ll find out such things as: how to pick your treatment destination, what you can expect to pay for specific surgical procedures, what to look for before choosing a hospital, what to ask your doctors, how to manage your travel and treatment costs and so much more.

Medical Tourism, Looking Ahead Ten Years

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