Of course, any destination medical care comes with warnings and comparators to the American system’s credentialing – with few meeting U.S. standards or regulatory framework. Despite that, many countries around the world have U.S. or U.K. trained staff. Thus, the CDC has resources for lowering the risks associated with medical procedures abroad, including guidelines from American associations for various countries.
While we know that the number of people who travel for medical treatments is growing, finding reliable data is challenging. Many procedures and visits are either off-the-record or records are not shared across borders. However, the booming industry of medical tourism is getting more attractive by the day.
Bangkok Hospital Thailand
Here are the Top 12 locations for your next destination medical procedure.
1. Thailand: Thailand is easily the most attractive destination for medical treatments around the world. The country boasts 39 Joint Commission accredited hospitals. And, Thai hospitals offer very competitive prices for health services. In fact, costs for medical services in Thailand are between 50-75% lower than in the U.S. Procedures range from teeth whitening to heart surgery and hair restoration. However, the most common procedures are cosmetic surgery and dental work. Thailand is so proud of its medical tourism track record, that it has launched entire marketing campaigns, resorts and international competitions for medical retreats to draw visitors in.
2. Costa Rica: The World Health Organization ranks the Costa Rican health system slightly above the United States and New Zealand. But you wouldn’t know from the prices. The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions reported a cost savings averaging between 30-70% lower than U.S. prices. For example, a heart valve replacement in Costa Rica will cost $29,000, compared to $85,000 in the U.S. A coronary artery bypass is $31,500 compared to $88,000. With more than 700,000 Americans making annual visits to Costa Rica for medical treatment, the country is beginning to market itself as a top destination for ecological as well as medical tourism.
3. Malaysia: Year after year, Malaysia is named one of the best and cheapest health systems in the world. It also claims very high numbers of medical tourists from neighboring countries (well known for medical tourism themselves). A face lift, on average, costs about half the price as the U.S. and general medical procedures consistently show a 65-80% savings. Kuala Lumpur also has the #1 ranked medical center on the Medical Travel Quality Alliance's global list. Dentist studios are particularly state-of-the art. Treatments in the U.S. like a filling and teeth cleaning cost as little as $33 in Malaysia. Medical tourism has become such a high priority for the Malaysian government that their Ministry of Health website is in English, and they tout the advantages of sun and fun in care plans.