HEALTH TOURISM | Dr . Thomas Kaiser
During all of my visits to Portugal over many years , I have never had reason to visit a doctor . My appointment with Dr . Thomas Kaiser in his Vale do Lobo surgery was a total delight ; he is perhaps one of the most charismatic doctors I have ever met .
He heads a brilliant team of 25 at the Vale do Lobo Medical Centre where he is also the Director of the leading private hospital ´ s casualty department in Faro , the Hospital Particular do Algarve . Dr . Kaiser is a specialist in family medicine . He graduated in his native Germany and has additional qualifications gained in the U . S . A and at St . Georges Hospital in London .
He brings a truly international experience to the Algarve , having worked in Chicago and at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York . After spending time as a junior doctor in Switzerland , he was a partner in a well-established practice in Reigate , Surrey for seven years .
He is a firm believer in prevention rather than cure and says now is the right time to raise awareness of the importance of taking a long-term view of health and well being . “ The Algarve is a fabulous place for living a healthy life ”, he told me “ with the sunshine , the clean , fresh air and all the ingredients for the typical healthy Mediterranean diet , it is the perfect setting ”.
It is Dr Kaiser ´ s vision for the next ten years to turn the Algarve into a destination for health tourism . He feels the facilities in the Algarve are now as good as anywhere in Western Europe , and the access is much quicker and personal .
The cost of medical care is extremely competitive ; he told me the cost of a total hip replacement including a 10-day spell in a private hospital would be in the region of £ 8,000 . I understand the cost of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is also very competitive . Private nursing care is also much more reasonable than in the U . K ., with the average cost of a private nurse being less than £ 10 per hour .
The Hospital Particular group have made Dr . Kaiser the lead physician in the field of international medicine and the expectations are that soon more and more patients will be seen from all over the world in the Algarve ’ s five star facilities .
It was interesting to learn Dr . Kaiser has several patients at the Monte da Palhagueira Nursing home which is owned by Mary Cornelius-Reid , whose interview appears on page 10 .
I was very surprised to learn how much less expensive Private Health insurance is in Portugal . It may not be generally known that it is about 50 % less than in the UK .
The team of experienced medical professionals at the Vale do Lobo Medical Centre and in the Hospital Particular offer an unrivalled range of treatments and therapies for residents and visitors alike . The hospital has a team of specialists including interventional cardiologists , vascular surgeons , cosmetic and plastic surgeons , specialized nutritionists and gastroenterologists alike .
Dr . Kaiser told me his team can respond to any emergency and that all medical fields are covered with well known specialists . The speed and comfort of the response to any medical situation is unheard of in the nationalised health systems in the rest of Europe and even if you have a BUPA insurance in London you could not expect to be treated quicker and with any better quality .
After he moved with his family to the Algarve 12 years ago in search of the sun , he dedicated himself to development in the area of preventative and anti-aging medicine at the highest level . Another practical example of working to his goal Dr . Kaiser cohosted a health week with the UK fitness and diet icon , Rosemary Conley , in Vale do Lobo .
He also developed a successful cosmetic medicine clinic where he treats patients from all over the world with the latest state of the art aesthetic medicine methods .
I was very interested to learn more about health check clinics he organises at Vale do Lobo . Preventative MOTs are rare in the UK and very expensive , so where better to have your health check carried out while you are relaxing in the Algarve and to have your personal check up tailored to your needs . A total body scan is possible , something perhaps we should all have done every five years or so .
Dr . Kaiser explained to me once he and his team have fully understood your medical history , he can advise which tests and examinations can be organised . After the tests have been completed you are presented with your Health Action Plan , which you receive in writing and as it is a pro-active scan , precise goals and actions plans can be discussed .
Costs vary for these scans vary between £ 400 to £ 800 . This represents excellent value for money and is a fine example of Health Tourism .
For more information , contact Family Medical Centre - Quinta do Lago : Tel : + 351 289 398411
Family Medical Centre - Vale do Lobo : Tel : + 351 289 398009 www . family-medical-centre . pt
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