Medical Tourism Affordability is the Key to Success!

Medical Tourism

Medical Tourism has been in place for centuries whence people traveled to neighboring countries or made journeys by sea to find cures. But the real offtake has been for a few decades propelled by increasing International travel and the development of health infrastructures. 

People often traveled to the USA and European countries thanks to advanced treatments available some decades back. But the world has become a level playing field with health care infrastructure coming in place in many countries. But many countries that do not invest in the health sector, lag behind in trained manpower, and are unable to incorporate medical technologies are dependent upon the rest for cures and palliatives. 

Health-related travel has been facilitated by tourism development as well since both work in near conjunction. Tourism is the pathway to enter a country with ease, and this when combined with treatment turns into medical tourism. Thus, both subscribe to the same inroad but there is a difference in criteria. While sightseeing or holiday making is dependent upon panoramic destinations, hill resorts, wildlife places, and spas, medical tourism flourishes where the top of the rung hospitals thrive and offer quality treatments. 

Travel overseas is dependent upon many factors chiefly ease of Visa availability and hospitable services to places of interest. Health-related travel thrives on these factors as well but it is much more dependent upon the cost of service and treatment. Though there are travelers who seek treatments in five-star hospitals the number is less as more and more people go for the economy. 

Low-cost treatments and quality services are the prime criteria for attracting medical tourists besides other determinants. These two factors have aided countries in earning foreign exchange more than sightseeing or wildlife experiences in a country.

Health expenses are climbing sky-high in the present times and countries that have kept expenses on a tight loop and offer affordable packages attract more patients seeking overseas treatments. Some of the countries that rank high on the MTI Scale are:

• India 
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Malaysia'
• Thailand
• Bulgaria
• Panama

Though the main criteria are the low-cost treatments other determiners like proximity, ease of travel and specialization may influence the flow of patients despite some countries offering a lower price. 

India offers wide spectrum of treatments at a much lower cost as compared to other countries in ASIA. It is well known for its robust health infrastructure with a chain of accredited hospitals and clinics. The hospitals and clinics are spread out to smaller cities that are able to provide affordable packages unlike the metros and the state capitals. 

Singapore and South Korea are the world's most advanced countries in terms of medical technology and offer treatments for specific diseases and anomalies. Though countries excel in specific treatments greater weightage is accorded to Nations that offer a wider range. Another plus is the availability of holiday destinations at the same place on the route. Overseas patients generally prefer to visit holiday destinations before or after the treatment. 

India's medical tourism is valued at 6 billion USD and it ranks sixth in the world. With a 30 % growth rate, it is attracting overseas patients from China, Africa, AFPAC, and Arab Countries.  Patients from the USA, Canada, and the EU are traveling for health treatments in India  

Besides lower costs, all ranking Nations have a plus point that helps them beat the competition in the developed world.  The cost comparison chart below will highlight the prices that are different for the same treatment in some countries

	Medical procedure       USA       Costa Rica         India      Jordan       S. Korea
	Heart Bypass          $123,000           $27,000              $7,900    $14,400       $26,000
	Angioplasty         $28,200                 $13,800             $5,700   $5,000         $17,700
	HVR                    $170,000       $30,000                      $9,500      $14,400    $39,900
Hip Replacement $40,364              $13,600                 $7,200       $8,000    $21,000

Knee Replacement$35,000          $12,500                 $6,600   $9,500                $17,500