What is Medical Tourism?

In today’s interconnected world, healthcare is no longer confined to your home country. Medical tourism, also referred to as medical travel and health tourism is becoming more and more popular as each day passes. But what is medical tourism and why it’s so popular?  In this blog we will look at these topics shall we start.

First of all, what is medical tourism?  The simplest way to explain what is medical tourism is for a person to leave their country for some time to get treatment in a different country. Why can’t they get this done in their own country? Well, maybe they can’t. Maybe their country doesn’t have enough technology or specialists to perform this treatment. There can be a couple of reasons why anyone leaves their country the get their treatment abroad.  Let’s look at a couple of reasons why someone wants to get healthcare abroad.

Lower cost: Depending on where you live especially if you live in Western countries there is a high chance that you can get your treatment in Turkey or other medical tourism countries for way less money.

Specialized Care: Some countries are more professional in some treatments. For example, some procedures like hair transplants or dental care are probably more advanced or widely available in Turkey than in the majority of other countries. Thus some patients want to get their medical treatment in Turkey.

Vacation: I know it seems kind of odd but getting your healthcare may be an opportunity for a vacation that you are looking for. Traveling to another country will satisfy your hunger for a different culture. It’s even better if the country you are traveling to has a rich history or beautiful coasts like Turkey or Thailand.  

Since we are talking about the beautiful coast of Turkey and Thailand. Some countries are more popular than the other. The reason they are more popular than the other is the three reasons we mentioned before. Some countries can give all of these three at once so they are chosen more and more for medical tourism. Now that we’ve explored the reasons why people choose medical tourism, let’s take a look at the countries that have become major players in the industry.

Turkey: may be the most versatile country on our list.  Why? Because Turkey has good doctors around every specialty. You can get your dental work in Turkey,  your eye surgery, cosmetic operations,  cancer treatment, or obesity treatment and everyone knows the unfamous hair transplant. Well, these reasons are good but not the only reason why we say the most versatile country on our list. Turkey checks all the boxes. Good medical treatment, variety of operations as we mentioned, low prices, and the golden touch is vacation. There are tons of places you can travel to while in Turkey. The first one of the most cultural cities on the earth is İstanbul. The Turkish people often say Istanbul is endless it never ends. Well, it kind of sounds weird especially if you know that Istanbul is not a big city not even in Turkey there are a lot of cities that have more land. Why is that then, because there is too much to do, too many histories, activities, and experiences to try. Well, there is one more since Istanbul is also one of the most populated countries there are so many buildings and this reduces the empty land area. I mean we need to be honest and mention some of the downsides too. Well, there is Antalya and İzmir that have beautiful beaches and more but let’s talk the rest in other articles.

Thailand: If you are looking to combine vacation with medical treatment and want it to be an affordable medical treatment Thailand is a great place to consider. Thailand is already a great tourist destination because of its nature and the low costs when you combine this with good health care Thailand become one of the most popular medical tourism places.

Japan:  If you are looking for quality healthcare Japan is one of the strongest places that you should look. Japan wants to position itself in quality and the innovative side of the medical industry. Also, Japan is known for a safe and clean environment Which is important for your travel. Well, visas can be a problem for some countries but Japan has specific visas for medical tourists. For more info, you can check this link. The cons of medical travel in Japan are that it can be expensive and more importantly you can feel difficulty in finding a person who speaks English.

Affordability: When we talk about the benefits of medical travel it is obvious that affordability is one of the key reasons. But there are more benefits other than helping keep your wallet full.

It Can Be a Medical Need: Yes in some situations, the patient’s home country for some reason like not having advanced medical technologies creates problems that patients need to solve in another country.

Experience: Medical tourism if it’s planned good can be a good experience . Even though getting medical treatment is an important and exhausting situation, some countries can make this process more memorable in a good way. Think about it combining your treatment with a vacation that includes a spa, beaches learning more about the different cultures, and especially trying new cultures food can make you feel better.

There are too many benefits and reasons to travel for surgery or treatment but there are also risks that need careful consideration.

Foreign country risks: Every country is different. Beliefs, culture the way people live can change a lot from country to country . Every country has its own rules and not every country is equally safe for foreigners. Before choosing the country you want to go first thing is to research the country check travel advisories and understand any potential risks related to political stability health conditions or cultural differences.

Research, Research, Research: Before choosing a clinic or doctor, it’s vital to check credentials, read patient reviews, and make sure the facility meets international standards. The quality of care can vary greatly depending on where you go.

Aftercare Concerns: Planning for aftercare is just as important as the procedure itself. Be sure to find out if post-operative care is available in the destination country, and have a plan in place for your return home.

In today’s globalized world, medical tourism has become a viable option for those seeking affordable, high-quality care. Whether you’re looking for cosmetic surgery, dental care, or even more complex treatments like cardiac surgeries, medical travel offers plenty of options.
In some cases, medical treatment can be a need. But mostly it’s a choice, and whether making this choice or not is totally up to you. If you have difficulty deciding whether or not to get treatment abroad you can look at our other blogs for more information or even hospitals blogs for the information. We can not stress enough about the fact that you need to do a lot of research it’s about your health the most important thing that you have. Before making any decision learn as much as you can and always seek advice from licensed providers before making any healthcare decisions.