Medical Tourism in Thailand - Is It for You?

Medical Tourism in Thailand - Is It for You?

With the ever-increasing costs for private medical treatment and long waiting times for non life threatening surgery, medical tourism is a substantial growth industry. Many doctors in third world countries have actually trained in Europe or the USA, insist first-rate English and the private hospitals in Thailand are first-class, making them a excellent choice for those who are prepared to disappear.

Pros

The biggest pros of medical tourism in Thailand are the high quality of care offered, the lower cost and the lack of waiting times, particularly for those living with bad eyesight or painful joints which severely lower the quality of life. In 2008, more than 1.2 million medical tourists visited Thailand. The saving on paying for private treatment abroad can mount up to tens of thousands of dollars for procedures such as dental implants, vascular surgery, cardiothoracic procedures or cosmetic surgery. A heart bypass in the US would be $120,000 compared to $10,000 in Thailand; knee replacements are $9,000 compared to $65,000 in the US and hip replacements plunge from $80,000 to $11,000. Even allowing for flights and hotel accommodation for the patient and carer, the savings are worthy. Medical treatment in Thailand also allows the patient to recuperate in a warm and sunny climate, relaxing on the beach or in the hotel spa between follow-up visits.

The Thai medical profession is one of the most advanced in the Far East. Successive governments have invested in the training of Thai doctors, including offering specialist training abroad. gargantuan investments have also been made in equipment and the management standards of many private Thai hospitals have met the highest ISO 9001 accreditation.

Prescriptions will also be provided after surgery and having them filled in Thailand generally means that the same drugs can be bought for about one third of the trace, compared to the US.

Cons

Choosing where to have a medical contrivance should involve more than objective a comparison of costs. Medical tourists should eye around, ask for references from those who have had the surgery previously and checkout the credentials and reputations of both the doctors and the hospitals.

Another valuable consideration is the weather. Thailand experiences three sure seasons, and it is indispensable to determine the legal time to visit. The rainy season can be terrible at times, with hard downpours that regularly flood the streets of cities. The summer season can recognize temperatures approach poor levels, along with high levels of humidity and pollution. The various regions of Thailand have different climates so research is principal, but generally November through February are the coolest and driest months to visit.

Although the beach may appeal for convalescing, particularly after minor surgery, some people miss the comforts of their maintain bed and the nearness of relatives to visit and offer practical succor. Medical tourists must be prepared to finish long enough to have any famous follow-up visits and be well enough to wing home in comfort.