Myths about Medical Tourism
Medical Tourism Information – General Discrepancies
Most International patients are increasingly choosing to go abroad to get quality, affordable medical care. However, many people are still skeptical about the discrepancies in the available information about medical tourism.
Inaccurate information about medical tourism is the main reason why people avoid using this opportunity. If you are considering for yourself the possibility of obtaining medical care abroad, you should have complete information. Discuss everything that worries you, with medical tourists who have already received treatment abroad.
With regard to the medical tourism industry, there are many myths and prejudices. Below is a list of the most basic myths that must be debunked:
Myth: Medical tourism is a new concept
Fact: Medical tourism is not a new phenomenon. For several decades, many foreigners have chosen other countries for cosmetic procedures and Mexico for dental treatments. Recently, medical tourism is experiencing a new boom. According to author Joseph Woodman, Patients without Borders: A Guide to Affordable, First-Class Medical Tourism, 11 million people will be treated abroad.
Medical tourism originates in the most ancient times when Greek pilgrims crossed the Mediterranean Sea? To find refuge in the Saronic Gulf, known as Epidaurus. Here one could find the god of healing Asclepius.
Myth: Inexpensive medical procedures are performed in clinics with low quality standards.
Fact: People often think that low cost means poor quality. However, the study of the medical tourism industry suggests that the cost of medical procedures abroad is much lower due to the low cost of labor. The current popularity of medical tourism has contributed to the fact that such medical tourism centers as Thailand, Costa Rica, India, Singapore, Argentina, and others make every effort to improve the quality of services.
Many private health care providers abroad use the most modern methods and technologies in the field of health. Due to the high competition in this rapidly developing market, medical tourists can find medical facilities whose quality is on par with US medical facilities or even surpass them. Clinics abroad provide sophisticated equipment and qualified personnel. Many doctors have been educated in North America and Europe.
Many medical institutions abroad have professional accreditations from the Joint International Commission (JCI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In addition, clinics abroad provide a higher level of medical care compared to conventional general hospitals in the United States.
Myth: Doctors abroad are not as good as doctors in the US
Fact: According to the National Center for Public Policy Analysis (NCPA), health care providers and agencies providing medical tourism services are often serious competitors when they advertise the qualifications of their specialists. Doctors of these medical institutions usually received professional certification in the United States, in addition, many specialists have diplomas and certificates of universities recognized throughout the world. Most doctors treating medical tourists are educated in the USA, Australia, Canada or Europe.
The US government promotes cultural exchange programs with countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, so most doctors from these countries received education and internships at universities and hospitals in the United States. The number of graduates from American medical universities is often lower than the number of available places in internship or residency. As a result, approximately 9,500 foreign doctors work in American hospitals, especially in the situation of an insufficient number of local staff.
To obtain information about doctors in foreign clinics, you need to confirm that the doctor has all the necessary accreditations and professional certificates. Professional certificates that you should pay attention to:
- American Council for Cosmetic Surgery
- American Board of Plastic Surgery
- American Board of Surgery
- American Board of Certified General Surgeons
- American Council of Medical Specialists
Myth: Hospitals and medical centers abroad are much worse equipped than in the USA.
Fact: The economic and demographic expansion of Asia is the main reason for the development of medical infrastructure in recent times. Thanks to technological and medical progress, the medical services offered are of the highest quality.
Most hospitals and medical centers abroad are private institutions, which focus on medical tourists and wealthy local residents. They also use the most modern medical technology and provide an environment that is comfortable for foreign patients from other cultures.
To ensure quality service, look for institutions accredited by the Joint International Commission (JCI), the largest public health accreditation agency in the United States. As well as international clinics, working with major US medical institutions such as Johns Hopkins and Cleveland Clinic.
NCPA data confirms that over 600 hospitals abroad are recognized by JCI, the international branch of the Joint Accreditation Commission of organizations engaged in health care and part of Medicare. ISO also recognizes clinics whose performance standards are consistent with generally accepted international standards.
In addition, many countries have implemented their own accreditation criteria. For example, the Healthcare Federation of India is developing accreditation standards to ensure that potential patients receive high quality medical care in India.
Before going abroad for treatment, it is important to collect accurate and reliable information about medical institutions and doctors in order to be able to assess the quality of medical services abroad. On the Internet you can find enough reliable information about medical tourism.