Medical Travel

by Jothi Nedungadi

In days past, the term Medical Tourism was used in reference to combining a vacation to an exotic location while taking care of an out-patient/minor in-patient procedure. The treatment and/ procedure was usually sought by US nationals/permanent residents who knew that similar services in their country of origin were less expensive and was probably handled by a family doctor/dentist. As a result, even though they probably carried medical insurance here in the US, they felt more comfortable having the procedure done in their hometown while vacationing with family and friends. The referrals may have been passed on to colleagues, acquaintances and friends and as it gained popularity over the years due to rising cost of services in this country, others may have felt that it wasn’t such a bad idea to combine a vacation with a non-invasive procedure and come back without having  broken their bank accounts or their life savings! Thereby, the advent of the term “Medical tourism”.

But today, the term medical tourism does not really apply. The appropriate term is Medical Travel. Countries like India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Phillipines, Brazil, etc; due to the outsourcing frenzy and being in a better position, economically, have realized the demand for such services and have begun to cater to foreign clientele. The hospitals and medical establishments go through an extensive accreditation process, the Joint Commission International(JCI) similar to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations(JCAHO) in the US. The doctors are usually highly qualified and are also quite often well versant in the English language. They provide all kinds of services ranging from minor cosmetic surgery to more invasive procedures like hip replacement surgery, etc.

Though, no single country or establishment can guarantee mishaps from occurring. There are certain precautions that can be taken when seeking medical services regardless of the location of choice. Medical establishments whether it be in India, Malaysia or the US for that matter, do encounter casualties and while sometimes it is preventable, often times there are extenuating circumstances that lead to an undesirable outcome. Here are some suggestions on making sure that your medical travel is pleasant:

• Take time to conduct research into the credibility of the medical establishment providing the treatment or performing the procedure
• Look into reports about the quality of care provided
• Investigate the credentials of the doctors, their success rate with the procedures performed and their reputation for patient care
• Ask for referrals from others that have had similar services/procedures performed
• Inquire about the respite care provided post surgery
• Several travel agencies cater to medical travel arrangements. While you could save some money and make all the arrangement on your own, it may be advisable to seek the services of an agent that has the reputation and expertise in handling travel in a specific country/location. Here are just a few things that they could assist you with:
• accommodations close to the medical establishment
• arranging for reliable transportation while you are seeking medical services
•  a few tourist spots that you could visit while you were there (since most of the medical hospitals are in major metropolitan areas),
•  assistance with an advocate/translator/a local guide to help you while you were there. As a cautionary note, most travel agents strive to provide excellent service but sometimes there could be hitches that are out of the travel agents control. Therefore, being planful and asking the right questions while charting the course in advance may be in your best interest for a good and uneventful experience.
• always keep the travel agents number and local contact’s information handy, in the event that there is a problem.

As medical travel gains widespread acceptance and with the growing concern for healthcare being debated in this country, everyone is looking for less expensive alternatives and feasible options that will meet their individual healthcare needs. While medical travel may not be the answer for everyone, it is worth exploring if cost is a significant factor in the decision-making process.