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With rising healthcare costs worldwide and the emergence of wellness travel destinations that offer high-quality, affordable healthcare and incredible travel experiences, natives are rushing to book appointments with healthcare providers away from home. Every year, millions of patients travel from countries that lack the medical infrastructure or are underdeveloped in specific areas of health care to countries that provide highly specialized health care.
This has led to a solid global medical tourism market valued at over $37 billion in 2019. Patients book affordable flights to countries for medical procedures ranging from cosmetic surgery to dentistry to orthopaedic surgery. Competition is fierce for medical tourism destinations and healthcare providers, requiring an interplay of factors to drive medical tourism and enhance their brands in the medical tourism market.
According to the Medical Tourism Index, countries’ attractiveness to medical tourism, national economy and overall image, medical cost, and medical quality are the main factors driving the growth of medical tourism in destinations.
Using these metrics, here are the top 10 medical tourism destinations worldwide.
It’s no surprise that Canada is No. 1 in the 2020 edition of the Medical Tourism Index. The world’s second-largest country has a strong tourism industry that attracts more than 14 million Americans yearly. Its proximity to the United States has brought an influx of tourists and patients to the country to circumvent long wait times and high domestic medical costs.
Medical Tourism Destinations: Canada
Canada has an excellent reputation for providing high-quality, specialized medical care and top-notch healthcare facilities. However, this has resulted in long waiting lists for the country’s primary medical services, leading to increased outbound medical tourism.
Singapore is ranked second in the Medical Tourism Index and first for the quality of medical facilities and services. As of 2019, more than 500,000 foreign tourists have travelled to Singapore to seek quality and affordable healthcare.
Singapore recently established the International Patient Service Centre (IPSC) as a medical travel agency to mediate between international patients and Singaporean healthcare providers.
Medical Tourism Destinations: Singapore
️Seeking healthcare in Singapore can save patients 25% to 40% of what they would pay for the same services in the US. For example, heart bypass surgery costs $140,000 in the US and $25,000 in Singapore. Hip replacement surgery that costs over $45,000 in the US can be done in Singapore for as little as $13,000.
Japan has one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world. Leading the latest developments in technology and medicine, Japan continues to provide top-notch healthcare services to foreign citizens and tourists, mainly from mainland China.
According to the country’s foreign ministry, the number of medical visas issued to international patients jumped from 70 in 2011 to 1,650 in 2018. Medical visitors are drawn to the country’s leading cancer treatment centres and plastic surgery expertise.
Medical Tourism Destinations: Japan
️Low medical costs are also a significant driver of medical travel in Japan. A hip replacement surgery that costs $30,000 in the US costs $4,126 in Japan, saving more than 70% of the cost of treatment in the US.
Spain is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, with its tourism profile attracting tens of millions of tourists every year. MTI has rated the country as the top European medical tourism destination because it offers high-quality healthcare services and an excellent travel experience to foreign patients.
Spain is attracting many international tourists from the Middle East, North Africa, and the British Isles, many of whom travel to the country for advanced cosmetic, orthodontic, and dental procedures.
Medical Tourism Destinations: Spain
Spain offers high-quality healthcare at a fraction of the cost of US and UK hospitals. Cosmetic procedures that cost up to $15,000 in the US, such as facelifts and breast augmentations, cost an average of $5,000 in Spain.
Spain has several JCI-accredited hospitals, including the prestigious University Hospital of Madrid and Sanitas Hospital in Madrid.
The UK is ranked fifth in the MTI World Medical Tourism Destination Rankings. The UK is home to prestigious medical institutions such as the London Orthopaedic Clinic, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Cambridge Orthopaedic General Hospital, which are known for their high-quality medical care.
The UK is also the most popular tourist destination, welcoming more than 31 million international visitors each year, many of whom are drawn to the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Medical Tourism Destinations: UK
Cost is also a significant factor driving millions of international patients to the UK. For example, a knee replacement surgery that costs more than $30,000 in the US can cost less than $20,000 to be performed in a UK hospital.
Dubai is known for its ultra-modern architecture, high-rise buildings, and luxury stores. With a population of over 9.4 million, Dubai welcomes over 10 million tourists annually. Dubai’s’ beautiful setting and beauty have inspired the travel experience of millions of international patients who come to Dubai for world-class care.
Medical Tourism Destinations: Dubai
The Medical Tourism Index ranks Dubai as the best medical destination in the Arab region, including international hospitals and doctors of various specialities. Dubai mainly receives medical tourists from Asia and surrounding Arab and Gulf countries, as well as some from European and African countries.
Dubai launched Dubai Health Experience (DHX) in 2018 to enhance its medical tourism brand by strengthening medical facilities and improving the patient experience through its international patient division.
Costa Rica is rapidly growing into a leader in the medical tourism market. Known for its beautiful scenery and competitive prices, Costa Rica welcomes millions of medical tourists from neighbouring countries, including the United States and Canada.
️In recent years, Central American countries have ranked higher than Canada and the United States in dentistry and plastic surgery. The government has also made a name for itself in eye surgery, cancer treatment, and bariatric surgery.
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In San Jose, Rancho CheTica offers medical travellers an exotic healing sanatorium for patients who enjoy healing in a relaxing setting. The farm also has trained nurses to meet the medical needs of these patients as they recover.
Healthcare costs in Costa Rica are 45% to 65% lower than in the United States, saving patients a lot of money.
The country has excellent medical and health experts and some modern medical facilities. These settings provide much less processing than other countries in these regions.
Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital, and Shifa International Hospital are of particular note in this regard.
Medical Tourism Destinations: Pakistan
Pakistan used to be the largest organ transplant centre. Additionally, billions of rupees and people recovered from kidney transplants before strict laws and enforcement were implemented to prevent illicit organ trade.
Medical tourism is definitely on the rise. The industry has enormous potential, especially in orthopaedics, ENT, urology, optometry, and cardiology. If given due attention, the industry can help stabilize the economy and create a better image of the country.
As the capital and largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi has created a robust platform for medical tourism, potentially making it the best in the region.
The emirate launched its Abu Dhabi Medical Tourism Portal in 2019, providing international patients with detailed information on all medical services and facilities in the city. Prospective patients can also obtain medical travel insurance packages through the online portal—other tourism services such as hotel reservations, transportation, and leisure activities.
Medical Tourism Destinations: Abu Dhabi
Healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi adhere to strict quality standards set by the city’s Ministry of Health to ensure the highest quality of care.
In addition to enjoying the panoramic views and beautiful tourist attractions of Abu Dhabi, patients visiting the area will also enjoy affordable medical service prices. For example, prostate surgery costs $10,618 in the United States and about $7,896 in Abu Dhabi.
Since 2017, Saba Ghani has been serving as the talented and dedicated chief content writer for Pakistan Tour and Travel & EMHI Solutions. With her exceptional writing skills and in-depth knowledge of the travel industry, she has been instrumental in crafting engaging and informative content that captivates the audience. You can catch her at [email protected] or Twitter
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