Travelling for medical treatment outside the European Union is becoming an increasingly attractive option for more and more people.
India, Thailand, South Africa and Tunisia are popular destinations for patients wanting everything from dental and cosmetic surgery to hip replacements.
The numbers of patients leaving the EU for health treatment has not been closely monitored. An international passenger survey found that some 126,000 British people travelled outside the UK for medical visits in 2008, up from 25,000 in 2004, with India being the most popular non-EU destination. A 2001 survey by Techniker Krankenkasse, a German health insurance group, found that 2-5% of its members travelled abroad each year for healthcare.
Increasing value
What is certain is that there is an increasing amount of money being spent on health tourism.
A 2007 survey by Mckinsey, a consultancy firm, suggests that in 2012 the value of the worldwide medical tourism industry will have risen to around €78 billion, up from €32bn in 2004.
European patients often find the cost of treatment is 50% cheaper than at home, according to a report by the US's National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA).
“Many of these medical tourists are not wealthy but are seeking high-quality medical care at affordable prices,” the report said.
Cosmetic surgery costs are often far lower than in Europe. In the UK, rhinoplasty (nose reconstruction) costs on average €2,700, while in India it costs €661, according to Treatment Abroad, a UK company which provides information on private overseas healthcare.
Fears about the quality of treatment in developing countries are increasingly unfounded, the NCPA's report said, as many health professionals are trained to European standards.
Keith Pollard, director of Treatment Abroad, said that the risks are low when travelling to developing countries for treatment.
Patient surveys by Treatment Abroad show that the healthcare received is often more satisfactory than private care in the UK.
Pollard said that fears of contracting antibiotic resistant bugs in UK hospitals makes travelling for treatement an even more attractive option.
In India, strong pull factors, alongside low costs, are the availability of high quality care and hospital certification by Joint Commission International, a healthcare group focused on improving the safety of patient care and associated with the World Health Organization.
Many hospitals also bundle services into a package deal that includes the cost of treating any complications, the NCPA report said.
Complications
But despite the cost advantages, travelling for treatment can result in problems, in particular when long distances are involved. The British Medical Association advises against it, highlighting the dangers of travelling too soon after surgery because of the risk of complications.
But Keith Pollard of Treatment Abroad said that 97% of patients who have received treatment abroad would do it again.
“The quality and range of treatment available, coupled with the cost benefits, means that having overseas treatment is now a real option for many people,” he said.
