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Guide to medical tourism: Deciding where to go

Take a look at the destinations for treatment abroad.  Each country varies in terms of savings, costs and areas of surgical specialty. For example, Hungary and Poland are popular with British medical tourists seeking dental treatment, Belgium, Spain and Germany are conveniently located for cosmetic and elective surgery, France has developed a reputation for obesity, orthopedic and heart surgery, while the Philippines is renowned for top class competitively priced dentistry.  Even with the cost of flights to exotic places like Malaysia or Venezuela the savings are still beneficial and can often outweigh the cost of surgery alone in the UK – and you get to enjoy a holiday in a country you may not have been to before.
 
Find out if the intended procedure is available in your chosen country.  There are different types of healthcare providers from major hospitals to smaller clinics and private practices, so decide which you would prefer, and whether you want to deal directly with the provider, or go through a company working as a medical tourism tour operator (an agent or broker), who will arrange the full trip abroad, putting you in touch with recommended health providers and organising your medical care, accommodation and travel within a lump-sum package.
 
If you are going directly to the provider make initial contact via their website or by telephone to enquire about the surgery you are interested in.
  • Ask for some literature and brochures detailing more information about costs and the surgeon’s professional background etc.
  • Find out all you can about the hospital/clinic’s reputation - the more you know, the more prepared you are.
  • Ask if initial consultations and follow up’s can be done in the UK as some doctors come to the UK periodically to visit patients.  If so, check whether the consultation in the UK will be with the same surgeon to perform the operation, or with a nurse or advisor. Seeing the plastic surgeon / dentist for a consultation locally will give you a better understanding of what is involved and a good consultation will inform you of what the surgeon believes are the best procedures for you and go over the possible risks and complications. 
  • If it isn’t possible to meet the consultant locally you should ask to speak to them on the phone or email and ask as many questions as you like.  Have your medical history to hand when you do so.
  • Check whether after the operation you will stay in the hospital or be discharged and taken to a hotel; ask about special care or assistance after the procedure and about contingency plans in case of complications during the procedure or recovery time.
  • Do they recommend having a close friend or family member travel with you to provide support?
  • Find out when the country’s high season is so that you can avoid exorbitant flight prices and enjoy more moderate weather.
  • Be honest with yourself about the importance of going to a country where fluent English is spoken and choose your destination accordingly as some medical staff in clinics and hospitals abroad do speak fluent English, while others hire translators. 
  • Read up on local costs, the prices of meals, transport and hotels, how easy is it to travel around and whether it is considered safe to do so.  The Foreign Office website will help with this and provides tips on traveling abroad with its Know Before You Go campaign.
 
Go to part 2: What to consider?
Go to part 4 :  Comparing the costs
 

Get a quote

Our "Get a quote" service, enables you to compare prices and providers, quickly and efficiently. Complete the enquiry form for the kind of treatment that you are seeking, select the countries that you are interested in and you will get a response from a several hospitals, clinics and medical tourism companies within 48 hours.

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What does it cost?

We run an independent survey of medical tourism prices, compiled from price information from 108 clinics, hospitals and healthcare providers in 30 countries. You can compare prices for cosmetic surgery, elective surgery (such as hip, knee and eye) and dental treatment abroad.