Medical tourism has become one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with millions of people traveling to other countries to receive medical care there. That’s because some medical tourism destinations offer better options in terms of lower cost, shorter wait times, and better treatments.
So, if you’re interested in the medical tourism industry, here are the top destinations:
Malaysia
People from Asia and even Europe and the Middle East go to Malaysia for medical treatments, making it one of the most popular medical tourism destinations in the world. It has a well-developed healthcare system with cutting-edge hospitals, clinics, and medical professionals. While Malaysia itself is a thriving economy, the medical costs in this country are significantly lower compared to other developed countries. The quality of care is comparable to the US but is surprisingly around 50% to 75% more affordable than in America.
Some of the most popular medical procedures done in Malaysia include cosmetic surgery, heart surgery, and dental work. There are some people who go to Malaysia for cancer treatment.
Singapore
Singapore is Malaysia’s neighbor. It is another popular Southeast Asian country for medical tourism due to its high-quality care. Singapore is known for its world-class hospitals and for the fact that most of its medical institutions are accredited by international organizations. However because Singapore is more expensive than Malaysia, medical costs in this country are higher than its next-door neighbor. However, medical care here can cost 50% to 65% lower compared to the US.
Most people who go to Singapore for medical treatments and procedures do so for cancer, heart surgery, and orthopedic surgery. There are also excellent specialized medical centers that can be found in Singapore.
India
The reason why India is one of the top medical tourism destinations in the world can be traced to the large pool of highly skilled doctors who are trained in medical schools in different countries. With billions of people living in this country, the medical profession is a lucrative but competitive industry that offers costs that are lower than in the US and in most European countries. A kidney transplant in India costs around $10,000, which is significantly lower than the $400,000 it might cost in the US.
Some of the most popular medical procedures done in India include general surgery, organ transplant, cancer treatment, and cardiac surgery.
Thailand
Known for having some of the best and most affordable cosmetic surgeons in the world, Thailand is another Southeast Asian country that’s popular all over the globe for medical procedures. Due to the country’s rising popularity in the medical field, its hospitals are equipped with some of the best equipment and professionals. In most cases, medical costs in Thailand are 50% lower compared to the US.
Thailand is often known for gender reassignment procedures. However, some of the most popular procedures include other forms of cosmetic surgery and weight loss surgery.
Mexico
Due to its close proximity to the US and Canada, Mexico is a popular medical tourism destination for those living in North America. The country has leveraged the fact that medical care is expensive in the US, and that’s why the quality of medical care in Mexico has improved so much that it can be comparable to the more developed nations. Medical costs in Mexico are significantly lower compared to the US. For example, bypass sugary costs around $27,000 in Mexico versus $123,000 in the USA.
Some of the most popular medical procedures done in Mexico include dental work, cosmetic surgery, and heart surgery.
South Korea
Known as the cosmetic and plastic surgery capital of the world, South Korea is home to some of the best medical facilities and specialists in the world. The country boasts a strong healthcare system that offers world-class hospitals and equipment that are on par or better than Western countries at a price that’s lower compared to the US due to the high degree of competition in this field in South Korea. For example, a rhinoplasty may cost between $3,000 and $8,000 in this country.
Cosmetic and plastic surgeries are the most popular medical procedure done in South Korea. But this country is also known for dermatology and cancer treatment.
Turkey
Turkey is a popular medical tourism destination for those living in Europe and the Middle East due to its close proximity to them. The country boasts high-quality hospitals that are equipped with the best faculties and medical professionals the region can offer. Medical procedures in Turkey can be up to 70% cheaper compared to the US.
Some of the most popular medical procedures in Turkey include dental work, hair transplantation, heart surgery, and cosmetic surgery.
Israel
Israel has a strong and improving healthcare system that reflects its status as a developed country. It boasts a large number of world-class hospitals with some of the best healthcare professionals. Due to the high-quality care that Israel offers, healthcare costs are more expensive compared to other countries but are around 50% cheaper compared to the US and Europe.
This country offers high-quality medical procedures, including cancer treatment, organ transplant, and stem cell therapy.
Germany
Known for its technology and engineering, Germany has a strong healthcare system that banks on world-class equipment, facilities, and healthcare professionals. Medical procedures can be more expensive in Germany compared to Asian countries and other European nations. However, costs in this country are around 40% to 50% lower compared to the US.
Some of the most popular medical procedures done in Germany include cardiac surgery, orthopedic surgery, and cancer treatment.
Brazil
Like Mexico, Brazil is a popular medical tourism destination for North Americans due to its close proximity to the US and Canada. The costs here are comparable to Mexico, making medical procedures a lot more affordable in Brazil compared to the US. It can be estimated that it is more than 50% cheaper to undergo a medical procedure in Brazil than in the US.
Some of the most common medical procedures done in Brazil include cosmetic and plastic surgery.
