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I used to pay around 400-600 Euro for my Health Insurance - per month! Not that I didn’t try to reduce that or even get around it at all. Why not pay for what you use only?
But back in my home country Germany, you have no choice. You have to pay for a health insurance and you basically pay for it with an arm and a leg. That is, if you earn a good income. The service you receive, when things go wrong, can range from mediocre to great, although you have limited influence, on which doctor or hospital to chose.
This always smelled like communism to me. In my point of view - over the years of the last 2 decades - Europe lost its edge as a leading and competitive healthcare market. Too many beneficiaries but too few paying customers. Always make an even balance for everyone. Where is the grounds or basis for competition, or the means of offering the best possible solution for a competitive price? Value for money anyone? Somehow it got lost along the way.
The US have problems as well, although quite a bit different. The healthcare system is state of the art; the main problem is, most people can’t afford it and lot’s don’t even have a health insurance.
What can we do about it, you ask?
If you are a steady tourist or even a World Traveler, you can benefit from that dilemma, by chosing where to get and where to pay your health treatment. You can either save a lot of money for yourself, or - if you have a flexible health insurance - for them as well, thus reducing your premiums. Not that it should be your main concern in the first place. :-)
Just a quick comparison regarding the numbers we are talking about here:
Those are some standard treatments in quality healthcare locations. The good thing for you as an EU or US tourist, when traveling to Asia - you can even combine your necessary health treatment with a holiday in a tropical paradise for the cost of the treatment alone back in your home country!
Personal Experience
My personal experiences in those countries are restricted to Singapore and Thailand so far. But - my experiences are in general very positive. Over the last 4 years I had the following treatments in Asia:
- several Dentist Visits in Singapore and Thailand (Phuket) with Crown/Fillings, Root Canal Treatment
- Complete Checkup (including X-Ray and Blood Check) in Singapore for my PR (Permanent Residency) Application at Raffles Medical Group
- LASIK Eye-Surgery in Singapore at SNEC
For the LASIK surgery, you have in Singapore alone 4 centres, which are specialized in the procedure and are well up or even above international standard: the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and Jerry Tan Eye Surgery (JTES).
Prices came down even more over the last 2 years and are now as low as SGD 2.550 (app. USD 1.700) for both eyes! About 20.000 surgeries are perfomed each year, with the lowest safety rate as high as 99.29% (Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore).
The staff work in a very transparent and professional manner, from check-in, to treatment and after-treatment procedures. You constantly have the feeling, that those people know what they are doing, procedures are highly standardized, very modern, everything is clean, calm and in a professional atmosphere. You don’t see much of the paper bureaucracy you can experience in Healthcare Facilities in Europe or in the US. Everything is computerized to ensure efficiency and avoid human errors.
When I first enquired for LASIK surgery, I got a CD with all relevant information regarding procedures and background information. After that an eye checkup was scheduled and performed, to evaluate my eligibility for the surgery and the best procedure (Basic LASIK, Wavefront, PRK - photorefractive keratectomy). The surgery was scheduled and executed accordingly, all in a very professional and satisfying manner, with me as the patient always in knowledge and control of the next steps.
After the surgery, post-treatment appointments were scheduled and executed in the same professional manner. I got a plastic card with my personal information (the records remain stored for further follow-ups if necessary). You get bills in english language with all procedures clearly stated and priced and payment can be done via cash, check or credit card.
All appointments were done with very few waiting time in the shortest possible timeframe, but best possible efficiency and transparency. It felt a bit like an assembly line, but in a positive and comfortable way.
Overall Recommendations?
From my personal experience I can highly recommend Singapore’s standards in this regard. It’s probably even better (although maybe a bit more pricey) than Bangkok; I would definitely rate Singapore’s governance and transparency, as well as the justice system - in case things go wrong - much much higher, than let’s say Thailand or India. On top of that, in Singapore the day-2-day business language is English and you can fly there from most ends of the planet with the world’s best airline, Singapore Airlines. 
Personally I would always go to Singapore for the more complex procedures (due to their high governance level and english language), while for mere standard surgeries or especially dental treatments, I personally wouldn’t hesitate to do that in Thailand, Malaysia or maybe even India, if I happen to be there, due to even lower costs over there.
How to get more or detailed information for your specific case:
You can get more information about treatments, procedures and prices by just browsing the websites below and enquiring about the procedures and prices you are interested in (see info below). Usually you will get an e-mail response within 1-2 days.
Most health service and hospitals in Singapore are working under the constant supervision of Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MoH) and the SingHealth Group, with 42 clinical specialties, a faculty of 1.200 internationally qualified medical specialists and more than 12.000 staff. Each year, app. 175.000 surgeries are performed and over 3 million patients are handled.
Procedure Highlights in Singapore include treatment for:
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm and Prevention of Cardiac Arrest
- Heart Valve Defect
- Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery
- Liver Cancer
- Cancer in the Head & Neck
- Corneal Problems
- Stem Cell Transplant for Ocular Surface Disease
- Hearing Loss
- Knee Pain
- Urinary Stones
- Pituitary Tumours
- Prostate Cancer
- Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Further Information (just google for it):
Health Centers in Asia with high international reputation and focus on the international medical traveler:
- General Information: Medical Tourism Website with a great FAQ
- Singapore: SingHealth, Raffles Medical Group, Parkway Healthcare Group
- Hong Kong: Minimal Invasive Surgery Centre (Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital)
- Bangkok/Thailand: Bangkok Hospital Medical Center Group (their Stem Cell Treatment for serious heart conditions at Bangkok Heart Hospital has more than 60% US patients!), Bangkok International Hospital
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In the past 30 years, the costs of healthcare have soared in the United States. Due to rapidly escalating healthcare costs, Americans in ever increasing numbers have begun to search for alternatives that could reduce their personal out-of-pocket medical expenses. In the last few years, hundreds of thousands of Americans have chosen to become Medical Tourists.
Cost of medical and surgical procedures in Mexico is very low compared to what is paid in the United States. In most cases, the savings from their medical treatment can give people extra money for vacation. Indeed, a patient and his/her family can take a luxury vacation in a Mexican resort and pay for the trip with the savings they receive on getting their procedures in Mexico. Medical Tourism in the city of Guadalajara can certainly be a win-win proposition. While taking care of health needs at big discounts, shopping sprees, sight-seeing, cultural pursuits, and trips to nearby beaches and spas can all be arranged around a medical appointment schedule. Contact http://www.surgicalcareinternational.com for more info.
Here is a web site I found on healthcare tourism safety.
HealthCare Trip (www.healthcaretrip.org),
a HealthCare Tourism International 501 c 3 nonprofit organization in the United States, is an organization that provides safety and accreditation to healthcare tourism service providers including medical tourism operators, hotel chains and transport companies.
They are non-profit and they also have a complaint and dispute resolution service for patients.
http://www.healthcaretrip.org
I’m not sure how safe healthcare tourism is. A lot of doctors are worried about safety issues from developed countries especially. . .
what do you guys think ? Here is one safety/accreditation organization I found.
HealthCare Trip (www.healthcaretrip.org),http://www.healthcaretrip.org
I’m doing a research on the medical tourism in Hong Kong. Your experience is pretty interesting. Do you think Hong Kong can develop the same kind of service as Singapore or Thailand?
Or you have other comments, please get in touch, my e-mail is
lac929@Hotmail.com
Fantastic write-up. Have cross posted at http://healthabroad.net/blog/?m=20070204
Quality is a key concern whenever we talk about seeking medical treatment in a developing country.
It is only keeping this issue of safety and quality of care in mind that JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations), a US based non-profit organization which evaluates and accredits hospitals in the USA has started auditing and accrediting hospitals in other parts of the world including India.
Wockhardt Hospitals, India was the first super-speciality hospital in India to be accredited by JCI (Joint Commission International), the international arm of JCAHO.
The hospital has a very strong and successful base of international patients, who have revelled in their decision to come to India to get first world care at third world cost….and without any cliche.
The hospital has internationally renowned surgeons to perform surgical procedures like Hip Resurfacing surgery, Total Knee Replacement, Heart surgery and cosmetic treatment to name a few.
To know more about the hospital, visit the website http://www.wockhardthospitals.net
To read the real life accounts of common people like you and me who have benefitted from their decision to undergo treatment in the Wockhardt Hospitals, read their stories on my blog.
Informative article!!! Asian countries are truly emerging as the hottest destination for medical tourism. Good medical care and low cost has been a major draw. Medical Tourism
No surprises when the medical tourism destinations are offering medical treatment at much reduced prices in comparison to European and American countries. Besides, availability of worldclass medical facilities are wooing patients from all over the world.
This industry will continue to grow and provide alternatives for people who don’t have insurance or adequate insurance. There are alot of potential risks including governmental intervention and legal issues.
The benefits of medical tourism are manifold - low cost, top quality healthcare (with equal or superior outcomes compared to the US), immediate availability of healthcare service, the opportunity to travel overseas, etc.
But, research is the key. Before setting on the journey abroad, patients must do their proper homework. They must do the research about the various hospitals out there that serve their needs and requirements. They must assure the hospitals have high standard or quality and the surgeons have the right qualifications and experience. Patients must check out the hospital and doctor profiles to their satisfaction. They should get quotes and compare the cost, quality and other offerings by the various healthcare institutions.
For more information log on to Healthbase at http://www.healthbase.com.
Josef Woodman just published the Singapore special edition of his book on medical tourism, Patients Beyond Borders. It is a comprehensive guide for medical travelers thinking about going to Singapore. His website: http://www.patienstbeyondborders.com/
[...] Chris presents Medical Tourism in Asia - Boost your Healthcare and Reap the Cost Savings! | nomad4ever posted at nomad4ever. [...]
[...] Have you been reading about the growing "medical tourism" field? here you have a very upbeat post on how you can Boost your Healthcare and Reap the Cost Savings! (nomad4ever). [...]
I am in Bangkok, Thailand, near Khao San Road and I daily walk by about four dentist offices. I stopped in one day and had my teeth cleaned for 600 Baht or about 18 US Dollars. This is about six dollars more than I think I need to pay in other parts of Thailand. I have had my teeth cleaned two time at the Khon Kaen University dentist school and I think they did twice the quailty of work.
I have traveled for many a year, I highly recommend that a person almost never use any company that is advertising or promoting their services outside their native country. I see the cost as being about 100 percent higher than the normal price. If I was choosing, I would go to a Universtity outside a major city, not for instance Bangkok or Koh Samui or Phuket, some strange city like Korat and Khon Kaen, find a University and talk, talk, and do more talking.
I am amazed at the naive marketing strategies that people fall for…
Just because it is Thailand, does not mean it is cheap.
I also keep looking at a advertisement for dentist laser teeth whitening, says USA FDA etc, and the cost is 6500 Baht or about 200 US to get your teeth whitened. I am not sure, I think this is par or more than the USA. I would like to know? I have been outside the USA for 10 years and do not know the current prices. I think maybe this is more than the USA, and for sure less trustworthy, so a bait and switch, you are in Thailand so cheaper.
I do not talk to other foreigners to learn a good price, I must talk to Thai people.Andy of HoboTraveler.com — Submit Hotel URL Note, I wish explorer was working.
November 2007
Portugal and Spain are new upcoming markets for medical travel. Check out this website: http://www.fly2doc.com
[...] your own Health Status, “repair” what can be done home and decide what medical services would be cheaper to do abroad (e.g. Dental Services are very good and affordable in Thailand or [...]
I’m the author of the book The Complete Medical Tourist and the industry is booming across the world not just in Asia. European destinations like the Iberian peninsular, which has been mentioned, offer competitive rates for people who don’t fancy the idea of flying all the way to Asia wehn they are ill. http://www.davidhancock.eu
Do you think there is potential for developing medical tourism in Hong Kong?
Similar services as Singapore or an other type of medical service??
Or you have other comment??
here is my email
yuyuchui@hotmail.com
sherry - what do you mean? I’m sure there is potential for western foreigners to get cheaper treatment in Hong Kong than in their home countries. But how to develop that, uh, oh - I’m probably the wrong candidate to give recommendations.
Medical tourism is the way of the future. Globalization along with increasing technology provides options consumers as never before. Traveling for health care is becoming the norm. This being said, safety and transparency of information will by hugely important issues.
hope u can write about philippine medical tourism as well.
i am an avid reader of your site.
thanks,
sako
sako, I’m not aware about Philippine Medical Tourism, but maybe you can set me on the right track, I would do some recherche and maybe put some more info online. What medical services are you thinking about?
I can personally recommend Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok for their excellent customer service and high level of medical care. I have had OB/GYN, emergency dental, and serious cardiac problems diagnosed and treated there. Across the board, they are excellent.