How to Cut Costs During Medical Tourism

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This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice or treatment.

Any time someone talks of touring some foreign country, the thought of luxury quickly rushes to mind; at least for many people. When the term “medical” is added, the thought of mighty pounds surfaces. But in reality, you don’t need to break the bank to finance a foreign tour. Nor do you have to mortgage your house to manage medical tourism.

However, it is understandable that many people might not consider seeking medical attention abroad as a plausible option, considering there is a flight ticket to budget for before one can factor in medical bills. Moreover, for many decades, only the well-to-do in the public limelight have found it worthwhile to invest in aesthetic appearances, which form a big part of the treatments people seek abroad.

The UK has its share of celebrities who have invested in the much-cherished Hollywood Smile. They include Lauren Pope, the reality TV star of the series, “The Only Way is Essex”; Greg Rutherford, known for his Gold-medal win in the long jump; the model, Adam Miller; among others.

These personalities were liberal in their thinking, and they understood the role physical appeal plays in a person’s success in life. Hence, they went out and got themselves beautiful permanent dental treatments, which made everyone forget how unappealing their teeth were before. Their social status must have been positively impacted by their newly acquired smiles, and, very likely, their careers and businesses.

Today, the average person in Britain, and many parts of the world, has become open-minded, and they can well do with a bright smile anywhere, anytime. The only hindrance is there is often the cost involved, and that has led many people to embrace the idea of medical tourism. All that one needs to do today is find out where to find professional health services at affordable rates.

Best Places for Medical-related Tourism

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that the sectors of health and tourism combined are soon going to constitute one of the most important industries in the world. WHO has also noted that medical tourism today constitutes around 2% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Therefore, it is not surprising that many countries that have previously been known as great tourist destinations are making a conscious decision to modernize their medical infrastructure and invest in the training of medical specialists. As such, there is no shortage of destinations in the world today, where medical services and tourist attractions are available at the same time.

Still, if cost is a big incentive for you as you choose your destination, you need to consider your present location. For instance, Latin America has several popular destinations for cheap medical services, including tummy tuck surgeries, but how far is that part of the world from Heathrow, Gatwick, or London Airports?

Other destinations that have become famous in recent years for their affordable medical rates are Costa Rica, Malaysia, Colombia, Thailand, Turkey, and a few more. Among these, Turkey seems to be the only one whose airfare cannot impact significantly the total cost of the medical trip.

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Consider the cost of Travel

For example, the least you are likely to pay for a return air ticket from the UK to Mexico is £700. In the meantime, you can get to Turkey and back from the UK with an air ticket worth less than £100! Logically speaking, where would you rather venture to if the medical services available are of the same standards?

It is noteworthy that any amount of money saved on travel can subsidize the cost of accommodation in a hotel of international standard, and enable you to make many more tours within your host country during your stay.

Consider Political & Social Stability in the Country

Many countries that aim to attract medical tourists from developed economies like Britain have relaxed their VISA requirements. For example, you can travel to Ukraine or Turkey without having to worry about the process of acquiring a VISA, and related costs. Unfortunately, since Russia invaded Ukraine, the country has been an unsafe place to venture.

On the contrary, the democracy Turkey has enjoyed for more than 20yrs remains, and the country is politically and socially stable. Therefore, much as it is common sense to avoid war zones, it also makes economic sense to go where you are unlikely to leave on an emergency basis.

Consider the number of medical specialities available

There have been many instances where people accompanying a patient have found it cost-effective to present their medical cases as well. For example, a relatively young person accompanying an elderly person to Istanbul for hip replacement would benefit from presenting his/her dental issues and getting dental implants during the same trip.

Alternatively, one might just decide to reward himself/herself by getting dental veneers fitted, and go back to the UK with a brilliant Hollywood Smile without having to pay an extra pound for travel, accommodation, or meals!

Hit Several Birds with One Stone!

In short, as long as the destination you choose has a variety of medical services available, you can enjoy a good journey and stay package, and still spare some change for souvenirs.

Taking Turkey as a sample destination for medical tourism, where the cost of travel from the UK corresponds with the availability of specialized medical treatments, it is possible to have a range of dental issues taken care of – in case you visit a modern dental clinic like Smile Dental – and still have a thorough medical checkup at Antalya’s advanced dental clinic.

Alternatively, you can choose to have dental implants fitted at a clinic in Antalya, and take advantage of your trip to have a tummy tuck at a specialized clinic in the same locality.

Also, if you have never stayed at any of the world’s prestigious Four-Seasons Hotels, you can take advantage of the savings you make on hospital bills to book yourself into the one in Istanbul. Even Antalya is not short of hotels of international standards. You can decide to make the Crowne Plaza your temporary home while you recuperate and savour the beauty of the Mediterranean shorelines.

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