• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Panama
      • Portugal
      • Colombia
      • Northern Cyprus
      • Belize
      • Spain
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Indonesia
      • Vietnam
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Panama
      • Portugal
      • Colombia
      • Northern Cyprus
      • Belize
      • Spain
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Indonesia
      • Vietnam
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result
Home Health Care

Our Top 5 Destinations For Medical Tourism

Live And Invest Overseas by Live And Invest Overseas
Sep 29, 2020
in Health Care, Lifestyle, Mexico, Panama, Portugal, Thailand
0 0
0
Medical tourism

iStock/Visivasnc

259
SHARES
3.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

What is Medical Tourism?

Medical tourism is simply traveling to a foreign country with the primary purpose of seeking medical attention.

As healthcare costs rise in the US and other parts of the world, the search for affordable medical care often leads people to travel to countries that offer great medical care at a reduced price. In fact, this kind of tourism has become so popular that it is now a multibillion-dollar industry.

Some people may be concerned that paying a lower price means receiving lower quality, but this isn’t necessarily true in the case of medical tourism. The lowered costs of foreign medical costs are more often related to the nation’s economic status rather than the quality of service. That said, anyone interested in medical tourism should asses both the destination and the procedure they are traveling for. It is best to check if the facility where you are seeking care is accredited and recommended by international referral networks.

Often people who travel for medical tourism are seeking a specific type of treatment. Common treatments sought overseas include, but are not limited to, dentistry, cosmetic surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, and organ transplants.

While most people who travel for medical treatment are going mainly for the lowered price of treatment, many people find an opportunity to seek medical treatment, and enjoy a great vacation at the same time. With all these considerations in mind here is our top five list (in no particular order) of the best destinations for medical tourism.

Thailand

Ko Phi Phi Island - Thailand
iStock/EPasqualli

Thanks to its combination of low costs, and high-quality treatment, Thailand is a great place to visit for medical tourism. In fact, in Thailand the official government policy is that Thailand is a “Hub of Wellness and Medical Services”. And the government has put in place a set of progressive policies to help them achieve that status. In 2016 the government rolled out a ten-year plan to turn Thailand into the “Medical Hub of Asia”.

And if you plan on using medical tourism as an opportunity to get some regular touring in as well, Thailand is known as the “Land of Smiles”, and it’s easy to see

why. With many breathtaking beaches, misty mountains, golf courses, kick boxing events, and friendly locals it is easy to see why Thailand is also a tourist and expat hub. To top it off the cost of living in Thailand is cheap. It is arguably the cheapest place in the world to live.

Panama

Skyline of Panama City, Panama
iStock/Jan-Schneckenhaus

Medical tourism is on the rise in Panama. Although currently, there are only two hospitals in Panama accredited by the JCI, other top hospitals in the country, and many of the private hospitals, are accredited by the Panamanian government and other non-government sources. Many of the doctors in Panama are trained in the US and this can bee seen in the facilities, treatment and practices.

Panama has been dubbed the “Hub of the Americas”, and it is an ideal country to live in or visit, especially for those traveling from Canada or the United States. The locals are friendly, the cost of living (while not as cheap as other locations) is very affordable, it has numerous beaches (both on the Pacific and the Caribbean), and the atmosphere is laid-back and easy going.

Malaysia

Penang Bridge, Malaysia
iStock/KeongDaGreat

Another location where medical tourism is booming is Malaysia. Hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and Penang were among the first in Asia to be accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), and prices for treatment in Malaysia are about half of what they would be in the United States.

In Malaysia you can experience a very unique and great culture. With a diverse population of Chinese, and Indian ethnicities, Malaysia is an excellent place to partake in exotic festivals, foods and traditions. Malaysia is also very welcoming to foreigners, and they offer great incentives like the Malaysian My Second Home Visa Program.

Mexico

Traditional decorations in streets in Mexico
iStock/Marcos Elihu Castillo Ramirez

Over a million visitors from all around the world travel to Mexico every year to get medical treatment. Mexico is a popular medical tourism location for United States citizens since it is so close. On top of that you can get high-quality treatment for a fraction of the cost that you would pay in the United States. Mexico has 7 hospitals accredited by the JCI and they offer a wide set of treatments.

Mexico is the most accessible country to the United States and Canada and is a wonderful place to visit or live in. Home to the largest population of North

American expats in the world, Mexico is a diverse country with a lot to offer visitors such as, great beaches, jungles, Mayan ruins, rain forests, rivers and lakes. And the food is excellent, Mexico is a foodie’s heaven. The sheer variety of food in Mexico is mind-blowing… and it’s delicious.

Portugal

Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal
iStocktock/Jacek_Sopotnicki

Portugal often ranks highly on the WHO list of countries with the best healthcare in the world. So, it is no surprise that this country is a top choice for medical tourism. They have 14 JCI accredited facilities and many other facilities are working hard to earn that prestigious accreditation. Medical procedures are offered at a low cost, they have clean facilities, well-trained staff, the latest in medical technology, and they offer a wide variety of procedures that may be hard to find in other places.

Don’t let Portugal’s small size fool you. Portugal offers a wide variety of things for tourists to do, they have some of the best golf courses in the world, there are medieval ruins, fishing villages, open-air markets and beautiful beaches. English is spoke in most of Portugal and the people are friendly and welcoming to foreigners. To top it off Portugal also ranks as the 17th safest country in the world.

Portugal has a website dedicated to medical tourism, follow this link for more information.

If you are in need of expensive medical treatment it is definitely a good idea to look abroad and find out what your options are. Here are a few more resources to help you find the ideal location for your treatment or procedures.

A full list of the best medical tourism destinations can be found at the Medical Tourism Index.

Follow this link for more information on JCI accredited organizations.

Click here for CDC information on Medical Tourism.

Tags: 'health care'and organ transplantscardiac surgerycosmetic surgerydentistryhealthmedical tourismneurosurgeryorthopedic surgery
Share108Tweet63
Live And Invest Overseas

Live And Invest Overseas

Live and Invest Overseas is the world's savviest source for top opportunities to live better, retire in style, invest for profit, do business, and own real estate overseas. Established in 2008, the Live and Invest Overseas' editors and correspondents have more experience researching and reporting on top opportunities for living well, investing for profit, doing business, and owning real estate around the world than anyone else you'll find.

Related Posts

iStock/espiegle
Lifestyle

Live On An Island Like Royalty For A Bargain

by Bart Walters
March 21, 2023
0

About 20 years ago, I made a trip to Vancouver, Canada, in February. It was cold, rainy, dark, and miserable....

Read more
A beautiful beach in Faro, Portugal

Faro, Portugal, Is Not What I Expected

March 20, 2023
Douro river in Porto, Portugal

Life In Porto: The City That Beats To The Rhythm Of Its Own Drum

March 16, 2023
View of the seaside town of Dunmore East, County Waterford, Ireland.

How We Made Friends While Living Abroad

March 12, 2023
Panama City, Panama

Why Panama City Continues To Be A Great Place To Invest

March 2, 2023
Overview of Coronado Beach near Panama City, Panama

Coronado, Panama

February 27, 2023
Historic Church of Bom Jesus do Monte and her public garden in Braga, Portugal

Why Braga, Portugal, Captured Our Hearts

February 23, 2023

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas ...

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.

Get Your Free Portugal Report Today!

​​Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our ​FREE REPORT — Portugal: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven.

Get Your Free Panama Report Today!

​​Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT - 101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama.
 

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2023

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Download your FREE report on

The Best Places To Retire In 2023

New Year, New You, New Life Overseas

Get Your Free ​Mexico Report Today!
 

​​​Learn more about ​​​MEXICO ​​​and other countries in our free, daily Overseas Opportunity Letter​​​​​​​​​. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you our FREE REPORT – ​​​Mexico: Home To The World's Largest Population Of North American Retirees
 

Get Your Free ​Portugal Report Today!
 

​​Learn more about ​​PORTUGAL ​​​and other countries in our free, daily Overseas Opportunity Letter​​​​​​​​​. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you our FREE REPORT — Portugal — The World’s Number #1 Retirement Haven
 

Get Your Free Panama Report Today!
 

​​Learn more about ​​​PANAMA and other countries in our free, daily Overseas Opportunity Letter​​, as well as our ​In Focus: ​Panama ​newsletter​​​​​​. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you our FREE REPORT – ​​​101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama.