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Top ten countries in the health tourism industry
Seeking to increase the quality of health care, many people around the world, especially in developed countries, are looking for high quality health services. Tourism
Top ten countries in the health tourism industry
Seeking to increase the quality of health care, many people around the world, especially in developed countries, are looking for high quality health services. Health tourism is one of the new trends in the contemporary healthcare industry. According to the CDC, (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), health tourism refers to travel to another country for medical care. They reduce the wait for patients.
The top 10 countries that have the most visits by health tourists for their prestigious hospitals, quality treatment and affordable medical services are:
• Thailand
• India
• Brazil
• Malaysia
• Türkiye
• Mexico
• Costa Rica
• Taiwan
• South Korea
• Singapore
It is no wonder why there is a large volume of health tourism trips to these countries. In addition to reducing treatment costs, many hospitals in these areas have a successful history in achieving and committing to quality health care. This is due to high skill with international expert doctors and experienced medical staff as well as excellent medical infrastructure and facilities.
In the following article, the best countries in health tourism will be examined based on the latest information obtained in 2020. Some of the features of these countries are the possibility of performing routine surgery, medical facilities and services at reasonable prices, comfort and patient satisfaction. In the following, the characteristics of these medical destinations and the factors affecting the growth of health tourism in them will be discussed.
1. Thailand Health tourism in Thailand 
Thailand has always been one of the best health tourism destinations in the world. There are about 44 accredited hospitals in Thailand, and recently, Thailand has issued visas to citizens of countries that belong to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. ...
There are more than 1,000 hospitals in Thailand, of which more than 470 are private facilities. The country is proud of having the largest private hospital in Asia and also having the first hospital in Asia that has ISO 9001 certification and JCI accreditation. To date, 37 hospitals in Thailand have been accredited by JCI, all of which are private.
Thailand is a leading health tourism destination in Asia. Health tourism is growing in Thailand, and the number of health tourists coming to Thailand has been steadily increasing since the early 2000s. This has made this country to be at the top of the global health tourism market. The main reasons that have enabled Thailand to dominate this growing market are:
• Low cost for medical treatment.
• High quality medical services provided by private medical centers.
• Progress and development of the tourism industry in Thailand.
2. India
Health tourism in India
Being the land of Ayurveda and yoga therapy, India attracts medical tourists from all over the world. Many tourists from different countries including the Middle East, Canada, and the United States visit India for affordable medical treatment, especially in the fields of fertility, orthopedics, heart problems, oncology, and organ transplants.
Health tourism in India is known for its zero waiting time for treatment, which means that after the initial diagnosis of the disease, surgery is performed without delay, and this is one of the important points for attracting health tourists to this country.
In recent years, India has become a top destination for medical travel and for the use of health care services because of the wide range of factors that determine the overall quality of care in Indian health tourism. Imagine having a complex surgery performed in a world-class hospital by highly-accredited medical professionals at one-fifth to one-tenth the price of what would normally be done. One of the positive features of health tourism in India is the high quality of treatment, a wide range of procedural and treatment options, infrastructure and skilled manpower to perform any medical procedure and zero waiting time.
3. Brazil
Health tourism in Brazil
Brazil is one of the top destinations in the world for people looking for beauty treatments. By having a cosmetic and plastic surgery center, Brazil offers high-quality cosmetic and plastic surgery services at reasonable rates and attracts more health tourists to the country. Almost 300,000 foreign travelers went to Brazil for plastic surgery last year. Brazil has a dedicated healthcare industry that is the best you can find in Latin America. In addition, the climate and the relaxing and cozy environment of this beautiful land allow people to follow their treatment steps while enjoying the environment they are in.
4. Singapore
Medical tourism in Singapore
Singapore is one of the most advanced countries in the world. Due to its highly advanced facilities, this country is one of the top medical hubs in Asia and offers excellent medical services in specialties such as oncology and cardiology. This drug even uses stem cells in cell therapy and thus involves the use of bone marrow stem cells to treat diseases such as leukemia.
Singapore is one of the top medical tourism destinations in the world. With relatively low healthcare costs, modern medical technology and highly experienced doctors, Singapore's private hospitals provide excellent medical services. In 2000, Singapore was ranked sixth in the World Health Organization's ranking of health care systems, and the city retained this position in the 2012 top 10 list.
In Bloomberg's 2018 Healthcare Productivity Rankings, Singapore was ranked 2nd, only behind Hong Kong. Medical tourism patients in Singapore easily attract health tourism patients by observing the quality of health care. Singapore has set up International Patient Service Centers (IPSCs) that operate like "medical travel agencies". IPSCs are specifically designed for health tourists and overseas patients and are attached to hospitals to provide information and assistance to international patients. IPSCs provide hospital quotes to patients and coordinate appointments with healthcare professionals.
5. Malaysia
Health tourism in Malaysia
Malaysia is one of the health and medical sightseeing spots for health tourism. Despite the country's large English-speaking population, many Americans consider it a good land for medical care. Hospitals in Malaysia offer low-cost options for fertility treatment, and more than half a million health tourists visit the country annually. Malaysian hospitals are famous for treating burns.
Malaysia is fast becoming a strong contender in the global health and medical tourism sector. Considering the potential of health tourism as a foreign currency, the Malaysian government has taken a series of measures to strengthen Malaysia as a health tourism destination. Health tourism in Malaysia consists of two main categories: medical tourism and wellness program. Patients can choose one of Malaysia's internationally recognized hospitals for medical treatment and stay there during the congestive or convalescent period. Or they can travel to Malaysia for vacation by checking out the various forms of wellness programs available in Malaysia.
Competitive medical costs and modern medical facilities are the two main factors that make Malaysia a popular destination among health tourists. Patients can be treated and cured anywhere in the world for much less than what it would cost them for a treatment in other countries. In summary, the factors that have helped make Malaysia a good medical tourism center in the region are:
• A safe and politically stable country.
• A wide selection of world-class infrastructure facilities, for example the National Heart Institute and the National International Eye Hospital.
• Competitive and affordable pricing and favorable exchange rate.
• Experienced and skilled consultants with internationally recognized qualifications.
• Malaysia's multi-cultural and multi-racial society has the potential to accept patients from different cultures and religions.
• Communication is easy and the medical staff is English speaking.
• Having advanced technologies, such as MRI, scanning, PET scanner for early detection of cancer and other diseases, cyber hemp that is able to radiation treat tumors without causing damage to nearby vital structures.
• Attractive and affordable packages during the recovery period.
• High quality and safety system, such as ISO and Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) accreditation.
• The Ministry of Health, Malaysia has set up a Health Industry and Corporate Policy Department to promote medical tourism and related health products including traditional medicine etc.
6. Türkiye
Health tourism in Türkiye
Turkey's lovely scenery and top medical services invite people from all over the world to Turkey with the best medical care methods, especially in cardiac care, cancer and orthopedics. The country is also known as one of the leading places for eye treatment in the world. Due to the affordability of hospitals in this country, laser vision treatments are also very popular in Turkey. The famous Turkish hospital "D'nyagöz" group operates many eye care centers in the country and is popular among foreign patients. Every year, approximately 10,000 medical tourists from 100 countries travel to this country.
According to the Ankara Health Tourism Association (ASTUD), Turkey is well established in the health tourism industry and is expected to account for twenty billion dollars in the global health tourism market by 2023. In the last ten years, the number of medical tourists in the world has exceeded ten million people, and its annual turnover is over 100 billion dollars.
Turkey offers a variety of medical services: eye diseases, orthopedics and pathology, internal medicine, otolaryngology, gynecology and obstetrics, general surgery, oral and maxillofacial diseases, neurosurgery, skin diseases and children's diseases. . Leading beauty procedures in Türkiye: hair transplant, plastic and dental surgery. The diversity of Türkiye's medical services has created a positive point for attracting international health tourists and retirees.
7. Mexico
Health tourism in Mexico
Mexico's popularity in medical tourism is increasing. This is due to the proximity to the United States and affordable treatments in Mexico. Compared to the United States, treatment in Mexico can save you 40-65% on costs. Its proximity to the United States and relatively low travel costs have attracted Americans and Canadians. Among these people are Mexican Americans who return to their doctor/dentist home and save their money.
Mexico was originally famous for dentistry and cosmetic surgery. However, its orthopedic procedures are now adding to health tourism attractions in Mexico. With state-of-the-art facilities comparable to American hospitals, Mexico has become one of the top destinations for US medical tourists. According to the World Health Organization, Mexico's healthcare system ranks 61st in the world. Private hospitals in Mexico are generally comparable in quality and care to hospitals in the United States. There are medical packages that offer accommodation and follow-up care away from urban areas and close to vibrant beaches.
8. Costa Rica
Health tourism in Costa Rica
Savings is what makes Costa Rica one of the best countries for medical tourism in the world. Costa Rica's primary medical tourism services are dentistry and cosmetic surgery, but also orthopedics, bariatric, and eye surgery, and a host of other procedures. Costa Rica has significant activity in the field of health tourism. Research and clinical initiatives also increase Costa Rica's capacity to treat patients with heart disease, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, pain management and diabetes. In addition to savings, Costa Rica's warm climate and beauty also contribute greatly to medical tourism in Costa Rica.
9. South Korea
Health tourism in South Korea
The Republic of Korea is a country with boundless potential with advanced hospitals, supercomputers for treatment and innovative methods. The Bloomberg Innovation Index 2018 named Korea the most creative country for 3 consecutive years. And the government plans to use these achievements to promote medical tourism.
Why has South Korea's medical tourism developed?
-Save money
Patients from the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Japan make a medical trip to Korea to find affordable treatments compared to their homeland. The explanation for such a difference is in pricing in the Korean government. This system supports affordable healthcare and sets prices for many procedures. Some medical institutions offer package prices, especially for plastic surgery and examinations. This helps a medical tourist save 40% on medical expenses, even including flight and accommodation.
- Advanced treatment options
The people of China, Kazakhstan and Russia choose the Republic of Korea because of modern hospitals equipped with modern methods. These hospitals have IT systems from major leading Korean technical companies such as Hyundai, Samsung, LG.
- Quality of medical services
The quality of medical services in local hospitals is under the control of national and international organizations. 55 Korean medical centers are licensed by the Ministry of Health, Medical and Local Welfare to serve international medical tourists. 26 medical centers are JCI (Joint Commission International) certified as accredited medical care providers.
- Qualification of doctors
After 10-12 years of study, Korean doctors have a strong educational base. During the training period, they have an internship abroad. Most of the doctors have national and international certificates as proof of their high level skills.
- Conducting clinical trials
In 2018, South Korea ranked sixth in the world in terms of the amount of clinical trials provided. The country is one of the largest research hubs for companies dealing with pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, medical devices. Therefore, the patient can access all the innovations in treatment more easily.
10. Taiwan
Health tourism in Taiwan
With modern cities, hot spring resorts, and impressive mountainous terrain, Taiwan has the perfect conditions to attract tourists. Taiwan maintains a stable industrial economy due to rapid industrial growth and high economic growth, dubbed the "Taiwan Miracle", thanks to its booming technology market. Tourism plays an important role in Taiwan's economy, and visitors from the People's Republic of China serve as a major factor in this booming sector.
After decades of economic growth, Taiwan began health reforms in the 1980s that evaluated foreign health care systems and finally established a national health insurance model by 1995. Through the government, this public institution provides universal coverage to all citizens and legal residents of the nation - the insurer owns the premium payment divided by the workplace and its employers, as well as flat rates and sometimes full government subsidies for the lower classes. As a result, Taiwanese people do not need to worry about going bankrupt due to exorbitant medical bills. The existing structure in Taiwan also allows for a private health care system that serves both foreigners and native Taiwanese seeking additional or complementary services.
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