The Americas - A Medical Travel Guide

The Americas - a medical travel guideLatin and North America offer a dazzling array of healthcare choices. The USA is home to many of the newest, most advanced medical technologies in the world and its quality controls and monitoring of institutions is second to none. All that comes at a price however and other countries in the region are more than willing to offer a competitive alternative.

The same skills - lower prices

US companies rarely miss the opportunities of new markets and the healthcare sector is no different. Hospital groups in the States have realized the potential of the highly skilled medical professionals lying just beyond their borders and are beginning to invest. The possibilities are endless: Countries such as Costa Rica have excellent, growing reputations in the medical travel. Many tourists from the USA are already familiar with Costa Rica and Mexico as tourist destinations and the creation of high quality, modern medical facilities makes these countries a great destination for the Medical Tourist.

Location, location

With the Mexican border a tempting short drive from the southern United States a growing regional industry seems assured. The Caribbean and Costa Rica also offer short hops from the US and have the advantage of tourist facilities already in place for the American tourist. The journey south also offers the benefits of a jet-lag free ride with the possibility of phoning home without having to check the clock before dialling. Fast growing, technologically facing societies offer the possibilities of quality healthcare to the region at prices far below those available in the USA.

A sleeping giant

Further still to the south are the almost limitless possibilities offered by South America’s largest nation. There are over 4000 practicing cosmetic surgeons in Brazil and the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgeons is the second largest society of its kind in the world*. Several hospitals demonstrated their dedication to modernization and attaining the highest international standards: Accreditation by the Joint Commission International (JCI) has already been granted to 9 hospitals. Yet for all this Brazil is as yet only a marginal Medical Tourism destination. With a ready supply of homegrown patients and internal regulations preventing self-promotion of services by medical professionals little is being done to advertise the country’s many advantages.

 

 *http://www.cirurgiaplastica.org.br/english/index.htm