HealthAbroad.net: Point of View

The Guardian recently published an article on the boom in medical tourism in Argentina. The country, given its cultural richness and staggering biodiversity, has always held great allure for tourists. The Argentinian penchant for cosmetic surgery and the social acceptance of it has created a huge domestic market, which smart entrepreneurs are turning around to attract foreign travelers as well.

Since 2002, when the local currency peso was devalued, tourist numbers have increased year on year by around 10%, with the country being particularly popular with British tourists. An increasing number of British tourists are coming for plastic surgery available at low cost.

However, cost is not the only driving force with Argentina’s cosmetic surgeons being one of the best in the world. The domestic demand for breast implants, nip and tuck treatments has helped hone the skills of medical professionals in the country. Add to that the jaw dropping beauty of the country with its virgin forests and vistas, snow capped mountains and bucolic beauty, the country has a lot going for it.

Although no accredition system exists for private clinics in Argentina, individual surgeons are required to obtain a medical licence to operate.  Here are some prices for medical tourism packages procured through a third party adency- abdomen liposuction at $1000, penis enlargement at $2500 and a full gastric bypass surgery can be had for $12500. Prices include hotel accomodation, airport transfers and travel advice. English speaking personal assistants are assigned to patients for the length of their stay.

Is this the spark that set off the chain reaction? 

According to news just coming in, at least 40 American businessess have signed a health plan which allows sending employees abroad to India, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, where they could potentially save upto 80% on medical expenses. Read here.

In the last few months, the industry voice on the urgent need for a policy on outsourcing of employee healthcare to low-cost destinations given the exorbitant costs in the US has reached a crescendo. With the pros clearly outweighing the cons, opposition has been rather muted but most clearly come from the United Steel Workers Union (USW), the largest labour union in North America.

The scale and standing of the businesses participating in this health plan is yet and might remain unknown. But will the bigger names follow?    

As India celebrates its Festival of Lights tomorrow, this article points out that image conscious Indians are flocking to cosmetic surgery clinics for nose jobs, tummy tucks and larger breasts.

On the back of a booming economy, the Indian middle class awash with money is spending like never before on “non-essential items” such as plastic surgery. Once upon a time only accessible to the rich, plastic surgery is now within the reach of many more people- including college students to entry level corporate executives. Thomas Friedman would call it the increased democratisation of cosmetic surgery.

Private clinics offer procedures such as nose reconstruction, tummy tucks, liposuction as well as breast augmentation, with prices five times as less than offered in Western countries. So where previously Indians would go to Thailand, Singapore, the UK and the US, now they’re going under the knife right at home.

The West is also dialing in. An increasing number of patients and travelers from the West are coming to India to avail of cheap yet high quality medical treatment. According to some surgeons quoted in the article, almost 30 percent of their clients are now from Europe and the United States.

Already a tourist hotspot, Crotia is now tempting tourists with dental services at less than half prices paid in Western Europe. Services on offer are twice as cheap as in Italy and three of four times cheaper than in England, while the quality is the same or better than what is found in these countries.
Read more here

With its medical tourism program, The Government of Philippines hopes to earn $300 million by tapping into the lucrative Eurpean market. Contact has already been made with hospitals and patients in Russia, Romania, Poland, Itlay and France. The cost of procedures in Philippines cost 80 percent less than their price in Europe. A coronary artery bypass graft that would cost $50,000 in Europe costs only $10,000 in the Philippines.

However, the market is already cluttered and the Philippines will have to compete with Singapore and India which, along with Thailand, have the most successful medical tourism programs in Asia.

Last year, Thailand earned $1.1 billion, India 800 million dollars and Singapore, $300 million. During the same period, the Philippines earned $125 million.

Basic but good background resource. Some good links down at the bottom. Check here.