Thursday, February 12, 2015

A Medical Tourism Facilitator Can Ease The Route To Treatment Abroad

By Beryl Dalton


Nowadays travelling to distant parts of the planet no longer means an arduous journey that takes months to complete. People now routinely travel to all parts of the world. In the past, people mostly travelled for business and for pleasure but there are other reasons too. One of the biggest growing sectors of the travelling market is medically related. People travel to other countries for health reasons. There are many reasons why they do so, but the services of a reliable medical tourism facilitator are essential.

People have, if fact, been travelling for medicinal purposes for centuries. The Bible abounds with example of people that have undergone great hardship to reach a famed healer or a famous site of healing. This is still the case. Many sites are said to rejuvenate the spirit or to heal specific diseases. In other cases specific individuals are sought after for their special skills.

There are many reasons why people travel abroad for treatment. In numerous cases the treatment required is simply not readily available in the country where the patient resides. In other cases long waiting lists cause patients and their loved ones to despair. If they can afford treatment elsewhere they often opt for it. In some cases huge amounts of money change hands. After all, money is far less important than health.

In many instances people travel because they desire to be treated by a very specific facility or individual. Some hospitals and surgeons have international reputations for achieving success in specific fields. It is not surprising that wealthy patients would desire treatment from that individual or facility, even if it costs them dearly or even if they have to accept strict conditions and adhere to arduous administrative procedures.

Money also plays a very important role. Ill people in countries boasting very strong currencies can often ensure significant savings when they undergo treatment in countries that offer a favourable exchange rate. Countries such as South Africa that boast world class medical facilities are often sought after for specialist treatment. In some cases savings of up to fifty per cent can be achieved.

There are serious ethical issues involved. Very ill people will sometimes go to any length to obtain the treatment that they need. In many cases this treatment is illegal, such as when organs are bought and soled on the black market. Authorities do their best but desperate patients and greedy surgeons will go to extreme lengths to satisfy their individual needs.

Honest patients need to make sure that they employ the services of a specially registered and qualified operator to make all the arrangements for their treatment in a foreign country. There are international and regional bodies controlling this industries and it is certainly better to opt for the legal route. In some parts of the world there are very strict laws against the illegal treatment of foreigners.

It is only reasonable to expect a very ill person or his loved ones to do everything possible to obtain treatment. However, seeking treatment abroad holds many dangers and their are rules to follow. The very best route is to make use of reputable tour operators that specialize in this Type of tourism. They can facilitate the process and make sure that all laws are honoured.




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