Over the past decade, some countries have become priority destinations for medical tourism. This type of travel involves traveling to receive highly specialized medical care that is also relatively cost-effective. Find out about the 8 best countries for medical tourism in 2023

Get more rules and restrictions in 200 countries

DETAILS

Is it possible to get high-quality medical services while paying for them 10 times less than in the country of residence? Yes of course.

According to the Medical Tourism Association, about 14 million people in the world annually travel to other countries in search of medical care. The costs of treatment in Western Europe and the USA are constantly increasing. At the same time, many states are actively developing their own health care system. The hospitals of these countries employ highly qualified specialists who are fluent in English, and the cost of services here is much lower than in the USA or Great Britain.

In which countries is it better to have an expensive operation? Let's talk further.

European Health Insurance Card. Read here how to get preferential medical care in the EU countries.

● Panama

Panama is widely known as the best place to get a second passport or retire. However, in recent years, the state has been actively developing medical tourism. Panama is a well-developed Central American country with one of the most stable economies in the world. Private hospitals in Panama offer high-quality medical care that is not inferior to large hospitals in North America. The dental implant procedure is particularly popular in Panama.

English language level: the staff is mostly English-speaking.

Visa requirements: Citizens of the USA, Canada, EU countries and most other countries of the world can stay in Panama for 180 days without a visa.

● Costa Rica

Costa Rica is also one of the most developed and migrant-friendly countries in Central America. The state also offers an excellent selection of services for medical tourists.

You can get medical help here both in private and in public hospitals. The cost of a complex operation or a visit to the doctor is often four times lower than in the United States.

About 40,000 people visited Costa Rica last year solely for the purpose of medical tourism, and 15,000 of those visited Costa Rica for dental treatment. Dental tourism is booming in the "Central American Switzerland", here a dental implant procedure will cost about $4,000, for comparison in the USA or Canada the minimum cost is $10,000. Even with plane tickets and accommodation, it's a great deal.

English language level: most doctors speak English.

Visa requirements: citizens of the USA, Canada, Great Britain and EU countries can visit Costa Rica without a visa, the period of stay is within 90 days.

● The Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a great European country that offers quality healthcare at prices much lower than most EU countries. The state is known for teeth whitening services and cosmetology procedures.

You can save up to 60% of the cost, compared to the UK, on cosmetic surgery: breast augmentation or nose shape correction.

A nice bonus is that Prague is recognized as one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe and is included in the list of the best European cities to live in.

English language level: the staff is mostly English-speaking.

Visa requirements: EU and EEA citizens can visit and stay in the Czech Republic without any restrictions. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand can visit the Czech Republic without a visa for a maximum of 90 days.

● Turkey

The medical sector in Turkey is actively developing. There are world-class treatment centers and health resorts in the country. Most tourists go to Turkey for dental services and cosmetic surgery.

The Republic of Turkey is also known for its ophthalmological services. The most expensive operation here costs about $5,000.

Thanks to the close ties between Turkey and the EU, most doctors have European education and work according to the medical protocols of European countries.

English language level: most specialists speak English.

Visa Requirements: Citizens of 78 countries around the world (including USA, Australia, Canada, EU, etc.) do not need to obtain a visa before traveling to Turkey. The permitted period of stay is from 90 to 180 days.

● India

In recent years, India has become the best destination for health tourism, offering high-quality surgical operations at low prices. The country specializes in bone marrow transplants, eye surgery and hip transplants or replacements. The state is also the best place for heart bypass surgery. In institutions such as the Asian Heart Institute, this procedure will cost less than $10,000. The cost of a similar operation in the USA and EU countries is more than $100,000.

There are more and more stories when citizens of Western European countries travel to India to perform complex operations and save up to 75% of their cost. The state is widely known for its advanced medical services and facilities. Doctors, as a rule, have a high level of training.

In the future, the Republic of India is expected to generate about $2 billion in revenue from overseas patients and host about 100,000 medical tourists annually. The country's government is working on simplifying entry rules and relaxing visa restrictions.

English language level: most specialists are English-speaking, and Indian doctors also hire translators to treat non-English-speaking patients.

Visa Requirements: The vast majority of visitors from abroad require a visa to India. An electronic visa or e-Visa is available for many nationalities. The estimated cost of the permit is $67.

● Thailand

Thailand has long been one of the best medical tourism destinations in the world, with low healthcare prices and excellent service. Every year, medical tourism in the country grows by 16%. The medical system is valued for offering a wide range of surgeries and other medical procedures. Most of the doctors in the country are highly qualified specialists, because they were trained in EU countries, the USA or Singapore.

In Thailand, inexpensive plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures are performed. A face lift that can cost $15,000 in the US will only cost $2,500-$3,000 here. The cost of heart bypass surgery is 80% lower than in the US, about $25,000.

Experts recommend staying in Bangkok rather than coastal resort towns for access to the best doctors and care.

English language level: most doctors speak excellent English, nurses are usually English speakers as well.

Visa requirements: Citizens of the EU, USA, Canada and Great Britain have the right to enter Thailand without a visa and stay in the country for up to 30 days.

● Singapore

Singapore has one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world. For many years, it has been a center for medical tourism for both Asians and residents of the EU and the US. The World Health Organization considers Singapore to be the country with the best health care system in Asia and the sixth in the world.

The country's main specialty is cancer treatment. Singapore's Gleneagles Hospital has entered the top ten best hospitals in the world.

You will pay more in Singapore than in places like Thailand, but the quality of life in Singapore is second to none. Life expectancy in Singapore is several years longer than in Great Britain. By many standards, this city-state has the world's lowest infant mortality rate.

If you are looking for the most developed country for cheap surgery, Singapore is for you.

English language level: most doctors are fluent in English.

Visa requirements: Citizens of the European Union, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States can stay in Singapore without a visa for up to 90 days.

● Malaysia

Thanks to the country's developed infrastructure and low prices, Malaysia is visited by more than half a million medical tourists every year - most of them from Asia.

Malaysia has built healthcare facilities that compete with Singapore at much lower prices. Prince Court Medical Center has been named the number one hospital for international patients by the Medical Travel Quality Alliance.

Hospitals in Malaysia offer IVF services five times cheaper than in EU countries. Complex burn treatment is also available here.

A general medical examination, which costs several thousand dollars in US clinics, will cost a patient a couple of hundred dollars in Malaysia.

English language level: quite high.

Visa requirements: citizens of China, USA, and EU countries can stay without a visa for a period of 30 to 90 days.

If you are looking for high-quality medical care without excessive costs, we advise you to pay attention to these eight countries. Take out a health insurance policy to receive care in other countries of the world, while paying a moderate monthly premium.

Read about the rules for issuing medical visas on the Visit World portal or consult a highly qualified lawyer.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Medical insurance all over the world;

Legal advice from a local specialist on visa and migration issues (to receive the service, select the country of interest and citizenship).

More articles on the topic: 

Healthcare systems in the US and UK: what barriers do immigrants face?