According to the Medical Tourism Index, which evaluates the attractiveness of countries for medical travel, the country’s economy and public image, the cost of medical care and the quality of care are the main factors driving the growth of medical tourism in the country of destination. Factors that have led to the growing popularity of medical travel include the high cost of medical care, long waiting times for certain procedures, the ease and affordability of international travel, and improvements in technology and service standards in many villages.
Wellness tourism, however, is not just for Americans — according to Patients Without Borders, an estimated 8 million patients from around the world seek treatment abroad each year, contributing to a $24 billion to $40 billion global industry. According to Patient Beyond Borders, more than 250,000 foreign patients enter the country each year, usually in major cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. Hospitals and clinics across Mexico treat more than 1 million foreign patients each year, mostly Hispanic patients from California, Arizona and Texas who return home for treatment.
Most foreign patients seeking medical care in Malaysia are from Indonesia, fewer foreign patients are from India, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Europe, the US and the Middle East. About half a million medical tourists come to Malaysia every year, most of them from Asia, as well as the UK, Australia and the Middle East. Malaysia is a prime destination for medical tourists from other Asian countries who often travel there for low-cost routine examinations and examinations. Along with Thailand and Singapore, India is one of the top three medical tourism destinations in Asia.
According to the Medical Tourism Country Ranking, Thailand is considered one of the best destinations in the world to receive medical services. The Medical Tourism Index ranks Dubai as the top medical destination in the Arab region due to its world-class hospitals and international doctors covering a range of specialties. Singapore ranks second in the Medical Tourism Index and ranks first in the country for the quality of medical facilities and services. The country is listed by MTI as the preferred medical tourism destination in Europe because of its excellent medical services and wonderful travel experience for international patients.
Gleneagles Hospital was recently named one of the world’s top 10 hospitals for medical tourism by the Medical Travel Quality Alliance, and according to the World Health Organization, Singapore is the best country in Asia (and the sixth best country in the world) when it comes to healthcare. Gleneagles Hospital has been ranked as one of the top 10 hospitals in the world by the medical tourism group, but many other hospitals also offer excellent care.
The medical infrastructure in foreign-friendly hospitals is said to be excellent, and of course the prices are significantly lower than in the West. The medical infrastructure in foreign-friendly hospitals is excellent, and most of the country’s doctors are educated in the Western world or in Singapore, which means they are fluent in English. The medical staff mostly speaks English and Panama is a well developed country in the region with good connections.
