Medical Tourism Statistics

Every statistic available testifies to the popularity and exponential growth rates of medical tourism. Although the practice of traveling abroad to have a special surgery performed is an ancient concept, today the industry is more about saving money and time than seeking out the world’s best practitioner.

There are currently 28 countries catering to medical tourists, providing care to more than two million foreign patients annually. Many governments in developing countries see medical tourism as an excellent way to boost the local economy while improving their own health-care systems. The costs of a surgery in another country can be as much as 50 per cent less than at home. The savings can be so significant that they are literally ‘life saving’.

The global medical tourism industry is estimated to generate around US$20 billion of dollars per year, and by 2010 it is expected to more than double this amount of revenue. Americans, Canadians and Europeans compose the bulk of all medical tourists, likely due to the costs of surgery in these countries. Hundreds of thousands of Americans travel abroad each year for medical procedures. In Asia, most medical tourists come from Japan and the Middle East.

The main destinations for Americans are India, Mexico, Thailand, Singapore and Costa Rica. An estimated 85 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured, a major factor for seeking medical treatment abroad. Savings can range from 25 per cent up to 75 per cent of the cost to have the procedure done in the US. Over the past five years around 100 hospitals around the world have become JCI accredited, a US-based standard for quality.

Thailand

In 2007, 600,000 foreigners sought medical treatment in Thailand. Bumrungrad Hospital is the world’s largest private hospital complex. Bumrungrad treated more than 440,000 foreigners in 2007 alone. There are four JCI accredited hospitals in Thailand.

Singapore

More than 410,000 foreign patients visited in 2006. The government plans to service one million medical tourists by 2012. There are 13 JCI accredited hospitals in Singapore.

Brazil

Brazil has 4,500 licensed cosmetic surgeons, the highest per capita in the world.

India

More than 450,000 foreign patients sought treatment in 2007. There are 10 JCI accredited hospitals in India.

Malaysia

In 2007, more than 350,000 patients sought medical care. One in five hospitals in Malaysia cater to foreigners.

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