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Home > Archive > Lasik Eyes Surgery > June 2005 > Medical Tourism
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| I've noticed that medical tourism is getting more press. There are
travel packages to places worldwide to have any medical procedure done
from LASIK to plastic surgery. This is more than popping over the border
into Canada or Mexico to have a cheap procedure. It involves a complete
package, airfare, airport/hotel/hospital transfers, five star hotels,
tours, recuperation, and even safaris (in South Africa). India and
Thailand are leading the industry, followed by South Africa, Cuba and
Belgium.
Here's one example:
http://www.phuket-health-travel.com/lasik.htm
Another (that doesn't include LASIK yet, but that's only a matter of
time):
http://www.medinindia.com/aboutus.aspx
Anybody on this NG a "Medical Tourist"? Please share your experiences,
good and bad.
--
~RT
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| serebel 2005-06-20, 10:55 pm |
| It's actually a good thing considering how slow the FDA is in the US.
If one wanted a certain cancer drug for instance he or she would have
to travel abroad. Its a matter of choice.
SErebel
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| "RT" wrote
news:RTMD24-69668E.22353620062005@newssvr13-ext.news.prodigy.com...
> I've noticed that medical tourism is getting more press. There are
> travel packages to places worldwide to have any medical procedure done
> from LASIK to plastic surgery.
Nice to see a normal post, in stead of the usual flameposts and fighting.
Most known here (The Netherlands) are the packages to Turkey. Many have pre-
(& post-) op consultations in The Netherlands and charter flights with hotel
and the lasik procedure in Istanbul. Arrangements differ from a 3-star hotel
for 3 days, to 5-stars for 5 days and a sightseeing tour (don't know whether
that's before or after the treatment *grin*). It's all payed for in advance
in The Netherlands and most offer abroad Dutch (translator help) assistance.
Also known -but much less- are those who have packages to Tunisia (Tunis) or
Slovakia (Bratislava). Finally there are those who go on their own to
Belgium where it's more expensive than Turkey, but still a lot cheaper than
most (not all) clinics in The Netherlands.
> Anybody on this NG a "Medical Tourist"?
I'll be one, but I don't think it counts. I'm off to visit family abroad and
have made an appointment with a laserclinic there aswell. Ticket plus the
lasikcosts together is about the same and one of those Turkey packages, but
then again... I'm going to see my familty and have a relaxing 6 weeks abroad
;-)
Greetings,
*tada!*
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| Glenn - USAEyes.org 2005-06-21, 5:54 pm |
| In American sensibilities, traveling from The Netherlands to Tunis for
LASIK may sound quite odd and even dangerous, however Europeans with
smaller countries seem to be quite accustomed to traveling to other
countries for care.
In North America, it seems most of the travel is north to Canada,
although some clinics in Mexico have strong practices. The monetary
exchange rate makes Canada an enticing destination, and there is less
of a language barrier.
Due to the inordinate amount of time required to achieve FDA approval
for a medical device, there are occasions where foreign surgery may be
beneficial to the patients.
We caution international travelers to recognize that they are having
foreign surgery and they will not have the medical-legal recourse that
they would have available if they stay within their own borders.
Additionally, many doctors will not provide care to patients with
foreign surgery (beyond emergency care, of course). Anyone
considering international travel for surgery may want to read
http://www.usaeyes.org/faq/subjects/travel.htm
Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
USAEyes.org
"Consider and Choose With Confidence"
Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org
http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org
I am not a doctor.
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| Ragnar 2005-06-22, 8:55 am |
| There are some pros and cons of medical tourism.
Pro's is that you might get a lower price, better treatment, access to
a surgeon or equipment not available near your location.
Con's include the possibilty of being swindled by some quack
treatment, lack of followup visits or retreatments.
I recall that the room filled at the LASIK mill LVI was filled with
patients who had flown in from other areas of the country to get that
diskount lazer treetmant frum "most experienced surgeons" - surgeons
who show up for the day to push the button on the laser as many times
as they can in 6 hours and never see that patient again.
On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 18:38:32 +0200, "Thur" <thur@zoekmaarop.invalid>
wrote:
>"RT" wrote
>news:RTMD24-69668E.22353620062005@newssvr13-ext.news.prodigy.com...
>
>
>Nice to see a normal post, in stead of the usual flameposts and fighting.
>
>Most known here (The Netherlands) are the packages to Turkey. Many have pre-
>(& post-) op consultations in The Netherlands and charter flights with hotel
>and the lasik procedure in Istanbul. Arrangements differ from a 3-star hotel
>for 3 days, to 5-stars for 5 days and a sightseeing tour (don't know whether
>that's before or after the treatment *grin*). It's all payed for in advance
>in The Netherlands and most offer abroad Dutch (translator help) assistance.
>Also known -but much less- are those who have packages to Tunisia (Tunis) or
>Slovakia (Bratislava). Finally there are those who go on their own to
>Belgium where it's more expensive than Turkey, but still a lot cheaper than
>most (not all) clinics in The Netherlands.
>
>
>
>I'll be one, but I don't think it counts. I'm off to visit family abroad and
>have made an appointment with a laserclinic there aswell. Ticket plus the
>lasikcosts together is about the same and one of those Turkey packages, but
>then again... I'm going to see my familty and have a relaxing 6 weeks abroad
>;-)
>Greetings,
>
>*tada!*
>
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| In article <cMCdnfSeucoV3yXfRVnyrA@casema.nl>,
"Thur" <thur@zoekmaarop.invalid> wrote:
> I'll be one, but I don't think it counts.
Thanks for your reply and all the info. Please let us know what happens
with your procedure. Best of luck!
Anyone with a medical tourism story? Not the pros and cons of the
practice/industry, but someone's actual experience, or someone like Thur
who is planning to become a medical tourist?
--
~RT
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