| Some of the countries that are preferred for the | | | | equipments, latest technologies and also with high |
| medical tour destinations provide all features as well as | | | | trained physicians etc. Hence with all these credentials, |
| facilities with lower cost packages. Experts strongly | | | | Brazil will be predicted to become one of the best as |
| believe that these medical tourism destinations will | | | | well as dominant economic countries in the world. |
| create a positive impact on the country's economy | | | | Moreover, people from any place in the United States |
| and also for the benefits of traders and patients. The | | | | can reach Brazil within 8 to 12 hours by airways. |
| phenomenon of the medical tourism destinations would | | | | MALAYSIA: |
| also encourage the investors from the foreign | | | | Medical tourism industry has been growing rapidly in |
| countries who hold interest with those countries. | | | | Malaysia during recent years. People from several |
| You can find the best service as well as attendance | | | | countries seeking healthcare treatment in Malaysia has |
| from these medical tourism destinations with low or at | | | | been increased to 296, 687 patients during the year |
| least with reasonable price. Several hospitals will have | | | | 2006. Previously, it was about 75,210 during the year |
| their tie-up with those recreational facilities in order to | | | | 2001. Year by year, number of people from all over |
| provide best services to the patients. You can come | | | | the world for seeking healthcare is increasing. The |
| with your money for the treatment and in case if the | | | | association of private hospitals in Malaysia is expecting |
| treatment money exceeds beyond your budget or if | | | | 30% growth during the year 2010. |
| you need some other luxurious treatments, then | | | | Medical procedures in Malaysia offer treatments for |
| medical tourism destinations would provide with all the | | | | cosmetic, dentals and cardiac surgeries etc. with lesser |
| facilities. You can get the best services as like you get | | | | cost. For example, cardiac bypass surgery costs |
| in a five star hotel. | | | | around $6000 to $7000 in Malaysia and the same |
| Regarding the top 5 most medical tourism destinations, | | | | surgery cost around $9000 to $12000 in United States. |
| the following are the best medical tourism destinations | | | | Malaysia is not only attracted for the medical tourism |
| with all features and quality are as follows: | | | | destinations but also for its economic stability, tourist |
| | | | spots as well as higher rate in literacy. Will all these |
| 1. Panama | | | | features, Malaysia can also be said as one of the best |
| 2. Brazil | | | | place for medical tourism destinations. |
| 3. Malaysia | | | | COSTA RICA: |
| 4. Costa Rica | | | | Costa Rica is the place that suits best to the North |
| 5. India | | | | American people for getting medical treatments with |
| PANAMA: | | | | cheaper costs. Each year, more than 150,000 |
| Panama is one of the best medical tourism | | | | foreigners are visiting Costa Rica for getting benefit |
| destinations that provide 40 to 50 percent lower cost | | | | with low cost treatments. For instance, treatment for |
| when compared with the cost for similar surgeries | | | | dental veneer in Costa Rica costs around 300$ to |
| provided in the United States. This report on the | | | | 350$ and the same procedure would cost around |
| medical tourism was published in NCPA (National | | | | 1250$ to 1500$ in United States. Hence, people in |
| Center for Policy Analysis). Though cost for surgeries | | | | United States are willing to travel through airways to |
| are expensive in the United States, people from United | | | | Costa Rica for getting treatment. You can reach to |
| States feel comfortable in travelling to Panama as the | | | | Costa Rica within 10 hours from any part of United |
| travel expense from United States to Panama is less. | | | | States through flight. Costa Rican government is taking |
| Panama is also one of the Americanized countries | | | | necessary plans for negotiating with free agreement |
| that are attracted for both medical destinations as well | | | | through CAFTA. |
| as the tourist spots. United States Dollars is the official | | | | INDIA: |
| currency for this place and majority of the physicians | | | | According to the report of NCPA (National Center of |
| are trained from the major universities from the United | | | | Policy Analysis), India has got its high quality treatment |
| States. | | | | along with cheaper cost when compared with all other |
| Since medical tourism destinations play a major in | | | | medical tourism destinations. Many hospitals located |
| economy improvement, Panama also has shown its | | | | around India are accredited with JCI (Joint Commission |
| economy improvement through these medical | | | | International) and also with cutting-edge latest |
| achievements that heavily relies on the industries. | | | | technologies as well as well trained physicians. Though |
| Panama has independently negotiated with free | | | | India provides high quality treatment with less cost, it |
| agreement regarding the trade with United States | | | | ranked in 5th place rather than in 1st place because of |
| during the year 2006 rather than participating in | | | | the amount restrictions from foreign investors and also |
| CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement). | | | | the distance between United States and India through |
| Finally, panama has got its wide opportunities with the | | | | flight can be approximately 20 hours. |
| medical tourism and also with other types of services | | | | Medical tourism in India including the foreign patients |
| like real estates, tourism related services etc. | | | | was about 500,000 during the year 2005. Previously, it |
| BRAZIL: | | | | was just 150,000 patients during the year 2002. Rapid |
| Brazil can be said as the international Mecca for the | | | | growth is experiencing and it is expected around 1 |
| treatment of cosmetic as well as plastic surgeries. | | | | million during the year 2010. Even in monetary terms, |
| Brazil has got its fame in the medical tourism started | | | | experts have estimated that medical tourism would |
| with Ivo pitanguy who is a world renowned plastic | | | | bring around 2 billion dollars by the year 2012. India has |
| surgeon opened clinic before 40 years ago outside Rio | | | | got its fame in the orthopedic as well as cardiac |
| de Janeiro. When compared with United States as | | | | procedures. Most of the American patients will travel |
| well as with other countries, Brazil provides high quality | | | | to India for the treatment of Birmingham Hip |
| surgeons and also with less cost as they are the | | | | resurfacing where the treatment for the same is not |
| world's second largest market for the treatment of | | | | available in the United States. The treatment for this |
| plastic surgeons. In terms with general medical | | | | Birmingham his resurfacing in India has been approved |
| treatment, Brazil deserves the name for best medical | | | | by FDA. |
| tourism destination as several hospitals are located | | | | Apart from these, most of the surgeries that are very |
| with JCAHO (joint commission America hospital | | | | expensive in the United States are available in India at |
| organization). JCAHO is the United State's largest | | | | a cheaper cost. For example, cardiac surgery would |
| accreditation organization according to the medical | | | | cost around 30,000$ in the United States and the |
| tourism service website. | | | | same surgery cost just 4000$ in the Apollo hospital in |
| Sao Paulo is the largest city in the Brazil that has | | | | New Delhi, India. |
| several world's best hospitals with advanced | | | | |