logo
#

Latest news with #medicaltourism

NRIs turning to India for high-quality and affordable healthcare, patients up 150% YoY in FY25: Report
NRIs turning to India for high-quality and affordable healthcare, patients up 150% YoY in FY25: Report

Times of Oman

time2 days ago

  • Health
  • Times of Oman

NRIs turning to India for high-quality and affordable healthcare, patients up 150% YoY in FY25: Report

New Delhi: Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are increasingly choosing India as their destination for high-quality and affordable healthcare, according to the data released by Policybazaar. The data showed a significant 150 per cent growth in the share of NRI customers in FY 2024-25 compared to FY 2023-24, highlighting India's growing appeal in the global medical tourism space. It stated, "India is fast emerging as one of the world's most sought-after medical tourism hubs. The growth is quite visible with more NRIs turning to India to access high-quality healthcare. Our data indicates a 150 per cent overall growth in the share of NRI customers in FY 25". One of the key reasons behind this mentioned in the data report is the surge is the massive cost advantage India offers for medical treatments when compared to countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. For instance, heart bypass surgery in India costs between USD 5,000 and USD 8,000, while the same procedure in the U.S. can cost between USD 70,000 and USD 150,000. Similarly, a knee replacement surgery costs only USD 4,000 to USD 6,000 in India, compared to USD 30,000 to USD 50,000 in the U.S. A liver transplant in India is priced between USD 25,000 and USD 35,000, whereas it costs USD 300,000 to USD 500,000 in the U.S. NRIs opting for elective procedures in India typically have average claim amounts ranging from USD 2,000 to USD 15,000. For more complex surgeries, the claims may rise to USD 20,000 to USD 40,000, still representing considerable savings when compared to international healthcare costs. The affordability factor also extends to health insurance premiums. In India, the average annual health insurance premium per person ranges from USD 120 to USD 300. In contrast, the same coverage in the U.S. can exceed USD 8,000 annually, while in GCC countries, it ranges from USD 4,000 to USD 5,000. This significant difference has led to a visible increase in online searches by NRIs exploring health insurance options in India for themselves and their families. The data further reveals a 125 per cent surge in the share of women NRI customers and a 148 per cent increase in the number of NRI customers under the age of 35. This showed that younger NRIs and women are increasingly considering Indian healthcare as a preferred choice. When it comes to preferred locations for treatment, South Indian cities continue to dominate the list across all tiers. Cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, and Thane are also gaining popularity among NRI patients.

'Hell-bent on trying to give him time': The Australians going overseas for cancer trials
'Hell-bent on trying to give him time': The Australians going overseas for cancer trials

SBS Australia

time2 days ago

  • Health
  • SBS Australia

'Hell-bent on trying to give him time': The Australians going overseas for cancer trials

From cosmetic fixes to life-saving surgery, Insight hears from people who have turned to medical tourism. Is it always worth it, and what happens when things go wrong, far from home? Watch Insight episode Medical Tourism Tuesday 29 July at 8.30pm on SBS or live on SBS On Demand . When Hannah Thomas, 32, received a phone call following a routine blood test, she did not expect it would lead to a cancer diagnosis that same week. In 2022, Hannah was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, where there's an overproduction of immature white blood cells. She was immediately admitted to hospital and underwent chemotherapy five days a week for two months. The chemotherapy did not work but following other treatments, including a bone marrow transplant , Hannah had no traces of cancer in her body a year later. However, shortly after Hannah married in 2023, the cancer came back. She and her husband, Simon, met with Hannah's haematologist and were introduced to the concept of CAR T-cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy that uses a patient's own genetically modified T-cells (a type of white blood cell). This experimental cancer treatment is offered in Australia for the more common B-cell type of ALL but is not currently offered as standard treatment for T-cell ALL. But Hannah didn't qualify for the clinical trials in Melbourne and London, so she and Simon decided to seek the treatment in Singapore. Hannah and Simon married in 2023, shortly before her cancer came back. Source: Supplied The Sydney couple had less than 24 hours to figure out how they were going to pay for the costs of the trial and accommodation, which they estimated to be around $400,000. The couple immediately investigated loans and started the application process to withdraw their superannuation. "In the end, the only reason we were able to catch that flight and go there was because one of our closest friends Dan set up a GoFundMe for us," Hannah told Insight. "Though it's hard not to feel a bit guilty. And I think it's only natural to wonder if you're worthy of all that." Seeking options abroad Like Hannah and Simon, Dianne Mehmet turned to Asia for experimental cancer treatment when options in Australia became limited. Dianne's son Jordan had just finished high school in 2013 when he was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma — a rare, aggressive cancerous tumour that affects bones and soft tissue. The 18-year-old went through three years of intensive treatment, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery to remove tumours in his body. However, his condition worsened. Feeling like there was nothing more their medical team could do in Australia, Dianne was desperate to take her son anywhere that might give him a chance to live longer. "With Ewing sarcoma, most people do not live past five years … but I just was hell-bent on trying to give him time," Dianne said. Dianne took her son Jordan to China for experimental cancer treatment. Source: Supplied After hearing about a friend's positive experience, Dianne took Jordan to China in 2016, where he continued conventional treatment for cancer but with the addition of natural therapy. To afford the cost of overseas accommodation and the $100,000 treatment, Dianne remortgaged the family home and crowdfunded with support from their local community. "I didn't want Jordan to think for one more minute, 'What am I going to do?' and have it hanging over his head." Medical tourism's rising popularity Nine years on from when Dianne and Jordan sought treatment overseas, medical tourism continues to grow in popularity. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, roughly 15,000 Australians went on self-funded medical tourism trips each year, according to a 2022 Victoria University thesis. Cosmetic surgery, dentistry, heart surgery, fertility treatments, gender-affirming surgery, stem-cell therapy and cancer treatments are the most common medical reasons Australians go abroad. "We have a world-class health system in Australia, but it can't do everything for everyone at all times," Dr Michael Bonning told Insight. The general physician and Australian Medical Association (NSW) president says that, in addition to the unavailability of certain treatments in Australia, saving money also motivates many to participate in medical tourism. "Sometimes it is because of access; we just don't do some of these procedures. And the second part is sometimes because of cost." But seeking treatment overseas is riskier than sticking with Australia's highly regulated health system, he warns. "When you go overseas, you open yourself up to other challenges [such as] language barriers. Sometimes we also see the standards of care are not the same as we would expect here." The cost and personal toll of travel were two other factors people considering medical tourism should take into account, he added. 'A single purpose' Hannah and Simon lived in Singapore for five months while Hannah participated in the clinical trial. They celebrated Christmas, New Year and Hannah's 32nd birthday while she was in hospital. Simon said that there were many dark times for him during those five months but "obviously nothing compared to what Hannah was going through". "What made it simple for me was having a single purpose ... to look after Hannah, make sure she was comfortable and got the treatment that she needed," Simon said. "And ultimately to get her better and bring her back." Hannah received treatment at a Singapore hospital. Source: Supplied Upon completion of the trial, Hannah was discharged with no detectable cancer cells. They returned to Sydney where, after a second bone marrow transplant, the good news was confirmed again. "I'm in remission and I have been for the last 15 months, but I say that with caution because we still have tests every eight weeks … to check and see if the cancer is coming back." The impact of overseas treatment For Dianne's son Jordan, things appeared to be improving with the "amazing" Chinese medical team working with him. "He was going very well at the start … he felt 100 per cent supported." However, Jordan started to behave unusually towards the end of their three-month stay. Doctors then discovered he had brain swelling due to a growing tumour. After emergency surgery and changes to his treatment while in operation recovery, Jordan's cancer continued to metastasise. Although overseas treatment didn't wholly work for Jordan, Dianne doesn't regret her attempt to give her son a longer life. Source: Supplied The family returned home to Melbourne in October 2016 where Jordan died three months later at the age of 22. Dianne says she would have liked for all of Jordan's treatment to have taken place in Australia if more could have been done to save her son. "If you have to travel overseas for treatment, your life is disrupted in so many ways. And it's not just you, it's the impact on your family [and] your friends," she says. "You're living in a place where you don't speak the language, you're totally out of your comfort zone. You can't have all your support there." Although the treatment did not wholly work for Jordan, Dianne does not regret taking him overseas for experimental treatment. "He was happy, and he always had hope. "I wanted him to have hope right up till the last minute."

Airline offers package holidays including hair transplants and nose jobs
Airline offers package holidays including hair transplants and nose jobs

Telegraph

time4 days ago

  • Telegraph

Airline offers package holidays including hair transplants and nose jobs

A Turkish airline is targeting Britons with package holidays that include hair transplants, facelifts and discount dental work. SunExpress, a fast-growing low-cost airline, is offering flights from 12 British cities next summer to places like Antalya, a centre for dental treatment, and Izmir, where clinics specialise in six-pack and buttock implants. Max Kownatzki, the company's chief executive, said that while traditional beach holidays remained the primary draw, Britons were keener than most nationalities on packages that included medical procedures. 'Medical tours are popular year-round. Everything you can imagine, it's there. There are clusters. Istanbul is big in hair, Antalya is big in teeth, Izmir has implants of all kinds,' he said. 'A seat-only passenger will look for a hair transplant and how to get there, and we can take them. But the tour operators have the same aim as us of diversifying their product portfolio and that is what they are doing.' According to SunExpress, its summer bookings from the UK are up 22pc this year following the addition of flights from Liverpool and Glasgow, partly driven by people combining nose jobs and other cosmetic surgery with a week on the beach, according to the airline. Medical tourism is a booming sector, with around 2m foreign patients visiting Turkey's 4,000 clinics last year for procedures including IVF and cosmetic work such as lip flips, nose jobs and breast surgery. The number of British people receiving medical treatment overseas reached 431,000 in 2023, spurred by long NHS waiting lists and the high cost of private procedures at home. Almost one in five of those unable to get a dental appointment have also decided to go abroad, according to Ipsos poll results published in March. A joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, SunExpress has increased UK capacity five-fold to 2m seats since 2022, adding flights from two airports a year on average. The airline is targeting the UK after securing 38pc of German travel to Turkish cities other than Istanbul, with tourist traffic boosted by visits home by the nation's 3.8m ethnic Turks. 'It can't get hot enough' Mr Kownatzki said leading discount carriers Ryanair and EasyJet were under-exposed in the UK-Turkey leisure market, with Leeds-based Jet2 providing the most competition. Golfing breaks are in 'huge demand' from Britons, he said, with Turkey the third-most-popular destination for winter golf after Spain and the Algarve. It is also promoting 'conference tourism' to resorts such as Dalaman as an alternative to London venues where prices soar in autumn and winter. The chief executive said holiday bookings are extending further into so-called shoulder periods outside the summer peak, though there is no sign of demand easing off in the hottest summer months. He said: 'I'm asked that question: what do you think about climate change? But I almost think it can't get hot enough. Antalya was 40-something degrees this week, hot and humid, and demand is going up.'

Why Medical Tourism Can Make More Sense Than US Care
Why Medical Tourism Can Make More Sense Than US Care

Medscape

time21-07-2025

  • Health
  • Medscape

Why Medical Tourism Can Make More Sense Than US Care

This transcript has been edited for clarity. Who out there has seen the movie Super Size Me , where the late, great Morgan Spurlock eats only McDonald's for 30 days? If you haven't seen it, you should. It's wild. Anyway, Spurlock uses this type of experience-based filmmaking to also teach us about value-based healthcare in his show Inside Man , when he goes to Thailand to get worked up for knee pain. Spurlock, like so many Americans, especially those with musculoskeletal injuries, thought he needed an elective procedure. He called all these clinics around New York City, but he wasn't finding much transparency in prices. What he did learn was that the costs were all over the place and there were long wait times. Instead, he plays medical tourism and goes to Thailand to get his care. The Price of Clarity: What $4300 Gets You Abroad For $400 and in only 1 day, he got two expert consultations, an MRI, and found out that he did not need surgery. Spurlock went even further and got more lab work, a cardiac stress test, a capsule colonoscopy, and more consultations. The entire thing, including airfare and accommodations, cost him $4300. What can you get in American healthcare with $4300? It wouldn't include a trip to Thailand. [ Sigh ] Medical tourism. Now, granted, Spurlock was overseas, but this is the definition of value-based care. He had transparent, seamless, coordinated care with the focus on outcomes and not just volume. Over here, it's a completely different story. Meet Mya Neehurtz: A Very American Healthcare Story I came across an email titled "The Surgeon's Record," by editor-in-chief Dr Ben Schwartz, that goes through a hypothetical case showing just how fragmented and complex musculoskeletal care can be. In the post, which can be viewed on his Dem Dry Bones Substack, there's a fictional character named Mya Neehurtz (a great name) who has knee pain, similar to Morgan Spurlock and millions of Americans. The hypothetical journey goes like this. Mya sees her PCP for knee pain, who orders an ultrasound and an x-ray, and obviously, she faces two facility fees because the imaging center is not where her doctor is. Some of the results show bone arthritis and a potential bone mass. The PCP is like, This isn't my area of expertise. Let's order an MRI and get your referral to an orthopedic surgeon . Well, all the surgeons are busy. She can't get in for months unless she goes out of network, so she pays out of pocket. The surgeon is like, Wait, I can't access these images because the systems don't communicate. Also, why did your doctor order all these tests? This is all while the surgeon is really backlogged, so he reorders some images and tries Mya out on noninvasive treatments. Her knee pain continues, and finally, after months, she gets a knee replacement. Examples like this happen all the time in American healthcare with chronic and acute illnesses. In Mya's case, in this example, there's a lack of shared decision-making, there's poor access to subspecialists, and evidence-based guidelines may or may not be followed. Even the technology isn't properly communicating, and I know you could probably relate with this. I see these barriers that happen with patient care all the time. What Is Value-Based Care, Really? Value-based care isn't just a buzzword. According to many experts, including those at the Commonwealth Fund, value-based care is all about getting patients the right care at the right time, while minimizing all these unnecessary and fragmented steps. Value-based care ties provider payments with the quality of care performed, with additional focuses on cost efficiency and equity. Improving health outcomes while reducing waste — what a win. Who wouldn't want that? Now, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has several value-based programs in place, including the End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program, Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, and the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program. And these programs have three goals in mind: Better care for individuals Better health for populations Lowering cost Lower cost — what a concept. According to a 2019 JAMA article, up to $935 billion is wasted annually on unnecessary services. If you look at this example from Dr Schwartz and then you amplify it across all states and include many more conditions, you can see how this adds up to a large amount of money and time wasted. So, What's Holding Us Back? I agree with Dr Ben Schwartz when he says that we have the capability to have these integrated medical clinics right here. They don't have to just be medical tourism fairytales of places like Thailand. We can have all-inclusive surgery centers that have state-of-the-art, digital health support, and that have everything you need under one roof, including subspecialists you may refer to — imaging, PT, OT, lab work, and more. For now, this seems like the diamond-in-the-rough exception and not the rule. Yes, we need more advocacy and lobbying. As suggested by Dr Maria Ansari in an article posted on the AMA website , we need more data looking at health disparities and actionable items, and then we could potentially follow a payment playbook that involves identifying the right patient population, good benchmarks, and then having transparent feedback. The reality is that we have all the parts to the solution; we just need to put the puzzle together. Now, I'm obviously simplifying a very complex system that is rooted in bureaucracy, but who am I? I'm just a burned-out physician. I'm not a health policy researcher. I want to hear from all of you. How far are we, really, from having a more efficient, value-based healthcare system? What are the barriers? Are there any initiatives that you have come across that work? Comment below.

Americans Are Crossing the Atlantic for Hair Transplants
Americans Are Crossing the Atlantic for Hair Transplants

Associated Press

time19-07-2025

  • Health
  • Associated Press

Americans Are Crossing the Atlantic for Hair Transplants

TURKEY, July 19, 2025 / / -- As the demand for effective and affordable hair restoration continues to grow, an interesting development is emerging: more and more Americans are choosing to travel to Turkiye for their hair transplant procedures. With average U.S. costs ranging from $8,000 to $15,000, and many insurance providers refusing coverage, patients are searching for better options and finding them abroad. Why Are Americans Choosing Türkiye and Smile Hair Clinic? Founded by two of the top hair transplant doctors in the world, Dr. Mehmet Erdoğan and Dr. Gökay Bilgin, Smile Hair Clinic has become a trusted destination for patients seeking excellence without compromise. Their clinic in Istanbul offers one of the most sought-after experiences for hair transplantation in Turkey, combining physician-led treatment, international safety standards, and a personalized approach tailored to international patients, especially those from the U.S. Here's what sets Smile Hair Clinic apart: Board-certified doctors specializing only in hair transplantation State-of-the-art facilities, internationally accredited for hygiene and safety Fluent English-speaking staff and U.S.-style patient communication All-inclusive packages: airport transfers, 5-star hotel stays, aftercare kits Transparent pricing, no hidden costs, Remote support via WhatsApp after the procedure accessible from anywhere in the U.S. What American Patients Are Saying Josh M. Went December of 2023. Writing this review in December of 2024. Lived in ATL, GA USA at the time, and traveled to Turkey to get the procedure done. I was skeptical, but couldn't have been more impressed with the entire process. They picked me up promptly in a nice van at the airport. Dropped me off at the nice hotel. Food was provided. The clinic was clean, and men from all around the world were there to get their hair done. They were professional, clean, and reassuring. I ended up not eating my lunch so I can power through and keep going (I had a lot of work done). They even drove my meal back to my hotel, because they forgot to hand it to me after the procedure. Unreal service. They did a fantastic job, and checked in with me once a month for the following year. Hair looks fantastic. TLDR: Was skeptical and nervous at first. They did a fantastic job, and would do it again in a heartbeat. Mitchell M. I had an amazing experience from beginning to end when I recently visited Smile Hair Clinic. Because of the team's exceptional punctuality, all appointments and procedures were completed on schedule. During my stay, the hotel accommodations were excellent, offering a cozy and tranquil setting. Every employee went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable and satisfied, and the service was excellent. To all of my friends and anyone else thinking about getting their hair restored, I heartily recommend Smile Hair Clinic. They really went above and beyond what I had anticipated! Steve V. This place was amazing! I'm from the USA and was slightly skeptical going to Turkey as it was unknown for me but was pleasantly surprised! From start to finish from pickup smile hair clinic was on it. Great hotel and experience. The doctors and medical team were all very friendly and knowledgeable plus very experienced. I would definitely visit again. Thanks Smile Hair Clinic! Five stars! Bryant Y. I had a good experience with Smile Hair Clinic. They were very responsive when it came to answering my messages, and any questions that I had. They also did a good job of informing me of the process and what to expect. Once I landed in Istanbul, the clinic was good about coordinating my pickup, and getting me to my hotel. The medical team was also very friendly, and talked to me about my hair goals, and tempering my expectations. If you have a preference or concern, don't be afraid to speak up, as they are very receptive to your input. The clinic itself is organized, and kept immaculately. About the Founders Dr. Mehmet Erdoğan and Dr. Gökay Bilgin are globally recognized for their contributions to modern hair transplantation. Both physicians are board-certified, with backgrounds in aesthetic medicine and years of surgical experience. Their meticulous approach and patient-centered philosophy have earned them a reputation as two of the most trusted names in the field. At Smile Hair Clinic, they lead every procedure personally ensuring that each patient receives the highest standard of care, guided by medical expertise and artistic precision. About Smile Hair Clinic Founded in 2018, Smile Hair Clinic has quickly gained a reputation as one of Turkiye's most trusted names in medical tourism. With over 40,000 successful transplants, a team of internationally trained surgeons, and a commitment to ethical patient care, the clinic draws clients from across the U.S., Europe, Canada and beyond. What makes Smile different isn't just the price, it's the philosophy. Every patient is treated as a long-term partner in their transformation, with personalized care before, during, and long after the procedure. From its luxury clinic in Istanbul, Smile Hair Clinic is proving that world-class medical care doesn't have to come with a Hollywood price tag. Yagmur Ucar Smile Hair Clinic [email protected] Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store