Medical tourism, popular abroad, is becoming in demand among Russian citizens as well. Now Russians go abroad not only to have a rest, but also to give birth to children, to do complex surgeries or simply to have their teeth treated. But treatment in Western clinics is not always distinguished by the quality of medical services.
According to statistics, annually more than 10 thousand people leave Russia for treatment abroad. The most popular among those leaving for treatment are Israel, the USA, Germany and Switzerland. Recently, Thailand has been successfully developing in this direction, known for the treatment of cancer, plastic, cardiovascular and neurosurgery. Poland attracts tourists with quality dental services. India and Iran began to develop the structure of medical tourism.
The demand has led to the emergence and active development of companies in Russia that specialize exclusively in medical tourism. So far, such companies cannot boast of a large number of clients – this area is not well developed, but the demand for treatment abroad is constantly growing. Customers, depending on the disease, are offered to be sent to a hospital in almost any part of the world. At the same time, Russian companies promise their clients full support in negotiations with the host clinic.
But if Russians have already learned how to choose travel companies offering high-quality services, then when choosing a company specializing in medical treatment abroad, one should be doubly careful – only every tenth company works at a high professional level. Since this segment of the Russian market has just begun to develop, there is no talk of licensing this activity yet.
Russians have already learned how to choose travel companies offering quality services, but when choosing a company specializing in medical treatment abroad, you should be doubly careful – only every tenth company works at a high professional level …
Therefore, clients should inquire about the company’s work experience, the number of medical procedures performed abroad, and the services provided. In a serious company, as a rule, there is a full-time doctor who conducts mandatory diagnostics, and then helps with choosing the optimal place for examination and treatment. At the same time, representatives of Russian companies do not dissuade from treatment in Russia, but honestly explain the prospects for treating the disease in our country. Foreign companies always recommend treatment in “their” clinics. It is also impossible to talk about any average cost of foreign treatment – each case is individual and the cost of staying in the clinic depends on the cost of the procedures, medications, etc.
Medicine abroad has many advantages: high-quality services, modern equipment, and friendly medical staff. But there are also unpleasant moments. Western doctors, for example, can hold a client an extra 2-3 weeks after the operation, which will cost the patient an additional 5-10 thousand dollars. According to experts, this is the fault of clinics in Switzerland and France. More serious problems may arise abroad. For example, it is enough to recall the high-profile scandal that occurred in 1980 in Great Britain, when, through an oversight of the medical staff, 1200 patients became infected with hepatitis and AIDS viruses through transfused blood. Today, of all those infected, less than 300 people survived. And a few years ago, singer Alla Pugacheva underwent an unsuccessful liposuction operation in one of the clinics in Switzerland. As Novye Izvestia wrote at the time, as a result of medical intervention, Alla Borisovna developed sepsis (blood poisoning) and Moscow doctors fought for her health.
Therefore, it is impossible to say that treatment abroad is definitely better than treatment in Russia. The West has established itself well in the world medicine market, but Russia also has excellent doctors who, perhaps, do not have such modern equipment as in foreign clinics, but they have tremendous experience and the ability to quickly navigate in emergency situations. In our country, there are also such directions that attract foreigners from all over the world to Russia. For example, we have the most extensive network of organ donor banks, while Russian obstetrics and gynecology remain the strongest in Europe. With the right choice of clinic, you can get careful observation of conception and pregnancy, as well as qualified assistance during childbirth.
So you can get your teeth inserted well and cheaply in Moscow, or it can be more expensive and worse in Switzerland, and for a safe permission from childbirth it is not at all necessary to go to Germany.
Large companies specializing in medical tours:
Kurortmedservis – +499 (409) 7200-XNUMX
Eurodoctor – +495 (585) 9241-XNUMX
Geography of beauty and health – +495 (223) 0622-XNUMX
Mediline (treatment in Germany) – +495 (221) 2020-XNUMX
Swiss Medical Association – +495 (739) 5119-XNUMX