It certainly does not come naturally, to think of going overseas when we are told that we need major surgery or involved healthcare or dental work, or even when we would like cosmetic procedures done. After all, trips overseas are for holidays and happy times, they take a lot of planning and they are for fun, not medical duty...right? The answers are yes, they are for holidays and happy times, but they do not necessarily need excessive planning, and they can definitely combine fun with medical duty. We explore the top five reasons why medical tourism is exploding in popularity.

Price

This is the top reason cited for people to travel overseas for medical care. For example, if you need dental work done, you could be paying a tenth of what you would at home, for the same standard of work, at a hospital in Bangkok or hospitals elsewhere in Thailand, or at some of the excellent Indian facilities. India is currently the lowest priced option for which most Westerners will be satisfied with the quality of treatment, and at hospitals in Bangkok Thailand, or in South America, prices are slightly higher for extra services like help with passports, liaison with doctors in your home countries, and translators to make things easy for you.

Service

If you have ever been in hospital, you know how busy and stressed many of the staff are, simply because of low staffing levels, long hours that must be worked and a general reluctance to 'serve' others. Hospitals in Asian countries like Bangkok hospitals, Mumbai hospitals and Brazilian hospitals often don't face these challenges. Registered nurses are much more plentiful in these countries, as there is less aversion to personal contact with people. You can often expect to be escorted around hospital grounds to find other departments, and be treated with extreme courtesy. Rooms in Bangkok Hospital Medical Centre at the highest level include extras like flat panel TVs, a large living room, two complete bathrooms and a city view, as well as Wifi and meals for three included in the price.

Quality

We tend to assume that if something is cheaper that it must be of a lesser grade. This is simply not so, with some of Bangkok's best hospitals, like Bumrungrad and Bangkok Hospital having the majority of staff trained outside Thailand. In India, many doctors are trained in Europe and the US and speak flawless English - the care for medical tourism is only cheaper due to a much lower cost of living in these countries.

Availability

Every different country has different procedural restrictions - where laws may prevent you having stem cell therapy or IVF treatment in your home country, this is often not so if you choose medical tourism. Even common, legal-in-all-countries procedures often have enormous waiting lists in Western countries. Essential surgery can take a year to be performed in Canada, whereas in the best hospitals in Bangkok it can be arranged almost immediately.

Tourism

This is one of the most compelling reasons to go overseas for many! Recuperation can only be aided by having a gorgeous seaside view, and no housework to do, when you have just had major surgery. The savings that you will make in the cost of care usually more than cover a stay in luxury hotels in medical tourism countries - and you have a 'free' holiday.