Medical Tourism- A Health Journey

We define Medical Tourism as “Health Journey”. After all, people suffering from medical conditions are traditionally discouraged to travel as it involves discomfort and many risks but sometime patient’s conditions are so acute that patient or the caretakers decide to take this leap for survival or better health conditions than status quo.

Lead My World’s Health Management Model

LMW is positioned on higher grounds of this profession. We develop medical coaching and certification programs for universities, we train doctors and collaborate with teaching hospitals and healthcare facilities. Our executive management is comprised of medical doctors. We have established collaborative relations with the hospitals of specialization in critical disciplines. We have instituted a strong patient referral program for those patients seeking alternative treatments and with the progressive hospitals to treat such patients. Our medical professional expertise and working at the grassroots level gives us leverage over people who use Medical Tourism strictly as a business. To us it’s about the value of life and a relentless pursuit of wellness.

HEALTH JOURNEY- MT BACKGROUND

Medical tourism is as old a phenomenon as human being started travelling out of their enclaves to discover certain tree roots and herbs for treatment and traveled across continents for it. Their journey was not necessitated by economics but the unavailability of medicine and the healers. Medical Tourism- while introduced as an alternative is becoming a mainstream Healthcare management field. According to Dr. J. Bhagwati of Columbia University, Americans have saved up to 75 Billion dollars in one year by taking advantage of MT Healthcare. Revenue attributed to MT for the year 2014 is at 65 Billion dollars according to a report published by “Frost & Sullivan Research”, and growing at the rate of 20%. Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinics have now setup their offshoots overseas for the purpose of savings of HC cost. We believe that China is one of the most advanced countries in the world, both technologically and in physician care with an added benefit of new innovations and holistic approach to Medical Tourism.            

WHY PEOPLE TRAVEL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT

It is not easy to leave the comfort of your home and familiar environment in a situation when you do not even feel good but it’s a journey some of us must take- Leaving home involves financial, physical and psychological hardships but none of them are greater than the risk of not getting well. While information is readily available on our fingertips the renowned hospitals have also gotten closer in distance with global travelling trends. Travelling for wellness and health are no different from travelling for leisure. As a matter of fact it has now become “business as usual” for some. Following are a few reasons attributed to Medical Tourism;

Advanced medical technology (AMT): Hospitals in developed countries are generally equipped with state of the art technology which is not readily available in developing country’s hospitals. The technological know-how also gives an edge to the hospitals in the industrialized nations.

Advanced medical research and inventions: Industrialized nations invest into research and development, inventions and experiments to improve on healthcare experience. As a result they are far ahead of other countries in implementing such procedures. Cost effective Stem Cell research and organ implants are some of the prime example of such privileges which attract patients from other parts of the world developing and industrialized alike, to countries like China.
Legalities of medical procedures: An American interventional radiologist Dr. Charles Dotter experimented with a procedure to deliver a stent through a catheter to treat peripheral arterial disease in 1964. The experiment was successful Dr. Charles Dotter and Dr. Andreas Gruentzig experimented with the same procedure and found it not only successful but also a better option for reconditioning of body after surgical procedure. The procedures were not legalized yet and the medical doctors had to be creative about their practices in the beginning. Dr. Peter Dr. Richard Myler of Emory University Hospital mentioned once that he had to travel to Latin America to perform angioplasty procedure which after getting a legal approval revolutionized cardiac care. Not all countries allow some medical procedures because of lack of scientific data, bureaucracy or cultural taboos; as a result patients end up travelling to the countries not restricting healthcare procedures most suitable for the patients from abroad.
Economics of Healthcare: Some countries like China have lower healthcare cost than the others. China is a prime example of it. This makes destinations like China attractive and financially viable for the insurance companies. Patient and the family is rewarded with expenses paid residence and other allowances to get the treatment done abroad rather than in the USA or some European countries.
Patient & caretaker’s choice: It does not come as a surprise that the elite class of developing countries have the option to travel to the developed countries for medical treatment. This gives them the sense of empowerment that their wealth is working for them and that they can exercise the right to choose whatever they like. This market segment is small but with a bigger spending budge on their wellness. According to a report issued by Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta CDC approximately 1.2 Million Americans travel overseas for medical treatment each year. Some of the obvious reasons are;

·         Medical treatments are far less expensive overseas than in the USA

·         Insurance companies have started giving incentives to the families and caretakers of the patients where as they feel like they on vacation rather than being stuck with no options.

·         Some experimental drugs and procedures prohibited in the USA are already administered and institutionalized abroad. Medical professionals are not gun-shy of taking the risk and the societies are not litigation oriented as much as the Americans are. Most common procedures that people are coming to China for are;

o    Stem cell therapy

o    Organ implantation

o    Cosmetic surgery

o    Dental work

o    Heart surgery

o    Alternative cancer treatment

o    Orthopedic and sports medicine

o    Holistic and traditional medicine treatment for chronic diseases

RISKS OF MEDICAL TOURISM & RISK MANAGEMENT BY LMW

Anytime we come out of our comfort zone we involve risk due to our activities. Following a list of MT risks and how Lead My World addresses them:

·         Linguistic and cultural difference: It is a major risk to take especially when you are dealing with a life situation. LMW’s doctors and MT staff are all bilingual and professionally trained on cross cultural sensitivity.

·         General and Medical hygiene standards: Western countries practice high standards of hygiene & preventative care, developing nations are not as sensitive about it in some cases. LMW only uses hospitals which are government approved and practice, WHO, CDC, HEPA, OSHA and other global standards of operations. We thoroughly examine and inspect facilities before putting them on our recommendation list.

·         Counterfeit medications: It is not uncommon to find counterfeit medications in developing countries like India but Chinese laws are very strict in this regards. Our association with the Health Ministry approved facilities guarantees the authenticity and safety of drugs.

·         Proper recovery time after surgery: some people like to go home right after a successful procedure is completed. We recommend that proper time is allotted for rest and leisure to avoid potential risks such as blood clot due to flying. We believe that post-operative care is as important as the procedure itself.

CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) GUIDELINE FOR MEDICAL TOURISM

What You Can Do

·         If you are planning to travel to another country for medical care, see a travel medicine practitioner at least 4–6 weeks before the trip to discuss general information for healthy travel and specific risks related to the procedure and travel before and after the procedure.

·         Check for the qualifications of the health care providers who will be doing the procedure and the credentials of the facility where the procedure will be done. The Joint Commission International (US-based) certifies health care facilities according to specific standards.

·         Make sure that you have a written agreement with the health care facility or the group arranging the trip, defining what treatments, supplies, and care are covered by the costs of the trip.

·         Determine what legal actions you can take if anything goes wrong with the procedure.

·         If you go to a country where you do not speak the language, determine ahead of time how you will communicate with your doctor and other people who are caring for you.

·         Obtain copies of your medical records that includes the lab and other studies done related to the condition for which you are obtaining the care and any allergies you may have.

·         Prepare copies of all your prescriptions and a list of all the medicines you take, including their brand names, their generic names, manufacturers, and dosages. Arrange for follow-up care with your local health care provider before you leave.

·         Before planning “vacation” activities, such as sunbathing, drinking alcohol, swimming, or taking long tours, find out if those activities are permitted after surgery.

·         Get copies of all your medical records before you return home.

Lead My World has stringent rules to enlist a hospital offering Medical Tourism. In China we not only assist clients to locate and qualify a healthcare facility but our medical staff monitors the hospitals as it relates to services. Dr. Ahmed Fiaz, Dr. Anwar Jamil and Dr. Khayyam Masood are heading this division of LMW. For any questions, please contact me: Najam@Leadmyworld.com