Why Patients Resort To Custom Made Medical Travel Plans

By Jeffrey Barnes


It is a sad fact that numerous people die every year from diseases and conditions that can actually be treated successfully. This happens because the health systems in their own countries are either inadequate or overloaded, resulting in long waiting lists. In other cases patients simply cannot afford the necessary treatment. These patients, and their loved ones, will often go to great lengths to see help. To this end they approach agents that can design them a package for custom made medical travel.

Traveling to foreign countries in order to seek treatment is not a new concept. Even in ancient times, people traveled very long distances and endured great hardship simply to see a renowned healer. Of course, in those days medical science was not as advanced as it is today and there were very few reputable healers. But people do not just strive to see healers. They also flock to holy places that have a reputation of having healing powers.

Traveling for treatment purposes have become a sizable component within the tourism industry and many traveling agents specialize in designing itineraries for ill people and their loved ones. Very ill people with little hope of finding a cure in their own country will sacrifice a lot even if there is the smallest possible chance of finding help in a foreign country. It is an understandable sentiment.

There are also many wealthy individuals that insist upon treatment by specialists and facilities in foreign countries. They want only the very best treatment and if that treatment is only available in another country, then they will go there when necessary and they are willing to pay very high fees. In some cases patients have to travel to a specific country in order to receive experimental treatment not yet generally available.

One would think that it is only the very rich that can afford to seek treatment in foreign countries. This is not the case. Patients from countries with very strong currencies can often not afford specialist treatment in their own countries while they can actually afford such treatment in other countries with weak currencies. There are many countries with excellent treatment facilities but that have weak currencies.

Some concerns have been voiced, however. Some critics say that foreign patients with deep pockets are willing to offer large fees to get preferential treatment. This is often to the detriment of other patients. These practices are unethical and unfair, feeding the greed of unscrupulous specialists, hospitals and clinics. Critics want the system to be regulated more rigorously.

This type of traveling should be planned very carefully. It is very important to use an agent that is experienced in this field, that has numerous contacts within the medical fraternity and that can design a flexible package. Tourists seeking treatment do not have fixed itineraries because it is not always possible to predict how long the treatment, recuperation and rehabilitation will take.

It is easy to understand why people will sacrifice a lot and travel long distances in the hope of finding effective treatment for life threatening conditions. When facing the possibility of death, nothing else really matters. However, it would be wrong if this type of tourism prohibit local citizens from getting proper treatment themselves.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire