20 March 2008
Almost one in five medical tourists have run into problems after travelling abroad for treatment, says Which?
The consumer watchdog surveyed UK residents who had travelled overseas for medical treatment*. While fifty seven per cent said they were very satisfied with their treatment, 18 per cent had run into problems. This included a tummy tuck going septic and liposuction leading to one person’s stomach “leaking cellulite.”
Eight per cent had to turn to the NHS for help in an emergency after having treatment abroad, and more than a quarter didn't feel they had received the follow-up care they needed.
A Which? researcher called medical tourism companies posing as a patient and was told by one that a knee replacement wasn’t a risky procedure and that he didn’t need to see anyone medically qualified when he got home. This is untrue – half of patients need physiotherapy and all cases need to be reviewed**.
More people from the UK are choosing to go abroad for surgery each year - around 80,000*** did so in 2006. People are attracted by the big savings that can be made. A dental implant, for example, which can cost £2,200**** in the UK, can cost as little as £750 in Hungary, and a tummy tuck that would cost £4,000 in the UK could be half the price in Poland.
Which? urges potential medical tourists to do their homework beforehand, such as checking doctors’ qualifications and registration with a professional body, and to plan with potential problems front-of-mind. People need to be clear about what their contract says in the event of a complication and remember that legal rights differ across countries.
The consumer watchdog provides a checklist of key questions which will provide people with the information they need before embarking on an overseas trip for medical purposes at www.which.co.uk/treatmentabroad
Neil Fowler, Editor, Which?, says:
“Medical tourists must do their homework before jumping on the plane – and avoid rushing back too quickly - if they want to avoid potential problems. Ask the right questions beforehand, speak to UK health professionals, and don't assume you'll have a safety net if things don't go according to plan.”
- Ends –
*In December 2007, Which? carried out an online survey of 299 members of the British public who had treatment abroad in the past five years.
** Which? phoned ten companies offering treatment abroad, posing as potential patients, to look at the quality of their advice. “Unprepared patients may find themselves on NHS waiting lists for vital physiotherapy or seeing a doctor who’s reluctant to follow up unknown work,” said Which? expert, orthopaedic consultant Stephen Cannon.
***Civil Aviation Authority Air Passenger Survey 2006, published 20 September 2007. Last week TreatmentAbroad.com, a commercial medical tourism website, estimated a figure of 100,000 in 2007.
****Which? obtained quotes from providers and clinics for treatment in seven countries in January 2008.
Which? is the leading independent consumer champion in the UK, providing up to date, impartial, expert information on thousands of products and services to help make individuals as powerful as the organisations they have to deal with in their daily lives. To find out more visit www.which.co.uk
