Health tourism is now a global industry. The high costs of private healthcare in the UK mean that many people are encouraged to travel overseas – often to India or Eastern Europe – to have operations performed at a fraction of the price. Similarly, many visitors to Britain would like to have surgeries performed here because the quality of medical treatment is often higher than in their native countries. One of the most frequently advertised elective treatments which Britons travel abroad for is laser eye surgery.
Choosing a hospital or clinic in which to have an elective operation such as laser eye surgery requires a lot of research and thought. Is the money you save travelling abroad worth it? What are the health risks? Taking the example of laser eye surgery, we assess the advantages and disadvantages of travelling abroad for surgery versus staying at home.
EYE SURGERY ABROAD
ADVANTAGES
The key advantage of travelling overseas to have an operation performed is that the cost of laser eye surgery is often significantly lower than in the UK. Some eye surgery clinics in Eastern Europe offer deals that start from just a few hundred pounds.
Another advantage is the potential to combine the surgery with a hospital in a sunny spot, hence the term ‘health tourism’.
DISADVANTAGES
The language barrier. Most countries which offer low-cost surgery do not speak English as a first language so you are gambling that your diagnosis and instructions to the doctor do not get lost in translation.
No or limited aftercare. If you return to the UK and experience problems post-surgery, you will need to go to the NHS or to a private clinic to have the problems treated. This could prove difficult, or costly, as you might end up paying for the same procedure twice. Make sure you understand the risks of laser eye surgery before you decide where to have your operation.
STAYING IN BRITAIN
ADVANTAGES
Able to validate the qualifications and expertise of the consultant doctor. If you are having a laser eye surgery at, for example, the world-famous Moorfields Eye Hospital, it is easier to verify the credentials of the hospital and its doctors than it is an anonymous hospital in, for example, Latvia.
There is a distinct chance that the quality of the equipment used will be higher than it would abroad. Laser eye surgery equipment is very expensive and only the best quality clinics can afford to upgrade to the latest, high-tech equipment regularly.
Reliable aftercare. Your laser eye surgery clinic should provide you with instructions about what to do in the event of a medical emergency after you leave the clinic. Most provide a 24hr telephone service which can refer you instantly to a doctor within your area.
DISADVANTAGES
The main disadvantage is the high cost of the surgery in the best clinics. Because eye surgery is a once-in-a-lifetime operation which has very serious consequences, decisions about where to have your surgery should not be made on price alone.
Click on the link to compare laser eye surgery providers.
