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Editor's Picks
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Medical tourism by the numbers
In this article published in the San Francisco Chronicle, author Carol Lloyd says her experience shows the savings Americans can reap by traveling abroad for medical care. During a trip to Costa Rica, Lloyd's husband got his dental work done for a fraction of the American price. Encouraged by the experience, Lloyd subjected herself to one of several preventive health exams offered at CIMA, a brand-new hospital in San José. In six hours, she received a mammogram, full blood work, fecal and urinalysis, cardio stress test, abdominal ultrasound, chest X-rays, eye exam, meeting with an internist, consultation with a nutritionist and breakfast for $397. By her calculations, she would have spent several thousand dollars for the same number of tests and it would have taken no fewer than 10 visits to the doctor spread over weeks or even months. With the economic downturn showing no signs of slowing, will more Americans follow Lloyd's lead and leave the country for medical care in order to save money down the road? [Read More]
Indian medical tourism to grow at an annual rate of 30%
Some Americans may have already realized the potential medical cost savings that they can find in India: The country's medical tourism sector is expected to grow at an annual rate of 30% through 2015, according to figures released by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India. "The cost of surgery in India is one-tenth of what it is in the U.S. and Western Europe and sometimes even lesser," the chamber said. Patients from other countries would make India a preferred choice for medical treatment because of cost and competitive factors, it added. [Read More]
Economy blunts Korea's appetite for plastic surgery
Turmoil coursing through the financial world and then into the global economy has hit South Korea, with the plastic surgery industry being hit particularly hard. Seoul-based ARA Consulting, which specializes in the plastic surgery industry, said reports from surgeons and media suggest the number of patient visits each month is down 40% since September. That would be a huge setback to this once fast-growing industry: Plastic surgery has become so common in the country that an estimated 30% of Korean women aged 20 to 50, or some 2.4 million women, had surgical or nonsurgical cosmetic procedures last year, with many having more than one procedure. [Read More]
Canadians worry U.S. health reform could lead to doctor poaching
If Barack Obama makes good on his promise to increase access to healthcare for America's 45 million uninsured, more people will be seeking appointments with busy primary care doctors. But now some say that the increased demand that would follow health reform could lead to an exodus of Canadian doctors to the United States, notes this blog posting from the Wall Street Journal. The blog posting cites an article published in Canada's National Post, where College of Family Physicians of Canada President Sara Krednenster, MD, said the U.S. health reform was something that could "definitely" impact Canada's physician resources. "We need all the family doctors that we train here to stay here," Kredentser said. "Anything that jeopardizes that would be worrisome." [Read More]
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Global Health Headlines
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As trade slows, China rethinks its growth strategy
New York Times - December 31, 2008
New life in Chicago brings refugees to health center's doors
Chicago Tribune - January 5, 2009
Five global health predictions for 2009
Global Health - January 2, 2009
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From HealthLeaders Magazine |
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20 People Who Make Healthcare Better
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In our annual HealthLeaders 20, we offer profiles of individuals who are making a difference in today's complex healthcare world. [Read More] |
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Service Line Management |
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Here Come the Seniors
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The well-documented influx of baby boomer patients promises to increase the already high demand for senior services. But the prospect of expanding a service line that relies so heavily on Medicare has some hospital leaders jittery. [Read More] |
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Audio Feature
India's Growth Story: Sangita Reddy, executive director, Apollo Hospitals Group, talks about Apollo's expansion and ability to provide care to local and international patients. [Listen Now]
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