Sunday, November 4, 2018

Medical Tourism Agents And Facilitators Help The Desperately Ill

By Douglas McDonald


Medical science have come a long way but thousands suffering from diseases that could be treated successfully die every year anyway. This is because the treatment that they so desperately need is simply not available when it is necessary. This is the case all over the world. In the UK, for example, patients often have to wait for a year or longer. Many of these patients are not prepared to wait and they opt to use medical tourism agents and facilitators to travel abroad for treatment there.

Travelling long distances to seek treatment is as old as mankind himself. In ancient times, people used to risk many danger and suffer great hardship to seek help from famous healers. Of course, in those times healers were few and far between. People also travelled great distances to visit sites, often bodies of water, that are reputed to have healing power. Many of these sites remain popular to this very day.

The motivation for travelling abroad for treatment differ considerably from one case to the next. In many cases the treatment necessary simply is not available in their home countries. In many other cases the waiting list is too long, often years, which can be a certain death sentence. It is no wonder that these patients will do whatever they can to get the help that will save their lives.

Sometimes patients choose to travel for treatment even though the treatment is available in their own countries. In such cases the patient wants to be attended by the best authority in the world and in the very best medical facilities. To this end they will pay huge sums of money to be seen by world recognized specialists practising in foreign countries.

Even patients with modest means often travel abroad for treatment. This is possible because some countries boasting superior medical facilities have weak currencies. A highly favourable exchange rate makes it possible for ordinary middle income individuals to seek superior treatment. The charges may seem high in the currency of the host country, but not to the patient who would never afford the treatment in his own country.

Critics say that the current system is corrupt. Greedy specialists and hospitals charge their foreign patients a fortune because they know how desperate they are. In exchange for these large sums, the patient is promised speedy treatment and the utmost discretion. In addition, other, local, patients often have to wait longer because these cash rich foreigners get preferential treatment. The entire issue should be subject to much stricter laws and rules.

Unless the patient knows exactly which specialist he wishes to consult or which facility he wishes to visit, he should be extremely careful when appointing a agent or facilitator to arrange the trip. This agent should be able to prove that he has intimate knowledge of the reputation and success rate of the practitioner or facility that he recommends. It is vital to ask for references and to follow up on them.

When someone falls deadly ill all priorities change and the health of the patients suddenly become the only important thing. Such patients, especially those with money to their disposal, will go to great lengths to find a remedy. To this end, a reputable travel facilitator can be of immense value.




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