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For Many Patients Custom Made Medical Travel Is The Only Solution

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.

Even in ancient times people traveled far to seek help from famous healers or to seek a cure at holy places reputed to have healing powers. In many cases these long trips became quests and travelers often had to endure hardship. Even in those times, however, ill people were willing to sacrifice and to suffer if only there is even the smallest chance that their lives can be saved or their diseases cured.

Today, tourism for the specific purpose of seeking treatment is a lucrative industry. Many traveling agents specialize in this sort of tourism which requires attention to numerous details and some complex arrangements. However, when someone is desperately ill, he will probably be more than willing to sacrifice almost anything in order to get the help that he needs.

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.

The traveling plans for patients can be difficult to finalize. It is often impossible to say just how long the treatment will take, how many follow up visits will be necessary and whether there will be a rehabilitation period. This makes it difficult to arrange transport and accommodation. In addition, very ill people often need special care when traveling. It is therefore very important to use a highly experienced travel agent.

The first priority of the health authorities in any country is to make sure that its own citizens have access to quality care. If foreigners seek treatment, they must be treated as just another patient, albeit one that pays more. However, it would be inhumane to deny treatment to any desperately ill person.




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