Health travel abroad: opportunity or risk?
According to data from Confindustria Viaggi, about 350,000 Italians go abroad every year to undergo medical treatment, wellness, and beauty treatments. Saving money is the main goal, but it’s important to consider if they’re really convenient since treatments often conceal certain dangers and risks.
Dental care is the first priority.
Dental care is the most important part of Italians’ health trips abroad. The most popular destinations are Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, Romania, and other Eastern European countries. According to a survey conducted by the Ispo research institute on behalf of the Italian National Dental Association (Andi), about 4% of Italian citizens have opted for dental treatments abroad, in particular for implantology, among the most expensive dental care.
Cosmetic surgery performed in Brazil
Cosmetic surgery is the second travel motivation of Italian health tourism.
Brazil is one of the main destinations, thanks to affordable rates and the world’s leading position in this type of intervention.
In the Dead Sea for psoriasis.
Many Italians travel to the shores of the Dead Sea in Israel to cure psoriasis. Be cautious, as the price of a four-week stay in Israel for a course of treatment can reach 5,000 euros. Perhaps not everyone knows that, our National Health Service (NHS) provides refunds for medicines purchased by patients suffering from psoriasis and provides several treatment options, with centers of excellence spread throughout Italy.
Transplantation in Turkey
Turkey is a popular destination for Italians to undergo autologous hair transplantation, which involves removing hair from the back of the head and replanting it in the frontal areas. Again, they are driven by affordable prices, even a third lower than the rates of Italian centers.
Medically Assisted Procreation (PMA) destinations
The Czech Republic and Spain are the preferred locations for infertility therapies. Every year, about 3,000 Italian couples (25% of couples with fertility problems) travel abroad to become parents.
The process of changing sex in Thailand
A gender reassignment operation from man to woman in several private Thai clinics can cost only 5,000 euros, which includes two weeks of hospitalization. It’s worth mentioning that this kind of surgery is also available in Italy, at various excellent facilities, with high standards and costs covered by the National Health Service. In Italy, about a hundred interventions are carried out every year.
Savings are possible, but it’s important to be cautious of potential risks
While health and beauty care prices abroad are competitive, it’s important to consider certain fundamental factors before departing. The first thing to consider is the hygienic-sanitary rules and the quality of the materials utilized, which may not be up to Italian standards. It is advisable to know the surgeon’s curriculum in advance and confirm that the clinic you choose is accredited by the health system of the country where you will go. It’s important to be aware of the possibility of complications or infections, and make sure to receive medical care for as long as it’s required. Finally, in cases of bad health, we must not forget that taking legal action abroad, especially in countries outside the European Union, can be very complicated and often does not guarantee adequate compensation.
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