Each year, millions of African residents travel to another country for medical care, a phenomenon known as medical tourism. Medical tourists from African countries most commonly travel to India.
Reasons for Seeking Medical Tourism – Medical Care Abroad
- Cost: Treatments or procedures can be significantly cheaper in another country.
- Culture: Receiving care from a clinician who shares the traveler’s culture and language.
- Unavailable or Unapproved Procedures: Access to procedures or therapies not available or approved in African countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Common Procedures for Medical Tourism
- Cosmetic Robotic surgery
- Fertility treatments
- Organ and tissue transplantation
- Cancer treatment
- Dental care
Medical Tourism Can Be Risky
Infectious Diseases:
Risks include wound infections, bloodstream infections, donor-derived infections (in the case of transplantations or transfusions), and diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
Antimicrobial Resistance:
- Highly drug-resistant bacteria and fungi can cause disease outbreaks among medical tourists.
- Antimicrobial resistance occurs when germs no longer respond to antibiotics and other drugs used to treat infections.
- Healthcare facilities in other countries may not have adequate infection control practices, increasing the risk of drug-resistant infections.
Quality of Care:
- Some countries may have lower requirements for maintaining licensure, credentialing, and accreditation compared to Africa.
- The use of counterfeit medicines and lower quality medical devices may occur.
Communication Challenges:
- Language barriers can lead to misunderstandings about medical care.
Air Travel:
- Flying after surgery can increase the risk of blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis.
- It is recommended to delay air travel for 10-14 days following major surgeries, especially those involving the chest.
Continuity of Care:
- Travelers may need follow-up care if they develop complications after returning home.
- Follow-up care might be expensive and may not be covered by health insurance.
How to Minimize Medical Tourism Risks
Research the Clinician and Facility:
- Verify the qualifications of the clinician performing the procedure.
- Check the credentials of the facility where the procedure will be performed.
- Look for accreditation from groups such as Joint Commission International, International Accreditation for Hospitals, and the International Society for Quality in Healthcare.
- Apollo Hospitals have all the necessary credentials and meet international standards.
How do Apollo Hospitals Information Centres Assist Patients Internationally?
Before You Travel:
- Get a pre-travel consultation at least 4-6 weeks before the trip.
- Discuss general information for healthy travel and specific risks related to your health status, the procedure, and travel.
- Obtain international travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation.
- Find out what activities are not recommended around the time of the procedure and plan accordingly.
Maintain Your Health and Medical Records:
- Bring copies of your medical records, including lab test results and other relevant documents.
- Inform medical staff at your destination about any allergies you have.
- Pack a travel health kit with your prescription and over-the-counter medicines in their original packaging.
- Bring enough medicine for the entire trip, plus extra in case of delays.
- Get copies of all your medical records from the facility before returning home and consider getting them translated into English.
Arrange for Follow-Up Care:
- Identify where you will stay immediately after the procedure.
- Ensure you can access follow-up care in your home country.
- Understand the potential financial costs of follow-up or emergency care.
- Review your health insurance policy to determine what is covered and plan for possible out-of-pocket expenses.
- Consider supplemental travel health insurance to cover follow-up or emergency care.
Trusted Medical Care with Apollo Hospitals
Apollo Hospitals Information Centre provides trusted guidance and high-quality care for medical tourists.
Procedures are conducted in state-of-the-art facilities with highly qualified professionals.
Choosing Apollo Hospitals helps minimize risks associated with medical tourism and ensures quality care.
For appointments, (Apollo Hospitals Information Centre, Kenya / Ethiopia / Tanzania / Uganda)
📞 WhatsApp: +254-719581035 / +254-789-150890 / +254-748-830976
✉ info@apolloinformationcentre.com
🌎 www.apolloinformationcentre.com
