IS MEDICAL TOURISM SAFE?

There has been much talk of late about the safety of patients travelling to access health care services overseas, particularly in Asia and in South America. Whilst we do not believe medical travel is for everyone, we do believe it is safe as long as you choose a reputable provider with a proven track record. We highly recommend anyone interested not only in travelling for health care services, but in any medical procedure or treatment to have a check list in place to enable them to minimise the risk of choosing an unsuitable medical facility or doctor.

We highly recommend that you ensure the medical facility or health care practitioner:
– is reputable;
– has a proven track record;
– is registered with or accredited by their local government or the governing medical body or association;
– has never been disqualified from practising anywhere in the world;
– has never been found guilty of endangering a patient’s life; and
– has never been found guilty of malpractice.

You should also note down any preferences you might have. For example, you might be more comfortable with a female doctor, or you may choose to have the procedure or treatment done in a facility that invests heavily in breast cancer research.

In addition to the above, if you are going to be undergoing surgery or a major treatment such as a hip replacement, or a cardiac bypass surgery, or chemotherapy, we recommend that you seek out a medical facility that is accredited by either:
– the Joint Commission International (JCI);
– the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH); or
– the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS).

At Holiday Health, we take patient safety and care very seriously, and we would never provide you with options that we know would adversely affect your well-being or put you in harm’s way.