MEDICAL TOURISMAN A TO Z GUIDE TO HEALTHCARE OVERSEAS

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM,DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE TIMES

MARCH 22 2007

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM,DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES2

Ais for abroad.The trade inm e d i c a ltourism hasbeen going onfor many years,the changeover the past

few years has been that it is not justwealthy foreigners coming to topclinics in the UK for treatment, todaytaking trips to seek treatment is verymuch two way traffic. Keith Pollardwas quick to pick up on the trend acouple of years ago when he foundthat his website, which gives privatehealthcare advice, was experiencingmore and more enquiries for foreigntreatments, prompting him to launchTreatmentAbroad.net. “That was twoyears ago and we’re now gettingaround 50,000 people coming to thesite and we answer around 1,500enquiries every month for peoplewanting to know which clinics areavailable in their preferred coun-tries,” Pollard reveals.

In fact the company has recentlycarried out independent research in

to the phenomenon of medicaltourism and found that, according tofeedback from clinics around theworld, roughly 52,500 Britons travelabroad for treatment every year. Ofthese, nearly half are jetting off fordental treatment. The next biggestsegments are those seeking cosmeticsurgery and there is another signifi-cant part of the market going abroadfor hip and knee replacements.

“One of the huge driving factors ispeople being forced into privatedental care in the UK,” says Pollard.

“It’s very difficult to get an NHSdentist and so when your privatedentist says you need an implant itwill cost £2,500 it’s a real shock to alot of people, so they come to oursite and see they could get the sametreatment for £500. It’s a very goodincentive to get on a plane.”

Another factor is the cleanlinessof UK hospitals. Although there areno firm statistical figures, Pollardbelieves it could be playing a part.

“There’s only anecdotal evidencebut we get people contacting usmentioning they’re going abroad

www.mediaplanetgroup.co.uk

Medical Tourism A title from MediaPlanet

Project Manager Katherine Woodley 0207 563 8874Production Editor Ulrika Fallenius Editor Sean HargraveDesign/Production Jez MacBeanPrint News International.

For more information about supplements in thedaily press, please contact Freddie Ossberg on 020 7563 8878

Mediaplanet is the leading European publish-er in providing high quality and in-depthanalysis on topical industry and marketissues, in print, online and broadcast.

www.mediaplanetonline.com

Cosmetic surgery is one of the fastest growing areas in UK sur-gery. Just as with many trends that start in America, it hasnot taken long for the boom in surgery aimed at augmentingour natural shape and taking a few years off our faces totravel across the Atlantic. In fact, in the UK cosmetic surgeryis growing by around a third every year. Breast augmenta-tion, liposuction, rhinoplasty and face lifts are common pro-cedures which are prompting people to seek treatment

abroad because by catching a plane to the likes of France, Belgium, Spain andPoland, they can halve the price of treatment in a UK clinic.

Time to relaxCosmetic surgery is also prompting many people to consider flying furtherabroad to combine a holiday with surgery so any scars are given time to heal sodressings can be removed by the time they fly home. Also, staying at the desti-nation for a couple of weeks also has the benefit of giving a client more time torelax and enjoy a holiday before returning home. Popular long haul destinationsfor cosmetic surgery include Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina and the United ArabEmirates. At the same time, of course, travelling abroad allows clients to getused to their new, improved features and leaves it up to them whether theychoose to tell people what treatment they have had done. The beauty of havingtreatment abroad is that, unlike being at home, work colleagues and friends willnot have noticed you are absent from work, so the decision is completely yours.

not to save money but because theywant to have surgery in a countrywith a better MRSA record than theUK,” he says.

“A lot of it is a reaction to figuresthat are misused in the papers to sug-gest MRSA is a lot more widespreadthan it is. We’ve always had a prob-lem with it in the UK because of thewidespread prescription of antibi-otics for minor infections which hasmade bugs resistant to treatment.Having said that, the number ofcases of MRSA infection had risen tomore than 7,000 three years ago sothat would equate to around 1,500deaths a year and that’s probablygone up by now, so it’s not surprisingpeople are worried.”

Another major factor is the publicbecoming more interested in cosmet-ic surgery which is prompting anincreasing number of people to con-sidering saving money by goingabroad and perhaps combining treat-ment with a holiday. “The UK marketfor cosmetic surgery is up by 30 percent year on year, so it’s a hugelypopular area,” Pollard suggests.

“It’s becoming increasinglyacceptable and so people are lookingin to having a treatment done andrecuperating on a holiday. It’s thenup to them whether they tell peoplewhat they’ve had done when theyget back.”

Waiting lists keyOf course, though, there is oneoverriding factor that is proving adriving force for encouraging peo-ple to go online and research med-ical treatment abroad; NHS wait-ing lists. People are often horrifiedat how long it takes for them to seea specialist and then are furtherdisappointed at finding out howlong it will take for a condition tobe put right.

“The government is trying to geteveryone seen within six months butyou only have to look at how a lot ofthe money that’s been pumped in tothe NHS has been soaked up by wagesto then wonder if that will be met,”Pollard continues.

“The big problem isn’t just thewaiting list, it’s the waiting for a GP

appointment, then waiting to bereferred, then waiting for a scanappointment, which can take weeks,then waiting for the results, thenwaiting to see a consultant and thenthe consultant telling you you needsurgery, then you finding out there’sa six month waiting list.”

“The big problem isn’tjust the waiting list, it’s

the waiting for a GPappointment, then wait-ing to be referred, then

waiting for a scanappointment, which can

take weeks”Hence it should come as little orno surprise to discover that whenTreatmentAbroad.net carried outresearch to find out whether clinicsabroad felt the wave of UK touristsgoing abroad for surgery and den-tistry would increase in the nearfuture, almost all said it wouldincrease substantially.

The current trend for Britons toseek treatment abroad shows littlesign of abating. With concerns overthe cost of private treatment in theUK combined with fears over clean-liness of hospital wards and longNHS waiting lists, more and moreBritons are set to look in to goingabroad for prompt treatment atcompetitive rates.

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM,DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES 3

Budapest, the Hungarian capital is one ofthe most charming of the European citieswith a wealth of historical sights. Budapestis considered to be one of the top Europeandestinations not only because of itsbustling and vibrant architecture but alsoits excellent healthcare and dental facili-ties. Many visitors can take advantage of

dental treatments at an affordable price without compromis-ing in quality; no wonder Hungary could soon become aworld leader in dental tourism, due to the outstanding num-ber of highly trained and experienced dentists per capita intop class clinics of Budapest.

Dentist AbroadDentist Abroad is a leading dental tour operator and the onlyone of its kind that has a London based office as well as aLondon clinic where you can meet dentists from their dentalclinic in Budapest. Their aim is to provide high quality andprofessional dental services to patients who want to savethousands of pounds on their bills. They will ensure that

your application will proceed smoothly and that you have apleasant stay in Budapest.

Their staff are internationally experienced, speak Englishand treat their patients with a high level of professionalismand a premium customer service. They help to organise theentire trip including low-cost flights, bargain-pricedaccommodation, dental treatments with discounts and freetransfer.

The individual service offers dental consultation andcheck ups, once a week, at its Harley Street dental practice inLondon. This will allow you to meet your dentist before trav-eling to Budapest. For an initial consultation all you need todo is to contact their office and they will arrange an appoint-ment, an x-ray form (if necessary), a treatment schedule anda price estimate within 48 hours.

Following the consultation, either in London or directly inBudapest, you will receive a full information pack alongwith an exact price assessment and a treatment plan accord-ing to your dentist for absolutely FREE.

Should you have any queries once back at home, DentistAbroad will be able to liaise with Dr. Bátorfi’s practice toresolve any issues professionally. Traveling abroad for med-ical treatment might seem to be a difficult decision but theywill put a bright smile on your face and ensure you savethousands of pounds.

Bátorfi Dentistry – British-Hungarian Medical ServiceLed by Dr Bela Batorfi (UK reg. no. 103348), their dentalteam provides treatment for all main dental procedures,with special emphasis on implantology including sinus lift,bone graft and bone block. Dr Batorfi places an average of150-200 dental implants a month with 98 per cent successrate. The proof of his work and competence are the morethan 35,000 patients he has treated. Dr Bátorfi is honestand always ready to share his knowledge and expertisewith his patients.

All of his dental team are members of the Hungarian Med-ical Council. They are all trained to meet high professionalexpectations and so offer high standards and advanced med-ical procedures, with the benefit of years of practising inter-nationally. Their success is due to the fact that they have themost up-to-date and state-of-the-art equipment and thehighly skilled team never compromise on quality.

Hungary has the lowest MRSA rates in Europe which allowsDr. Bátorfi to access high class and affordable dental surgery.Along with years of experience in the field of implantology,other treatments regarding cosmetic dentistry could be the bestchoice for your dental treatment abroad. Considerable savingscan be made by travelling to their sur-gery for cosmetic dentistry or fortreatments such as dentalimplants and dental crowns.Dental costs may be as low as30 per cent of private dentalcosts in the UK, e.g. top rangeimplants from 600, crownsand veneers from 180.

Dis for Dentistry Abroad. Welcome to Cyprus,the island for all seasons. An island that isunder the warm Mediterranean sunthroughout the year. There is a strong his-tory and bond between Cyprus and Britain.It is guaranteed that all British patients willfeel right at home there – even driving is onthe correct side of the road! There a com-

pact world awaits to be discovered; a world of alluring beachesand fragrant mountain peaks and vineyards studded with olivetrees and ancient ruins that stir the imagination.

The Nicosia Dental Polyclinic, located at the heart of thecapital Nicosia, is at the forefront of a new wave of dentaltreatment facilities, dedicated to making the whole processof treatment as stress-free as possible.

From the moment you arrive at the clinic, it’s clear thatthis is something different, something special.

The reception foyer is spacious, attractive and inviting.Fresh flowers are plentiful while scented candles gently per-fume the air. A plasma screen hangs near the reception deskshowing the DVD of the day. Another television shows cur-rent affairs programming.

Need to go online to check your email or finish up thatvital report? No problem, the entire clinic is a Wi-Fi hot spot– connecting you to the web easily and quickly. An extrawaiting room is also available where children can spendtheir time playing with toys and Playstation consoles.

Going even further, the patient’s comfort, relaxation andwell-being is treated with the outmost importance. A range ofcomplimentary soothers has been created including tranquilaromatic candles, soothing herbal teas, relaxing music, de-stressing massages or even ingeniously designed pair of gogglesthrough which the patient can watch DVD movies chosen froman extensive list of programmes before going into surgery.

The techniques and procedures used in the clinic areacknowledged as the very best. Exacting standards of quali-ty are adhered to with every single treatment at the centre –whether it’s surgical or cosmetic. With the Nobel Biocare sys-tem of implants, for example, patients receive a 10-yearwritten guarantee!

The experienced and highly trained team at the NicosiaDental Polyclinic offers a full range of cosmetic dental serv-ices and techniques including bleaching, veneers, porcelaincrowns, porcelain inlays and smile makeovers.

But this is not just a cosmetic dental clinic - this is a spe-cialist dental polyclinic providing all manner of dental serv-ices including implantology, paediatric dentistry, periodon-tology, endodontics, orthodontics and preventive dentistry.

This dedication to providing only the very best forpatients extends beyond the clinic. The clinic is happy tomake all the travel arrangements for patients, includingflights, luxury holiday accommodation at one of the island’smany outstanding hotels. The Centre can even makearrangements for first-class add-ons, such as a Mediter-ranean cruise, spa treatments at the Dead Sea, and memo-rable dinners at the island’s finest restaurants.

Offering more competitive rates than other clinics abroad,even with travel and accommodation included in most cases,a UK patient would be looking at savings of 30-40% of theUK rates! Despite the lower prices quality is never compro-mised however; all the equipment and materials used arealways top of the range. The clinic staff, all of whom speakperfect English, have been professionally trained in some of

the most renowned Universities in the world. Greek, German,Spanish, Arabic and Russian is spoken in the clinic too.

The clinic and its staff are equipped with the right creden-tials, use the latest, most appropriate equipment and material,they follow all clinical standards to the maximum (sterilisa-tion, disinfection, etc) and of course offer their long guarantee.

The Nicosia Dental Polyclinic is most certainly the bestchoice to make when looking for an affordable, high qualitydental treatment that comes complete with professionalguarantees. Finally a dental treatment that patients can lookforward to as it is more relaxing than stressful… Add intothat the excellent Mediterranean climate all year round andyou’re in for the most special of treats!

www.dentalcyprus.com

Dentist Abroad UK Office 26A Parkway London NW1 7AH, Tel 020 7424 8886 or 07734446514, Email: info@dentistabroad.co.uk, Web site: www.dentistabroad.co.uk

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM,DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES4

Eurohealth are a British company offeringaccess to world renowned medical treatmentat affordable prices in the luxurious settingof a four star hotel. We are committed to giv-ing you flexible service and quality treat-ment. Our easy three-step booking process,finance packages and excellent value makemedical treatments fast, simple and afford-

able. Why settle for long NHS waiting lists, poor service andBritish hospitals when you could have your treatment andrecuperate in the comfort of a sumptuous hotel and grounds.Hungary is world renowned for its high standards andsophisticated medical procedures; the clinics and healthcarecentres we use have the latest, state-of-the-art equipmentand facilities. Budapest is only a 2 hour flight from the UKand has some of the lowest healthcare and surgery costsanywhere in the world.

The treatment clinics are situated within the four star Danu-bius Grand Hotel Margitsziget; giving you a one-stop destina-tion for your cosmetic and medical needs. The hotels facilitiesincluded in your stay comprise of indoor and outdoor swim-ming pools, thermal and fun baths, sauna and steam roomsand full use of the Danubius Premier Fitness Club.

The Vital Centre Dental Clinic performs a wide range ofservices using the highest standards of dental technology.Using special techniques, results can be achieved with mini-mal surgical trauma and fast recovery periods. The clinicoffers maintenance, prosthetic, surgical and restorativetreatments including:

Implants | Crowns | Dentures | Veneers | Teeth Whitening |Root Canal treatments | Aesthetic Fillings

The Focus Medical Eye Clinic is exclusive to the DanubiusGrand Hotel Margitsziget and offers state-of-the-art visioncorrection services. Using unique laser equipment, theyachieve the highest technical standards available in theworld; they have been Hungary’s leading eye microsurgeryinstitute for over ten years. We offer procedures for

cataracts, strabism and myopia using IntraLASIK; the onlylaser vision correction procedure which guarantees maxi-mum safety, pain-free treatment and immediate results. Youalso have access to a modern optical store, located close tothe Danubius Grand Hotel Margitsziget. They offer framesand sunglasses, lenses and services. Frames from worldfamous brands such as Gucci, Ray-Ban and Ralph Laurencan be bought from as little as £30 and eye tests carried outby ophthalmologists and optometrists cost £7-£9.

The Aura Aesthetic Surgical Clinic at the Danubius GrandHotel Margitsziget offers a wide range of aesthetic surgicaltreatments in the comfortable and elegant setting of a pri-vate clinic. The team of surgeons, anaesthetists and nursesuse cutting edge technology and provide highly professionalcare. Pre-operation consultations can be arranged to takeplace in the UK, or you can fly to Budapest to meet your sur-geon and see the treatment centre. Procedures availableinclude:

Mammoplasty: Breast Augmentation, Breast Reduction,Breast Lift | Liposuction | Rhinoplasty | Abdominoplasty(Tummy tuck) | Facial treatments: Lip enhancement and fill-ing, Botox | Non-surgical face rejuvenation | Blepharoplasty:Upper and lower lid lifts

Having surgery abroad not only saves you money, but youalso receive a higher level of after care. In the UK you areoften sent home a few days after the surgery, then return at alater date for post-operative checks. Your recovery period inBudapest will last between one day and two weeks, depend-ing on the procedure and your general state of health. TheDanubius Grand Hotel Margitsziget is the perfect place torecuperate after your surgery; located on an island, it’srelaxing and tranquil, yet only minutes away from the maintourist attractions in the city. The hotel’s informal bathrobeenvironment allows our cosmetic surgery clients to have aninconspicuous and relaxed stay.

Booking is easy with Eurohealth, with just three simplesteps; contact us to express your interest, we’ll contact youto discuss your requirements and arrange your consultation,and then book your treatment.

For more information or to discuss a booking, please call us on 0208 329 9477, visit www.eurohealth.uk.com or email us at enquiries@eurohealth.uk.com. We look forward to speaking to you soon.

France needs no introduction.With the Channel Tunnel,ferry operators and an everincreasing range of dailyflights, our neighbour hasnever been more convenient orcheaper to reach. What is per-haps not known about France

is that has a medical system that is among thevery best in the world.

Whilst the French may complain about highlevels of income and sales tax, it has given thecountry a very well equipped national healthsystem and, hence, private health system. Infact, at the start of the millennium the WorldHealth Organisation (WHO) ranked France’shealthcare system top out of 191 countries.With so many hospitals within a 60 to 90minute flight from the UK, it is little wonder thecountry is a leading destination for Britonsseeking treatment abroad. Of course, anotherbenefit of France is cost. With flights, the tun-

nel and ferries all competing, getting there isaffordable and, once there, treatments are alsousually around 25 to 40 per cent cheaper thanthe UK. A hip replacement, for example, wouldnormally be around 30 per cent cheaper inFrance and a knee replacement would beapproaching 40 per cent cheaper.

Cost considerationIt takes eight years of study to qualify as doctorin France and another three to qualify as a sur-geon. Once qualified a specialist is able to becalled a Docteur en Medicine (MD), a title that apatient can take as reassurance your specialistis highly trained.

If you would like to check up on a hospital’scredentials, to make sure it is of the calibre itsmarketing literature suggests, the French gov-ernment has set up the autonomous HauteAutorite de Sante which can be checked atwww.has-sante.fr and, you will be pleased toknow, the site is available in English. G

ermany has always had a strong reputation throughout Europe as an economicpowerhouse and so it will come as no surprise that it has a very strong nationaland private health system. It is bordered by more countries than any other inEurope and so is easily accessible from all directions for tourists, both sight-seeing and medical. Now that several low cost airlines are flying daily to desti-nations throughout the country, Germany has never been more affordable totravel to. In fact, it is low cost airlines that are making popping over to Germanyfor a short trip, even just for the day, a possibility. It may sound extravagant but

one of the country’s strong points is medical imaging and so it will hold great appeal for anybodythat has been told they have to wait weeks for a scan on the NHS or only has the option of anexpensive MRI, CT, ultrasound or bone density scan at a private hospital.

Scans and sightsIn fact, the cost, even when travel is taken in to account, can be as little as half the general fee of£700 at a private UK clinic.

Germany is also a leader in cosmetic surgery although it has to be pointed out that, though thereare savings on UK clinics, these are not huge – expect to shave something like £1,000 off mosttreatments.

However, English is widely spoken and for recuperation there are few countries that offer somany attractions, such as the Alpine scenery, Black Forest walks, historic castles and views over theRhine and Danube. In fact, it is a little known fact that Germany is widely accredited as having thehighest concentration of natural and historic tourist attractions in Europe.

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM,DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES 5

Hungary – high quality moderate prices.Going to the dentist is, for many people,an uncomfortable idea. It is not onlydue to fear of pain but also worries overhigh costs. Visiting the dentist is anespecially expensive affair for WesternEuropeans, which is why many nowtravel to Central Europe for dental

treatment. Since Hungary’s EU entry dental tourism hasplayed a major role among the booming branches of thetourism industry. Dental treatment in this region is still sig-nificantly cheaper than in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Aus-tria. That is one reason why many foreigners are combiningtravel to Budapest with a trip to the dentist.

DentalCoop dentistry was founded 4 years ago. The team isdedicated to the healthy and aesthetic smile. The treatment atDentalCoop is all encompassing: the dentists at the centrepractise seven specialities including imlpantology, aestheticdentistry, stomatology, parodontology and orthodonticsamong others. The dentists work as a team. To make the workeasier the practice has it own dental technician’s laboratory.This means that the dental technicians can meet the exactneeds of the patient and prepare crowns and bridges withinthree to four days. DentalCoop offers state of the art technol-ogy in the field of implantology and dental prostheses.

The new one-hour-implant with the NobelGuideDental implants provide a base for replacement teeth thatlook and function like natural teeth. The implants are tinytitanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbonewhere teeth are missing. The bone grows to the titanium, cre-ating a strong foundation for artificial teeth.

The NobelGuide method is offering an innovative way to giveyou dental implants and teeth in a one-hour office visit. At an ini-tial patient visit, doctors take a 3-D image of the patient’s jawusing an ICAT machine. When used with new computer software,the images show dentists the exact anatomy of the patient’s jawwithout ever having to look in the patient’s mouth. Dentists canplan the surgery with pinpoint accuracy using these images and

eliminate any potential problems before the patient even arrivesat the office for the procedure. The technology eliminates theneed for dentists to refract gum tissue to see the patient’s jaw,which is a painful process. As doctors are planning this “virtu-al” surgery, a laboratory moulds the replacement teeth. Thesurgery is also unique as dentists insert the implant directlythrough the gums to anchor it to the bone. Most proceduresare done by cutting open the gums.

“No cutting means less trauma and less pain for thepatient. When the patient comes for their implants, it takesabout an hour to insert the implants and attach the teeth”says Dr. Balázs Schatz MD, DMD.

Metalfree Procera CrownsThe centre is able to avoid the use of metal in prostheses alto-gether by the use of the Swedish Procera AllCeram. Insteadthe traditional layer of metal is replaced by a frame made ofzirconium or aluminium-oxide. This material is stronger thanmetal or the teeth themselves. The Procera crowns andbridges are prepared with the aid of a 3D scanner. The datacaptured from that is than sent to the Swedish headquartersvia the Internet where the Procera prosthesis is made. Onlythe porcelain layer is made at DentalCoop Laboratory.

Procera AllCeram is a very aesthetic solution, it can betransparent to light and so appear indistinguishable fromreal teeth. The special materials used minimise the possibili-ty of an allergic reaction.

Why DentalCoop Dentistry:• Comprehensive and cosmetic dental treatment • State-of-the-art technology • Free check up and treatment plan • Sterile caring environment • Budapest- convenient location with early, late, and emer-

gency appointments

Joints are tireless. From themoment we are born they allowour limbs to operate and so it is nosurprise that they have a tendencyto wear out with age. The kneesand the hips are the most commonjoints that need replacing becausethey take a lot of weight through-

out a lifetime and are under constant strain allthe time we are upright. In fact, ask anyone ofretirement age and the odds are they have had anew knee or hip or have a close friend or relativewho has. Whilst there is no surprise that knees

and hips wear out and need replacing, there canbe a nasty surprise when prospective patientsresearch waiting lists. After a life time of puttingmoney in to the NHS it can come as a shock tofind that the average wait can be around sixmonths for a hip and seven months for a knee.The natural reaction is for people to look at thecost of going private only to find it can be amassive £8,000 to £9,000 for a new hip andaround £9,000 to £10,000 for a new knee,although prices can obviously vary from onehospital provider to another.

Half priceHence it will come as little surprise that amongthe UK’s senior citizens joint replacement is aprime motivator to hop on a plane, ferry ortrain to France or Belgium, or further abroad,and get the operation done for nearly half theprice. With life expectancy increasing thenumber of people that need new joint is set torise correspondingly, giving patients a choicebetween waiting in pain for their name toreach the top of a list or dipping in to savingsto get prompt treatment abroad.

Centre for Aesthetic Dentistry and Implantology in Budapest +36 1 398 1028 +36 30 228 3199 www.dentalcoop.hu

India has long had a very strongrecord in medicine. One only has towalk in to a hospital in the UK or USto notice many doctors are eitherIndian or British of Indian descent.Hence India has had a long history ofvery well trained doctors wholearned their skills at home or abroad

and so can offer world-leading care at pricesthat are very attractive to the British.

The Indian healthcare industry is undergoingphenomenal expansion and with substantialinvestment in recent years (in excess of 100million GBP) it is looked upon as a leadingcountry in the promotion of medical tourism. Infact, people from the British Indian communityhave realised for a long time that NHS waitinglists and expensive private healthcare in the UKcan be avoided by flying to India and undergo-ing surgery from doctors who are likely to havetrained at the best hospitals the West can offer.

The word has spread and the British, alongwith many Europeans and Americans are start-ing to realise a strong pound can go a long waywithout compromising treatment quality or care.

One company that has been at the forefrontof this rapid trend is The Taj Medical Group(www.surgeryindia.co.uk 0800 1076 360).Based in Britain, and with offices around theworld it provides a comprehensive ‘door-to-door’ service of coordinating medical treat-ment at top, internationally accredited facili-ties in India at no additional cost to thepatients; and claims the flow of patients toIndia is increasing by 30 per cent each year.

The Taj Medical Group’s work has gained ahigh level of media attention, leading to ITV’sTonight With Trevor McDonald following thesuccessful treatment of a boy who was told hewould have to wait 10 months for spinal surgeryon the NHS but was seen promptly in India.

Specialists in the UK agreed the surgery hadbeen performed to a high standard.

To get an idea of savings the company calcu-lates that spinal surgery, for instance ArtificialDisc Replacement, which would cost £21,000 to£30,000 in the UK can be carried out by interna-tionally trained experts in India for less than£8,600 including flights, 15 day stay in a privateroom and post op recuperation in a 5 star hotel.

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM,DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES6

Knee surgery is whatprompted the NHS to firstconsider sending patientsabroad to have operationspaid for by their localhealth authority. Whilstmuch was made of the firsthandful of patients that

were sent to France four years ago the inci-dence of people being spared a six or sevenmonth wait on an NHS waiting list by beingsent abroad is now very rare – in fact, talkingof theatre queues, one of the first people to geta new knee in France claimed to have beenwaiting a staggering twelve months for treat-ment in the UK.

Four years on, however, it seems this earlywave of patients has been slowed down to atrickle despite pressure put on health trusts bythe government to reduce waiting lists. Justlike the hip, the knee goes through a lot ofstrain throughout the average person’s life,particularly if they participate in sport becauseof the risk of injury as well as the constant jar-ring from running and changing direction.

Constant strain People who need a new knee find themselvesin constant pain from putting any weight onthe affected leg. At the same time, the recoveryperiod before a new knee can be flexed andtake weight is long because surgeons have tocut through muscle supporting the knee toallow it to taken out and replaced.

“Just like the hip, the kneegoes through a lot of strain

throughout the average person’s life”It is no surprise, then, that people want to be

out of pain and on the road to recovery as soonas possible and hence knee replacements areprompting Britons to research their foreign sur-gery options. With the option of saving between33 to 55 per cent on the cost of UK treatment byopting for a hospital in France, Belgium, Hun-gary or Bulgaria, it is unsurprising that manyare seriously considering those options.

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is almost certainlythe best known bacteria in the UK, thanks to countless headlines in thenewspapers about how the ‘super’ or ‘killer’ bug has spread around hos-pital wards at alarming speed. As the name suggests, the ‘superbug’ hasdeveloped resistance to all penicillins, including the normally effectivemethicillin. It may come as little surprise to find out the bug was discov-ered in the early ’60s in the UK and has spread ever since. Whilst hospi-tal administrators will claim contamination is largely caused by people

coming into their facility with the bug and passing it on to patients through not washing handsproperly, the statistics do not make for comfortable reading. Whatever is the main cause of the bugspreading, it is clearly on the increase. Between 1997 and 2004 official figures show that MRSAcases more than trebled from 2,422 to 7,684. To add further worry, 15 per cent of reported cases ledto the death of the patient.

Official figures measuring the proportion of bacteria that is methicillin resistant show that theUK finds itself nearly at the top of a table of EU countries with Greece in pole position and Norway,Sweden and the Netherlands showing very little or virtually no problem.

There are antibiotics that can be given for patients suffering from an MRSA infection but theseneed to be given by injection. Typically those who do not respond to treatment have compromisedimmune systems and are old. Ironically, despite the fact is called a ‘superbug’ many healthy, youngpeople can be infected for years and not know about it, hence the huge problem in preventing vis-itors and patients bringing the bug in to a hospital. In Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands hos-pitals have begun screening patients for MRSA so they can be treated when they are admittedrather than allow the bug to cause problems after they have had treatment.

Whatever the cause and whatever the most effective treatment, it is fair to say that MRSA is amajor consideration for those considering paying for medical treatment in another country.

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM,DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES 7

NHS was a reassuring acronym when it was set up in 1948,guaranteeing Britons they would have free access tohealthcare. However, today, whilst most people whohave had stays in NHS hospitals are full of praise forstaff and procedures, there are many within the organi-sation and outside it, that fear the current trend to seekmedical treatment abroad is tantamount to people vot-ing with their passports. Despite masses of new money

going in to the institution, the press is full of daily stories about hospitals hav-ing to cancel operations because they have run out of funds to pay staff, plusat the same time as new money has come in, many insiders will reveal this hascreated a new layer of bureaucracy that in itself soaks up some of the extrabudget being given to health.

Hence it will come as little surprise that the budget deficit for the NHS inEngland has doubled to more than £500m this year, leading to another roundof redundancies and cut backs. Some of the savings are coming through cur-tailing training new nurses and doctors, a saving that many in the NHS pointout could lead to a shortage of staff in the near future.

No more crownsA classic example where practitioners claim there is a massive room forimprovement is dentistry, which accounts for roughly a half of all the UK’smedical tourism industry. In fact, it is hard to find a dentist that does not thinknew rules that allow each dentist to earn a fixed number of ‘credits’ from theNHS are not curtailing patient care.

The problem is that once a dentist’s limit of NHS treatments is reached, adentist has earned all the money they can from the NHS and so cannot be paidfor treating more patients. Increasingly this is prompting healthcare trusts tobring in new dentists from East Europe rather than giving UK dentists theopportunity to earn more NHS credits.

The result is people being forced into private dentistry which is so expensivethey then consider treatment abroad.

Obesity is one of the country’s majorhealth concerns because beingseverely overweight can place stresson the body’s organs, leading to highblood pressure, an increased risk ofstroke and type 2 diabetes. It is amajor reason for people seeking treat-ment abroad where gastric banding

operations are routinely carried out for less cost thansimilar private surgery in the UK. Gastric banding placesa band around the stomach to make it smaller, cuttingdown on the amount a person can eat and so helpingthem to lose weight. The latest procedures can do thisthrough keyhole surgery.

High figuresDue to the problem of obesity being spread throughoutthe EU there are several countries where doctors havebeen able to become leading experts in gastric banding –France (where more than 13,000 gastric bands are placed

every year) and Belgium are among many nearby coun-tries that can offer expert treatment at a more competi-tive rate than the £3,000 or £4,000 it would cost to seektreatment in the UK.

However, experts do advise that cost should not be theonly consideration because the operation requires a hos-pital stay of three to four days and so patients should alsoconsider seeking treatment in the UK. The UK statistics onobesity can make for alarming reading. Nearly a quarterof adults and 17 per cent of 15 year olds are classified asobese, meaning they have a body mass index over 30(between 25-30 is classified as being overweight).

A person’s BMI is measured by doubling their height,in metres, and dividing that figure by their weight, inkilograms. Hence a person who is 1.5m metres in heightand weighs 70kg would have an obese BMI of 23 – that is70kg divided by 3 (1.5m x 1.5m).

Health experts suggest adults can avoid obesity by eat-ing five portions of fruit and vegetables per day and tak-ing half an hour of exercise daily.

Price is a major issue with any service sopeople should never feel coy aboutresearching their medical treatmentoptions. Whilst in the past we may havefelt honour bound to wait for our nameto reach the top of an NHS waiting list,today’s consumers realise they have theoption to pay for their own treatment

and that going abroad can cut down on the overall cost,yet not compromise treatment care.

To give a very rough idea of what savings could bemade, here are some figures which have been supplied byTreatmentsAbroad.net.

Cost of cataract surgery

Country Price* SavingUK £2,350Belgium £1,359 42%Bulgaria £1,053 55%Cyprus £1,200 49%France £1,742 26%Germany £1,742 26%India £1,100 53%Norway £1,300 42%Poland £650 72%Spain £1,742 26%Tunisia £700 70%Turkey £562 76%

*Including hospital stay and doctors’ fees

Cost of hip replacement

Country Price* SavingUK £8,000Belgium £5,585 30%Cyprus £4,100 49%France £5,689 29%Germany £5,296 34%Hungary £4,450 44%India £3,763 53%Latvia £3,924 51%Malaysia £2,205 72%Norway £ 5,685 29%Spain £5,695 29%Tunisia £3,600 55%Turkey £4,725 41%

Cost of knee replacement

Country Price* SavingUK £9,500Belgium £5,723 40%France £6,075 36%Germany £5,365 44%Hungary £4,913 48%India £4,167 56%Latvia £4,196 56%Malaysia £2,305 76%Norway £ 6,400 37%Spain £5,695 40%Tunisia £4,000 58%Turkey £3,600 62%

www.alfieridentista.it

Via Venezia n.75 43100 Parma (PR) Work hours:Monday-Friday

Saturday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Email: dr.g.alfieri@libero.itTel: 0521 784520 / 0521271093Fax: 0521 791640

8:00am - 12:00pm / 2pm - 8pm

STUDIO DENTISTICOA LFRIERI

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM,DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES8

Sis for Singapore. If any placeat all on earth can be calledthe ultimate healthcare des-tination today, Singapore isit. While other destinationsprovide good clinical serv-ices in a tourist-friendlyenvironment, Singapore’s

healthcare system is ranked by the WorldHealth Organisation as Asia’s very best.

There are more healthcare facilitiesaccredited by the Joint Commission Interna-tional (the most common measure of health-care services excellence) in Singapore thanin all the other major Asian destinations –India, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines – puttogether. Singapore’s doctors are not justtrained in the best centres worldwide but areinternationally known and respected fortheir research and expertise. Technology isup-to-date but carefully selected for safeand effective treatment. Some – like thebodyfat UltraShape and the complete neu-rosurgical BrainSuite – are the first deploy-ments in the world.

The excellent clinical services are backedup by leading-edge research in facilities likethe Biopolis, a purpose-built biomedicalresearch hub. Through basic, translationaland clinical research, Singapore’s doctorsnot only provide good, tested treatments totheir patients but create new ones as well.Many world and Asian firsts happen in Sin-gapore, from the beginnings of the test-tubebabies, to virtual reality brain surgery, to the“tooth-in-eye” operation that enables theblind to see again. Small wonder then thatSingapore is also the regional hub for med-ical conferences and professional training.

Despite its exceptional healthcare, Singa-pore’s prices are close to those of other desti-nations. The knowledgeable traveler under-stands also that hospital bills are often lower

where better outcomes lead to shorter staysand earlier returns back home. In any case,what price one’s health, one’s life? Averagehospital bill sizes are published regularly bythe Ministry of Health, providing feedback tolocal and international patients. Clinicaloutcome indicators, eg for cataract surgeryand childhood leukemia, are also similarlypublished for public scrutiny, such is thelevel of deliberate openness and transparen-cy of the medical community.

All major international healthcare facili-ties have International Patient Liaison Ser-vices to look after the language, travel,accommodation and leisure needs ofpatients and their family members, ensuringa comfortable stay for all.

English is widespread, crime is low, securi-ty is high, transport is convenient, shoppingis great – Singapore is a tourist’s dream desti-nation. There is little need to say more aboutthe visitor’s experience in Singapore beyondthe destination tagline – Uniquely Singapore,Beyond Words – since Singapore welcomed

more than 9.7 million discerning tourists lastyear. That’s more than twice the total residentpopulation of the whole island state!

In the past year, 400,000 or more peoplecame to Singapore specifically for health-care, and many others sought wellness andhealthcare services while on the island forother reasons. They come because theyknow that Singapore provides that peace ofmind when health really matters.

Singapore Healthcare Providers:

AsiaMedic Limitedwww.asiamedic.com.sgTel: (65) 6789 8888Fax: (65) 6738 4136Email: info@asiamedic.com.sg

Mount Alvernia Hospitalwww.mtalvernia-hospital.orgTel: (65) 6347 6666Fax: (65) 6347 6632Email: enquiry@mtalvernia-hospital.org

National Healthcare Group www.nhg.com.sgTel: (65) 6779 2777 (24-Hour Helpline)Fax: (65) 6777 8065Email: iplc@nhg.com.sg

Pacific Healthcare Holdings Ltdwww.pachealthholdings.comTel: (65) 6737 3932 / 6883 6966Fax: (65) 6733 5333E: customerservice@pachealthholdings.com

Parkway Group Healthcarewww.pgh.com.sgTel: (65) 6735 5000 (24-Hour Helpline)Fax: (65) 6326 5900Email: mrc@parkway.sg

Raffles Hospital www.raffleshospital.comTel: (65) 6311 1666 (24-Hour Helpline)Fax: (65) 6311 2333Email: enquiries@rafflesmedical.com

Singapore Health Services (SingHealth)www.singhealth.com.sgTel: (65) 6326 5656Fax: (65) 6326 5900Email: ims@singhealth.com.sg

Thomson Medical Centrewww.thomsonmedical.comTel: (65) 6250 2222Fax: (65) 6253 4468Email: contact@tmc-sin.com.sg

Quality of care is always going to be topof a prospective patient’s wish list whenresearching a foreign clinic for surgery.The question on everyone’s mind is theunderstandable worry whether cheapertreatment abroad is cheaper than theUK because it is not up to the samestandard. It is completely natural to askthe question but, as Keith Pollard, man

aging director of TreatmentAbroad.net, points out, thereis no guarantee of success in a UK hospital. “When youhave treatment on the NHS you don’t know for sure yourconsultant is going to do an operation, they may well asktheir registrar to do some of their ‘list’ for that day,” hepoints out.

“So there’s never a guarantee as to how good the sur-geon will be, no matter where you go.”

How many times?Although the government is trying to bring a measure ofhow good a surgeon is by producing league tables of crite-ria, such as death rate, Pollard suggests this is not helpful.

“League tables are often not helpful because you wouldimagine the guy with the highest death rate is the worstsurgeon but they’re often the best surgeon, that’s why theyget sent all the most tricky cases,” he points out.

“The real question people want to ask, and there’s noth-ing wrong with them asking a doctor in the UK or abroadthis, is how many times have you performed this operationin the past twelve months? That’s the key questionbecause a guy that’s done it lots more than another has theexperience and so that’s the guy I would want operatingon me.”

QualificationsPollard also points out that there is actually no formalqualification for a cosmetic surgeon in the UK. Whilst sur-geons must be trained and qualified in reconstructive sur-gery, cosmetic surgery is an extension of this without itsown formally recognised qualification. Hence, it under-lines that people should not presume that UK surgeons arenaturally more qualified and experienced than colleagueselsewhere in the world.

Real life stories are the best piece of researchanybody seeking medical treatment abroadcan have to hand when making a final deci-sion on whether to pay for care at home orabroad. Nevertheless it can often surprisemedical industry professionals how rarelyBritons ask for testimonials from doctors andsurgeons. It is almost unheard of in the NHS

and, when paying for private treatment, people tend to assumethey are paying for the best, so they do not check up on a surgeonor hospital.

QualificationsIt is only when they consider travelling abroad that they, quiterightly, start to consider whether the surgeon involved is properlyqualified and experienced because usually they have never heard

of the clinic involved. “One of the best things anyone can do ischeck a doctor’s experience but then also ask for testimonials,”suggests Keith Pollard, founder of TreatmentAbroad.net.

“The way to do this is to not only check their website or promo-tional literature for happy clients but then to ask the surgeon isthere anyone I can email to ask how they got along? A surgeonthat has had good results with British people in the past shouldn’thave a problem asking them if they would mind seeing an emailfrom you to help put your mind at rest.”

It is obviously a very good sign if a company arranging a trip fortreatment abroad can arrange this or at least provide positive, gen-uine customer feedback. Several clinics have already done this atTreatmentAbroad.net where before and after photographs of den-tistry and cosmetic surgery, in particular, can be viewed alongsidetestimonials, helping people to get some feedback from past clientsbefore deciding if a clinic might be right for them.

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM,DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES 9

Tis for Turkey. CTG Healthcare, a leadingmedical tourism group, provides UKpatients with cosmetic surgery, dentistryand orthopedic surgery in Turkey. Thecompany is based in the beautiful city ofIzmir, the capital of the Aegean region.Whether you require cosmetic surgery,dentistry or orthopedic surgery they can

offer you high quality, affordable medical services. Theirhighly qualified, certified surgeons and experienced staffare all fluent in English. All procedures are performed inthe technologically advanced operating theatres at theirhospital in Izmir. CTG Healthcare is an excellent choice forpeople who are considering surgery abroad.

Story of Ellen Nolan – Dublin/IrelandI was very sceptical when my friend Eileen asked me if Iwould go with her to Turkey to get our teeth done. Howev-er when she came to me with more information I realisedthat she was seriously contemplating the long trip and inturn I began to give it more thought. Our hotels and flightswere arranged by the company and included in the pricequoted, which was very much cheaper than anything wecould get here. Our hotel room was clean and comfortablewith an ensuite bathroom, small fridge TV and wirelessinternet access.

Our first experience of the clinic when we were met atthe entrance by several of the staff was it was as if we werevery important to them. While we were waiting we alsohad use of a PC with internet access which I found to be alovely extra. From there we went to different dentists andour treatment began.

My treatment consisted of crowns, bridges and veneersand I have to say, my dentist did his best to minimise thepain I felt and was very gentle with me.

In between treatments one of CTG Members brought uson two trips, one on a boat across the bay of Izmir where wespent time shopping. The second was a visit to the ancientcity of Ephesus. There we walked among the ruins on mar-ble and stone paths and marvelled at the ancient architec-ture. This was lovely, and we enjoyed a feeling of peace andserenity that exists in few places.

In summing up, our trip was excellent. Everything wasarranged to suit us from flights to accommodation. Thehygiene and hospitality was second to none and our treat-ment was very professional; the dentists made sure ourteeth were perfect and would have no foreseeable prob-lems. Personally I am thrilled with my new smile. For more information visit www.ctghealthcare.co.uk orphone 0207 872 5472

Waiting lists are what prompts most people to seek med-ical treatment abroad for the obvious reason that theaverage person would rather dip in to savings than suf-fer for months waiting on an NHS list. Although thegovernment can claim some success in getting waitinglists reduced, the average NHS waiting time is stilldeemed unacceptable by people in discomfort. Statisticscan, of course, be misleading because the average wait

for the 750,000 people who are typically on an NHS waiting list (in England) at anyone time has been reduced to around 6 to 8 weeks. However, the average wait for apatient in the UK is still around six months for a hip replacement and seven monthsfor a new knee.

Also many patients who opt to seek treatment abroad point to a delay in beingreferred by their GP to a specialist and then receiving the necessary diagnostic treat-ment before they find out if, say, a joint replacement is needed.

These people are caught in a bureaucratic gap in the system which does not monitorpeople waiting to be seen by a specialist and who are then told they have severalmonths to wait for treatment, even though they may have already waited a couple ofmonths or more for a hospital appointment.

The government has now set a target of a maximum18 week wait from a GP appoint-ment to hospital treatment to reduce the ‘hidden’ waiting lists. Even if the new maxi-mum waiting time is achieved, however, four and a half months will still seem a longtime for someone in need of a new joint or with a serious heart condition and so NHSwaiting lists look set to continue to be a major reason for seeking treatment abroad.

Ukraine is a top 30 world economic powerwith an economy roughly the size of Bel-gium’s and, since declaring independencefrom Russia two decades ago has gonethrough tough times (setting a world recordfor inflation rates in the mid ‘90s) tobecome one of the fastest growingeconomies in the world with a stock market

whose value grew by ten times between 2000 and 2006.It is understandable that it would not be the first place peo-

ple would naturally consider when researching treatmentabroad but it has a strong health sector and is investing heavi-ly in attracting tourists from Western Europe, having been apopular tourist destination for Russians and East Europeansfor quite some time, thanks to its wild forests and beaches onthe Black Sea.

IVF treatmentUkraine has yet to widely market itself for many treatments butit has already started to make a name for itself in infertilitytreatments.

Its first private infertility clinic, called ISIDA, is based in thecapital, Kiev, and recently won ISO 9001-2000 accreditation totestify that it employs quality management systems throughoutthe facility. The hospital only employs doctors who speak Englishand all rooms are single with their own climate control system.

It is difficult to give an idea of cost because so much dependson the treatment sought and, in particular, the number of IVFattempts needed but each attempt is priced at around £650 and a

‘complex’ IVF service is priced at around £2,500. Hence thestrong pound is likely to mean that more and more people whoare having problems starting a family and are put off by the costof private treatment in the UK, will start to consider the Ukraine,and other countries, as an alternative to domestic private clinics.

Venezuela is widely regarded as one of thetop three destinations to have cosmeticsurgery performed because equipment ismodern and all hospitals are supervised bythe country’s National Health Department.Furthermore Venezuelan cosmetic sur-geons will have had to train for betweentwelve to fourteen years and so are highly

qualified. The favourable exchange rate also makes the countryvery competitive with procedures normally costing up to half asmuch as they would in the UK. As a very rough guide a face liftwould normally cost around half the £4,000 to £6,000 fee of aUK hospital and breast augmentation is similarly less than£2,000 compared to £4,000 to £5,000.

Plastic surgeons must belong to the Venezuelan Society ofPlastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and should have their qual-ifications and credentials verified by the Venezuelan Plastic,Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Maxillofacial Board.

Sights to seeAnother great benefit of Venezuela is the country itself. It hasmile upon mile of Caribbean coastline and can boast a pleasanttemperature throughout the year. Inland has some beautifulsights too, such as the Amazon rainforest and the Gran SabanaNational Park which is home to Angel Falls, the world’s highestwaterfall. The capital, Caracas, is also a cosmopolitan city withcolonial buildings to view and, being surrounded by the AvilaMountains, offers tourists breathtaking views on cable car rides.

So, for somebody that wants to go on a summer holiday andincorporate sight-seeing, trekking or sunbathing with some sur-gery, Venezuela is well worth considering, particularly now thatcharter airlines are regularly flying to the country for low cost.

The country has a tropical climate with a dry season betweenDecember and May, the rest of the year is its wet season. Hencemost travel companies would advise travel between Septemberto April, although the Christmas and New Year periods canbecome expensive due to high demand.

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM,DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES10

HANSEATIC-CARE specialises in providing

joint replacement and spine surgery at a modern

120 bed purpose built hospital in Hamburg,

Germany.

• Our team of leading specialists guarantee

state of the art operative techniques that are

tailored to individual patients.

• Experienced English speaking nurses,

physiotherapists and support staff provide

compassionate post-op care and rehabilitation

with the patient at the centre of attention.

• Excellent hygiene accounts for an exception-

ally low postoperative infection rate with no

cases of secondary MRSA infection recorded

in the last five years.

• Hospital accomodation is provided in spacious

well equipped single or double rooms over-

looking the river Elbe to make your stay as

comfortable as possible. Accommodation for

accompanying relatives is available.

Relax. We take care of the rest!

Our philosophy of providing the highest standard

of clinical care and first rate service improves

outcome and shortens the recovery period sig-

nificantly to ensure a quick return to normal

activities.

Orthopaedic Surgery: Internationally renowned orthopaedic surgeons

are leading a team specializing in hip and knee

replacements. Before surgery our team will take

time to discuss in detail a personal treatment

plan with you based on a thorough clinical

examination and diagnostic imaging.

HANSEATIC offers the entire range of hip and

knee replacement surgery using implants of the

highest quality only.

Neurosurgery:Neurosurgeons with internationally recognized

expertise in spinal surgery provide treatment for

cervical or lumbar disc problems, spinal stenosis

and spinal instability.

How to find us:Hamburg is Germany’s second largest city and

has a busy international airport that is serviced

from all major destinations in the UK.

We will gladly assist you with your travel arrange-

ments and provide transfer from the airport

to the hospital.

Don’t wait for a more act ive pain-free l i fe !No wait ing l i s t for joint replacement and spine surgery!

Highest s tandard of care at af fordable prices!

Find out more about your treatment options with Hanseatic-Care today!

Please call our hotline: +49 40 689 89 99 40 or email us directly: overseaspatients@a-z-h.de

www.a-z-h.de

USP Dexeus University Hospitals belongs to USP HospitalGroup, which is a private, integrated and global care servicesnetwork that includes hospitals, day surgery centres, diag-nosis centres and general hospitals, that has become theleader in the area of health services in the southern Europe.

USP Dexeus University Hospital is ranked as the best pri-vate hospital in Barcelona, Spain. It has become the mostmodern and best equipped in the city. Our aim is to be thereference point in Europe incorporating the latest technolo-gy to provide the medicine for the future.

Medical and Surgical ServicesAs a complete private centre it provides a wide range ofmedical and surgical services furthermore the PlasticSurgery Service. Its Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecol-ogy especially stands out due to its contribution to the fieldof medicine. It was here where the first Spanish IVF (In VitroFecundation) baby was born in 1984.

We have a Department of Internal Medicine that groupstogether all the intra-hospital medical specialities: ICUbeds, Immunology and Infectious diseases Unit, as well asan Emergency Services open 24 hours a day. It is alsoimportant to mention the Paediatrics Department whichincludes a Neonatal Unit, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.Special mention needs the Ophthalmology Department andthe Orthopaedic and Traumatology Surgery Departmentwith a specialization in Sports Medicine. An Obesity Clinicrecently opened further showing the capacity of the USPDexeus University Hospital to detect and offer answers todiseases relating to new ways of living: Anaesthesia,Resuscitation and Pain Therapy; Allergology; Cardiology;Clinical Laboratory; Dentristy and Maxilofacial services ;

Dermatology; Endocrinology and Nutrition; Gastroenterol-ogy, Hepatology and Proctology; General Surgery; Haema-tology; Hospital Pharmacy; Diagnostic Imaging andNuclear Medicine (PET-TAC) ; Implantology; Internal Med-icine; Nephrology; Neurology; Neurosurgery; Obstetrics,Gynaecology ; Ophthalmology; Oncology ; Othorhino-laryngology; Paediatrics and Paediatric surgery; PathologyAnatomy ; Pneumology ; Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery;Preventive medicine / Medical consultations ; Psychiatry,Psychology and Psychosomatic medicine; Rheumatology;Rehabilitation Service ; Renal Lithiasis; ReproductiveMedicine; Sleep Disorders Clinic ; Sports Medicine; Tho-racic Surgery; Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery;Urology; and Vascular Surgery.

Academic HospitalOur hospital is recognised by the Spanish Ministry ofHealth as a training centre for Internal Resident Doctors(MIR) in the following specializations: Obstetrics andGynaecology; Anaesthesiology, Animation and Pain Man-agement; Orthopaedic and Traumatology Surgery; Oph-thalmology. We are also an affiliated centre to theAutonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) offering doc-torate and postgraduate courses.

Clinical and Quality Excellence Dexeus University Hospital has been granted a certificate byAENOR in accordance with ISO 9001:2000 regulation. In2004, the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus was named “ChildFriendly Hospital”, an initiative promoted by UNESCO andthe World Health Organisation to promote Breast Feeding.

USP Dexeus University Hospital, the best clinical excellence in Barcelona, Spain

You can find us at www.dexeus.es and www.usphospitales.com • Patient Liaison Officer call (English): 00 34 93 227 47 90 • Sabino Arana, 5-19, 08028 BARCELONA, Spain

HOSPITAL SERVICES INCLUDE

• Garden • Car Parking area• 5 delivery rooms • 140 beds – single rooms and 13 suites • 10 ICUs • 13 operating rooms• Neonatal Unit • 10 day hospital units • Library • Emergency Service 24/7 • Shopping area • Restaurant-cafeteria • External Medical and Surgical Consultants on site

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM,DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES 11

Xmas is becoming a peaktime for people to take aholiday break and so itwill come as no surprisethat the festive season isalso a popular time forpeople to seek medicaltreatment abroad.

Whilst some people may want to schedule sur-gery to relax over Christmas by getting awayfrom the stress of a family get together, manywill take advantage of most businesses closingdown for a week over the holiday season andschools breaking up for at least a fortnight.

Winter sunThe location for surgery is an individual choicebut for those seeking some sun may want toconsider South Africa. Not only does it enjoyits summer during our winter but it has astrong medical history and English is spokenby many as a first language. Surgeons, as inmost other parts of the world, are very highly

trained, needing to put in ten years of studybefore they are licensed.

The first heart transplant was carried out inCape Town 40 years ago and today the coun-try’s media and cultural centre is world-renowned, alongside its financial counterpartof Johannesburg, for medical tourism, particu-larly cosmetic surgery. The reasons are verysimple. A trip to South Africa gives a persontime to recuperate from surgery in warm,relaxing surroundings and return home with-out the need to inform friends and familyunless they wish to do so.

Thanks to the strength of the pound againstthe Rand, it also comes at less than the price ofsimilar procedures in the UK but with a holidayin the winter sun thrown in. Take, for example,breast augmentation. An all inclusive tripcould cost less than £3,000 instead of £4,000 to£5,000 in a UK clinic but would, of course,include accommodation for a winter sun holi-day. The same goes for a face lift at up £4,000instead of £5,000 or more.

You are the most importantperson in the decision ofwhether to seek medicaltreatment in a foreigncountry and which hospi-tal or clinic is the mostappropriate. It may sounda rather obvious thing to

say but when you think about it, it is quite ahuge leap forward for any person to make.Brought up under the NHS we have alwaysassumed that every medical decision would bemade for us. We see a GP, get referred to who-ever they suggest at our nearest hospital andthen that same hospital will generally, eventu-ally take care of any necessary treatment. Atno stage does the individual ever think to askthe GP to refer them to a particular specialistand it does not even cross our minds to ask theconsultant we finally end up seeing howskilled, qualified and experienced they are.

Even if we have private medical insurance, itis rare for a person to question the surgeon

allotted. We simply see insurance as a means ofgetting prompt treatment at a hospital of ourchoice with a surgeon provided by that facility.

Research neededThis obviously changes completely when con-sidering treatment abroad because for the firsttime there is an element of doubt. With noexperience to go on, any potential medicaltourist is naturally going to be very inquisitiveas to which is the best country to go to, what isthe cost, will a relative be able to travel as wellfor moral support and, most importantly, whois the surgeon or dentist that will perform thenecessary operation or treatment and are theywell qualified and successful?

So, for the first time, it is down to you to askthe necessary questions and perform the neces-sary research. When you consider how muchmore time people put in to researching a dishwasher compared to a surgeon they areentrusting their lives with, this can only be apositive move.

Zagreb is just a two hour flight away from the UKand has the benefit of offering a picturesque loca-tion to relax before and after treatment. Croatia isrenowned for its miles of stunning coast line,forests and waterfalls and is earning a very goodreputation for itself in dentistry, offering dentistswith internationally recognised qualificationswho carry out treatments for greatly reduced

prices. Cost can obviously vary depending on individual circum-stances but as a ballpark figure customers flying to Zagreb canexpect to pay around £550 for a dental implant and £30 for a singleroot canal treatment. In the UK, again costs can vary, but one wouldexpect to pay at least double and possibly four times as much for adental implant, giving an indication of potential savings.

Another cost consideration is that Zagreb is well served by CroatiaAirlines from Heathrow and the no-frills carrier Wizzair which fre-quently advertises very cheap flights from Luton.

Culture and weatherPart of Zagreb’s appeal is that dental work can be undertaken at thestart of a trip before a patient can enjoy the café culture of one ofEurope’s oldest capitals or perhaps take a holiday along its hundredsof miles of coastline. The country also benefits from a Mediterraneanclimate which provides warm weather throughout Spring andAutumn with summers that are usually hot and dry.

English is widely spoken and dentists are widely renowned forhaving the latest equipment and qualifications to ensure moderntreatments are offered.

For peace of mind, prospective patients should check to ensuretheir dentist is a member of the Croatian Dental Chamber (registra-tion is compulsory for all dentists) and that they hold the relevantDoctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM)qualification. You may also find your prospective dentist may havestudied in America or another European country because Croatia’sSchool of Dental Medicine has been keen to build links with similarinstitutions in a bid to increase its already high standing in interna-tional dentistry.

Introducing

Get ananswer onthe sp t

New MoleMate™ can dramatically reduce the time, uncertainty and costinvolved in melanoma screening. It provides instant, non-invasive in vivoimages of haemoglobin, melanin, dermal melanin and collagen up to2mm beneath the skin's surface, which you can process on the spot,during consultation.

MoleMate™ has been clinically proven to increase the number of truepositive referrals, but the biggest difference it can make to GeneralPractitioners and skin specialist practices is with benign moles: its visualinterface involves and quickly reassures both patient and operator,efficiently reducing the occurrence of unnecessary referral or biopsies.

MoleMate™ comprises a hand-held scanner and software that usesSIAscopy™, the most advanced and powerful skin imaging technologyfor melanoma detection.

For more details, contact Astron Clinica at: info@astronclinica.com

See 2mm beneath the skin with SIAscopy ™