Medical Tourism
Medical tourism refers to the practice of traveling to another country to receive Medical treatment, typically because the cost of treatment is lower or because the treatment is not available or accessible in the person’s home country. In Switzerland, medical tourism goes both ways. The wealthy from around the world fly in to get their teeth redone over a weekend or to receive top rate medical care. However, because cost of health care in Switzerland is high relative to the rest of Europe, many Swiss residents find themselves looking abroad for less expensive alternatives.
While medical tourism can be a viable option for some people, it is important to be aware of the potential risks involved.
Medical standards and regulations vary widely between countries, and in some cases, there may be little to no oversight of medical facilities and practitioners. This can lead to a higher risk of medical malpractice, complications, and infections.
There are in some cases, language barriers that may cause some issues. In healthcare, the patients ability to fully express themselves and fully comprehend their treatment is essential! Communication is an essential key, and if you are traveling to a country where you do not speak the language, it can be difficult to communicate with your medical providers. This can lead to misunderstandings, mistakes, and inadequate or undesired treatment.
Cultural differences can also be a barrier to effective medical treatment. Different cultures may have different approaches to medical care. A common example of this is crowns vs. veneers. In the United states and around the world, crowning teeth is still a very common practice. In Switzerland we tend to avoid crowning teeth unless absolutely medically necessary. Crowns are very invasive as they require the removal of a large amount of natural dental tissue. If at a later date, the treatment should need to be done for one reason or another, there is not much remaining tooth structure left to work with. This is one of several reasons that at Summit Dental we opt for veneers or partial crowns whenever possible.
Traveling to another country for medical treatment involves travel-related expenses that need to also be considered. Not only the financial cost, but also the physiological expense. Jet lag, and the stress of travel can sometimes influence patients to make quick decisions that they may not have considered fully. These risks can affect your recovery and can even pose a threat to your health.
There is also a sense of urgency that is associated with travel. It must be done now or it cannot be done. This environment often favors the less honest dental practioner to push for treatments that may not be entirely necessary. At summit dental, whenever our patients are undergoing more significant care, we recommend that they go home and think it through. A rushed environment does not allow for the quality of care we expect!
The primary concern regarding medical tourism is a lack of follow-up care. If you can afford to fly back regularly to see the same dentist that treated you, then this is not a problem.
If you have undergoing significant treatment, you will almost certainly need follow up care. At summit dental, this is often provided free of charge. However if your treatment was done in a foreign country, it can be difficult to receive the necessary follow-up care and monitoring, especially if you are returning to a country where the treatment is not available.
In Switzerland we have a robust legal system that protects patients. If you experience complications or medical malpractice while receiving medical treatment abroad, it can be difficult to seek legal recourse. Different countries have different legal systems, and it can be difficult to navigate these systems and seek compensation for your injuries.
Overall, medical tourism can be a risky venture, and it is important to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits before deciding to travel abroad for medical treatment. If you do choose to pursue medical tourism, be sure to thoroughly research the medical facility and practitioners, and consider working with a reputable medical tourism agency that can help guide you through the process.
If you can read french, check out this article by Le Matin, regarding the issue of medical tourism.
https://www.lematin.ch/story/ils-ont-ruine-mon-visage-les-rates-du-tourisme-dentaire-379535239507
If you are interested in dental care abroad, be sure to give us a call and come in for a quick control. A contrôle with radiographs is between CHF 120-140 but this can save you thousands and in some cases ten of thousands of swiss francs.
You have a free choice to seek medical care abroad, and we wont make we feel uncomfortable about making that choice, but at a minimum we can arm you with the basic information you need to protect yourself and avoid over-treatment!
The post Medical Tourism first appeared on Summit Dental - Cabinet Dentaire du Quartier de l'Etang.
