Medical tourism

Curious why. Are their "shots" any different than those recommended by the ACIP, CDC and FDA in the US?

 

Yesterday I had an appointment with my oncologist. Since I live in a border state, my local cancer center waiting rooms are commonly filled with medical tourists.

Folks up North have a shortage of medical specialists, so when they can not get an appointment up there, they come down here for treatment.

 

Cousin recently had dental work done in Costa Rica.

A side effect of lower population density. Might simply be a shorter trip to cross the border than staying in country. An important question is whether their state insurance with cover the appointment?

 

In the USA MDs who continue their education to become specialists often get slightly higher pay. In Canada all MDs are paid the same, so there is no incentive for them to become specialists. They have plenty of MDs, but lack specialists.

A diagnosis of cancer routinely gets an appointment scheduled for long after your life expectancy.

If you want to be treated before you are expected to die, you must seek care somewhere else. Thus Medical Tourism.



Sitting in the cancer center myself, I have had many long discussions with Canadians on the topic.

 

Are they paying for the care they get in America, or is their government healthcare picking up the bill?

I'm sure there are issues with Canada's system; most have some. When most of the population lives near the border of a friendly nation with a larger population and more resources that Canadians can make use of, there isn't much incentive to address those issues.

I noted some passengers of cruise ships visiting pharmacies during port stops.

 

My oncologist serves on the board of directors over the cancer center. He told me that they have problems getting payment from the Canadian government. But honestly the same could be said of Medicare / Medicaid.

They LOVE my healthcare coverage, but I am a US servicemember so my needs to paid for by the DOD through Tricare.

 

our neighbor is head anesthesiologist at a major hospital. they visit friends in australia every year, and have been bringing back the drugs that aren't approved in the us for years

 

When you say not approved....



Are the drugs not approved for use in the USA as they were studied and determined not safe and or not effective?

Does the drug maker just not want to bother with the red tape involved with USA approval?

I was using a Bayer drug that was not approved in the USA for years, but Bayer did not think the hassle of getting USA approval was worth it as the market was fairly limited. Another formula by another company has finally gained approval in USA, so I am now legal

 

idk. he just said something to those words. i have read that many drugs are available in other countries, but we have more rigorous testing standards that take more time. and there may be other reasons.

 

" ... many drugs are available in other countries ..." Beyond that, one will find that counterfeit pills are offered, resembling those you want. It's weird out here.

 

I had a cardiac incident in 2011 that soon led to installing a stent in my left anterior descending cardiac artery, famously known as the widow maker. In hospital I was offered choice between US (Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific, etc.) and Shanghai Microport stents, with very different prices. Actual team-leading doctor came to my bedside. I asked him "in your experience do US stents perform better?" He said no, and I choose Shanghai Microport.

Some from my local gang also came to hospital bedside and argued in favor of US stents. I waved their lesser knowledge and prejudices aside. After 14 year my heart goes on. How nice! N=1.

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Medical tourism can be viewed in many ways. US stent manufacturers price their products above global competitors and lose international market share.

My stepson here broke his left femur while very young and was rebuilt poorly with metal implant. Those things are done much better now, and because family is prejudiced against domestic medical, we may go to S Korea to fix him better. Many from China (citizens and expats) go to S Korea for medical tourism.

Global landscape of medical tourism is beyond my knowledge to summarize.

 

Canada, I don't know why not. Mexico might be a matter of offering 400 Pesos to doctor for helping. This should not be construed as accusing medical staff as being 'on the take'. They are very very poorly paid relative to their training, and could do much local good with some sauce on the side.