A good article about medical tourism is published in St. Petersburg Times.  This article lists experiences of more than one patient, both success and failure stories of medical tourism.  This article has some advice for a prospective medical tourist, cost comparision, some information about JCI.

Please click here to go to the article.

Here is the link to the article published in New Haven Register discussing the finacial, legal issues to be considered before you take on that medical journey.  Some of the points are very honest and straight forward like advising to write a will, designating a family member as a contact.

Apollo Group opened it's 49th branch with 350 beds and 50 specialties in Bhubaneswar, India.  Apollo group is already a leading destination for medical tourists travelling to India.  This new addition sure is going to add yet another choice to the tourists looking for health care or to those who wants to travel just for medical attention needed.

Congratultions to Apollo group and to the people of Bhubaneswar.  Please click here to read news published in Times Of India.

Here is an interesting story of Bumrungrad Hospital , if not new to many.  Please click here to read the article in Asia Times about how Bumrungrad Hospital became destination for the most of the medical tourists.

This week's time magazine also published a story about the latest facilities added to Bumrungrad Hospital and other Thailand hospitals to attract more and more medical tourists.

Days before union budget for fiscal year 2010 is revealed, many supporters of medical tourism industry are urging Union Government of India to abolosih the cosmetic surgery tax introduced in last year's budget.

Recession combined with new tax is blamed for dip in medical tourism to India for cosmetic surgeries.

You may want to read one of such opinions pubished in an online news portal by clicking here.

Dr.  Sanjay Gupta takes us to a typical operating room and gives a break down of all the items that are used in Operating room and all the other costs.

He also tries to explain why it costs so much.  Please click here to watch the video.

In today's U.S news, article regarding the latest medical tourism trends is published.  In the same article they also mentioned American Medical Tourism Association's guidelines on medical tourism.

The American Medical Association does not take a position on medical tourism, a spokeswoman says. But in 2008, it issued nine guidelines for people seeking medical care outside the United States. While these recommendations do not carry any legal authority, they should be on your personal checklist: 

• Medical care outside the United States should be voluntary.

• Financial incentives to go outside the United States for care should not inappropriately limit diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives or restrict treatment or referral options.

• Financial incentives should be used only for care at institutions accredited by recognized international accrediting bodies.

• Local follow-up care should be coordinated and financing arranged to ensure continuity of care.

• Coverage for travel outside the United States for care must include the costs of follow-up care upon return.

• Patients should be informed of rights and legal recourse before traveling outside the United States for care.

• Patients should have access to physician licensing and outcomes data, as well as facility accreditation and outcomes data.

• Transfer of patient medical records should be consistent with HIPAA guidelines.

• Patients should be provided with information about the potential risks of combining surgical procedures with long flights and vacation activities. 

Korea Times, today published an investigative report about how the major hospitals in Seoul charge foreign patients more.  Many of these hospitals acknowledge the discriminatory pricing and say differegnt prices are necessary as foreign patients need special services other than medical treatment, for example translation service.

All the hospitals in Gangnam Gu, an administrative district of Seoul and famous for medical tourism including Samsung Medical Center practice discriminatory pricing.

It will be nice, if all the hospitals are transparent and tell the foreign patients how they are being charged and why.

To read more on this, please read this article in Korea times

In Feb 26th Korea Times, an opinion which explains, why foreign patients are charged more and about the local health care, please click here to read the article.

Mr.  Doug Carneau, who went to India for a hip resurfacement surgery and is reported to be back and doing fine, this is the link to the latest video report from Katu.com

For other article related to same story click here

Mr.  Carneau has insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Kerala is known for it's tourism for long time, as it has beautiful beaches, many famous teamples and beautiful beaches.  From past few years, it has become a destination for medical tourists both from inside the country and out side the country.

Lot of Keralaites are now living in many foreign countries, many of them in middle east, who often come back home for any medical treatment.  Ayurveda health resorts in Kovalam, Munnar and many other places in Kerala are attracting visitors who are looking for some holistic medical treatment or simple monsoon rejuvenation programmes offered by many of these resorts, for more information on these, please visit Kerala Tourism Department's web page

You may also like this article in Xinhuanet regarding the same subject.