If you’ve ever looked into the medical travel industry, then you’ve probably heard a few misconceptions about it. Most people think that medical travel is, for one reason or another, not a good idea. However, that’s not true.

A lot of medical travel myths have sprung up in the last few years about the industry as a whole, but they’re just not true, and they’re damaging the reputation of the medical travel industry. We thought we’d take a look at some of the common misconceptions, break them down for you, and try to give you a clean version of the facts that you can use to make an informed decision.

Myth #1 – Medical Tourism is Not Safe

The first big myth is that medical tourism isn’t a safe thing. This is not true at all.

Here at Eton Medical, we work extensively with different institutions that have received specific accreditations from what’s known as the Joint Commission International (JCI). If they don’t have accreditation from this provider, they instead have the highest possible national accreditation for their country. 

If you go to any hospital with one of these certifications, you’ll be guaranteed good medical care;

• Joint Commission International (JCI)
• ISO 9001
• ISO 9002
• Temos
• ISQua
• American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)
• National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH)

Myth #2 – Doctors Abroad Aren’t as Qualified

The second big myth about the medical travel industry is that doctors in international countries are not as qualified as their counterparts based in the UK or US. This is simply not true.

Any doctor working in a hospital who has been credited with one of the accreditations we have listed will be trained to a high standard and conform to any regulations necessary to perform medical work. Furthermore, these doctors work in internationally renowned hospitals and clinics, and many have experience working in multiple countries across the world. 

Myth #3 – People Go Abroad For Plastic Surgery

The third and final myth we will be debunking is the idea that people only go abroad for medical reasons if they want plastic surgery. This is categorically not true.

Medical tourists go abroad for a number of different reasons. For some people, it’s about getting weight loss surgery; others go for fertility treatments like IVF, as well as cancer treatment and lifesaving cardiac surgery. There are a number of surgeries that are more accessible in other countries that are vital.

Final Thoughts

So, there are a clear handful of medical tourism myths which are not only damaging to the industry, but are likely to put someone off considering medical tourism. You should definitely travel abroad for medical care if it’s been recommended to you by a professional. There are a number of life-changing procedures and surgeries that are much more accessible in other countries, much more well-defined in other countries, and you can go and take full advantage of them. Obviously, we are also here to help you every step of the way.