Change in the law of the United Kingdom can reduce infertility tourism

One factor that can affect any aspect of medical travel and medical tourism is that the industry can be a victim of its own success. Constantine Constantinides highlighted this previously in his article IMTJ "medical tourism and revenge of the West", arguing that in fact the success of medical travel is self-limiting.

How can this success be self-limiting?

In the case of treatment abroad becomes an attractive option for patients, domestic suppliers and Governments can respond to this trend, becoming more competitive (e.g. by reducing prices to local treatment) or removing the causes and the drivers for the medical travel (for example, changing the location regualtion treatment). Thus, more patients travelling abroad for treatment, the greater the reaction in the internal market and a "balance of trade".

An excellent example of this phenomenon is this week's announcement by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) that intends to undertake a consultation on changes to the rules governing the donation of sperm and ova in the United Kingdom. There was a significant shortage of egg and sperm donors in the United Kingdom due to restrictions in respect of payments that can be made to donors. The compensation payment "maximum" £ 250 for donors of men and women made the search for donor eggs and sperm has far exceeded supply. Waiting lists can be as long as two or three years for these patients eligible for NHS treatment.

Removal of donor anonymity has also been a contributing factor to the donor reluctance to come forward. According to the latest HFEA statistics (2008), women only 1184 have donated eggs and only had 396 new sperm donors in 2008. About 2.000 babies per year are born in the United Kingdom using donated eggs, sperm and embryos. As a result, we have seen a growing number of UK couples seeking infertility treatment abroad; has been one of the fastest growing areas of medical tourism. (Background, see "new research paper provides an overview of infertility tourism"). The HFEA's response to the growing number of infertile couples going abroad is therefore consider how to reduce this .... by increase payments and incentives to egg and sperm donors and thus increase the supply of eggs and sperm. Payments may increase more than £ 1000.

It is unlikely that changes will have any immediate effect on the market sector. No decision will be made until the end of the public consultation HFEA next year. The three-month public consultation will not start until January 2011 and HFEA is expected to be included in Commission of Quality Care in the United Kingdom as a result of public spending cuts to UK. But there is a clear warning here for those involved in medical tourism and travel medicine sector. Don't put all eggs in one basket. Or, even worse, be aware that any segment of the market desk doctor may be limited by their own success when domestic suppliers and Governments seek to reverse the trend.

Wales .... the latest medical tourism destination for patients from the United States?

A recent news on CNN attracted my interest when presented a patient U.S. that traveled to Wales (United Kingdom) for breast surgery to save money. It was titled "' I can't afford surgery in the United States, ' says bargain shopper". Is an interesting story that shows how the media can sometimes put a viewpoint on a story to create news, but it does highlight some real opportunities for suppliers of medical tourism.

The story (see CNN video) tells us about Godfrey Davies, an American, who needed surgery of sinusitis. He tells how he "planned on a mission to find a surgeon accessible" and was shocked by the costs that he was going to incur in the United States. The story was picked up by a multitude of other web sites that took it at face value.

If you see the video, you get an impression. If you dig a little deeper, you really begin to understand the full story and where this patient fits within medical tourism market.

As a Brit, I found a bit strange when I viewed the video. My first impression? Here is a story about a guy American travel all the way to the Wales for surgery .... Why would he do this? And why Wales? But then I dug deeper. He was indeed a story about someone who started life as a "dude Welsh", became a guy "American" and went home for an operation. There is a track on your behalf (Davies ... is a Welsh surname) and your accent a little weird (is a Welsh accent). Godfrey comes from Wales. Is where your family lives. It is a United Kingdom and bearer of a U.S. passport. He married an American and became a u.s. citizen in 2002. He didn't have health insurance in the United States because he believes that the prize of $ 1000 per month in quotation marks is very large. He says that "with the relief and health, I would have to pay more in more than three and a half months than back home to Wales."

So what medical tourism companies learn from this story?

Firstly, don't take News at their nominal value. Sometimes there is a logic behind a news story that the media does not expose always fully. Can do less interesting news. In this case, it is understandable that a weight (as opposed to an American) can choose the Wales as a medical tourism destination.

Secondly, it highlights that one of the key factors in why people Select medical tourism destinations. Godfrey Davies chose Wales because it is an excellent game cultural, there is no problem of language for him and he feels 100% safe there. And it's cheap!

Godfrey went to the hospital in Bancyfelin Werndale IMC, Carmarthenshire. Is part of BMI Healthcare, a leading provider of independent healthcare with almost seventy hospitals and clinics throughout the country. To give another example, I myself had a total knee replacement in a hospital healthcare BMI near London, BMI Clementine Churchill Hospital. How much would it cost for the replacement of the knee in an American hospital? $ 50000. How much it cost me in the United Kingdom? £ 10000 all-in ($ 15000). The price of United Kingdom is cheaper than Korea ($ 17.800) and not far prices that Americans pay in countries such as Thailand ($ 12000) and Singapore ($ 10.800). Taking into account the cultural and language match and the lowest cost of travel, if you were an American destination would you choose?

Thirdly, it is a great example of the kind of American tourists doctors that some companies of medical tourism should be target .... people from their own country. Thus, the opportunity for a greater and more realistic u.s. Korea medical tourism providers based is more likely to be Korean Americans. Target the easy victory, if you want to succeed.

Fourthly, it supports the argument that the United Kingdom may actually be a medical attractive tourism destination for patients of the United States. Despite the different accent, there is no language barrier! There is a public health system that delivers excellent results. And there is a system of private hospital which already offers treatment for patients from all over the world who travel to the United Kingdom for access to quality health care and expertise. And. .... as demonstrated Godfrey Davies, you can save a huge amount of money on UK prices.

As the cost of special treatment in the United Kingdom?

In addition to treatment abroad, also we are UK several health information sites. One is Private Healthcare UK. He will tell you everything you need to know about the particular treatment in the United Kingdom.

If you want to know which particular treatment costs UK go to private hospital treatment-what does it cost? and select an operation.

And if you're an American (or weight) and intends to follow in the footsteps of Godfrey Davies, you can obtain a quotation for UK surgery by filling in the enquiry form for the treatment of private hospital, UK.