When it comes to elective surgery, is medical tourism a false economy?

With NHS waiting lists topping several million and the health service struggling to cope with demand, more and more Brits are looking to have their medical procedures privately – and increasing numbers are being enticed to travel abroad, mainly because of the difference in cost between the UK and countries like Lithuania and Turkey.

In 2022, 600,000 British ‘medical tourists’ visited Turkey to have treatment. And it’s reported that cosmetic surgery companies in the country are aiming to increase medical tourism numbers to 1.5 million by targeting patients via WhatsApp and Facebook support groups with thousands of members.

Battered by the pandemic, workforce shortages and a chronic lack of social care capacity, the UK’s health systems are under acute strain. The latest NHS figures show that 7.19 million people were waiting for treatment in England in November, with 406,575 waiting over a year. There were more than 600,000 patients waiting in Scotland for planned procedures at the end of last September and there were more than 750,000 waiting to start treatment in Wales in October.

Google trends data shows UK searches for “private healthcare” are at a record high while figures from the Private Healthcare Information Network show the number self-paying for private acute care has increased by more than a third compared with pre- pandemic statistics.

Medical Tourism

The real cost of surgery in Turkey can’t always be counted in cold hard cash. Googling ‘cosmetic surgery in Turkey’ brings up a news feed that is filled with horror stories and, in some cases, harrowing articles about patients who have lost their lives following treatment in the country.

UK Foreign Office statistics show that, in the 3 years from January 2019, 22 British nationals died following medical tourism visits to Turkey. And patients who suffer complications after surgery in the country often end up needing treatment from the beleaguered NHS when they return home.

Christine Mozzaamdar, Clinical Services Director at Klinikal, a leading UK elective healthcare provider with its headquarters in Glasgow, said: “It’s understandable that the price is a major factor when someone is researching an elective surgery procedure, especially as the cost of living has been increasing substantially in recent months. However, it’s vital to assess value for money, rather than simply pounds and pence.

“Although treatment in Turkey can seem like a bargain compared to what you’d pay in the UK, there are many factors you should consider before you decide to travel thousands of miles for surgery.

“Understanding the surgeon’s experience and qualifications, for example, is crucial. In the UK, all surgeons are registered with the General Medical Council and are regulated so that they practice safely. It can be hard to know what the equivalent qualifications are for surgeons abroad, and you may not even have the opportunity to meet your surgeon or discuss your treatment with them in advance of your surgery date.

“There can be many other unknowns when it comes to treatment in Turkey. There may be a language barrier to be overcome, and it can be difficult to determine a clinic’s cleanliness and care standards. You should know exactly what’s included in your care package and understand the aftercare you’ll receive. That’s especially important if you have an unfavourable outcome from surgery or experience complications, which are more likely after treatment abroad as you’ll be flying home directly after surgery. That can increase the risk of developing DVT or a pulmonary embolism, for example.”

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has repeatedly advised caution when considering travelling to Turkey in pursuit of cheaper treatments. Its website says, “Surgery is sometimes cheaper abroad than in the UK because the UK cosmetic surgery sector is heavily regulated by the Healthcare Commission and the General Medical Council. Such regulation is quite expensive for the surgeons and clinic owners. In addition, plastic surgeons in the UK must have extensive malpractice indemnity in case something goes seriously wrong. This ensures that you are fully protected and receive the best possible care and treatment. Inevitably, the cost of this reassurance is reflected in the cost of your surgery. Cosmetic surgery is regulated differently in other countries and so standards of care may differ and the cost of regulation be less.”

The Foreign Office website, in relation to medical tourism to Turkey, states: “The standard of medical facilities and available treatments vary widely around the world. As such, British nationals considering undertaking medical treatment in Turkey should carry out their own research; it is unwise to rely upon private companies that have a financial interest in arranging your treatment abroad.”

Christine Mozzamdar adds, “All surgical procedures carry some element of risk, no matter where in the world they’re carried out. But anyone considering travelling to Turkey for treatment simply to save money should carefully weigh up the possible downsides as well as the benefits, because they could be putting their health – and life – at risk.”

Find out more on Klinikal here.