The Impact Of Waiting Time On Medical Tourism

Let’s face it: more often than not, going to the doctor means sitting in a waiting room for an extended period of time. In countries like Britain and Canada, there is at least a four-week wait between the time you make your appointment and the time you get to see your physician. For patients who can’t afford to wait for healthcare in their home country, medical tourism has introduced a way for patients to skip the waiting times by travelling abroad for healthcare. If you’ve been thinking of doing the same, MedHalt recently published an in-depth look at the impact of wait-times on medical tourism, and the countries with the lowest wait times in the world. Read the highlights below or check out the full article here.

What are waiting times?

MedHalt defines waiting times as, “the length of time between the date a patient agrees to a procedure

Emergency cases: An increase in the number of emergency cases can increase the wait times for non-urgent cases because the sicker patients are cared for first. 2. Seasonal variations in capacity: The seasonal reduction in services during peak vacation periods may result in increased wait times. 3. Availability of health providers and resources: The availability of health care professionals in the operating room and nursing unit can influence how quickly people receive surgery. Additionally, the unavailability of inpatient hospital beds for surgical patients can be a limiting factor, resulting in postponement or cancellation of elective operations.

How do long waiting times lead to medical tourism?

It is not uncommon in some countries to have waiting lists for a year or more in length for certain medical procedures. Patients thus rely on medical tourism and travel abroad to countries which offer quicker procedures, to save their time and avoid aggravation of their medical conditions.

Countries with long waiting