Seeking medical care in another country, practiced by millions of U.S. residents each year, is known as “medical tourism.” Travelers may seek care outside of the U.S. to reduce cost; to be closer to family or in a more familiar language and cultural setting; or to access procedures or therapies that are not currently approved in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common procedures that people undergo on medical tourism trips include dental care, cosmetic surgery, fertility and cancer treatments, and organ and tissue transplantation.
Traveling to another country for medical care can be risky to your health. In the U.S., health care facilities must maintain licensure, credentialing, and accreditation intended to provide safe medical care. These safeguards are in place and maintain a high quality of care that include requirements for sterile medical devices during surgery as well as screenings of organs and blood products before any procedure. These same protections are not always available or followed as rigorously in other countries. This means that individuals may be at risk of acquiring wound or bloodstream infections, including those caused by drug-resistant bacteria and fungi, and of being exposed to diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Additional challenges include communications with medical staff and risks of air travel shortly after surgery.
Recent News
The CDC posted a travel health notice on 5/26/2023, regarding U.S. citizens returning from Matamoras, Mexico. US citizens have been diagnosed with fungal meningitis infections linked to medical or surgical procedures while visiting Matamoras (Travel Health Notices | Travelers' Health | CDC). The Fairfax Health District has seen a recent increase in hepatitis C infections among travelers to Pakistan who received medical or surgical procedures. Pakistan has one of the highest rates of hepatitis C in the world.
Take Actions to Reduce Risk
Before seeking medical care in another country, take action to reduce your risks. Check the qualifications of the person who will be performing the procedure and the credentials of the facility where it will be done. Consult with your healthcare provider at least 4-6 weeks before your trip and get their advice including the risks you may face and ways to reduce those risks. Also, make sure you have all needed vaccinations for the country you’re traveling to. Consider getting the hepatitis A and B vaccines before your trip. The CDC updated recommendations for all 19- to 59-year-olds to get the hepatitis B vaccine series (Hepatitis B - Vaccination of Adults | CDC) in April 2022. Visit the CDC website for more information on medical tourism.
Consider having medical or surgical procedures done in the US. If this is not possible, educate yourself on the risks and how to decrease them before traveling. Know the most recent facts in these guides: