Why more and more medical tourists are heading to Brazil

With increasing interest and rising number of medical tourists visiting Brazil for treatment, Brazil Medical Alliance offer insight into why more and more people are choosing Brazil as the destination to receive treatment.

According to the World Health Organization, Brazil has the best healthcare system in Latin America and ranks among the top countries, for the same, in the world. This has led to the phenomena of health tourism in this country that has seen a major boom in the recent years. Brazil has always been an alluring international destination and it is world famous for its beautiful people. It has also gained notoriety for its cosmetic surgeons and plastic surgery packages.

Brazil is only behind USA in terms of number of plastic surgeries performed and is also recognized as the “World Capital of Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery”. However, the number of cosmetic and plastic surgeries per capital is higher than in the USA. This way, Brazilian plastic surgeons have a considerable higher number of surgeries performed than other plastic surgeons from around the world.

What began as a curiosity and desire for cosmetic surgery has now opened the doors for medical tourists to receive other medical treatments, such as orthopaedic surgeries, cardiac surgeries and fertility treatment.

Why choose Brazil as a destination for travel and treatment?

Brazil is a pioneer in Medical Tourism. Brazil was the first country with an institution outside the United States to be accredited by the Joint Commission International in 1999 when the program was launched and now has 43 JCI accredited hospitals and institutions. Medical tourism to Brazil is expected to grow 45% in the next five years, benefiting from the country’s investment in infrastructure, hotels and airports and the influx of international visitors as Brazil prepares to host major international events including the World Cup in 2015 and Olympics in 2016.

With a booming economy, the country is making major investments in its infrastructure and tourism, Brazilian authorities are trying to showcase the country in a successful light and working hard to transform and reinforce the country’s image by turning it into a major tourism destination. This tourism boost will also greatly benefit the medical tourism industry.

Currently the second largest marketplace in the world for cosmetic and plastic surgery, Brazil is a leader in the field with local plastic surgeons possessing outstanding reputations as some of the world’s best. Brazil is also a top medical tourism destination because of its rich culture, wide variety of tourist activities and world-class hospitals and medical facilities. Its attractiveness as a tourism destination is enhanced by its quality and affordable healthcare, friendly and warm people, great food, and paradisiacal beaches.

Medical Facilities in Brazil

Medical Facilities in Brazil are equivalent with hospitals in the United States, with some even exceeding American standards. Brazil offers everything from large, full service hospitals to smaller, intimate private clinics. Brazil has developed into a center of excellence for healthcare in Latin America, with major universities that support research, teaching and training of medical professionals. Outside of the United States, Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo was the first to be accredited by JCI, the most recognized healthcare certification group. Private spending for healthcare in Brazil is around 60%, a higher share than most Latin American countries and even the United States.

Key Strengths of Brazil for medical tourism

• Large number of JCI-accredited hospitals and institutions
• International reputation for excellence in cosmetic surgery
• Excellent quality of healthcare service in private hospitals and clinics in terms of technology and capability of health professionals
• Cosmetic surgery and dentistry with a growing reputation for orthopedics, sports medicine, bariatric surgery and assisted reproduction

Cost effective healthcare treatment options

Although prices can vary considerably depending on the treatment and facility chosen, international visitors are drawing to Brazil because of its high quality treatment at low prices, often considerably lower than European countries. Treatment prices in Brazil are half to two-thirds of the typical prices in the United States.
Excellent quality of private hospitals

Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city and Florianopolis the best quality life, leads in terms of healthcare infrastructure and medical tourism facilities. Some of the hospitals and clinics are among the best in Latin America, embracing the latest technology, highly qualified healthcare professionals and continuous improvement of staff training and technological resources, that includes attaining more accurate medications, follow-up, diagnostics and investment in state-of-the-art equipment.

Your next vacation with medical treatment in Brazil

Planning your next vacation around your medical procedure may not be at the top of your list, but it should be. Medical tourism gives you the flexibility to plan and schedule anything from a minor checkup to a major surgery whenever it is convenient for you and your loved ones. Whether you decide to travel and explore before your procedure or decide to receive treatment and then travel, it’s all up to you! Take advantage of all that Brazil has to offer and bring your family or friends with you. Vacationing with a medical trip to Brazil will prove to be very rewarding and will provide you with positive life long memories.

High growth and support of medical tourism

As the country braces itself as the venue for major international events, and preparing for a greater number of foreign visitors, the medical tourism sector in the country is also seeing increased demand from the international market. Brazil is providing more solutions including the launch of the Brazilian Association of Medical Travel, a resolution for regularization of a health visa for international visitors seeking medical treatment and upgrades to infrastructure including improving airports, better public transport, new roads, new and renovated hotels and training for tourism staff.

Hospitals and Doctors Standards in Brazil

Brazil’s success in private healthcare delivery has led to fierce competition with doctors trying to constantly upgrade their skills, their certifications and their medical facilities. In the field of plastic surgery, for instance, Brazil is recognized worldwide as a hub for great professionals. Brazil had developed a system for forming great healthcare professionals including strict government oversight in licensing for schools, licensing for professional practice, and norms and standards of practice set by medical societies and councils. The Brazilian Medical Association, a non-profit organization with more than 140,000 associates, serves to defend the dignity of the medical professional and quality of care to the health of the population.

Some of its private hospitals such as the Sociedade Hospital Samaritano, launched by a group of international doctors, had gone a long way to provide a leading role in Brazil’s medical tourism scene offering everything from Cardiology, Neurology, Orthopedics, Oncology to Emergency care.

Convalescing in Brazil

Brazil has many beautiful resorts and hotels that cater to individuals recovering from medical procedures. Once you are well enough to travel, you are encouraged to take time to explore all that Brazil has to offer as a vacation hotspot!