Medical Tourism and Diagnostic Procedures Abroad

A diagnostic test is a test or procedure used to identify a person’s disease or condition which allows a medical diagnosis to be made, such as an MRI scan, CT scan, colonoscopy or gastroscopy.

Maximum waiting times in the UK for many diagnostic procedures have been reducing from the maximum of 26 weeks in 2006, but when your health is in question any wait is too long.  But what options do you have if you don’t want to wait and you can’t afford to go private? 

You could always join the 75,000 other Brits fed up with waiting lists, antibiotic resistant infections and cash strapped hospitals who are having cosmetic surgery, elective surgery, fertility treatment and diagnostic procedures abroad.

Countries such as Norway and Germany have excellent diagnostic imaging facilities, cost much less than private UK healthcare and can be reached by budget airlines.  These nations are also targeting overcharged Brits who are thinking of having diagnostic procedures carried out overseas. 

The cost of an MRI scan in the UK at a private hospital starts from £750, whereas in Germany or Norway a simple MRI plus the cost of the trip is around £300.  Even better, you don’t have to wait.  With the number of companies now offering health tourism facilities you can make a phone call and be having your diagnostic procedure carried out abroad the next day.

Health service providers in Norway have identified the UK as an overseas market for their cost effective imaging and diagnostic treatments and are offering clients access to CT and MRI scans, ultrasound, x-rays, mammography and bone density measurement.  Companies such as Scanhealth Scandinavia, a partnership of 3 healthcare companies, offer a full range of diagnostic procedures.  Interestingly they also require patients who want surgery to have an MRSA test before travelling to Norway as it has the lowest infection rate in Europe. 

The Norwegian Board of Health supervises the running of Norway’s health and social services system, and the Directorate of Health manages private hospitals and clinics in Norway.  Many clinics and hospitals offering diagnostic treatment are also ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:1996 certified.  All medical personal should also be members of the Norwegian Medical Association. 

Other benefits are the fact that Norway is only a 90 minute flight from London – Stansted airport.

The German healthcare system is recognised as one of the best in the world.  Waiting times are almost non existent and facilities are world class.  Costs for an MRI scan will also sometimes include flights and accommodation and start from around £400 for both knees and £300 for a head scan. 
In all instances you will need to get a full written report in English to take back to your GP in the UK, and if possible a CD of the images - and we’re not talking holiday pictures!

Useful Links:

http://www.scan-health.co.uk/  Provider of diagnostic procedures in Norway.
http://www.mri-abroad.de/  Provider of diagnostic procedures in Germany.