Today’s trend in the health industry clientele, amongst the developed nations is to find cheaper and professional medical services across the globe. The world being rendered a smaller place with the advent of the internet and the borders coming down by cutting down on red tape, this pursuit of cheaper healthcare has bought many a developing countries as favored destinations to the fore. The promotion of medical tourism as an industry by combining cheaper healthcare and enjoyable vacations seems to be an appealing concept that is here to stay.

In this world of emerging opportunities and ever increasing competition, it is of extreme importance to judge which country to take your health problems to, at the same time facilitating a post operative vacation. The following information may be useful to you in short-listing your destinations for medical tourism.

Medical tourism industry is increasing in volume by the day, but which country is the best?

India: Although a new comer to the industry, medical tourism is growing by an amazing 30% per annum. With state-of-the-art medical facilities, India has some of the world’s best health professionals and latest medical equipment. Excellent technology and infrastructure that meets the stringent standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is a part of an Indian medical tourism package. Many uncommon surgeries and wonderful quality of care make India a favored destination for medical tourism.

South East Asia: The star of South East Asia, as far as medical tourism is concerned is Thailand. Thailand is a major competitor to India in the industry. By imparting the best and up-to-date training, Thailand makes sure that heir health professionals are the most advanced in the region. Most doctors in Thailand are trained in the UK and US and are counted at par with the professionals in these countries. South East Asia also boasts of three more medical tourism destinations – Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia.

East Indies: East Indies and Costa Rica, owing to their proximity are the most favored destinations for medical tourism by the North American patients. Of the two, Costa Rica presents cheaper and high quality medical care without getting on a Trans-Atlantic flight. It is cheaper for patients from the US, but a trifle expensive for patients outside.

South America: Brazil, the beautiful South American destination is the most renowned centre for plastic surgery. However, Brazil has built the health care industry around this good will over the past few years to become a more favored medical tourism destination. Slightly expensive, but this beautiful South American country has become a favorite with the US patients.

Argentina is another good medical tourism destination, but location constraints have hindered the development o the medial tourism industry.

Others: This growing industry has attracted many other countries to the world of medical tourism with countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Dubai entering the foray.

Dubai has taken a step ahead and has scheduled to provide the Dubai Healthcare City by 2010. Poised to be the largest international medical centre between Europe and South East Asia, it will include a branch of the famed and prestigious Harvard Medical School. It is slated to be expensive.

Countries form Eastern Europe and Africa are still emerging markets and still have some way to go before they can match the healthcare services in other medical tourism destinations.

Unmatched and peerless amongst these, befitting the definition of medical tourism is India.