Everything I have bought or looked at recently bears the familiar inscription “Made in China”. Clothing, computers, tools and flashlights all are being made in China.. All of our companies have found that they can get their products manufactured in China for less than it would cost to make in this country.
One of the few products that has continued to rise in cost is medical care. Medical care over the last few years has been out of the hands of physicians and has been taken over by large corporations and hospitals all of which are increasingly oriented to make a profit.
During a recent trip to India I found that care for a variety of operations can be obtained at a fraction of the cost. Hospitals in Mexico, Costa Rica and India can provide hospitalization as well as surgery at considerably less cost that it would cost in the United States, even when the cost of transportation is included. With the “bottom line” in mind it seems quite likely that before long elective surgery will be placed in the hands of hospitals and surgeons in countries that would improve the profit margin. The difference in cost has been about 50-75 percent.
One of the few products that has continued to rise in cost is medical care. Medical care over the last few years has been out of the hands of physicians and has been taken over by large corporations and hospitals all of which are increasingly oriented to make a profit.
During a recent trip to India I found that care for a variety of operations can be obtained at a fraction of the cost. Hospitals in Mexico, Costa Rica and India can provide hospitalization as well as surgery at considerably less cost that it would cost in the United States, even when the cost of transportation is included. With the “bottom line” in mind it seems quite likely that before long elective surgery will be placed in the hands of hospitals and surgeons in countries that would improve the profit margin. The difference in cost has been about 50-75 percent.
Editor's Note - Medical Tourism, as you are talking about, is very much a player in the future for our healthcare system.
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