Medical Tourism in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the world's premier destinations for ecotourism due to its miles of pristine rainforests, but Costa Rica also has one of the best health care systems in Latin America, drawing a large medical tourism crowd as well. Costa Rica's medical system is actually rated better than the United States' by the World Health Organization.
Costa Rica's doctors are fully trained and must be certified by a national medical association before they are allowed to practice. Because of its proximity to the U.S. many doctors get training abroad, and are commonly American Medical Board certified, meaning you can get the same quality of care in Costa Rica as at home. If you're worried about your doctor's qualifications you can always check with the Costa Rican Medical Board. They can tell you what your doctor is certified to practice.
For pre and post operative care, lab work can also be a great deal cheaper in Costa Rica as is often the case outside of the U.S. The advantage in Costa Rica is its closeness to the U.S., as most of the materials used in testing are imported from the U.S. and FDA approved.
Americans will enjoy a favorable exchange rate for the dollar and many procedures cost half to a tenth of what they would back home. Costa Rica is primarily a popular location for cosmetic and dental surgeries, but surgeons have been known to perform complicated organ transplants and heart surgeries as well.
Costa Rica enjoys tropical climate, as well as acres of mountainous, and waterfall filled rainforests. For those who aren't into jungle getaways, there is always the beach, and a number of spas for resting and relaxing after your treatment.
Many medical tourism destinations offer all inclusive programs for both your surgery and your vacation afterwards, but Costa Rica takes it a step further. They offer a range of dedicated recuperation facilities that give you the comfort of a high class hotel and the relaxation of a vacation, but with the security of knowing that there are doctors and nurses there to monitor your recovery and progress. Other popular medical travel destinations in Central/South America include Argentina, Brazil, and Panama
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