
The destination of dental tourism
and medical travel.
For several years, the phenomenon has spread worldwide: Asia, Eastern Europe, South America and now North Africa (Tunisia, Morocco) have invaded this sector. Nearly 12 million tourists mainly from rich countries travel to those countries each year for medical procedures: cosmetic surgery, heart surgery, hip or knee replacement, dental treatments.
While some South American countries mainly specialize in plastic surgery, others have chosen dentistry or ophthalmology. At the top of the line of countries offering acts of plastic surgery, come to Brazil, Bolivia and Costa Rica. They took advantage of a strong international image representing Latin women still in top international beauty contest. Then the Maghreb: Tunisia, Morocco. In Europe, other countries have specialized in dentistry such as Hungary, Romania or the Czech Republic. Thailand and India have specialized in organ transplants, specialties in cardiology and open heart surgeries.
More recently, there has been the development of reproductive tourism where patients visit some countries such as Mexico, to benefit from the technology of in vitro fertilization or other assisted reproductive technologies. This is because it is now forbidden to pay donors of sperm and ova in some countries (like Canada), pursuant to laws on assisted procreation. Consequence: there is now a shortage of reproductive material or very long waiting lists in some countries. An increasing number of infertile couples seek donors while abroad.
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