It is interesting to note a certain undeserved demonization in the facilitating field in the sphere of medical tourism. The most amusing fact is that in different areas people constantly use the services of organizers and do not even think about it. There are a lot of providers in our lives: marriage and travel agencies, employment agencies, etc. Even the bakery near your house is a provider between you and a bread factory.
As for medical organizers, without them, it is difficult to present medical tourism. Their goal is to simplify the treatment and the patient’s stay in another country. The provider knows the market and prices, which clinic is cheaper, and in which one this or that operation is better performed.
Conscientious and nongreedy clinics work closely with facilitators, therefore, the treatment price for the patient often remains the same.
Anyway, the percent of organizers is very small if you consider the guarantee and help that they render. It is necessary to ask for help from the local providers. For example, if you go to Germany for treatment, you will choose a German provider and if to France – a French one.
An excellent option is to apply to a nonprofit association and to find there all the necessary information on both the provider and the clinic. It will help you to avoid frauds or just poorly rendered services. In France, this type of association is called ADMFTM.
Today, medical tourism belongs to one of the most profitable branches, and every year its income increases. Some unfair organizers are interested more in making a profit than in the patient.
Often, they are tied to one clinic, and it is bad because it does not give a full picture of the quality and price. The provider might recommend a clinic as being good and inexpensive when they are actually only recommending that clinic because they work with them.
These organizers may lie and say they have many more clinics, but actually, they only have one. Certainly, it is better to avoid such frauds. Nevertheless, you can trust most of the organizers when they make treatment in other countries available.
The following is the responsibility of conscientious medical agencies:
- Processing of the patients’ addresses;
- Analysis of medical records;
- Consultation with the necessary experts;
- Translation of medical records;
- Preparation of a treatment plan, during which all wishes of the patient are surely considered.
Furthermore, after a patient ’s arrival for treatment, full maintenance is provided to calm his nerves so they won’t be distracted from the procedures. One more advantage of the provider is that its staff often includes doctors who can check treatment and ensure that the prescribed measures are really necessary.
Certainly, the medical facility receives a small payment for its services, but it somehow causes some patients to be upset, especially those that prefer organizing things themselves to save a little money on it. Well, it is up to each patient, and we will not persuade or push anybody into something. We will just provide the information on the medical organizers’ activity, and it’s up to you to decide whether it is worth addressing them.
If you represent another organization, there is a set of pluses to addressing to the provider too:
1) Establishment of contacts with clients, an opportunity to use already existing established relations;
2) A possibility of unlimited requests for information, consultation;
3) The medical provider assumes part of the risks.
Therefore, you can see that for an insurance or travel company it is better to work with a provider. In France, there is a large, proven national provider known as the Medifrance Solution. With its help, you’ll always be represented at the French market.
What are the duties of the medical provider?
Any medical facilities must fulfill the following obligations to the clients:
- To provide at the patient’s request his preliminary correspondence consultation with the specialist.
- Drawing up the treatment plan with an indication of approximate terms and costs.
- Help in the choice of the clinic and specialist;
- To provide the latest diagnostics and types of treatment.
- To provide the coordinator’s escort.
- To provide the optimization of expenses on treatment.
- To provide an individual approach.
- To translate all necessary documentation.
- When the patient returns home, the medical agency should provide continuous feedback with the specialist who has been carrying out their treatment.
- To check how the clinic complies with their obligations to the patient.
- To help in case of extreme situations.
- To organize a transfer, help to get housing and to resolve domestic issues if the patient needs it.
- To carry out visa support.
- To organize full sanitary aircraft if the patient is in critical condition.
How not to be deceived
If you do not want to be deceived, be sure to choose the proven medical facility that has a good reputation. You won’t pay a lot of money, but will be sure that everything will be done with a guarantee of reliability.
Responsible and reliable organizers bear responsibility for observance of all their duties and if necessary, can always solve any problems that you encounter.
The debunking of the main myths about organizers
Organizers overcharge their clients
Certainly, from frauds and unfair medical facilities nothing is assured; however, it is the exception to the rule. By addressing the proven provider, you can feel calm and have peace of mind. You should not pay a lot of money, and everything will be done in style. Due to so much competition, the facilities do not overcharge in order not to lose their clients.
Anyway, you choose the provider by yourself, therefore you can study different options and find the one most favorable. As practice shows, patients often pay approximately the same money for treatment even if they address the clinic directly. Think whether the gamble is worth it or not.
Organizers belong to some kind of mafia
It sounds, of course, ridiculous, but a considerable number of people really trust it. Some believe that if the specialist speaks the same language as the people in the clinic, that he is a fraud. It is urgent, first of all, for rather poor countries with a low level of medicine. On a subconscious level, citizens of such countries perceive the foreign specialist knowing their mother tongue language as a fraud. Certainly, this is a lie; all doctors and clinics are constantly checked and have the needed certificates confirming their high qualification and reliability.
On a subconscious level, citizens of such countries perceive the foreign specialist knowing their mother tongue language as a fraud. Certainly, this is a lie; all doctors and clinics are constantly checked and have the needed certificates confirming their high qualification and reliability.
To pass organizers, it is necessary to address the clinics directly
We’ve already said that there will not be a big difference in treatment cost with the provider or without it. For this reason, it is necessary to say that there is no real reason to refuse the services of medical facilities. However, if you nevertheless wish to do so, then remember that you must know the language of the country where the clinic is located in order to organize things on your own.
As a last resort, you need a good knowledge of English. If you are a citizen of another country, you will still be sent to the department of medical tourism, because the clinics are busy and they have no time to process applications from foreign patients. For simplifying, such work is given to the facilities.
The agency forces you to pay more money for treatment
There are some situations when the foreign patient, while waiting for an appointment in a clinic, talks with someone local and learns that for him, the cost of the treatment is lower. The angered foreigner then rushes to accuse his provider, who takes this difference to itself. Actually, everything is much simpler: foreigners’ treatment will always be a little more expensive, therefore such a difference exists, and the medical facility does not establish the prices.
Actually, everything is much simpler: foreigners’ treatment will always be a little more expensive, therefore such a difference exists, and the medical facility does not establish the prices.
From all this, it is possible to conclude the following: even in the most advanced country, treatment has both positive and negative moments, therefore, it is very important to have some reliable support. Even if you choose to get treatment in a country such as France, it is desirable to ask the qualitative provider for help.
Today in France, there is only one proven provider, which completely accompanies clients at all stages of their treatment. This provider Medifrance Solution.
