Parkway Health in Singapore has announced fixed price packages for over thirty procedures, valid through 31 March, 2010. Although the package prices are for routine cases without complications, and eligibility for the packages can only be established after a doctor examination, the continued move toward pre-defined fixed prices is very refreshing.
A wide range of procedures are covered including:
- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) with 3 grafts or less at S$23,000 (about US$15,400 at current exchange rates)
- Total Hip Replacement (Unilateral) with a 5 day hospital stay at S$19,000 (US$12,700)
- Cataract (per eye) with Anaesthetist at S$3,450 (US$2,100)
The full list of procedures included can be found at http://www.ipac.sg/pdf/ppac_pricing.pdf. Prices do not include Singapore sales tax, which adds 7% to the total....read more...
Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick recently announced that they’ll be having twins this summer. And they’re not the only ones. According to Ireland’s Independent, Robert De Niro, Kelsy Grammer, Agnela Basset and Ricky Martin have all resorted to surrogacy. Melissa Brissman, head of a U.S. surrogacy law firm, says that “We’re now seeing a lot of celebrities using surrogates to have children which, in turn, is making the process more socially acceptable among ordinary Americans....read more...
Jason Hwang, author of "The Innovator's Prescription - How Asia can disrupt global healthcare" makes a number of interesting points that patients looking to overseas travel could heed.
First, he feels that specialist clinics can carve a niche of quality and affordability that general hospitals cannot achieve. Examples of specialist clinics include Shouldice Hospital in Canada, focused on Hernia repairs, and the Avarind Eye Hospital in India, which has fixed prices, guaranteed outcomes, and has become the worlds largest and most productive eye care facility....read more...
By publishing its guidelines on overseas medical travel in 2008, the American Medical Association has recognized the role that overseas medical procedures plays in meeting the U.S. healthcare needs. While the guidelines are somewhat brief, and aimed more towards insurance providers and employers, they do also provide individuals some additional guidance in choosing whether or not to pursue overseas medical options.
The guidelines themselves say:
NEW AMA GUIDELINES ON MEDICAL TOURISM
The AMA advocates that employers, insurance companies, and other entities that facilitate or incentivize medical care outside the U.S. adhere to the following principles:
(a) Medical care outside of the U.S. must be voluntary....read more...