Medical tourism is on the rise in Nigeria, with estimates suggesting the industry is growing by 15-25% each year. Nigerians travel abroad for medical care for several reasons, the primary one being the non-availability of capacity for treatment of most serious health challenges locally. As long as our healthcare system remains in a deplorable state, people will continue to seek medical care abroad.
However, going abroad for treatment is not all positive. In fact, some Nigerians that travel abroad come worse off than they were before. Thus, if you are part of the increasing numbers of Nigerians who are planning to seek certain treatment abroad, here is a list of important things to do before embarking on your medical tourism.

1. Consult your local doctor
Your doctor needs to be involved in the process. First, he will need to write a medical report that will state your medical history, why you are seeking care abroad, what care you need (based on his understanding) and any other details that will help the foreign doctors understand your needs and design an appropriate treatment plan.
Another reason your local doctor needs to be involved is that for a lot of cases, post-op management is important and this can only be provided effectively by your local doctor if he has details of the treatment given to you abroad. It is also crucial for patients suffering from respiratory, cardiac, bariatric and neuro-surgical disorders who are vulnerable and might require medication and appropriate preparatory treatment for embarking on the journey

2. Costs
The costs of a medical procedure can vary between different hospitals and countries. You should consider and compare the price range of different destinations in order to know which one is affordable to you. Although quality should never be compromised for cost, the actual expenses are, nevertheless, an important factor to consider. Aside from the costs of the treatment itself (which, again, should not be the deciding factor), the accommodation, transportation, and living costs can vary from country to country. It might be in your best interest to opt for a country that is relatively less expensive, as long as the quality of care is good.

3. Research possible hospitals in detail
Before settling down on a hospital, you need to do a thorough assessment of the hospital (s) you are considering. The fact that a particular country has a positive reputation for healthcare quality does not mean all hospitals in that country will be of equal quality. To settle on a hospital, you need to do your assessment on:

Certifications: A good hospital should have local and international accreditation. These are proofs of their staff qualifications and commitment to medical standards. Specific accreditations that you may look out for include JCAHO, ISO, JCI and national accreditations (like NABH for India), etc.
Awards: Any award that the hospital has won is also a reliable indicator of its quality.
Affiliation: Affiliation and research collaboration with reputable medical schools like Harvard Medical School, John Hopkins Medical School, etc is a good point to take into consideration.
Patients’ reviews: If there are numerous positive reviews, you can be more confident in your choice. Please note that reviews/testimonials on the hospital’s websites are not always dependable. You should endeavor to look for reviews from neutral websites.
Staff Pedigree: Aside from the hospital, you should also get to know about their doctors/ surgeons. Did they graduate from good medical schools? What professional body do they belong to How many years of experience do they have? Do they have any medical awards/ certificates?
Language: Communication is key in every human endeavor and medical tourism is no exception. Opt for hospitals & clinics where the staff, especially the clinical ones, can speak English or your mother tongue. Otherwise, you run the risk of miscommunication and failure in treatment. If that is not achievable, make sure there is a qualified translator available to help you.

4. Prepare all the necessary documents
Before going overseas for medical treatment, make sure to bring along the following papers:

Previous medical records: These include documents relating to your medical history and previous treatments, including X-ray reports, immunization records, prescriptions, attestations from your doctors about any unusual drugs (e.g. narcotic-containing drugs) that you may be taking.
Passport & visa: These are essential for you to enter any country aside from your own. As a Nigerian, this is especially a key factor to consider. Most countries will scrutinize your visa application thoroughly. Hence, you should get educated about the visa issuance requirement of the particular country you want to go to and make sure you are well prepared. Also, note that the visa application procedures are sometimes very complicated and can take up to months, so plan this ahead of time.
Credit cards, debit cards, and travelers’ checks: You should always have local currency, travelers’ checks and one or two major credit and debit cards.
As a Nigerian traveler, please note that you have to declare any amount above $5000 you are travelling with.

5. Quality and specialization
You should also think about the specialization of the region and the country you are considering. While most countries do meet the common healthcare standards, they can have a reputation for a certain field or specific procedures. For example, some countries may be hotspots of fertility treatment, while others may have a reputation for organ transplants. In even within countries, hospitals have their areas of excellence.

6. Get ready for an extended stay
In most cases, you will have to stay abroad for some time. This is because you need time for recovery and post-treatment observation. Also, be reminded that the initial treatment plan given to you is tentative based on the medical report you provided, actual treatment might be different depending on what your physical examination and tests reveal. Hence, keep this in mind before applying for a visa, as you may be asked about your expected time of stay in the foreign country.

7. Always consider traveling with an attendant
For most surgical treatments, you will be required to travel with a companion to act as your attendant. In many cases, the treatment that you have traveled for will leave you weakened for some time before being able to function normally again. A traveling companion can provide you with the physical and mental support that you will likely need before, during, and after the journey.



We Can Help You Get Quality and Affordable Medical Treatment Abroad
Medvisit is West Africa’s leading medical tourism agency that helps patients get quality and affordable medical treatment for various ailments in India, Israel, UAE, Iran, UK, and Germany. With branches in Nigeria and India, Medvisit remains the number one choice of health tourists.

For assistance, please call 09130247317 or send a mail to care@medvisit.com.ng.

Dubai is one of the fastest-growing destinations for Nigerians seeking medical treatment abroad. The availability of internationally accredited specialist hospitals combined with the ease of getting medical visas to Dubai is part of the many reasons why the city remains a top choice for Nigerians looking for medical treatment abroad.

However, getting medical treatment in Dubai can be a daunting task especially for first-timers. Not to worry, in this article, we will provide you with a step by step guide on how to get medical treatment in Dubai from start to finish.

Obtain Medical Report & Test results:
Get a medical report from your hospital in Nigeria. This will contain your medical history and diagnosis by your local doctor(s). It is also advisable to carry out as many tests as possible for a better evaluation of the ailment. The medical and test reports will then be reviewed by the Dubai doctors to give you a tentative treatment plan and cost estimates.

Contact a Medical Tourism Agency
The next thing to do is to get in touch with a medical tourism agency. A medical tourism agency can easily help you find the best hospitals in Dubai for your medical treatment without hassle. Also, the agency would help you facilitate traveling arrangements including accommodation and transportation within Dubai.

Select a Hospital
Once you get the list of the hospitals from the medical tourism agency, the next thing is to select your preferred hospital in Dubai for treatment. Make sure you do extensive research on each hospital (you can follow this link for a list of hospitals http://medvisit.com.ng/ ) and find out about the doctors who will be handling your treatment.
The hospital is expected to send you a letter of invitation after selection.

Apply for Visa
The medical tourism agency will guide you on steps to apply for the visa. However, if you wish to apply for the visa yourself, visit https://www.dubaivisa.net/Nigeria/index.html

Prepare Your Budget
Prepare an extensive budget including travel fees, accommodation, and transport as well as hospital bills. Find out from the hospitals the total estimated cost including any hidden charges. It is important to have a clear idea of the total cost for the duration of the treatment and make arrangements for extra costs if necessary.

Travel and Get Medical Treatment
You can now travel to Dubai and get the total medical treatment required to get back in a healthy shape. Get the required rest and return back home to Nigeria in good health.



Are you considering undergoing medical treatment in Dubai? Get in touch with Medvisit today. Medvisit is West Africa’s leading medical tourism agency that helps patients get medical treatment for various ailments in Dubai, India, Iran, Israel, Germany, and the UK. Call us today on 09130247317 or send a mail to care@medvisit.com.ng.

Dubai is one of the fastest-growing destinations for Nigerians seeking medical treatment abroad. The availability of internationally accredited specialist hospitals combined with the ease of getting medical visas to Dubai is part of the many reasons why the city remains a top choice for Nigerians looking for medical treatment abroad.
Here is a step by step guide on how to get medical treatment in Dubai from start to finish.

1. Obtain Medical Report & Test results:
Get a medical report from your hospital in Nigeria. This will contain your medical history and diagnosis by your local doctor(s). It is also advisable to carry out as many tests as possible for a better evaluation of the ailment. The medical and test reports will then be reviewed by the Dubai doctors to give you a tentative treatment plan and cost estimates.

2. Contact a Medical Tourism Agency:
The next thing to do is to get in touch with a medical tourism agency. A medical tourism agency can easily help you find the best hospitals in Dubai for your medical treatment without hassle. Also, the agency would help you facilitate traveling arrangements including accommodation and transportation within Dubai. You can get started here.

3. Select a Hospital:
Once you get the list of the hospitals from the medical tourism agency, the next thing is to select your preferred hospital in Dubai for treatment. Make sure you do extensive research on each hospital and find out about the doctors who will be handling your treatment.
The hospital is expected to send you a letter of invitation after selection.

4. Apply for Visa:
The medical tourism agency will guide you on steps to apply for the visa. However, if you wish to apply for the visa yourself, visit https://www.dubaivisa.net/Nigeria/index.html

5. Prepare Your Budget:
Prepare an extensive budget including travel fees, accommodation, and transport as well as hospital bills. Find out from the hospitals the total estimated cost including any hidden charges. It is important to have a clear idea of the total cost for the duration of the treatment and make arrangements for extra costs if necessary.

6. Travel and Get Medical Treatment:
You can now travel to Dubai and get the total medical treatment required to get back in a healthy shape. Get the required rest and return back home to Nigeria in good health.



Are you considering undergoing medical treatment in Dubai? Get in touch with Medvisit today. Medvisit is West Africa’s leading medical tourism agency that helps patients get medical treatment for various ailments in Dubai, India, Iran, Israel, Germany, and the UK. Call us today on 08182522015 or send a mail to care@medvisit.com.ng.

India is the top destination for patients from around the world seeking quality and affordable treatment for a wide variety of ailments. The quality treatment provided by hospitals in India is of the same standard as other top hospitals in USA, UK etc.

India has the 2nd highest number of JCI accredited private hospitals, with 21 hospitals fully accredited. Joint commission International (JCI) is the world’s leading non-profit patient safety organization. JCI is based in the USA and accredits hospitals who represent the most current thinking in patient safety and quality improvement.

Before you embark on your journey for treatment in India, it is very important to know about hospitals available to treat that particular ailment. There are different types of hospitals including specialist hospitals and general hospitals.

Specialist hospitals focus on treating ailments related to a particular part of the body like Heart, Eye, Bone etc. while general hospitals cater for a wider range of ailments. Even when picking either specialist or general hospital, the large number of choices available can make it difficult to pick out a single hospital.

In this article, you’ll get to know the important factors that can guide you in choosing the best hospital in India to undergo treatment according to your needs. Let’s get started.

Specialist Doctors
A hospital is only as good as its doctors. A good hospital should be able to boast of well trained world class doctors who are up to date with the current procedures in their fields. Before selecting a hospital in India, it is important to find out which doctors are available and how experienced they are in the field. For very serious ailments or major surgeries, it’s advisable to do a quick look up about the lead doctor/surgeon in the hospital and his/her credentials and level of expertise.

Accreditation
With the large number of hospitals in India, accreditation is an important criterion to note before selecting a particular hospital. Hospitals with accreditation are the best and have met the quality standards required to carry out successful medical treatment.

Accreditation is either from Joint Commission International (JCI), an international accreditation body, or National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare providers (NABH), the national accreditation body in India. Accreditation information can easily be found on the website of hospitals.

Size, Experience and Reputation
Hospitals with several years of experience have higher treatment success rates. These experienced hospitals are well known for their successful treatment plans and are very popular in medical communities.

For major surgeries or life threatening ailments e.g. Cancer, it is highly recommended that you choose large hospitals with several years of expertise and have built a reputation as a health care provider. This will increase the chances of undergoing a successful medical treatment.

Testimonials
Find out the experience of other international patients at the hospitals. Read up on testimonials about patients who have undergone successful treatment at the hospital. This will go a long way in helping you make a decision in getting the right treatment from hospital in India.

Cost of Medical Treatment
Cost is very essential to any patient seeking medical treatment. It is important to plan ahead for all expenses that will be accrued throughout the treatment period. Some hospitals lure patients with lower cost compared to other hospital. These hospitals have several hidden charges and end up charging the patient for twice the cost of the normal medical procedure.

In order to prevent any hidden charges, speak with your health tourism agency and make sure to ask if the quoted amount will cover all the medical expenses.

Accommodation
Accommodation is a very essential factor to consider. It’s important to find out about the availability of accommodation close to the hospital. The individual(s) accompanying the patient will need a place to stay throughout the duration of treatment. Even the patient may require accommodation on arrival as well as after discharge for monitoring. Hospitals close to comfortable and hygienic accommodation should always be top priority to prevent any logistic problems.


Insurance Cover
If you are covered by an insurance plan that pays for treatment abroad, try to find out if any of the hospitals in India is among those covered by your insurance company. This will help you make claims easily and shoulder the cost of treatment. It is important to start the insurance process as early as possible so you can plan your finances well ahead for travel and treatment.

Language
English is one of the official languages in India. All hospitals in India have medical teams who are very proficient in English. In case you may be comfortable in conversing in your own language, it’s important to find out if the hospital offers translation services. This will help you understand better the treatment and make informed decisions.

Patient Care Team
In selecting a hospital in India for treatment, it’s important to check if the hospital has an international patient care team. This team will make it much easier for you and accompanying member throughout the duration on your stay in India.

All these factors are very essential and can help you in selecting the right hospital for the best medical care in India.

Check out this infographic showing the step by step procedure for undergoing kidney transplant in India.

Full article: Guide To Kidney Treatment and Transplant In India

What is a Medical checkup?

Medical checkup is a thorough physical examination involving a variety of tests carried out on the body. These tests are dependent on the age, sex and previous health history of the person. Hospitals in India carry out health checkups that screen every part of the body meticulously and professionally. These checkups scan your bio-history interprets signals and provides the opportunity to detect any life threatening condition as early as possible.

What tests are carried out in a Medical Checkup?

A comprehensive medical checkup usually contains the following tests:

Haemogram
Biochemical Parameters (Including PP blood sugar test for diabetic patients)
Lipid profile
Liver Function test
Complete Urine Analysis & Stool test
ECG
X-Ray
Ultrasonogram of the abdomen
Stress screening by psychologist
Gynecologist consultation and pap smear test (for women)
Eye examination
Blood test
Complete Blood count
Blood sugar, urea, uric acid and group
Lumbar Spine AP & L
Optional tests

Some additional tests that may be required include:

Pulmonary Function test
Ultrasound Screening
ENT examination
Screening for Liver, Kidney or Thyroid disease
Hepatitis B screening
HIV test
PSA
Diet Counseling
Mammogram or Ultrasonogram of the breast.

HOW DO I GET MEDICAL CHECKUP IN INDIA?

1. Contact a Medical Tourism Agency
2. Select your Hospital and Package
3. Plan Your Duration and accommodation
4. Prepare a Budget
5. Apply For Visa to India
6. Travel for your medical checkup

It is advisable to always go for medical checkups regularly to reassess your health status. The frequency of your subsequent visit will depend on the presence/absence of disorders or diseases found in the previous checkup. The next visit focus mostly on pre-existing diseases (if any) or general health assessment.

Full Article: http://www.medvisit.com.ng/medical-checkup-in-india/

Quite interesting.

Every year, tens of thousands of Nigerians travel to India. Statistics show that 50% of these Nigerians that apply for visa to India are doing so for medical purposes. Luckily, the process of applying for medical visa is quite straightforward.

Before proceeding to apply for medical visa, take note that:
1. it is important to have completed all due process with the hospital you intend to visit for whatever procedure you are travelling for i.e get your local medical report accessed by the Indian doctor and get all other supporting documents for visa from the Indian hospital/doctor. (This can easily be arranged by a medical tourism agency)
2. Anyone who wants to travel to India for medical purposes will not be allowed to travel alone and must be accompanied by a supporting relative who will also be applying for visa with the individual.

Procedures:
1. Go to the Indian Visa Application Website
2. Click Regular visa application, a new page will open
3. Where you see "Indian Mission" pick either Lagos or Abuja; whichever is closer to you. This is the Indian Embassy where your interview will be held.
4. In the "Visa Type" tab, pick "Medical visa" from the dropdown menu
5. Enter the remaining details and click continue
6. In the new page you'll be required to enter your personal and passport information
7. When you finish, click "save and continue"
8. In the new page enter your address and family details, including profession/occupation.
9. Click "save and continue" and a new page will load.
10. Here, you'll be required to enter details about the hospital you use in Nigeria and the Hospital in India you plan on visiting for medical treatment.
11. In the reference section, name, phone number and address of the Indian hospital will be entered for "Indian reference". For Nigerian reference, enter the name of your medical tourism agency.
12. If you have scanned copy of your passport, you can upload it on this page too or just click "save and continue" to upload later
13. On the next page, you'll be given a set of available dates for interview at the embassy. Pick any suitable date and click "Confirm appointment"
14. A PDF file will now start downloading. you will be required to bring a printout of the form alongside necessary backing documents when you go for the interview at the Indian high commission.

Full article with step by step illustration ---> http://www.medvisit.com.ng/medical-visa-to-india/