Medical tourism

My name‿ is‿ Ana,│ an(d) two years‿ ago I had‿ an‿ operation‿ on my knee abroad. In my country,│ the operation was free,│ but the waiting^wai-ding lis(t) was nine months,│ and‿ I could not work│ or drive. In the end,│ I paid 4,000 dollars‿ in‿ a private clinic‿ in‿ another country,│ and‿ I was‿ in the operating room‿ in three weeks.

The experience was positive. The clinic was modern,│ the surgeon spoke‿ English,│ an(d) the hotel nex(t) door cost thirty^thir-dy dollars‿ a night. I stayed two weeks,│ an(d) during the las(t) four days‿ I did some sightseeing with my sister. Medical tourism has grown quickly for‿ exactly this reason:│ some treatments cos(t) half‿ as much‿ abroad,│ an(d) the quality is‿ often the same.

However,│ I would not do it for‿ everything. If there‿ are complications,│ you are far from home,│ an(d) your‿ insurance may not cover you. My follow-up‿ appointmen(t) was‿ in my own country,│ an(d) my doctor was not happy about the operation he had not done. Would‿ I do it‿ again? For‿ an‿ operation‿ I could plan‿ in‿ advance,│ yes. For‿ an‿ emergency,│ never. The most‿ importan(t) thing‿ is not the price;│ it‿ is the aftercare.