A Guide to Medical Tourism in Latin America and South America – Facts, Trends, News, Services, Research and Business Opportunities by Dr Prem

Medical Tourism in Latin America and South America

Latin American destinations are rapidly emerging as global leaders in medical tourism, competing fiercely to capture significant market share. With a surge in medical tourists seeking affordable, world-class treatments, countries like Mexico, Brazil, and Costa Rica are at the forefront, offering unparalleled healthcare experiences. Fueling this momentum, the region’s medical tourism market is projected to skyrocket from $7.26 billion in 2022 to a staggering $17.26 billion by 2027 (Statista). 

On the other hand, 1.5 million individuals from Latin America engage in outbound medical tourism every year with total spending of $4.2 billion growing 6-8%. Their choicest destinations are intra-Latin America, Germany, the US, Spain, and Turkey. 

The drivers remain the same- healthcare quality, affordability, and cultural familiarity combined with their leisure and wellness tourism appeal.

A Guide to Medical Tourism in Latin America and South America – Facts, Trends, News, Services, Research and Business Opportunities by Dr Prem

Medical tourism business trends in popular Latin American destinations:

Dr-Prem-delivering-a-speech-at-a-medical-tourism-conference

Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama and Argentina have been the front-runners of Latin American medical tourism but emerging destinations like Caribbean Islands, Peru, Chile and Cuba are also eyeing a reasonable share of the medical tourism market.

Treatments of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, bariatric surgery, orthopedic treatment, cosmetic surgery, ophthalmic treatments and dental care are most sought after in these destinations. The rising number of JCI and ISQA accredited healthcare facilities providing state-of-the-art technologies along with the highest level of hygiene ensure and promote quality patient care. Medical tourism facilitator companies are increasingly sending foreign patients to these countries for treatment as well as for a sunny, fun-filled holiday.

A destination-wise analysis would present a clear picture of the booming medical tourism in Latin America.

Mexico:

Doctor showing xray to a senior patient in hospital

Mexico enjoys a special advantage for its proximity to the US. Within a 3-4 hour drive, patients are able to access quality healthcare support at incredibly low prices. The country receives the most medical tourists, 1.4 to 3 million every year, primarily from the United States. These tourists typically seek cosmetic surgery, dental care, and orthopedic treatments, drawn by savings of 40-60% on medical procedures compared to U.S. prices.

It is mention worthy that many private US hospital chains run clinics here offering a favorable treatment package which is unthinkable in the US.

About 40,000 to 80,000 American seniors are spending their retirement life here for the availability of affordable nursing and healthcare services.  Many self-funded employers considering medical tourism packages in their employee health insurance prefer Mexico as one of the most favorable destinations. Many medical tourism facilitator companies in North America send patients to Mexico for affordable and superior treatments.

Costa Rica:

medical-tourism-expenses

The WHO rates the healthcare system of Costa Rica slightly above than the US. More than 40,000 Americans visit this country every year for medical purposes saving about 45-65% of their medical expenses. Thousands of US retirees have made this land their second home post-retirement mainly due to its sunny and pleasant climate and ideal living conditions.

While talking of Costa Rica, it would not be fair to leave out Panama, which is another favored Latin American destination for medical tourism where one can make a 40%-70% savings in treatment cost.

Brazil:

Plastic Cosmetic Surgeon Examines Beautiful Woman's Face

Brazil has the best healthcare system in Latin America as declared by the WHO. It is also the first country to have the first JCI accredited hospital outside the US- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paolo. The country has earned the fame of being the Global Capital of Plastic Surgery mainly for its image-conscious culture.

Brazil is the home to world-famous plastic surgeons. The cost of plastic surgery can be 60% less than what is available in the Western Countries. With more than 40 JCI-accredited hospitals, the country stands as one of the highly preferred Latin American medical tourism destinations.

Columbia:

breast augmentation. woman chooses breast implant, close-up silicone breast implant

Between 2012 and 2013, Medical tourism in Colombia increased by over 60% between 2012 and 2013. In 2013, 50,000 medical tourists pumped an estimated $216 million into the Colombian healthcare system.

For decades, the country has been the favorite destination for cosmetic surgery. According to Global Health Intelligence report, an estimated 300,000 surgical operations are carried out every year by about 1000 plastic surgeons.

Panama:

doctor's meeting

Panama is becoming one of the most popular medical tourism destinations. Language being a very crucial barrier in many countries that offer medical facilities holds back many counties becoming popular medical tourism destinations. However, Panama is blessed with many bilingual and board certified doctors who help in the continuous improvement of medical services in Panama. Patient can save as much as 50 per cent of the medical expenses if they opt to visit panama for treatment.

Emerging medical tourism markets in the Caribbean:

 non-invasive Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy

The Caribbean, one of the top global tourism destinations, has been quick to realize its potential in health tourism as well. The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Barbados have made a prominent mark in the global medical tourism map. You will find these countries mentioned in our medical tourism destination guide as well.

The amazing Caribbean seascape which has been attracting tourists in volumes from the developed nations since long is now catering to their medical requirements offering state-of-the-art treatment facilities. Hardly, there is any treatment which is unavailable in this cluster of islands not to speak of the superb healthcare infrastructure providing the required support.

Cayman Islands:

 

Cayman Islands

An open-heart surgery in the Cayman Islands would cost 50% less than that in the US without any compromise in treatment quality. The Health City Cayman Islands Hospital, a joint venture project of India-based Narayana Hrudalaya (run by the renowned cardiologist Dr. Debi Shetty) and Ascension Health Alliance stands as one of the healthcare leaders of the Caribbean offering world-class treatment in cardiac ailments.

Barbados:

 female gynecologist is holding and showing a picture of uterus. Young lady is looking at it seriously

In the eastern Caribbean, Barbados is well known for advanced medical facilities available for most of the critical ailments. The JCI accredited The Barbados Fertility Center has been welcoming international patients since 2002.

Cuba:

Vision correction surgery. Doctor performing laser eye vision correction operation. Eye Microsurgery. Eye surgery.

Cuba has the highest number of doctors per resident in the world. The legendary football icon Diego Maradona after going through a successful drug rehabilitation program declares that Cuba has the best doctors in the world.

Medical tourists can make a 60% cost savings in ophthalmic surgeries and neurological treatments along with enjoying serene beaches and antique towns and forts. In a recent development, Cuba and Canada signed an agreement in Havana to implement a medical tourism program dedicated to senior Canadian travelers.

Puerto Rico:

Medical students listening sitting at desk

It is no less amazing that the small island of Puerto Rico has catapulted itself to a respectable position in the global medical tourism index. About 15,000 medical tourists visit this island every year spending $10,000 on an average reports Medhalt.com.

While state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology and the advanced method of integrated healthcare service of the Caribbean and Latin America are driving the region’s medical tourism market, the contribution of the rising number of medical professionals graduated from globally recognized universities is no less either.

Dominican Republic:

Dr Prem Jagyasi speech

The beauty, location, quality medical facilities and attractive treatment costs all make Dominican Republic (DR) the right destination for medical tourism. Ranked as the 6th most popular tourism destination by UNTWO in 2016, the country is known to have successfully treated more than 30,000 medical tourists the same year, reports Dominicantoday.com.

The Dominican Republic attracts the huge customer base of 1.8 million DR nationals residing in the US. The second largest customer base is Canada. DR nationals residing in the US maintain a close relationship with this island. In case of any medical decision taken by them goes in favor of medical tourism in the Dominican Republic.

The Samadi Robotic Institute, housed at HOMS, features a state-of-the-art da Vinci robot with multiple robotic arms performing high-precision critical surgeries. Three state-of-the-art hospitals — Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud, Hospital Metropolitano de Santiago (HOMS), and CEDIMAT are successfully treating the growing number of medical travelers.

Medical tourism business opportunities in Latin America:

Young female passenger at the airport, looking at the flight information board

Proximity to the US is one of the prime factors of growing medical tourism in Latin America. Latin Americans are fluent in English and Spanish and hospitable. The climatic conditions of these countries are highly conducive to recovery. Considering these, there is a rising willingness of a large population of Hispanics in North America to travel these countries for medical treatments.

Many US residents can avail visa-free travel in many of these countries due to various free trade agreements like NAFTA, DR-CAFTA etc. In view of this rising trend of medical tourism, the possibility of receiving government funding from the US or Canadian government-sponsored programs is quite high.

Government initiatives supporting medical tourism are rising as well. Many North American organizations are showing strong willingness to reduce healthcare costs by outsourcing medical treatments and services which would widen the avenues of business.

Hospitality boom in Latin American destinations balancing medical tourism and travel:

The Johns Hopkins-affiliated Hospital Punta Pacifica in Panama City

Image Source : hopkinsmedicine.org

Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil are witnessing appreciable hotel development projects. Leading hotel investors are taking keen interest in creating accommodation facilities for mixed-use and adaptive purposes. Mixed-use hotel projects are cropping up in major cities of Colombia namely, Bogotá, Cartagena, and Barranquilla.

The Johns Hopkins-affiliated Hospital Punta Pacifica in Panama City, Panama offers comfortable lodging adjacent to its top-class medical facility to help in quick patient recovery. The proposed hotel Centro Internacional Del Caribe to be built beside Clínica Portoazul in Barranquilla, Colombia is another example of booming hospitality industry driven by medical tourism.

All being said, Latin American medical tourism is not without its drawbacks. Reports of violent incidents, corruption and disease outbreak create a negative image of the destinations. There is no standardized quality measurement system to assess the medical standards. In the event of any malpractice, there is hardly any legal recourse available.

Latin American countries are striving to understand their core competencies and carve niche markets. They are gradually evolving as a more mature medical tourism market to make the best of being in proximity to more than 350 million Americans and growing Hispanic population.

How South America is picking up on Medical Tourism

Happy doctor encouraging young man

In many developed countries like the United States of America, the cost of healthcare is constantly on a rise and there are long waiting queues for patients. Even though some initiatives by the governments of developed countries might improve healthcare conditions, people are still searching for better medical care options in foreign countries. This has created great opportunities for various kinds of medical tourism businesses.

In this race to attract more medical tourism, South America seems to be picking up its position fast. In fact, it has become one of the preferred destinations for American medical tourists, as it is located close to the U.S. and displays natural beauty in its relaxing surroundings.

The major reason for South America becoming a medical tourism option is its countries offering high-quality healthcare services that are highly ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO). Medical tourism facilitators, agencies, and consultants are keeping an eye on some locations in countries like Ecuador and Costa Rica.

Cuenca in Ecuador has become quite famous as a medical tourism destination for expatriates who are retired from work. This is because Cuenca offers excellent healthcare at much cheaper prices. The cost of any medical treatment here is about 7-10 percent lower than in the U.S. states.

Costa Rica is also like a heaven for those who are suffering from different medical conditions and are seeking better treatment options. Various state-of-the-art private health facilities offer surgery and treatment at a much lower cost.

Most of the doctors in Costa Rica are well trained and communicate in American English, because of which the U.S. expats find it easier to undergo treatments in a comfortable environment. Other countries offering high-quality medical care include Mexico and Panama. Patients can get good treatment at these destinations at an affordable cost.

Columbia is also ranked highly for its healthcare services that have the capability to outrank facilities provided by various developed countries like Australia, the U.S., Germany and Canada. Columbia has improved its reputation as a place that is secure for medical tourists and has come up as a global healthcare destination.

The treatment offered here is unimaginable cheaper than the U.S. On the other hand, if medical tourists have to undergo some elective procedures, such as cosmetic surgery, they prefer going to various specialized and accredited medical facilities in Brazil. Because of such affordable and high-quality medical services available in these booming economies, South America has become a major player in the medical tourism industry.

Get Dr Prem’s Insights into Latin America Medical Tourism Business

With 25+ years of experience in medical tourism consultancy across 75+ countries, Dr Prem Jagyasi has empowered destinations and businesses to thrive. His strategic expertise has fueled growth through innovative models and proven frameworks tailored to evolving market demands. Having delivered 1000+ keynote speeches and medical tourism masterclasses, Dr Prem’s insights have been instrumental in guiding destinations to unlock their full potential. From building sustainable strategies to enhancing patient experiences, his thought leadership offers actionable solutions. Connect with Dr Prem today to grow your medical tourism business in Latin America.

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