Colombia is known for many things, but in recent years it’s been getting international recognition for the quality of its healthcare system. As a result, medical tourism in Colombia has been growing by leaps and bounds. From cosmetic procedures to organ transplants, Colombia has many healthcare facilities that specialize in even the most delicate types of surgery.
Where medical tourists go in Colombia
Many of the top medical facilities are in Bogota and Medellin, which are two of the country’s biggest urban centers. Bogota has clinics specializing in cardiovascular disease, which is a common reason for medical tourists to visit Colombia. Medical tourism Medellin is especially popular, since this city has the first hospital in Colombia to receive the coveted LEED accreditation. In total, Colombia boasts 16 out of the 40 top-rated medical facilities in Latin America.
Medical tourism in Medellin
Medellin is a hotspot for medical tourism, and for good reason. It accounts for about 55% of all transplants done in Colombia, mainly thanks to the Hospital San Vincente De Paul. Of the country’s 16 top-rated medical facilities, eight of them are in Medellin. It isn’t just the healthcare facilities that are distinguishing themselves, though; Medellin’s universities have also gotten international recognition for advances in medical research.
Why is medical tourism flourishing in Colombia?
There are a few different factors that have contributed to the rapid growth of medical tourism in Medellin, Bogota, and other major Colombian cities.
First of all, Colombia has overcome an obstacle that many South American medical facilities face: a lack of sophisticated medical equipment. In contrast, Colombia has taken steps to import state-of-the-art equipment for hospitals, plastic surgery centers, dental care providers, and more.
Second, the top medical facilities in the country have highly trained doctors, surgeons, dentists, etc. Many of them completed their medical education in the US, but some of them also graduated from prestigious medical programs offered by Colombian universities.
Third, Colombia has been extremely generous with funding to help grow the medical tourism industry. Whether it’s marketing efforts to get the word out, or money spent on continuing education programs, the country has a strong focus on being one of the world’s top choices for medical tourism.
Fourth, more and more people around the world are realizing that they can get excellent value for money by choosing to have their medical procedures done in Colombia. It’s possible to save as much as 70% on the cost of these procedures, whether they’re life-saving or purely cosmetic. This has attracted medical tourists from both North America and Europe, who are eager to take advantage of the high standard of care while saving thousands of dollars (or euros) in the process.
Here are some other highlights that have put Colombia on the medical tourism map:
- Bilingualism is being promoted in the healthcare industry, which makes medical care more accessible to English-speaking tourists.
- Former soccer king Diego Maradona had his weight loss surgery performed in Colombia, which built trust in the country’s healthcare system.
- The world’s first trachea transplant was performed in Colombia.
- The world’s second larynx transplant was performed in Colombia.
- Latin America’s first bone marrow transplant was performed in Colombia.
- Latin America’s first liver transplant was performed in Colombia.
A closer look at the cost of medical tourism in Colombia
Medical procedures are cheaper in Colombia compared to the US, but how much cheaper exactly? Here are some comparisons for some of the most popular procedures.
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Rhinoplasty
In the US, the cost would be around $11,000; in Colombia, it would be around $1,500.
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Breast augmentation
In the US, the cost would be around $6,000; in Colombia, it would be around $2,500.
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Knee replacement
In the US, the cost would be around $30,000; in Colombia, it would be around $15,000.
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Heart bypass
In the US, the cost would be around $80,000; in Colombia, it would be around $30,000.
Prices will vary by facility, but these figures show just how much cheaper it is to have these procedures done in Colombia. When you combine that with the consistently high standard of care in the country’s top medical facilities, it’s pretty clear why there’s so much demand for medical tourism in Medellin, Bogota, and other Colombian cities.
Top hospitals in Colombia for medical tourism
If you’re interested in visiting Colombia as a medical tourist, keep in mind that you’ll get the best quality of care from medical centers in large cities. Rural healthcare is still catching up, so it isn’t necessarily recommended to go to smaller hospitals. These are the top medical facilities in Colombia, in case you want to know which ones are the best of the best.
- Centro Medico Imbanaco
- Fundacion Cardiovascular de Colombia
- Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogota Hospital Universitario
- Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe
- Hospital Universitario de San Vicente de Paul
It’s worth pointing out that of the five top hospitals in Colombia, two of them (the last two on the list) are located in Medellin – just one more reason why medical tourism Medellin is thriving.
Top countries for medical tourism in Colombia
It’s difficult to get solid numbers, but estimates say that most medical tourists in Colombia come from the US, Canada, Germany, Spain, the Caribbean, and Venezuela. Before the pandemic, Colombian news outlets would say that between 20,000 and 30,000 medical tourists visited the country yearly. This number certainly shrank (along with the numbers for regular tourists) when the pandemic hit, but the medical tourism industry in Colombia seems to be recovering quickly.
Which treatments are most common with medical tourism Medellin, Bogota, and other cities?
There are countless medical procedures available in Colombia; these are the most popular choices by medical tourists. Especially in Medellin is the go-to destination in Latin America for medical procedures:
- Cosmetic surgery
- Dental procedures
- Organ transplants
- Cardiovascular procedures
- Fertility treatments
- Laser eye treatments
- Endocrinology
- Neurology
- Addiction treatments
- Gynecology
- Orthopedic procedures
Medical tourism in Colombia shows no signs of slowing down
Even though most tourists in Colombia come to see the natural beauty of its national parks or visit iconic museums during Medellin tours, a large portion of them come for much different reasons. Colombia has put a lot of effort into ensuring that its medical tourism industry continues to grow, and those efforts are clearly working.
