Medical tourism in the Schengen area

Thousands of foreigners travel to the Schengen area to receive medical treatment each year. If you are thinking of travelling to Europe from outside the Schengen area in order to receive medical care, you may want to apply for a medical Schengen visa. Read on for an overview of medical tourism to the Schengen area, including a list of the top destinations for medical tourism in Europe, and to find out if a Schengen visa for medical purposes is right for you!

What is Medical Tourism?

• Medical tourism is travelling to another country for the purpose of receiving medical care. This could involve travelling in order to undergo an operation, receive medical treatment, spend time in a health clinic, or simply consult with a physician about possibly treatment. 
• People receive medical treatment abroad for different reasons: some are looking for higher quality care or treatment options that are unavailable in their home country, while others find they can save money on a procedure by having it performed in a different country. 
• Millions of people engage in medical tourism each year, and hundreds of thousands choose Europe their destination, due to the continent’s excellent healthcare system, which includes some of the best hospitals and physicians in the world. 
• While you might participate in other activities on your trip, such as sightseeing or business, you are a medical tourist if your primary purpose for travelling is to receive medical treatment (rather than, for example to see the sites). For example, if you travel to France in order to undergo a medical procedure, but you stop to visit the Eiffel Tower during your trip, you will still be considered a medical tourist rather than a cultural tourist, due to the fact that your primary purpose for travel was to undergo an operation, not visit cultural landmarks. 
• If you are traveling to the Schengen area in order to receive medical treatment, you may be eligible to apply for a Schengen visa for medical purposes. (For more information about Medical Schengen visas, click here). 

Medical Tourism: Where to go in Europe

• There are thousands of destinations for medical tourism In Europe throughout the Schengen area’s 26 states. 
• Some of the best medical tourism countries in the Schengen area are Germany and France.
• Please note, that while Germany and France are constantly rated as top destinations for medical tourism, they are not right for every patient. Different patients have different needs, and some patients might find another country is better fit for their particular issue.

Medical Tourism in Germany 

• Germany is one of the best countries for medical tourism due to its high-quality healthcare system. 
• Every year, Germany attracts an estimated 250,000 medical tourists from around the world, particularly the Middle East. 
• Aside from its high quality, part of the country’s success in attracting so many medical tourists lies in its large capacity; Germany’s per-capital doctor to patient rate is one of the highest in the Schengen area. Additionally, there are around 1,400 hospitals around the country. 
• Germany’s universal healthcare system is publicly funded; all citizens are required to have health insurance, which is subsidized by the government.
• While foreigners pursue medical treatment in Germany for many reasons, the country is renowned for its cancer treatment centers, orthopedic surgery, and cardiology departments. 
• The top hospital in the country, the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, is the largest hospital in Germany and one of the biggest in the entire Schengen area. 

Medical Tourism in France 

• France is quickly being recognized as one of the best countries for medical tourism due to its affordability and quality. 
• Like Germany, France has a universal health care system that is publicly funded; all citizens are required to have health insurance, which is subsidized by the government. 
• France remains a leader in bariatric surgery; more gastric bypasses are performed in France than any other country in Europe. In addition to bariatric surgery, France also offers quality care in the areas of cancer treatment and cosmetic surgery. 
• Perhaps the best hospital in France is the Pitié-Salpêtrière, the largest in the country and one of the biggest in the entire Schengen area. 
• In Paris, Centre Medical Europe remains the largest health center in the country. In addition to departments in cardiology, gastroenterology, and dermatology, Centre Medical Europe also offers patients dental care and corrective surgery. 

Top Medical Tourism Countries: Continued 

In addition to Germany and France, the Schengen area offers numerous other destinations for medical tourism, which are summarized below:

Medical Tourism in Spain

• Spain is a popular destination for medical tourism due to its low costs, quality care, and warm climate. 
• The country is the world leader in organ transplanting, performing thousands of kidney, liver, and other types of surgical transplants each year. 

Medical Tourism in Italy

• While the country lags behind Germany, France, and Spain, Italy is expected to see growth in its medical tourism industry over the next decade. 
• Italy’s public healthcare system is one of the best in Europe and its hospitals, particularly in the north, offer high quality care; in 2020, Newsweek ranked Milan’s the Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda as one of the top 50 hospitals in the world. 

Medical Tourism in Hungary

• Known as the “dental capital of Europe,” Hungry is renowned for its high-quality care and affordability. 
• While other countries known for offering inexpensive dentistry tend to compromise on quality, Hungary has become destination for medical dentistry due to its low-pricing and high standards.   

Medical Tourism in Switzerland

• With its clear mountain air, and stunning natural scenery, Switzerland has historically enjoyed a reputation as place where Europeans came to destress and improve their health through wellness. 
• Today, Switzerland remains a leader in holistic wellness; the country abounds in health spas and private clinics. 
• An expensive country relative to the rest of Europe, Switzerland offers excellent medical care to those who can afford it.

Medical Tourism in Finland

• Small but prosperous, Finland offers exceptional medical care: the Nordic country has one of the highest cancer patient-survival rates in Europe.