We all know surgery is cheap in Thailand. Just how cheap, though, is the question. Western patients, especially Americans, can save between 65 to 90 percent on surgeries if they choose Thailand’s booming US$40 billion medical tourism industry.
The savings extends from cosmetic procedures like sexual reassignment surgery and rhinoplasty to heart surgery. Hip replacements in Thailand cost one-fourth of that in the United States.
The medical and wellness industry is so big, it led to the creation of the non-profit Thai Spa Association that aims to keep quality control in the relaxation sector.
The folks of the yearly guidebook Patients Beyond Borders, an annual guidebook on medical tourism, say the Thai market is expanding by 25 percent a year and is noted as one of the thriftiest destinations in the world.
