Medical tourism in Slovakia

The motivation of a person towards medical tourism is often primarily financial. A good ration between price and quality of medical treatment is the main reason for choosing medical treatment abroad. The lower price is not the consequence of lower costs of the medical equipment and materials, but is connected with lower salaries of the doctors and other personal doing the medical service. What is also of major importance when choosing a destination for the medical treatment is also the quality of treatment, the reputation of doctors in the world that creates trust among the patients. High standard of hospitals, medical centres, diagnostic services and medical care are the fundament and a reason for choosing a certain destination. The patients tend to be interested in treatment and therapy at a scheduled time, without waiting, in a nice environment with a pro-patient approach. Many private clinics also cooperate with foreign health insurance companies, which is also an important fact when choosing the right clinic for treatment.

Slovakia has the needed infrastructure and the quality of medical services, and is becoming a popular destination for medical tourism. And the Slovak capital as one of the top transit points in Europe it also delivers world-class services for affordable prices taylored for everyone.

But most of the Slovak health-care facilities do not narrow their focus to only this particular market segment. The services of private medical and aesthetic centres are also used by foreigners living in Slovakia or Slovaks returning from stays abroad.

But being successful in medical tourism is not only about receiving proper treatment for a lower cost. It also requires a whole infrastructure that includes other well-functioning tourism services such as hotels and restaurants, travel arrangements as well as a well-developed business concept in the areas of logistics and marketing.

Foreigners coming to Slovakia have high interest in various body programmes, such as slimming programmes, cellulite treatments, dermatological treatments (botulinum toxin applications for wrinkle reduction and laser surgeries), plastic surgeries (breast surgery, rhinoplasty, liposuction, facelifts). The clinics that offer aesthetic and plastic treatments and surgeries are modern, they have with high technological equipment and the doctors often have some years of working in the USA or somewhere else abroad.

As explained by Alexander Schill, founder of the private Schill Dental Clinic, for the Slovak Spectator, “the prices of dental treatments in Slovakia are somewhere at one-third or one-quarter of the prices in western Europe”.

Slovakia is a relative newcomer to the dental and medical tourism market. Private dental clinics are ultra modern and have the latest technology to provide dental services and are also offering highly competitive prices for dental treatment such as dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry and prosthetic dentistry. The dentists and all the support staff are fluent in several languages and are proficient in English. The clinics are often employing British staff to reassure international clients. All contracted dentists in Slovakia have the academic title “doctor medicíny”  or “doctor of medicine” (MuDr), or a BDS, BChD, or Licenciate in Dental Surgery (LDS).  Slovak dentists train for six years as medical students at the University of Bratislava or at Košice. After graduation they register with the Slovak Dental Council (the Komora) which regulates the dental professionals in Slovakia.

Slovakia has gradually become one of the most attractive destinations for “fertility tourists”. The reasons for that are the affordable prices of infertility treatments, successful diagnostics and the Slovak legislature. The ration between price and the quality of treatment in Slovakia is in comparison to other European countries, very good. The Bratislava branch of the international network of fertility clinics shows a relatively high success rate of treatment, reaching 45 to 50%. Patients from all over the world come to Slovakia to undergo treatment, using the latest methods of assisted reproduction at prices far lower than in their own countries. the use of the latest methods is possible because of the Slovaks liberal fertility legislature, which is similar to Czech Republic, the UK and Scandinavian countries, but the prices in Slovakia are much lower. Slovakia gain a world reputation in treating infertility and is known for its good results.

Besides what is already stated above, Slovakia has a lot to offer to people who are visiting the country as a part of their treatment. Slovakia is small, but has a lot to offer. From stunning castles and historic sites, UNESCO heritage, museums, natural sites, mountain ranges, national parks etc. And what is also important for medical tourism – Slovakia also boasts traditional spa towns, where the patients can regenerate and recuperate in the healing thermal pools, therapeutic minerals and thermal springs. Slovakian spas enjoy a long and highly regarded reputation. The four season climate is Slovakia is mild and very appropriate for taking a time to heal. Slovakia also offers climatic treatment. There are more than 20 specialised resorts in the country providing professional spa treatments. That and a lot more can be found on the relatively small area behind the boarders of Slovakia.