
1. How can the prices for quality medical care vary so greatly between different countries?
Answer: Compare the Guatemalan and American doctors. Both studied at prestigious universities and earned advanced degrees. They perform the same procedure with the same care and skill, and work in modern world-class facilities. The American doctor, however, has to pay huge insurance premiums, staggering licensing and permitting fees, inflated rent and union – approved labor rates. If these added expenses are ten times more than what the Guatemalan doctor pays, then he will have to increase his fees to the patient at the same rate.
2. Exactly how much help can I expect from Guatemala Medical Travel and how much will it cost?
Answer: Most importantly, we advocate on your behalf to determine the finest quality care and negotiate the best price for you. Medical-related activities such as accompanying you to the doctor’s office and hospital, translating and filling out paperwork and taking notes for future reference, are all paid by the doctor. GMT will also keep a detailed statement of account and medical journal for you, and help with transfer of funds for timely payments. The patient will pay separately for tourist activities or secretarial services.
3. If we encounter complications during the surgery, can I take legal action against the doctor?
Answer: No. The concept of malpractice lawsuits is unique only to America, and is not acceptable business practice in other countries. Even with the most common surgical procedures, there are certain risks that your doctor will discuss with you. Unlike the US, your doctor guarantees satisfaction and will do everything, within reason, to correct any unforeseen complications. This follow-up may include accepting all related costs including hospital fees, recovery and transportation.
4. If these doctors speak English and were educated at American universities, why didn't they stay here?
Answer: That’s a very personal decision, but US Homeland Security
requirements make it exceedingly difficult for foreigners to live and
work legally in America. And, in the Latin culture family ties
are very important, so the doctors may prefer to remain closer to their
extended family environment. Guatemalan doctors work very hard
to earn their credentials out of a deep devotion to keeping people healthy
by utilizing the latest technological advances. Perhaps many of
them would rather continue their practice in a country where it is most
appreciated, without the burden of government and legal interference,
than to join America's failing bureaucratic medical system.
5. Lori, have you had personal experience before using doctors in other countries?
Answer: Thankfully, I’ve always been very healthy and not needed to visit many doctors. After a knee injury in Turkey in 1998, a local orthopedist made a “house call” to my room at the Istanbul Intercontinental, and provided excellent treatment and painkillers for about $50. On two separate visits to Thailand, in 2000 and 2003, I had dental check-ups with x-rays and cleaning for about $17.
I wanted to get all my inoculations and malaria pills before my first trip to India, but I found only a few clinics in Washington and New York that offered the full series, and for $500. I waited to get to London, England and bought all the shots and pills for $5 at the local national health clinic.
With Family: Twenty years ago, my father was travelling to Mexico regularly for his annual chelation treatments. Chelation therapy has been used in Germany since the 1930’s as a highly effective and low-cost blood filtering system. It is still not approved in the US because the patent on EDTA expired years ago, so the pharmaceutical companies can’t make a profit on it.
With Friends: My dear friend David from Key West went to four local doctors trying to get treatment for his terrible stomach pains. After seven months, the doctors prescribed him high doses morphine and oxycontin, and he was down to 110 lbs. They never diagnosed his cancer because he had no health insurance and they would lose money treating him. In desperation, David flew to Eastern Europe where he received immediate surgery and excellent medical care. He died in Prague, nine months later, of pancreatic cancer at the age of 37.
6. Is it safe to travel to Guatemala?
Answer: Travelers to Guatemala should take the same precautions they would when visiting any large city. A good Guatemala travel guide will give the traveler valuable insights regarding local customs and tourist information. If patients follow our recommendations throughout the journey, they will likely be as safe as they are in their home town.
| Cabeza y Cuello | Dr Michel Nuyens, Ear-Nose-Throat Specialist |
| Cardio Care Cardiology Group | Cardiology care |
| CEDAF Audiology | Audiology, hearing loss, balance, cochlear implants |
| Centro Procrea | Dr Emilio Novales Aguirre, Gynecology and In-Vitro Fertilization |
| Centro Visual G y G | Ophthalmological Specialists |
| Cirugía Global | Christian Galvez, Cardiac Surgeon |
| Clinicas de la Cruz | General and cosmetic dentistry, prosthodontics |
| Clinicas Ovalle | General dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics, implants |
| Dental Care Guatemala | Dr. Julio Donado of Dental Care Guatemala |
| Hope International | State-of-the-art Cancer Treatment Center |
| Hospital Centro Medico | All major specialties represented. |
| Hospital Herrera-Llerandi | Dr. Guillermo Claverie, orthopedist of Herrera-Llerandi |
| Maxillofacial Centre | Dr Luis Ramirez, Maxillofacial Surgeon, Antigua |
| Medi Center | Cancer Treatments, Anti-Aging and Stem Cell Regenerative Medicine. |
| Nova Aesthetics | Dr. Stefan Preuss Sterkel, Plastic Surgery and Hair Transplant Center |
| Unidental | Global Dental Specialists |
| Yoga Antigua | Reduce stress, breathe freely, gain strength, flexibility, and peace of mind. |
| MedLinePlus.gov | Health information from the US National Library of Medicine |
| Medical Marijuana Therapy | Research on Clinical Applications For Cannabis (Medical Marijuana Therapy) A Review of the Recent Scientific Literature, 2000 — 2011 |
| Deliotte Health Solutions | Medical Tourism, 2009 Report. |
| Health Tourism Magazine | Medical Tourism Association publication. |
| Hospitalist | Information about medical tourism’s growing popularity. |
| Int'l Med Travel Journal | Why do you need a medical tourism facilitator? |
| Medical Tourism Magazine | Excellent articles about medical tourism. |
| Patients Beyond Borders | Excellent information on Medical Tourism. |
| American Chamber of Commerce | American Chamber of Commerce in Guatemala |
| AGEXPORT | The Association of Guatemala Exporters |
| INGUAT | Guatemala National Institute of Tourism |
| U.S. Embassy in Guatemala | U.S. Embassy in Guatemala |
| Antigua Plaza | Spanish Language School |
| Around Antigua | Maps, weather, travel tips and news |
| Aventuras Vacacionales | Sailing and Diving in Guatemala and Belize. |
| Casa Dulcita | Four bedroom furnished home in central Antigua. |
| Clarion Suites | Premium downtown hotel with the patient’s comfort in mind. |
| DennysBeach.com | Hotel & Resort in Lago Izabal. |
| George’s Travel Club | Amazing Guatemala tours with George Sansoucy. |
| Grand Tikal Futura Hotel | Luxury accommodations with low-cost medical tourism packages. |
| Trip Advisor / Antigua | Good hotel and restaurant info |
| Captain Victoria Impallomeni | Charter boat captain and wilderness guide from Key West. Cataract and Retina Surgery, Sept. 2010. |
| Mia Howe | Real Estate Broker and waterfront specialist in the Florida Keys. Dental Care, March 2010. |
| John Van Zwieten | Corporate Executive Growth Specialist from Santa Cruz, CA. Physical Exams, March 2011. |
| Judy Sadlier | Casa Dulcita vacation home in Antigua, Guatemala. Physical Exams, May 2011. |
| Mary Waggener | Owner, La Pena de Sol Latino Restaurant. Dermatology procedure, June 2011. |
| Sam Rodgers | Retired, Sailing blog of “Sandbar Sam” on the Rio Dulce on-line newsletter. Dental Surgery, May 2011. |
| Murrell Weissinger | Real Estate Broker from St. Augustin, Fl. Cosmetic surgery September 2011. |