Medical Treatments in Belgium
Many of the 55000 British patients who travel abroad each year for medical treatments head to Belgium to take advantage of the low cost, high quality surgery available. Belgium has many advantages for British patients, not least the short flying times and attractions that make the country popular for both holidays and weekend breaks.
Benefits of Medical Treatments in Belgium
Many people from the UK who are considering Belgium for medical treatment will find themselves travelling to the capital city of Brussels. Brussels is a colourful, sophisticated and fun place for a holiday, and is ideal if you are combining a break with some form of medical treatment. You can expect to find medical treatment costs in Belgium around 50% lower than you would pay for the same treatments in the UK.Medical Treatments Available in Belgium
Private hospitals and clinics in Belgium offer first class medical facilities, state of the art technology and high standards of professional conduct. There are a wide range of medical treatments in Belgium available to UK patients and some of the common treatments include:-- Cosmetic facial surgery
- Cosmetic body surgery
- Obesity surgery
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Spinal surgery
- Neurosurgery
Surgical Qualifications
One of the worrying aspects of surgery abroad for many patients is the qualifications of the surgeons involved. If you have thoroughly checked your surgeon’s qualifications before you leave Britain then there should be no problems. In Belgium surgeons undertake around seven years of intensive training before they can qualify; specialists will train for around a total of 12 years.Surgeons, doctors and dentists must be accredited by the Minister for Public Health and they will be placed on the official register of Surgical Specialists, Medical Doctors, and Dentists. These agencies are the first place you should contact when checking surgeon’s credentials in Belgium. If you are using a medical service provider this research should be undertaken on your behalf.
Treatment Costs in Belgium
On average you should expect a saving of around 50% on your medical treatments in Belgium compared to the same treatments in the UK. Treatments costs will vary but if you are combining medical treatment with a holiday in Belgium you will still be financially better off than the cost of treatment alone in the UK. A hip replacement in Belgium should cost around £5000, liposuction will be around £1200, and obesity surgery such as a gastric bypass should be around £5000.Medical Packages to Belgium
Prices for accommodation and travel will be dependant on whether you are using a medical service provider or arranging the medical package yourself. In terms of cost you may find that you can arrange a medical package for less than a medical service provider can in terms of accommodation and flights, but you will need to spend more time on research.Flights to Belgium are inexpensive and there are low cost, frequent flights from most major British airports everyday. Expect to pay around £80 for a return flight, although booking in advance and avoiding peak flying times should guarantee cheaper flights. There is a wide range of accommodation available in Belgium; cities such as Antwerp, Brussels and Bruges are known as popular weekend destinations. Expect to pay around £50 a night for a good hotel, although if you book in advance you may find the price decreases.
Hospital and Clinic Facilities
Belgium has an excellent reputation for high standards of care and facilities within its hospitals and clinics. It is known as one of the countries least effected by the recent MRSA problems. The state of the art medical technology is due to the independent nature of the private clinics and hospital where incoming funds are used to keep facilities as up to date as possible.If you are using a medical service provider or arranging your own medical treatment abroad package you should list Belgium as one of the destinations to consider. High quality, low cost treatments, short flying time and professional English speaking staff should place Belgium high on your list of medical treatment locations.
