@thrifty++, Interesting. I looked at it from a slightly different perspective.
In Bangkok, for instance, the hospital we visited was the one used by local politicians and embassy staff for the many foreign missions. It appeared to me to be even nicer than the hospitals I have nearby at home. But appearances can be deceiving.
Most hospital problems are systemic so it behooves the administration to have state of the art systems if they will be answerable to a government official with God-like powers over their life. They have skin in the game - literally - where hospital administrators in the west can hide behind legal requirements and limits to liability.
Ah so there is an incentive to meet standards in places like Bangkok. I guess I am looking both for incentives and recourse for compensation to help repair the damage, which are accessible in the west. But I don't know if both those things are outside the west. Obviously compensation never makes things right but I think it definitely lessens the impact significantly.
Mexico has some fantastic Dentists who charge significantly less than American rates, but the trouble is it is someone like you or I could not tell if it is "good or bad" dental work until 20 years later (if you are having problems with it or not).
Apparently Hungary is a major medical tourist destination for dental work, mostly Europeans & British go there. So check it out, more dentists per GDP than any other country, and done to the euro standard of health safety.
I live in Canada, so most of the medical procedures are free, but I am also originally from Serbia, and I know that medical tourism in Serbia is quite common. I have had a minor ear infection while visiting Serbia one time, and the private clinic was more efficient than in Canada, for cheap (like $30-50, including a swab of the ear, the result of which was emailed to me with the prescription the next day).
I also have a friend who managed to cure his Hepatitis C by ordering medicine from India with help of a local Serbian doctor, for a fraction of the price (maybe 2-3k), which was around $100k in the US.
Apparently Hungary is a major medical tourist destination for dental work, mostly Europeans & British go there. So check it out, more dentists per GDP than any other country, and done to the euro standard of health safety.
All these clinics at the border to Austria have very high standards. They are so specialized on certain treatments (dental work, cosmetic operations, laser eye surgery, ...) that they are very competent doing them and they often have the latest high-end equipment.
I had an outer ear infection this summer, probably because an insect got in there while I was camping, then I scratched to get it out and the scratch got infected. Anyway, the whole ear was inflamed when I went to the private clinic here in Kyiv, Ukraine. Otolaryngologist (ear nose throat) specialist spent about 30 minutes examining and writing up notes and prescriptions and orders for blood test (for signs of internal infection). Total clinic cost, including blood test, was about $26. Then another $30 for bunch of stuff from pharmacy (anti-inflammatory, internal and external antibiotics, probiotics to restore digestive system after antibiotics, ear plugs to keep out water when showering). All medicines imported from France or Germany, according to labels. Ear plugs made in China, of course. Then another $15 for 15 minute exam when I returned next week after recovery. All notes and prescriptions computer printed, versus scribbled illegibly on paper like with some USA doctors.
Conversations (with someone over phone to make and confirm appointment, receptionist at clinic, doctor, nurse, pharmacy workers) in Russian, but everything written in Ukrainian. Not much English spoken. I can speak Russian okay and can figure out printed Ukrainian with help of Google Translate camera mode.
I later got my annual blood tests (lipids, vitamin D, ferritin, PSA, testosterone and other hormones) at a lab, which uses German technology. Another $50. Conversations at lab again in Russian, printed results (PDF by email) in Ukrainian.
- where hospital administrators in the west can hide behind legal requirements and limits to liability.