According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Medical Tourism Market is accounted for $17.1 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $57.2 billion by 2022. Patients Beyond Borders estimates 11 million people travel abroad to seek medical care.

Costa Rica is a very popular destination for Medical Tourism, and although most people think of esthetic procedures when the term Medical Tourism is used in reference to Costa Rica, this is a mistake, as in recent years  a lot of people travel from Europe and North America to treat health conditions that require a specific treatment or even just medical checkups simply because it is either more affordable in Costa Rica or  it makes more sense to have it done here due to wellness factors.

Costa Rica has a reputation for providing affordable high-quality medical care, the numerous rehabilitation centers and convenient post-surgical care facilities make Costa Rica a perfect destination for Medical Tourism.  Why spend $8,000.00 in a breast augmentation  in the U.S. when you can get the same procedure done in Costa Rica for half the price and you can use the rest of the money vacationing? The same applies for Dental Tourism, which is a fast-growing sector of Medical Tourism; in Costa Rica dental implants are about half the price compared to their cost in U.S. and Europe and you can find Dental Clinics with high-end technology and impressive patient care such as  Flikier Institute of Oral Rehabilitation.

PROMED, the Council for the International Promotion of Costa Rica Medicine continues to work to ensure quality in the medical services provided to travelers, and constantly seeks to broaden the network of medical tourism alternatives to give the traveler options that fit their needs.  Throughout this year PROMED has been training small and medium size enterprises located in five areas of Costa Rica (Guanacaste, los Santos {Dota, Tarrazu and Leon Cortes} and San Jose) on how to properly attend to the needs of patients and follow and comply with international protocols.

Medical tourism is a great niche market for Costa Rica; it brings economic benefits for the medical, dental and tourism industries, while at the same time giving patients the care they need and expect at a better price. A win-win situation anyway you look at it.