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They came to clinics in Mexico for cosmetic surgery and got a deadly fungal meningitis

Melody Schreiber

Mexican health authorities suspended operation at this medical clinic in Matamoros, Tamaulipas after reports that a number of cosmetic surgery patients were exposed to a potentially deadly fungal meningitis. Twelve patients with probable or confirmed cases died. Abraham Pineda/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

In early 2023, a rare but deadly form of meningitis began appearing across the United States, especially among patients who had undergone cosmetic surgery at two clinics in Matamoros, Mexico, a city across the border from Texas.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a notice to alert doctors in May, and they began finding dozens of confirmed and probable cases across the U.S., especially in Texas, as well as in Mexico. Patients who had been to the two clinics were notified that they may have been exposed to the fungus.

A bewildering outbreak

There were three bewildering things about this outbreak: first, the meningitis was fungal rather than bacterial or viral, which is already unusual – but it's even more unusual for a fungal meningitis to appear in young people who aren't immune-compromised.

Second, it was drug-resistant, so none of the drugs on the market could combat it – which meant patients would die without effective treatments.

And third, the fungus was attacking the brain stem with unusual fervor. It was eating away at the blood vessels of the brain stem, breaking and clotting the blood vessels until patients suffered strokes, aneurysms, brain hemorrhages, brain swelling and eventually death.

In a study published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine , researchers describe 13 cases of the fungal meningitis, nine of which were fatal, at three Texas hospitals. Three of those patients remain on an experimental medication.

The patients tended to be young women, mostly in their 20s and 30s, who had received epidurals for surgeries like tummy tucks and Brazilian butt lifts between Jan. 1 and May 13, 2023, at the two clinics.

The epidural medications seem to have been tainted with the fungus, which entered the spinal fluid and worked its way up to the brain stem. In the weeks after their surgeries, the patients began reporting headaches and low-grade fevers that soon worsened into horrific medical complications. In total, 12 patients with probable or confirmed cases died in this outbreak..

While there are always risks with epidurals, infections like these are vanishingly rare when proper sanitary procedures and regulations are followed. The investigation in Mexico is still ongoing, but experts believe there was likely a breach of these procedures. At the time, there was a shortage of morphine, a common ingredient in epidural anesthesia, and it's possible the morphine was procured or stored in "less than ideal" conditions, said Dr. Luis Ostrosky , division director of infectious diseases at UTHealth Houston and one of the study authors.

The need for due diligence

Medical tourism, where patients seek cheaper care in other countries, can carry rare but deadly risks like these, Ostrosky said.

"There are great, great clinics abroad with very well-trained physicians and very serious hospitals that are even certified by the accrediting bodies here in the United States — so you just need to do a lot of due diligence," Ostrosky said.

He encouraged potential patients to check a clinic's certifications and even look at photos of the facility online. "Visit the place — if it looks kind of dirty or janky, don't go there."

Outbreaks like this one are "relatively rare," said Dr. David Boulware , professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School with a special focus on meningitis, who was not affiliated with this study. But the risks of medical tourism are "not zero."

"You can certainly go abroad and you can get less expensive medical care. But it's sort of buyer beware," he said.

The outlook for meningitis patients

Cases of meningitis, which is inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, have greatly diminished over the past few decades, said Boulware. "It's something that's not in the consciousness, I think, as much as 20 or 30 years ago, [but] it can be a particularly deadly disease."

However, this type of fungal meningitis in healthy young people is "a really uncommon thing," he said.

There was an outbreak of fungal meningitis in another city in Mexico a few months earlier, in Nov. 2022, with 80 cases and 41 deaths linked to epidurals.

And there was an outbreak in the U.S. in 2012 among patients who received steroid injections in their back. The supervising pharmacist at the compounding pharmacy who mixed that custom-made medication was later sentenced to prison for illegal practices.

In the cases recorded in 2023, after doctors and specialists gained experience treating the patients and began using a medication not yet on the market, patients began improving.

"That's when we kind of changed the course of the illness and we started to have some survivors," Ostrosky said. "People that were on the verge of dying, we were starting to rescue them."

Most of the surviving patients are still on the medication, which was given through a "compassionate use" program given the dire circumstances. They're still being closely monitored – and they're not yet out of the woods.

"It is kind of like knowing that you may have a time bomb in yourself. So it's very emotionally draining for them," Ostrosky said.

Restoring faith in public health

The fast action taken by doctors and public health officials helped save lives, both because they were actively looking for cases and because they were able to warn future travelers about the potential risks of epidurals in Mexico.

"It speaks to the role of public health, because they actually conquered it fairly quickly," Boulware said. "It probably prevented a lot of excess mortality, and kind of shut things down."

Work like this could help restore battered trust in health experts after years of a bruising pandemic, he said.

"The CDC certainly got bashed a lot during COVID. But this is one of the other things that they do that ultimately protects patients, because this could have gone on for months or could have gone on forever, if no one was really looking and investigating."

Melody Schreiber is a freelance journalist and the editor of What We Didn't Expect: Personal Stories About Premature Birth .

• cosmetic surgery
• Medical tourism
• fungal meningitis

• cosmetic surgery

Mommy makeover gone wrong: Woman warns of medical tourism dangers after 'permanently disfigured'

One mother's treatment gone wrong is serving as a warning about the risks of medical tourism in Mexico.

Millions of Americans travel abroad each year in search of medical, dental and cosmetic procedures.

"I'm permanently disfigured for the rest of my life, and that's something I did not expect to prepare for," said Shannyn Palmer, who suffered burns after plastic surgery in Mexico.

RELATED: Survivors of deadly Mexico abduction return to America

Palmer crossed the border for a so-called "mommy makeover," which included a tummy tuck after researching a physician in Tijuana. But she said immediately after waking up from anesthesia, she knew something was wrong with her hands.

"I'm waking up in agonizing pain," Palmer recalled. "And it wasn't from the surgery I just had on my body -- it was on my hands. And I just remember one of the first things I said was my hands hurt. My fingers were cold, numb, and I started to worry about the circulation.

The next day, her doctor explaining that heated saline bags placed on her hands during surgery to keep her warm had severely burned her.

"When I got home, they told me the news, saying that you're likely going to have an amputation on your dominant thumb," Palmer said.

According to the CDC, each year millions of Americans participate in so called medical tourism in places like Mexico, Canada, Central and South America, and the Caribbean with dental care, surgery, cosmetic surgery and fertility treatments, organ and tissue transplantation and cancer treatments among the most common.

RELATED: 6 states in Mexico under US State Dept. 'do not travel' advisory

The Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reporting cosmetic surgery can be obtained for up to 50% less in developing countries, with a tummy tuck running $8,000 on average in the United States. In Mexico, the same procedure can cost just $4,500 as of 2017.

But experts warn, depending on the provider, traveling abroad for medical procedures can come with a host of serious risks.

"Here in the United States, individuals are credentialed to perform certain types of procedures that's usually based on their training. It's based on their board certification and it's based on whether their facility is deemed safe for general anesthesia. That may not be the case abroad," said Dr. Oren Tepper, director of aesthetic surgery at Montefiore Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

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Why Medical Tourism Is Drawing Patients, Even in a Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has devastated medical tourism, but pent-up demand remains for affordable treatment in foreign lands.

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By Ceylan Yeginsu

On a cold February morning last year, as she lay curled up in a fetal position on her kitchen floor, Melissa Jackson called her manager at a New Jersey beauty salon to ask for some unpaid time off.

It was the sixth consecutive week that the 39-year-old beauty technician was unable to work full time because of the debilitating pain in her pelvis caused by endometriosis, a chronic condition triggered by the growth of uterine tissue outside of the uterus.

As her symptoms worsened, she started exploring options to get less costly medical care abroad.

In recent years, while still on her ex- husband’s health insurance policy, she had received hormonal treatments to ease the pain so she could go about her daily life. But since her divorce last year and the coronavirus restrictions placed on the beauty industry in March, those treatment costs have become prohibitive, especially with no insurance.

“There is no real cure for endometriosis, but if I want to free myself from this pain then I need to get a hysterectomy,” Ms. Jackson said, her voice shaking as she described the procedure to remove her uterus. “As if the surgery isn’t bad enough, I need to find 20,000 bucks to pay for it, which is just crazy so I’m going to have to find a way to go to Mexico.”

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed millions of Americans into poverty and stripped more than 5.4 million American workers of their health insurance, according to a study by the nonpartisan consumer advocacy group, Families USA. Many people like Ms. Jackson have experienced a significant deterioration in their health because they have delayed medical procedures. The fear of large medical bills has outweighed fear of contagion for some, giving rise to an increased number of patients seeking medical treatment in a foreign country.

“We are seeing a pent-up demand for medical tourism during the pandemic, particularly in the U.S. where a fast-growing number of Americans are traveling across the land border with Mexico for health purposes,” said David G. Vequist IV, the founder of the Center for Medical Tourism Research , a group based in San Antonio, Texas, and a professor at t he University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

Even before the pandemic, millions of Americans traveled to other countries for savings of between 40 to 80 percent on medical treatments, according to the global medical tourism guide Patients Beyond Borders. Mexico and Costa Rica have become the most popular destinations for dental care, cosmetic surgery and prescription medicines while Thailand, India and South Korea draw in patients for more complex procedures including orthopedics, cardiovascular, cancer and fertility treatment.

In 2019, 1.1 percent of Americans traveling internationally did so for health treatments, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office , although that figure only accounts for those who traveled by air and does not include the thousands of travelers who crossed the United States-Mexico border. Definitive statistics on medical tourism are hard to come by because countries have different recording methods and definitions of the sector.

Medical tourism has been decimated by coronavirus restrictions, but, even so, the twin crises of the economy and the enormous strain that Covid-19 has placed on the already faulty American health care system are pushing many patients to travel. Demand for nonessential surgeries has also been building up after more than 177,000 scheduled surgeries were postponed in the United States between March and June in 2020, according to the Center for Medical Tourism Research.

“Our market has always been what I call the ‘working poor’ and they just keep getting poorer,” said Josef Woodman, the chief executive of Patients Beyond Borders. “The pandemic has gutted low-income and middle-class people around the world and for many of them the reality is that they have to travel to access affordable health care.”

In April, following the initial global lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, medical travel bookings were down by more than 89 percent in the most popular destinations, including Mexico, Thailand, Turkey and South Korea, according to Medical Departures, a Bangkok-based medical travel agency. Since August, the numbers have slowly been rebounding, but bookings in Mexico, which has seen an uptick in American travelers in recent months, are still down by 32 percent compared to the same period of August to December in 2019.

“Covid-19 has devastated the whole medical tourism ecosystem because of all the uncertainty over travel restrictions and quarantine measures that keep changing across the world,” said Paul McTaggart, the founder of the agency.

“Despite this, we are still seeing a growing number of people traveling and booking trips to address their urgent health needs, especially between the U.S. and Mexico border where patients can travel safely by car,” Mr. McTaggart said. The Center for Medical Tourism Research found that Google searches in the United States for the terms “Mexico medical tourism” went up by 64 percent since July, compared to pre-pandemic levels before travel restrictions were imposed in March.

“Google searches are almost directly correlated with consumer behavior when it comes to travel across borders,” Mr. Vequist said.

Before the winter resurgence of the coronavirus, Ms. Jackson had started to plan and save for a trip to Mexicali, a border city in northern Mexico, where she can get a hysterectomy for $4,000, one-fifth the cost of the procedure offered in New Jersey. Her best friend had offered to drive her there and pay for the gas and accommodations.

“We wanted to make a vacation out of it and have some fun before the surgery because it’s such a heavy and dark thing with real consequences,” Ms. Jackson said. “At 39, I have to come to terms with the reality that I’ll never have kids. That’s even more painful than my condition.”

For now, Ms. Jackson has put the surgery on hold and will wait until the virus is brought under control. Her doctor had pointed to cheaper options for the operation in New Jersey, starting at $11,000 in a local outpatient facility. But Ms. Jackson is adamant about having it in the hospital and says the aftercare is more thorough in Mexico.

“Going for the cheaper option at home means getting lower quality care and taking a risk. That just isn’t the experience for people who do this in specialized hospitals in Mexico,” she said. “It’s cheap and safe.” (Many hospitals and clinics in Mexico and other countries have accreditation to ensure their standards are equivalent to medical facilities in the United States.)

In recent weeks, Ms. Jackson has had a flare up of symptoms, which is common when the condition goes untreated.

“I’m not sure if I will be able to wait for Covid to get better,” she said. “This thing cripples every part of my life.”

The land border with Mexico — closed to tourists — has remained open for essential travel, which includes all medical treatment, and a handful of Americans cross the border every day into Los Algodones (also known as Molar City ) to receive dental treatment or purchase pharmaceuticals.

“It’s just Americans over there getting dental care,” said Jeff Somerville, a Delta Air Lines flight attendant who visited the Supreme Dental Clinic in Los Algodones in September to get his crowns replaced. “You park on the U.S. side and just walk across. It’s easy and felt very safe.” He said the procedure would have cost around $25,000 in Tampa, Fla., close to where he lives in the city of Clearwater. In Mexico, he paid $7,000.

Now, Mr. Somerville, 47, is preparing to travel to Turkey in February for a hair and beard transplant, which will cost $3,000 and includes plasma treatments, medications, hotel lodging for three nights and a translator.

“I’m going to live my life, but I’m going to take my precautions while I do that,” he said. “I’m not going to sit at home and be scared.”

Turkey has remained open to tourists throughout the latest surge of the pandemic in Europe and only visitors from Britain are required to take a test as a precaution against a new, more transmissible variant of the virus. On weekends in Turkey a strict curfew is imposed on local residents to curb the spread of the virus, but foreign visitors are allowed to roam free without any restrictions. On Istanbul’s main Istiklal Avenue, men recovering from hair transplant procedures can easily be spotted with bandages around their heads.

“This is the best time to get surgery,” said Martin Wright, a British tourist, who had a hair transplant in Istanbul in December, before the new variant of the virus was identified in Britain. “Hotels are cheap, sites are empty and you get to have down time in a foreign city where you don’t have to explain to anyone why or how you got a hair transplant.”

Over the summer, when lockdown restrictions were eased across Europe, Britons traveled to the continent to receive medical treatment, after waiting lists for elective surgery on the National Health Service reached record levels. With British hospitals operating at reduced capacity to accommodate patients with Covid-19, hundreds of thousands of patients, who have been waiting for more than a year for non-urgent surgery, are facing further delays, N.H.S. figures show.

Cynthia Hedges, a 77-year-old retired nurse from Plymouth in southwest England, traveled to France in August for a knee replacement after waiting more than 19 months to get the procedure at her hospital.

“It just became hopeless, I could barely walk and was just living off pain medication, which is not good for my health,” she said in a telephone interview. “I know we can’t go far these days, but I became very depressed not even being able to walk to my garden. I know it was risky to travel at the time, but it was the best thing I did. It was worth it.”

Even as travel restrictions tighten, experts in the medical tourism industry see an opportunity as demand builds and health care becomes more inaccessible in people’s home countries.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re in Europe or the Americas,” said Mr. McTaggart of Medical Departures. “Financially challenged individuals will seek out and be more receptive to the idea that you can travel abroad and see substantial savings for medical treatment and get past the line.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation.

An earlier version of this article gave an incorrect name for a global medical tourism guide. It is Patients Beyond Borders, not Patients Without Borders.

How we handle corrections

Ceylan Yeginsu is a London-based reporter. She joined The Times in 2013, and was previously a correspondent in Turkey covering politics, the migrant crisis, the Kurdish conflict, and the rise of Islamic State extremism in Syria and the region. More about Ceylan Yeginsu

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Medical Tourism Leaves Patients with Few Legal Remedies

About enjuris attorney editor.

Contributor: Enjuris Attorney Editor

How can I contribute?

Health care is a hot topic these days... where to get it, how much it costs, and the quality of services are people’s main concerns.

Nearly every person in the U.S. is a consumer of health care at one time or another... whether you only get routine “maintenance”, or you require ongoing or sporadic medical treatment, you know that sometimes you can feel lost in the system.

Medical tourism is when a person travels to another country for medical care. Residents of the U.S. common travel to Mexico, Canada, Central America, South America, or the Caribbean in search of medical treatment.

Why can’t get the treatment right where they live?

There are a few reasons why a patient might choose to seek treatment outside the country:

• They believe the procedure or treatment will cost less overseas.
• They would feel more comfortable with a provider who shares their culture or speaks their native language.
• They are seeking treatment or a procedure that is unavailable or is not approved in the U.S.

However, what happens if something goes wrong? In the U.S., we have a clear system of liability for medical malpractice cases. Although each state has a slightly different set of rules for medical malpractice lawsuits and how much a plaintiff can recover, you can’t expect to follow the same laws if you need to sue a foreign provider for malpractice or fraud.

What are the most common risks associated with medical tourism?

The CDC lists a number of risks that are associated with seeking medical care abroad.

Infectious disease.

Certainly, there is a risk of infection for any medical procedure, regardless of where you have it performed. However, other countries might not follow the same sanitary and risk-mitigation protocols as are required in the U.S., which can result in an increased likelihood of a wound infection, bloodstream infection, donor-derived infection, or a disease like hepatitis B or C or HIV.

Countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia and Costa Rica have higher instances of tuberculosis, amoebic dysentery, and other diseases than the U.S., and patients who seek care there are more vulnerable.

Quality of care.

Not every country has the same requirements for credentials and licensing of medical professionals. Some countries also don’t have the same level of protection against counterfeit medicines and low-quality medical devices.

Antibiotic resistance.

Like infectious disease, antibiotic resistance is a concern anywhere—including here. However, it’s a bigger problem in some countries than others and there have been instances of drug-resistant bacteria causing disease outbreaks among medical tourists.

Language barrier.

If you’re traveling to a country where you don’t speak the primary language, things could become complicated. You might become confused when communicating with doctors or nurses about your medical history, medication dosages, or other important information.

Air travel.

Flying can increase your risk for developing a blood clot. The CDC recommends that you wait 7-10 days after a surgical procedure, including face or eyelid surgery or laser treatments, before flying. Changes in atmospheric pressure in a plane can cause serious complications.

Continuity of care.

You might be fortunate enough that your treatment is a “one and done” situation and you never need any further care. But if there are complications or any follow up is required, it could be difficult to get the appropriate treatment. If the procedure performed abroad is not routinely done in the U.S., you might have a difficult time finding a physician who knows how to diagnose and treat the resulting complications.

Can I sue a foreign doctor for medical malpractice?

It’s not impossible to sue a foreign doctor for malpractice related to a procedure or treatment you received abroad, but it’s not easy. When you leave the U.S., you are no longer protected by the American legal system. In order to file a lawsuit against a foreign doctor in a U.S. court, you need to establish that the doctor had sufficient contacts with the U.S. in order for the U.S. to exert its jurisdiction.

In other words, the doctor would likely have had to have some type of business relationship within the U.S. or be actively seeking U.S. patients in order for the court to be able to “reach” them abroad.

Even your case can meet this standard, there are other considerations. Some countries do not recognize a foreigner’s right to sue their citizens. If you are able to sue and are successful, you still might not ever be able to collect your judgment (the money you’re owed) from a foreign defendant.

In short, you could try to pursue a lawsuit against a foreign doctor or other medical professional, but the process will be lengthy (years to decades), costly, and complex.

When does a u.s. doctor have responsibility for follow-up care from medical tourism.

Your doctor can’t be held liable for mistakes or complications caused by a doctor abroad.

However, the American Medical Association (AMA) sets forth guidance for physicians for how handle a patient who is considered or has opted to pursue treatment through medical tourism. ( source )

These recommendations include:

• A physician should be open to discussing a patient’s concerns about their medical care, and be alert to signs that the patient might be considering seeking care abroad.
• Be knowledgeable about medical tourism and provide the advice and guidance a patient needs in order to make an informed decision.
• If a patient informs a doctor in advance that they are going to seek medical care abroad, the doctor should advise the patient about whether they will be able to provide follow up care. If not, they should advise patients of where they might seek other options for care.
• A physician should offer non-judgmental advice and professional guidance to a patient seeking medical tourism care. The physician should advise a patient if they think it’s not in their best interest to seek care outside the country.

Medical insurance coverage for medical tourism procedures

Many patients who seek health care abroad do so because they are uninsured or underinsured. However, some insurance companies are beginning to provide “first-person” insurance that a patient may purchase before they travel. A claim would be handled without an attorney and would follow U.S. laws and is paid in U.S. dollars.

If you’re considering medical tourism and would like to have it covered by your insurance, that’s a conversation to have with your specific insurance company. Be sure to read carefully the terms of the policy, what the limits are, and if there is any recourse available if you suffer injuries as a result of a medical procedure abroad.

Role of your local doctor in medical tourism

There are a few ways your local physician can and should be involved in your treatment abroad. First, get an opinion, diagnosis, and suggested treatment plan. Your doctor will tell you whether they think you’re fit to travel and if the treatment you’re intending to receive is appropriate for your condition or needs.

Second, you’ll need your local doctor to share your medical chart with the foreign provider.

Third, ask your doctor if they are willing and able to coordinate your care when you return home. You should try to have your local doctor be in contact with the foreign provider so that the foreign provider can share your medical records back to your local physician.

Be sure that when you ask your foreign provider to send your records to your U.S. doctor, they are in a format and language your doctor will understand. If the records aren’t in your doctor’s primary language, be sure to have a medical translator help with that transition so the records are accurately translated and handled.

What are my legal rights after medical tourism health care?

It would be difficult to bring a claim against a foreign provider once you return to the U.S.

The AMA adopted an ethics policy in 2018 regarding how domestic doctors should treat patients as relates to medical care they received abroad. In part, the policy says that a doctor should, “[r]espond compassionately to requests for follow-up care from returning patients who had not consulted the physician before seeking care abroad, and carefully consider the implications before declining to provide nonemergent follow-up care.”

If you believe that you’re the victim of medical malpractice from treatment received outside the U.S., you should contact an attorney who is familiar with not only medical malpractice lawsuits, but also international law.

You can use the Enjuris law firm directory to find an attorney near you.

3 people have died from a fungal disease after traveling to Mexico for cosmetic procedures, and hundreds more could be at risk

• Three Americans have recently died from fungal meningitis linked to medical tourism in Mexico.
• The CDC says that more than 200 patients who got treatment at two clinics could be at risk.
• Fungal meningitis is a rare but life-threatening infection of the brain and spinal cord. 

The CDC issued a health alert last week warning that three people in the US have died from fungal infections after traveling to Mexico for cosmetic procedures, and more than 200 other patients may also be at risk. 

Since January 2023, the CDC has identified 14 suspected, 11 probable, and two confirmed US cases of fungal meningitis that have been linked to cosmetic procedures performed in Mexico. The agency says that 3 of these people have died, and 212 US residents in 25 states could be at risk of infection, which can appear weeks after a procedure.

The infections have all been traced back to two clinics in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico: River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3. All the impacted patients had procedures under epidural anesthesia, when medicine is injected into the space around the spinal cord. The exact procedures that were performed have not been specified. 

One of the patients who died was Lauren Robinson , a 29-year-old mother of four from Texas, who started developing symptoms months after her unspecified cosmetic procedure in February, her husband told local news station WFAA.

"She was great, the results were great, everything was good, she started going back to work, then she started constantly telling me, 'I have a headache, something is not right,'" her husband, Garrett Robinson told the outlet in May while his wife was still in the hospital. She died on May 31, according to Fox News . 

What is fungal meningitis?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fungal meningitis is rare, but can be life threatening and requires immediate medical care. 

Meningitis, the inflammation of the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, can be caused by a number of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. In this case, laboratories in the US and Mexico have detected evidence of a species of fungi called ​​ Fusarium solani in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients. 

While investigators don't know exactly what happened yet, it is possible that contaminated medical equipment that was not properly cleaned introduced the fungi into the bodies of patients. The WHO says that healthcare-associated fungal meningitis outbreaks like this one have previously occurred among patients who received spinal anesthesia, like the patients in this current outbreak of cases. 

Early symptoms of meningitis may be similar to the flu, according to the Mayo Clinic , and can develop over several hours or days. More severe symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, a stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, eyes that are sensitive to light, and confusion.

The CDC says that all patients who underwent medical procedures at River Side Surgical Center or  Clinica K-3 in Matamoros, Mexico, since January 1, 2023, should be evaluated for fungal meningitis, whether or not they have any symptoms. Both clinics closed on May 13th, according to the New York Times . 

Related stories

Medical tourism to Mexico comes with risks

Millions of Americans go to Mexico for medical procedures every year, eager to save on healthcare costs — Patients Without Borders has calculated that Americans can expect to save 40% to 65% on medical treatments in Mexico, on everything from cosmetic to dental to cancer treatments. But the practice has risks. 

Earlier this year, four Americans were kidnapped , and two were killed, while on a trip to Mexico for cosmetic surgery. 

And while Mexico has a robust medical system with excellent providers that  follow US standards , there are also sub-par providers that may skirt hygiene practices leaving patients vulnerable to infections, just like you'd find any country.

Medical tourists may be particularly at risk because they may not know how to properly research the credentials of doctors in another country, or they may be exposed to new pathogens that are not common in their home country. Medical tourists may also be at risk for traveling too soon after their procedures, the CDC says.  

Mexico isn't the only country where medical tourism can be risky. Americans have also experienced complications getting cosmetic surgeries abroad in the Dominican Republic, China, and Turkey.

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Medical Tourism Dangers: Dr. Nyame Explains

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Why Patients Are Turning to Medical Tourism

Statistics, Benefits, and Risks

Planning Ahead

Frequently asked questions.

Medical tourism is a term that refers to traveling to another country to get a medical or dental procedure. In some instances, medical tourists travel abroad seeking alternative treatments that are not approved in the United States.

Medical tourism is successful for millions of people each year, and it is on the rise for a variety of reasons, including increasing healthcare costs in the United States, lack of health insurance, specialist-driven procedures, high-quality facilities, and the opportunity to travel before or after a medical procedure.

According to a New York Times article from January 2021, pent-up demand for nonessential surgeries, as well as the fact that many Americans lost their health insurance during the coronavirus pandemic led to a surge in medical tourism once other countries re-opened.

However, there are specific risks that come with traveling overseas for surgery. If you're thinking of pursuing a medical procedure in another country, here's what to know about the benefits and the risks.

Medical Tourism Benefits

The most common procedures Americans go abroad for include dental care, cosmetic procedures , fertility treatments, organ transplants , and cancer treatment.

This is not to be confused with having an unplanned procedure in a foreign country due to an unexpected illness or injury.

Among the reasons a person might choose to go abroad for a medical procedure are:

Lower Costs

Medical tourists can save anywhere from 25% to 90% in medical bills, depending on the procedure they get and the country they travel to. There are several factors that play into this:

• The cost of diagnostic testing and medications is particularly expensive in the United States.
• The cost of pre- and post-procedure labor is often dramatically lower overseas. This includes labor costs for nurses , aides, surgeons, pharmacists, physical therapists , and more.
• High cost of malpractice insurance—the insurance that protects medical professionals against lawsuits—in the United States.
• Hospital stays cost far less in many overseas countries compared to the United States. In other words, quality care, hospital meals, and rehabilitation are far more affordable abroad for many people.

For someone who doesn't have insurance , or someone having a procedure that is not covered by insurance , the difference can be enormous.

Popular Countries for Medical Tourism

Dominican Republic

South Korea

Culture and Language

Many immigrants prefer to have treatments and procedures done in their country of origin—a sensible decision, considering just how much language barriers alone can affect the quality of their care.

Furthermore, at least 25% of immigrants and noncitizen residents in the United States are uninsured, compared to 9% of American citizens. Children with at least one noncitizen parent are also more likely to be uninsured.

Practicalities aside, many people choose to have their procedure done in their country of origin simply because it allows them to be close to family, friends, and caretakers who can assist them through their recovery .

Insurance Incentives

Some insurance companies have started promoting medical tourism. The reason behind this is simple: savings for the insured means savings for the insurance provider and vice versa.

Several insurance providers, including Aetna have programs specifically geared at promoting safe medical tourism. Some insurance providers even offer financial incentives for medical tourism, like discounts on medical bills .

That said, many insurance companies will not pay for surgery performed outside of the country unless it is an emergency.

Luxury and Privacy

Medical tourism is a lucrative business for many countries, and much of the money brought in by medical tourists is reinvested into the local economy and health infrastructure.

The effect of this is apparent in the spa-like luxury that some foreign hospitals offer, providing medical tourists the opportunity to be pampered during their stay for a fraction of the cost they would pay at home.

Some facilities offer hospital rooms that are more like a hotel suite than a traditional hospital room. Other hospitals offer one-on-one private nursing care, which is far more generous and attentive than the staffing ratios that most hospitals allow.

Medical tourists who seek that added layer of privacy can find it abroad. Many can return home from their "vacation" without anyone knowing they had a procedure at all.

Vacation in a Foreign Country

Medical tourists often take advantage of their stay in a foreign country to travel for pleasure by scheduling a vacation before or after their procedure.

This is an especially inexpensive way to travel to a foreign country, especially if their insurance provider is paying for the flight and the cost of staying is low. 

While it seems logical to recover on a beach or in a chalet by the mountains, keep in mind that it's important not to jeopardize your recovery.

Swimming isn't recommended until your incisions are completely closed. You may not feel up to doing much more than napping in the days following your procedure, either.

Don't let your vacation disrupt your recovery. Any time you have a procedure done, especially a surgery, it's important to listen to your body, take your medications as directed, and follow your doctor's recommendations closely.

Bypassing Rules and Regulations

Some travelers seek surgery abroad to bypass rules that are set in place by their own government, insurance company, or hospital. These rules are typically in place to protect the patient from harm, so getting around them isn't always the best idea.

For example, a patient may be told that their weight is too low to qualify for weight loss surgery . A surgeon in a foreign country may have a different standard for who qualifies for weight loss surgery, so the patient may qualify overseas for the procedure they want.

Talented Surgeons

Surgeons in certain countries are known for their talent in a specific area of surgery. For example, Brazilian surgeons are often touted for their strong plastic surgery skills .

Whereas in the United States, insurance companies might only cover cosmetic procedures if it is medically necessary, cosmetic surgery is often free or low-cost in Brazil's public hospitals—giving cosmetic surgeons there ample practice.

Thailand is reported to be the primary medical tourism destination for individuals seeking gender reassignment . It is often easier to qualify for surgery and the cost is significantly reduced. Surgeons are performing the procedures frequently, and as a result, many have become quite specialized in them.

It is often surprising to many medical tourists that their physician was trained in the United States. Not all physicians are, of course, but a surprisingly high percentage of them working in surgery abroad are trained in English-speaking medical schools and residency programs and then return to their home country. These physicians often speak multiple languages and may be board certified in their home country and a foreign country, such as the United States.

Medical tourism isn’t limited to countries outside of the United States, either. Many people travel to the United States for medical care due to the country's cutting-edge technology, prescription medication supply, and the general safety of healthcare.

Medical Tourism Risks

The financial and practical benefits of medical tourism are well known, and you may even know someone who had a great experience. Nonetheless, the downsides of medical tourism can be just as great if not greater. Sometimes, they can even be deadly.

If you are considering a trip abroad for your procedure, you should know that medical tourism isn't entirely without obstacle and risks. These include:

Poorly Trained Surgeons

In any country—the United States included—there will be good surgeons and bad. And just as there are great surgeons abroad, there are also some surgeons who are less talented, less trained, and less experienced.

Regardless of what procedure you are getting or where, you should always do some preliminary research into the surgeon or physician who will be treating you as well as the hospital you will be treated at.

In the United States, it is fairly easy to obtain information about malpractice lawsuits , sanctions by medical boards, and other disciplinary actions against a physician.

Performing this research from afar can be challenging, especially if you don't speak the local language. Yet countless people take the risk anyway, without knowing whether the physicians who will treat them are reputable.

A physician should be trained in the specific area of medicine that is appropriate for your procedure. For example, you should not be having plastic surgery from a surgeon who was trained to be a heart doctor. It isn’t good enough to be a physician, the physician must be trained in the specialty .

Prior to agreeing to surgery, you should also know your surgeon’s credentials : where they studied, where they trained, and in what specialty(s) they are board-certified. Do not rely on testimonials from previous patients; these are easily made up for a website and even if they are correct, one good surgery doesn’t mean they will all be successful.

Quality of Staff

Nurses are a very important part of healthcare, and the care they provide can mean the difference between a great outcome and a terrible one.

A well-trained nurse can identify a potential problem and fix it before it truly becomes an issue. A poorly trained nurse may not identify a problem until it is too late. The quality of the nursing staff will have a direct impact on your care.

Once again, it's important to research the hospital staff where you will be having your procedure done. Read the reviews but don't trust them blindly. If you can, seek out a recommendation from someone who can vouch for the medical staff where you will be going.

Quality of the Facility

While researching healthcare facilities for your procedure, you want to learn not just about the quality of the facilities themselves, but about the country's healthcare system as a whole.

In some countries, there is a marked distinction between public hospitals and private hospitals. In Turkey, for example, private hospitals are considered on-par with hospitals in the states, while many locals will advise you to steer clear of public hospitals if you can.

You will also want to seek out facilities that are internationally accredited. In the United States, the Joint Commission evaluates hospitals and certifies those that provide safe, quality care. The international division does the same for hospitals outside the United States.

Once you have a few options for potential facilities, you can start to investigate specifics. For one, you should find as many pictures and reviews of the facility as you can. Ask yourself whether the facility is state of the art or whether it seems dirty and outdated.

You will also need to find out if the facility has ICU level care available, in case something goes wrong. If not, there should be a major hospital nearby so that you can be transferred quickly.

To learn more about a healthcare facility, consider joining expat groups on social media for the city or country you will be traveling to. Ask the group for recommendations, or inquire about any positive or negative experiences they may have had at a particular facility.

Flying Home After Surgery

Any surgery comes with risks, including infection and blood clots . Flying home increases the risk of blood clots, especially on long-haul flights that are longer than four hours.

Try to avoid flying home in the days immediately after surgery; waiting a week will decrease the chances of developing a blood clot or another serious complication during the flight.

For longer flights, plan on getting up and walking up and down the aisles each hour to improve blood flow in your legs. You might also benefit from wearing compression socks with your doctor's approval.

If you are taking blood thinners or are at-risk of blood clots , be sure to talk to your doctor about how you can reduce your risk of blood clots after your procedure and while traveling.

Furthermore, you should know the symptoms of blood clots and stay alert.

Unplanned Illness

Any time you travel abroad, you run the risk of catching an illness that you have never been exposed to or that your body is not prepared to fight off. This is especially a concern when spending time in a foreign hospital.

If you have a sensitive stomach, you may also want to think long and hard about having surgery abroad. The food is often very different in foreign hospitals, and in some areas, there is a risk that even the water will be upsetting to your body.

Having diarrhea or postoperative nausea and vomiting makes for a miserable recovery experience, especially if you do not have a friend or family member nearby who can help you through it.

Before you travel abroad, check with your doctor to see if you need any vaccines to travel to your destination or if there are any foreign illnesses you should be aware of. Picking up an illness abroad, particularly after your surgery, can potentially be life-threatening.

Language Barriers

If you are having surgery in a country where English is not the primary language, you will need to make preparations in order to be able to communicate with the staff.

You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that the staff speaks your primary language well. If not, then you will need to consider how you will make your wishes and needs known to the surgeon, the staff, and others you will meet.

Whether you are at home or abroad, remember to speak up and advocate for yourself to make sure your needs are met. If you don't speak the local language, download a language translation app on your smartphone and don't hesitate to use it to communicate your needs. Hiring a translator is another option.

A Word About Transplant Tourism

Transplant tourism is one area of medical tourism that is strongly discouraged by organ and tissue transplant professionals in multiple countries. Most international transplants are considered “black market” surgeries that are not only poor in quality, but ethically and morally wrong.

China, for example, the country that is believed to perform more international kidney transplants than any other country, is widely believed to take organs from political prisoners after their execution.

In India, living donors are often promised large sums of money for their kidney donation, only to find out they have been scammed and never receive payment. Selling an organ in India is illegal, as it is in most areas of the world, so there is little recourse for the donor.

Then there is the final outcome: how well the organ works after the surgery is complete. With black market transplants, less care is often taken with matching the donor and recipient, which leads to high levels of rejection and a greater risk of death. Furthermore, the new organ may not have been screened for diseases such as cytomegalovirus , tuberculosis , hepatitis B , and hepatitis C . It is often the new disease that leads to death, rather than the organ rejection itself.

Finally, transplant surgeons are often reluctant to care for a patient who intentionally circumvented the donor process in the United States and received their transplant from an unknown physician.

It is important to arrange your follow-up care prior to leaving your home country.

Many physicians and surgeons are hesitant to take care of a patient who received care outside the country, as they are often unfamiliar with medical tourism and have concerns about the quality of care overseas.

Arranging for follow-up care before you leave will make it easier to transition to care at home without the stress of trying to find a physician after surgery .

Just be sure to inform your follow-up care physician where you are having your procedure done. After you return, they will also want to know what prescription medications you were given, if any.

What are popular countries for medical tourism? 

Mexico, India, Costa Rica, Turkey, Singapore, Canada, and Thailand are among the many countries that are popular for medical tourism.

How safe is medical tourism?

Medical tourism is generally considered safe, but it's critical to research the quality of care, physician training, and surgical specialties of each country. There are several medical tourism organizations that specialize in evaluating popular destinations for this purpose.

What countries have free healthcare? 

Countries with free healthcare include England, Canada, Thailand, Mexico, India, Sweden, South Korea, Israel, and many others.

A Word From Verywell

If you are considering medical tourism, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor, and consider working with your insurance provider to arrange a trip that balances financial savings with safety. (Also, before you embark on a trip overseas for your procedure, make sure you are financially prepared for unexpected events and emergencies. Don't go abroad if you don't have enough money to get yourself home in a crisis.)

A medical tourism organization such as Patients Without Borders can help you evaluate the quality and trustworthiness of healthcare in various countries. Making sure a high level of care is readily available will lead to a safer, more relaxing experience.

Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Medical tourism: Getting medical care in another country .

University of the Incarnate Word. Center for medical tourism research .

Patients Beyond Borders. Facts and figures .

Kaiser Family Foundation. Key facts on health coverage of immigrants .

Paul DP, Barker T, Watts AL, Messinger A, Coustasse A. Insurance companies adapting to trends by adopting medical tourism . Health Care Manag . 2017;36(4):326-333. doi:10.1097/HCM.0000000000000179

Batista BN. State of plastic surgery in Brazil .  Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open . 2017;5(12):e1627. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001627

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health - Global Health Now. Brazilians' risky right to beauty . Published May 2018.

Chokrungvaranont P, Selvaggi G, Jindarak S, et al. The development of sex reassignment surgery in Thailand: A social perspective .  Sci World J . 2014 Mar;2014(1):1-5. doi:10.1155/2014/182981

The Joint Commission. For consumers .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding your risk for blood clots with travel .

Hurley R. China harvested organs from political prisoners on substantial scale, says tribunal . BMJ . 2018 Dec;363(1):5250. doi:10.1136/bmj.k5250

Ambagtsheer F, Van Balen L. I'm not Sherlock Holmes: Suspicions, secrecy, and silence of transplant professionals in the human organ trade . Euro J Criminol . 2017;5(12):e1627. doi:10.1177/1477370818825331

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About transplant safety .

By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine.

Our Response to COVID-19 →

Medical Tourism

Medical tourism success stories: real-life examples of transformation.

Medical tourism has become a popular trend globally, with patients seeking affordable, high-quality healthcare options overseas. Over the years, the industry has evolved and matured, providing patients with a wide range of treatment options and destinations to choose from. Patients who choose medical tourism not only benefit from access to world-class healthcare facilities but also save significant amounts of money on medical treatments.

While medical tourism has its fair share of challenges and risks, many patients have had life-changing experiences and positive outcomes. In this article, we share some of the most inspiring medical tourism success stories that showcase the transformative power of medical travel.

• Emma's Journey to a Life-Saving Liver Transplant

Emma, a 24-year-old from the UK, was diagnosed with a rare liver condition that required a transplant. She was put on a long waiting list in the UK and was told that she might have to wait for several years. Emma decided to explore medical tourism options and found a reputable hospital in India that specialized in liver transplants. She underwent successful surgery and made a full recovery, returning home to the UK within a few weeks. Emma is now leading a normal and healthy life, thanks to medical tourism.

• John's Experience with Dental Tourism

John, a retiree from the US, needed extensive dental work that was beyond his budget. He researched dental tourism and found a reputable clinic in Costa Rica that offered high-quality dental services at a fraction of the cost he would have paid in the US. John underwent multiple procedures, including root canals, implants, and crowns, and saved over 60% on his dental bills. He was delighted with the results and praised the clinic's professionalism and expertise.

• Sarah's Journey to Weight Loss Surgery

Sarah, a 38-year-old from Australia, had struggled with obesity for years and had tried every diet and exercise program without success. She decided to explore medical tourism options for weight loss surgery and found a reputable hospital in Thailand that specialized in bariatric surgery. Sarah underwent successful gastric bypass surgery and lost over 60 pounds within a year. She credits medical tourism with saving her life and helping her regain her confidence and health.

• Tom's Experience with Cancer Treatment

Tom, a 58-year-old from Canada, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and needed immediate treatment. He was concerned about the long waiting times in Canada and the high cost of treatment in the US. Tom researched medical tourism and found a reputable hospital in Mexico that offered world-class cancer treatments at a fraction of the cost he would have paid in North America. Tom underwent successful cancer treatment and made a full recovery, returning home to Canada within a few weeks. He was delighted with the level of care and attention he received and praised the hospital's expertise and professionalism.

• Maria's Journey to Fertility Treatment

Maria, a 34-year-old from the UK, had been trying to conceive for several years without success. She decided to explore fertility treatment options and found a reputable clinic in Spain that specialized in in vitro fertilization (IVF). Maria underwent successful IVF treatment and became pregnant within a few months. She credits medical tourism with making her dream of motherhood a reality and praised the clinic's expertise and compassion.

• David's Experience with Orthopedic Surgery

David, a 52-year-old from the US, had been suffering from chronic knee pain for several years and needed orthopedic surgery. He was concerned about the high cost of surgery in the US and decided to explore medical tourism options. David found a reputable hospital in Thailand that offered high-quality orthopedic surgery at a fraction of the cost he would have paid in the US. He underwent successful knee replacement surgery and made a full recovery, returning home to the US within a few weeks. David was impressed with the level of care he received and praised the hospital's expertise and professionalism.

• Lucy's Journey to Cosmetic Surgery

Lucy, a 45-year-old from Australia, had always been self-conscious about her appearance and decided to explore cosmetic surgery options. She found a reputable clinic in South Korea that specialized in plastic surgery and booked a consultation. Lucy underwent successful rhinoplasty and chin implant surgery and was delighted with the results. She credits medical tourism with boosting her self-confidence and praised the clinic's professionalism and attention to detail.

• Mark's Experience with Cardiac Surgery

Mark, a 62-year-old from the UK, had been diagnosed with a heart condition that required surgery. He was concerned about the long waiting times in the UK and decided to explore medical tourism options. Mark found a reputable hospital in India that specialized in cardiac surgery and booked a consultation. He underwent successful heart bypass surgery and made a full recovery, returning home to the UK within a few weeks. Mark was impressed with the level of care he received and praised the hospital's expertise and technology.

In conclusion, these medical tourism success stories demonstrate the transformative power of medical travel. Patients who choose medical tourism can benefit from affordable, high-quality healthcare options and access to world-class medical facilities and technology. While medical tourism has its fair share of challenges and risks, these inspiring stories provide a glimpse into the lives of patients who have benefited from medical tourism and serve as a testament to the industry's potential.

To receive a free quote please click on the link: https://www.medicaltourism.com/get-a-quote

Patients are advised to seek hospitals that are accredited by Global Healthcare and only work with medical tourism facilitators who are certified by Global Healthcare Accreditation or who have undergone certification from the Certified Medical Travel Professionals (CMTP). This ensures that the highest standards in the industry are met. Click the link to check out hospitals accredited by the Global Healthcare Accreditation: https://www.globalhealthcareaccreditation.com/

It is recommended that consumers do not share their personal and confidential information on random medical tourism platforms as they may not be secure. Consumers must be cautious when disclosing their private information as some organizations may not protect their privacy and could misuse their information. Additionally, there are agencies that may prioritize their commissions over the well-being of the patients. Consumers should avoid choosing the cheapest price and instead make a thorough comparison across multiple facilitators to make an informed decision.

Unveiling the Power of Social Media Marketing in Medical Tourism

Korea: turning the focus to an emerging global leader in medical tourism, exploring the surge of cosmetic tourism: trends and considerations in aesthetic procedures abroad, holistic healing: exploring integrative medicine and wellness retreats, meeting the surge: the growing demand for knee replacement surgeries and advances in the field, bridging culture and care: insights from dr. heitham hassoun, chief executive of cedars-sinai international, mastercard and the medical tourism association join forces to revolutionize cross-border healthcare payments, in pursuit of excellence: ceo spotlight with ms. artirat charukitpipat, stem cells show promise for hair thickening, stem cell injection for back and neck pain, continue reading, south korea, a medical tourism leader pioneering the future of medicine  , best countries for stomach cancer treatment: a global perspective, ponderas academic hospital: elevating medical tourism with jci accreditation and personalized care, featured reading, medical tourism magazine.

The Medical Tourism Magazine (MTM), known as the “voice” of the medical tourism industry, provides members and key industry experts with the opportunity to share important developments, initiatives, themes, topics and trends that make the medical tourism industry the booming market it is today.

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Medical Tourism

Best neurosurgeons in moscow: expertise in brain and spine health.

Neurosurgery is a specialized field of medicine focused on diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the brain, spine, and nervous system. In Moscow, the capital city of Russia renowned for its advanced medical facilities, a cadre of highly skilled neurosurgeons stands ready to address a wide range of neurological disorders. This extensive article delves into the critical aspects of identifying the best neurosurgeons in Moscow, emphasizing their expertise, technological advancements, patient-centric approaches, and the importance of comprehensive care for brain and spine health.

Understanding Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery encompasses a broad spectrum of procedures aimed at treating conditions such as brain tumors, spinal cord injuries, vascular malformations, and neurological trauma. In Moscow, neurosurgeons undergo rigorous training and specialization to perform intricate surgeries with precision and expertise. Their work extends beyond surgery to include the diagnosis, management, and rehabilitation of patients with neurological disorders, highlighting the multidisciplinary nature of neurosurgical care.

Specialized Expertise

The hallmark of the best neurosurgeons in Moscow is their specialized expertise in various subspecialties within neurosurgery. These may include neuro-oncology, neurovascular surgery, spine surgery, pediatric neurosurgery, and functional neurosurgery, among others. Patients seeking neurosurgical intervention benefit from the diverse skill sets and experiences of these specialists, ensuring that they receive tailored treatment plans optimized for their specific condition and needs.

Technological Advancements in Neurosurgery

Advancements in medical technology have revolutionized the field of neurosurgery, enabling surgeons in Moscow to perform complex procedures with greater precision and safety. State-of-the-art imaging modalities such as MRI, CT scans, and intraoperative neuro-navigation systems provide neurosurgeons with detailed anatomical information, facilitating accurate diagnosis and surgical planning. Additionally, innovative techniques such as minimally invasive surgery and robotic-assisted procedures minimize trauma to surrounding tissues, leading to faster recovery times and improved patient outcomes.

Patient-Centric Care

Beyond technical expertise, the best neurosurgeons in Moscow prioritize patient-centric care, recognizing the significant impact of neurological conditions on patients' lives and well-being. From the initial consultation to postoperative follow-up, neurosurgeons emphasize open communication, empathy, and collaboration to ensure that patients and their families feel supported and informed throughout their treatment journey. Comprehensive care extends beyond the operating room to include rehabilitation services, pain management, and psychological support, addressing the holistic needs of patients with neurological disorders.

Setting Expectations for Neurosurgery

Managing expectations is crucial in neurosurgery, given the complexity and variability of outcomes associated with different neurological conditions and procedures. The best neurosurgeons in Moscow take the time to thoroughly educate patients about their diagnosis, treatment options, and potential risks and benefits of surgery. By fostering transparency and shared decision-making, neurosurgeons empower patients to actively participate in their care and make informed decisions that align with their values and goals.

Selecting the best neurosurgeons in Moscow requires careful consideration of factors such as expertise, technological resources, patient-centered care, and communication. By prioritizing these elements, patients can confidently entrust their neurological health to skilled professionals who are committed to delivering optimal outcomes and improving quality of life. This comprehensive guide serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking neurosurgical care in Moscow, empowering them to make informed decisions and navigate their treatment journey with confidence and peace of mind.

MedicalTourism.com

MedicalTourism.com is a free, confidential, independent resource for patients and industry providers. Our mission is to provide a central portal where patients, medical tourism providers, hospitals, clinics, employers, and insurance companies can all find the information they need. Our site focuses on patients looking for specific knowledge in the fields of medical tourism, dental tourism, and health tourism.