Linda Stewart used a Kelowna-based company to arrange a medical tourism trip in May 2010 to get an experimental treatment for MS in India. Stewart is one of the unknown number of Canadians using medical tourism to access experimental treatments not offered in Canada.
Photograph by: Linda Stewart , Vancouver Province
Vancouver:
Linda Stewart is one of the unknown number of Canadians using medical tourism to access experimental treatments not offered in Canada.
The 57-year-old was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 38 and was using a wheelchair when she saw a news report in 2009 on a controversial MS treatment known as a “liberation procedure” which removes blockages in veins to address a condition known as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency.
Stewart arranged her surgery in May 2010 with Meditours and paid $15,000 U.S. for treatment in India. To her, it was well worth it.
“Before, I was very handicapped, I had no feeling in my hands and most of my legs and feet and extreme cramping. . . . I’d lost pretty much all my voice,” she said.
“I have feeling now in my feet, the cramping is almost totally gone, my voice is back.”
Stewart said she did her research and had few reservations.
“I was a travel agent so I have no fear of travelling at all, and I did look into the hospital and the doctor — he was more qualified than most people in Canada.”
Indian hospitals, she said were “absolutely immaculate,” with leading-edge technology and staff who spoke English. Her doctors even followed up by email.
Perhaps because her experience was ideal, Stewart doesn’t support regulation, but cautions patients to “do the research.”
“If you can go there and get it done with good doctors and good facilities and for so much cheaper and have a vacation included, why not do it?” she said.
“I really would do it again tomorrow. I was on the fastest track to a nursing home you ever saw. This made my life more bearable.”
Vancouver Province
eoconnor@theprovince.com
FACTBOX:
Top spots for medical tourism:
— Asia has established destinations in India, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Emerging centres include South Korea, Philippines and Indonesia.
— The Caribbean is trying to draw the North American market with Barbados, Cayman Islands and Jamaica building capacity.
— Eastern European countries such as Poland, are also hot spots, particularly for MS treatments.
— Mexico and Latin American countries are popular destinations for cosmetic and dental surgery, notably Brazil and Costa Rica.
source: http://www.MontrealGazette.com / Home> Health / by Elaine O’Connor, PostMedia News / April 08th, 2012
