India has become the top international surrogacy destination for couples and even single men and women who have not been able to have children through natural means. The success of the procedure in India, is greatly attributed to the cutting edge technology adopted by the fertility clinics in India, highly qualified fertility specialists, social acceptance of surrogacy, and low cost of surrogacy, all leading to India’s high success rate in gestational surrogacy.

What Influences the Success Rate of Gestational Surrogacy?

The success rates for ART cycles that use gestational carriers are higher than the success rates for those cycles that do not. However, the age of the ART patient (source of the egg) is a strong predictor of success regardless of whether a gestational carrier is used or not.

2008 India Gestational Surrogacy Success Rate

It is the prerogative of intending parents to seek adequate clinic data on the success rates from the fertility center. (Success rates refer to the number of live births per embryo transfer.) However, it is necessary to understand the way success rates are calculated, because some clinics achieve artificially high figures by simply rejecting the patients who have lower chances of pregnancy.

The charts below show the most recent surrogacy success rates of Medical Tourism Corporation’s partner clinic in India.

The first chart depicts the success rate with fresh surrogacy cycles where donor eggs were used.

The second chart demonstrates surrogacy success rates in different categories: self eggs in women less than 35 years, self eggs in women more than 35 years, donor eggs, and same sex couples. The results in the first two categories are compared with U.S. average figures from 2005 (more recent U.S. figures are not available).

Since, India’s success rates match or are sometimes better than U.S. surrogacy success rates, the country is a popular destination for surrogacy. But take care to choose a well-respected fertility clinic and a very qualified and experienced fertility specialist.

Related links:
Draft Indian surrogacy law
India Surrogacy FAQs

Obesity is one of the most visible of chronic health conditions and has become an epidemic today. Between half and two-thirds of men and women in 63 countries across five continents – not including the US – were overweight or obese in 2006. (Overweight is BMI > 25 , obese is BMI > 30).

What is obesity?
A person is considered obese when his or her weight is 20% or more above the normal weight. Those who have a BMI over 30 are said to be obese, and those with a BMI of 40 or more are called morbidly obese, that is, their weight severely interferes with their health.

How do people become obese?
Obesity, in most cases, is because of excessive and uncontrolled eating and very little or no physical activity. However, there could be some other responsible factors too, like:

• Age. With age, the body metabolizes food slowly.
• Gender. Women tend to be more overweight than men.
• Genetics. Obesity could run in families
• Psychological reason. People experiencing negative emotions like boredom, sadness, or anger tend to eat in excess.
• Illness. Certain conditions like hypothyroidism, depression, and some rare brain diseases can make people overeat.
• Medication. Steroids and some anti-depressants may cause excessive weight gain.

What health problems can obesity lead to?

• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Stroke
• Hypertension
• Hypothyroidism
• Dyslipidemia
• Hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance
• Congestive heart failure
• Angina pectoris
• Cholecystitis
• Cholelithiasis
• Osteoarthritis
• Gout
• Fatty liver disease
• Sleep apnea and other respiratory problems
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Fertility complications
• Pregnancy complications
• Psychological disorders
• Uric acid nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
• Stress urinary incontinence
• Cancer of the kidney, endometrium, breast, colon and rectum, esophagus, prostate and gall bladder
• Death

(Source: http://www.obesityinamerica.org/complications.html)

How can obesity be treated?
Conservative methods of treating obesity like exercising and dieting should always be tried first. Patients will need to be committed to their exercise schedule and diet plans for a significant period of time before they expect results. Such health programs should never be abandoned after the first round of weight loss as weight can come back right away.

Weight loss surgery should be the last resort in the fight against obesity, because any surgery comes with risks and side-effects.

Obesity needs a concerted effort from not only the obese individual but his/her family and friends. And the sooner obesity treatment starts, the better, as it takes a long time for people to lose weight.

Many patients from the West (United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland) these days travel to India for sleeve gastrectomy surgery,mainly because of the low cost, experienced bariatric surgeons, quality hospitals and no wait times.

This weight loss surgery is also known as Gastric Sleeve Surgery, Gastric Sleeve Resection, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy , Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, Gastric Tube, Vertical Gastroplasty, Greater Curvature Gastrectomy, Parietal Gastrectomy, Gastric Reduction, and Sleeve Gastroplasty to name a few.

This surgery reduces stomach size, so the individual feels full quickly with a small meal. Â It also restricts the production of the hunger-causing hormone.

Some reasons why this surgery is becoming so popular is the positive clinical feedback from patients who have had this procedure in the last few years. Unlike a lap band there is no need for repeated doctor visits for any device adjustments or fills, absence of mal absorption unlike a gastric bypass, and the weight loss surgery patients in this case are allowed most foods (although in small quantities). A country by country cost comparison for sleeve gastrectomy cost comparisons:

(only the best bariatric surgeons and hospitals are considered for the below prices):

India: US $7,000 (Harvard Medical-affiliated JCI-accredited hospital)

Costa Rica: US $9,500 (Tulane Medical School-affiliated JCI-accredited hospital)

Mexico: US $5,500 to $11,500 (Top hospitals; more than 50% of WLS patients are from the US)

Not only is the cost of obesity surgery lower in India, but the level of service is also very high. For example, good bariatric centers in India keep the patient in the hospital for three to four days after the gastric sleeve procedure with close monitoring. In other countries, the patient is usually sent home or to a hotel a day or two after the sleeve surgery.

Why would anyone want to settle for a clinic or a surgery center for a gastric sleeve surgery in the USA, UK or Canada, when paying a fraction of that amount they can avail the procedure at a JCI (Joint Commission International)-accredited quality hospital in India. Also, when that hospital is affiliated to Harvard Medical in the USA.

Why would anyone not want an experienced bariatric surgeon who has performed thousands of advanced laparoscopic weight loss surgeries at a fraction of the price in the West? When the surgeon also happens to be trained in France and the US and is a Preceptor (Proctor) of American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, the choice becomes all the more easier, doesn’t it?

When you compare the high costs and long wait times in many Western countries with the advantages of getting the surgery done in India, you will see that the latter is a very good alternative for patients looking abroad for Sleeve Gastrectomy. Other countries where you get similar advantages are Mexico and Costa Rica. These are countries with an abundance of bariatric experts, highly accredited hospitals and a track record of satisfied and happy patients from all over the world.

Sleeve gastrectomy surgery in India is poised to gain more popularity with the growing worldwide epidemic of obesity. Also, the demand for this bariatric procedure will grow within India too as changing lifestyles and dietary habits (moving towards Western lifestyles) is making way for obesity.

Medical Tourism Corporation team visited Hospital Angeles in Tijuana, Mexico. This hospital is part of the largest private hospital chain in Mexico. Procedures offered to medical tourists at this Mexican hospital are Gall bladder Removal, Inguinal Hernial, Umbilical Hernia, Incisional Hernia, Lap Band Inamed, Lap Band J&J, Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, Arthoscophy, Arthoscophy (Outpatient), Knee Replacement, Hip Replacement and Hip Resurfacing.

Video of Hospital Angeles, Tijuana

Pictures of Hospital Angeles, Tijuana

It took us less than 25 minutes to drive from the San Diego airport to the hospital. Hospital Angeles, Tijuana, is a world-class hospital designed especially to provide state-of-the-art medical care to international patients. The hospital boasts one of the best doctors in its field, supported by an able staff and latest medical technology equipment.

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The 118-bed hospital has 97 private rooms and is located in an upscale area. It is the first fully integrated hospital in Baja California, meaning it offers complete medical services in-house (outpatient clinic, emergency room, pharmacy, intensive care unit, intermediate ICU, neonatal ICU, intermediate neonatal ICU, X-ray, tomography, MRI, nuclear medicine, fluoroscopy, angiography, fully-equipped laboratory, helicopter landing zone, and medical offices where 135 board-certified doctors practice). More than 50% of the current patients there are from United States.

The hospital is self-contained with its own cafeteria, a pharmacy, ATM, chapel and more, thus providing you everything that you may need during your stay. This is also a major reason why it’s such a popular medical tourism destination in Mexico.

And if you crave for good old American fast food, McDonald’s & Peter Piper Pizza are walking distance from the hospital. And then there is a Cine Mark across the Hospital, too. Not sure if it shows any English movies, though! For people missing a discount club shopping, Sam’s club is around the corner!

Hotel Marriott and a few luxury Mexican Hotels are closeby. These are used rarely by the hospital patients, as the patient and one accompanying guest are accommodated in the hospital.

The hallways, waiting rooms, corridor and patient rooms and suites are kept sparking clean and give an impression of a five-star hotel and not a hospital. The walls are decorated with brightly colored abstract art by Tijuana painters. A lot of work, thought and attention to detail have gone in the interior design to make the aura uplifting and the hospital patient-friendly.

The signs are in English and Spanish; many of the staff speak English. For US patients, a dedicated English-speaking staff member is assigned.

The hospital takes special care of its doctors to ensure they are relaxed and are at their best when serving the patients. There is an exclusive hospital club area for doctors that includes a relaxing lounge, exercise gym, jacuzzi, swimming pool, sauna and more.

Medical Tourism Corporation facilitates medical trips to some of the world’s leading hospitals including Hospital Angeles, Tijuana.

This is the second of a ten-article series that examines why health care and health insurance costs are higher in the United States.

Ever had medical procedure done in the USA? If yes, did you know what your real medical treatment bill was going to be? Did you know that even after the medical care was completed and you were discharged?

Chances are you did not, especially if you are insured by your employer! Don’t be embarrassed…

The US system of medical care is such that the patient in most cases does not know what the hospital or the doctors are being paid for providing the service. The patient usually only knows the co-payment or co-insurance amount. Depending upon the type of insurance plan, this amount could be just a fraction of the total amount, a fixed amount or maybe zero. This results in the end consumer (the patient, in this case) not getting an incentive or option to be a “smart shopper” for medical care. This adds to the inefficiencies in the system and many times the patient ends up getting medical service at higher prices in spite of there being more economical options.

For example, the charge for visiting Emergency might be $200 and the charge for a regular physician visit may be $100 to the insurance company. Many people when deciding to visit one over the other don’t have the charge in mind (as they don’t know it or financially its the same for them). They choose the convenient option. In such cases, non-emergency patients also end up visiting the ER and inflating the charge for the insurance company.

Another example is the case where there are more cost-effective treatment and surgery options available at overseas hospitals. Treatment at many international hospitals results in 60 to 90% savings on USA costs. Insurance companies can reduce the medical cost to them by allowing patients the option of overseas medical treatment. This is by providing the patient first the option, then adding an incentive to to visit overseas where there is more affordable medical treatment. With Medical Tourism becoming a global phenomenon, this is a very viable option that insurance companies, especially self-insured companies need to look into to reduce costs (and ultimately passing the savings to the consumers).

To summarize, smart insurance plans with smart options that would involve the end consumer is one of the things that can help in reducing health insurance and medical costs. Another thing that can be done is the education of the insured on the impact of their health care choices.

This is the first of a 10 article series from Medical Tourism Corporation that examines why medical health care and health insurance costs are high in the United States

Due to the high cost of medical insurance, there are a large number of uninsured & under-insured in the USA with no health insurance coverage. These people cannot afford medical care as well. There needs to be a solution to help individuals with no health insurance. This article discusses the impact of lack of medical insurance coverage on the US Health system costs in general.

The hospitals have to inflate the treatment costs to make up the loss they incurred due to non paying patients. This is especially true in case of emergency (whom they cannot deny treatment).

Dr. Robert M. Williams from the University of Michigan examined the costs of and charges to 24,000 patients who came to emergency departments in six Michigan hospitals in 1996. He found that the average cost of a non-urgent visit was $62 and the average charge was $124. With a 10% medical inflation in the last decade these numbers must have increased.

Why was the average charge(hospital bill) double?

Major reason is that approximately half of all emergency department charges go uncollected. So the paying patients are not only paying for themselves, but also for the non-paying patients. Without this, the hospital would go out of business.

As the growing number of uninsured and under-insured turn to medical care, they will have a higher impact on the hospital bottom lines, impacting the cost of hospital care & in some cases reduction in hospital services. As hospital & medical care costs go up, so do the health insurance cost which results in the cycle of more people joining the ranks not having health insurance.

Most countries this is not the case with health care. In Canada & most of Europe the medical care is provided free by the government, although due to inherent inefficiencies in most government undertakings, there are long waiting lines. For some medical procedures like hip replacement surgery or angioplasty surgery there could be a two years wait in such countries. In many other countries the patient has to pay upfront to the hospital before being provided medical care.Typically in such countries the cost of medical treatment is low.

For patients with no health insurance, assistance for Medical Tourism is a good option. If the individual cannot afford even the discounted medical treatment price, who should give that assistance is another question. Going overseas can provide such patients a viable alternative to either suffering with the medical condition at home or becoming a cost to the US medical system. By getting the opportunity to go overseas, the individual can have their medical treatment done, at the same time save money for the US medical health systems. To understand more about Medical Tourism & how it can help positively towards the US medical cost read the Medical Tourism FAQ