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According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there are more than 18 million cancer cases and 9 million deaths worldwide every year. The top five most common pathologies include lung, breast, colon, prostate and stomach cancer. About 70% of all deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
The treatment of malignancies is a costly process. Most patients need a lot of time and money to fight the tumour. Cancer therapy in Israel or Germany is considered the most effective. However, not everyone has the opportunity to come here… Do patients have an alternative to “expensive” countries? Where is affordable and quality cancer treatment abroad? The answers to these questions were prepared by experts of the MedicGlobus medical platform. The three cheapest countries for cancer treatment abroad are at your attention.
First spot – India
The leader of our rating is India. Every year about 500,000 foreigners come there for treatment. This country offers the best value for money and quality of care for cancer patients. The cost of medical services in Indian hospitals is 70% lower than in similar clinics in Europe.
It has everything you need to successfully fight cancer. Leading medical institutions in India to have advanced tumour diagnostic equipment – PET-CT and MRI 3 Tesla. Da Vinci robotic surgery and radiotherapy Truebeam are available to patients at these hospitals.
Treatment of oncology in Indian hospitals s is conducted according to international protocols. An interdisciplinary team of doctors is working on the diagnosis and plan of oncological therapy. Malignant pathologies are treated with:
surgery;
robotic surgery;
chemotherapy;
radiation therapy;
immunotherapy;
hormone therapy;
radiosurgery;
stem cell transplantation.
Facilities such as Manipal Clinic, BLK Hospital and Apollo Medical Center are considered popular among overseas patients.
Many clinics in India cooperate with prestigious oncology centres in America. For example, Manipal Hospital has a partnership with the University of Minnesota. This allows them to keep up with innovations in bone marrow transplantation and blood cancer treatment. Manipal Hospital uses the IBM Watson Artificial Intelligence System. It has become a worldwide breakthrough in the fight against various cancers. With this technology, it processes more than 15 million pages of medical data and finds the optimal solution for each patient.
Oncology is considered a priority area of the BLK clinic. The BLK Hospital has a Cancer Council and the leading cancer treatment centre in the country. Dr Surender Dabas, an expert in robotic surgery for head and neck tumours, practices here. He is the head of the Oncology Center. Dr Dabas has over 20 years of experience.
The Apollo network clinics are in particular demand among international patients. The Proton Cancer Treatment Centre operates based on the medical institution. Innovative technologies are available in Apollo – CyberKnife, Novalis, TrueBeam, and Da Vinci Robot. The use of these units reduces the risk of cancer recurrence and speeds up the recovery process.
В Apollo employs the country’s leading cancer surgeon, Dr Ajit Pai. He performs minimally invasive interventions for the treatment of gynaecological cancers and gastrointestinal malignancies. The doctor’s area of interest includes robotic surgery.
| Procedure | India | Israel | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemotherapy | from $700 | from $3,000 | Chemotherapy is 76% cheaper per 1 course |
| Radiation therapy | from $2,000 | from $6,000 | Radiation therapy is 67% cheaper per 1 course |
| Radiosurgery | from $7,000 | from $17,000 | Radiosurgery is 59% cheaper |
| Oncological check-up | from $900 | from $2,000 | 55% cheaper |
Second position – Turkey
The silver rating was given to Turkey. Oncotherapy is among the key medical areas in this country. Technical equipment in Turkish clinics is as good as that of popular medical centres of Europe and America. 46 hospitals in Turkey are accredited by the Joint International Commission. By comparison, there are no more than 10 such centres in Germany.
For cancer control, foreign patients prefer institutions such as these:
Memorial Network Clinics;
Koç University Hospital;
Hisar Clinic;
Medistate Hospital;
Fortis Medical Center.
Top oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, chemotherapists, oncohematologists and other specialists in cancer treatment work in Turkey. The famous doctors save lives not only of the country’s residents but also of foreign citizens.
| Professor Serkan Keskin | Clinical oncologist at Şişli Memorial Hospital. He is the head of the oncology department. The doctor’s areas of interest include immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Dr Keskin has over 18 years of experience. |
| Professor Betül Tavil | An onco-hematologist at the Medistate Hospital. She treats malignant blood diseases in children. Dr Tavil has over 22 years of experience. |
| Dr Veysel Şal | Expert in oncogynaecology. He’s been practising for over 25 years. The doctor treats malignant ovarian tumours, cervical and uterine cancer. |
| Professor Levent Oğuzkurt | Leading radiologist at Koç University Hospital. Has been working in the field of interventional radiology for over 20 years. |
| Professor Erhun Eyüboğlu | Oncosurgeon of the clinic Memorial Bahçelievler. Specializes in surgical treatment of stomach, pancreatic and colorectal cancer. He has been practising for over 38 years. |
Patients of Turkish medical centres have access to anticancer drugs, which are used in European and American hospitals. They have been tested for efficacy and are included in international cancer treatment protocols. Da Vinci robotic systems have been installed in this country’s hospitals. Thanks to robotic assistants, doctors remove tumours through incisions of up to 2 cm. For radiotherapy, machines are used that affect the tumour with millimetre precision and do not harm healthy tissue.
The cost of medical services in Turkey is regulated at the legislative level. Prices of cancer treatment in clinics of this country are 30-60% lower than in Germany or Israel.
| Procedure | Turkey | Germany | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemotherapy | from $1,500 | from €2,500 | Chemotherapy is 48% per 1 course |
| Radiation therapy | from $4,000 | from €6,000 | Radiation therapy is 37% cheaper per 1 course |
| Radiosurgery | from $9,000 | from €16,000 | Radiosurgery is 43% cheaper |
| Targeted therapy | from $4,000 | from €10,000 | 55% cheaper per course |
Third-place – South Korea
South Korea takes the third position in the rating. Since 2018, it is among the top five countries in terms of quality of patient care. Over 80% of patients are satisfied with the treatment and work of doctors.
Survival rates of cancer patients in Korean clinics are at a high level. According to the report of the National Cancer Information Center, more than 70% of cancer patients have passed the 5-year survival threshold. This is the result of the efforts of the Korean health system to fight cancer and develop medical technology.
Foreigners come to South Korea to fight malignancies such as:
lung cancer;
malignant tumours in the colon;
stomach oncology;
prostate cancer;
malignant skin tumours;
brain cancer.
Innovative diagnostic methods are available for patients at Korean medical centres to detect early cancer development, including PET-CT, genetic analysis and serological testing. The test results are usually ready for release the day after the diagnosis.
The country’s leading cancer centres operate based on SAM Clinic, Anam and Soon Chun Hyang. They have everything necessary for oncology treatment. For example, the Anam Cancer Centre at the hospital has introduced the Halcyon 2.0 system for radiation therapy of cancer in Asia. With this system, it is possible to accurately visualize and irradiate the tumour without damaging healthy tissue.
Korean cancer centres and departments of major medical centres actively promote and manage psychological support programs and improve the quality of life of cancer patients. The cost of treatment in the cocuntry’s hospitals is at least 30% lower than in Western European clinics.
| Procedure | South Korea | Great Britain | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemotherapy | from $1,200 | from €3,000 | Chemotherapy is 55% cheaper per 1 course |
| Radiation therapy | from $4,000 | from €8,000 | Radiation therapy is 50% cheaper per 1 course |
| Radiosurgery | from $11,000 | from €18,000 | Radiosurgery is 39% cheaper |
| Targeted therapy | from $8,000 | from €12,000 | 33% cheaper per course |
Resume
Oncology is the cause of death of one in six people on our planet. Every year more than 9 million people die from this disease. About 70% of all deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. This pushes patients from such countries to seek quality and affordable treatment abroad.
The cheapest cancer treatment is in India, Turkey and South Korea. Low prices for medical services in these countries are related to the level of economic development, not the quality of patient care.
For oncology treatment, foreigners choose the leading clinics of India – Manipal, Apollo, and BLK. The cost of oncology services in Indian hospitals is 70% lower than in European hospitals.
Turkish oncology is one of the most promising in the field of medicine. Memorial Network Clinics, Koç University Hospital, Hisar Clinic and Medistate Hospital are the best choice for foreign oncology patients.
In South Korea, leading oncology centres and departments operate based on SAM, Anam and Soon Chun Hyang medical centres. The cost of treatment in this country’s hospitals is 25% lower than in Western European clinics.
To go for oncology treatment in India, Turkey or South Korea, contact the MedicGlobus coordinators. Our specialists will select the best option for you and inform you about the cost of treatment. Leave a request on the site!
