Healthcare in Argentina

Healthcare System in Argentina

The healthcare infrastructure in Argentina is overseen by the Ministry of Health and Social Action and made up of three main components—the public sector, the private sector and the Obras Sociales, an organization representing the Argentine’s work unions. The public sector is financed mainly through taxes and is generally available to all.

The private sector plays a great role in the healthcare system of Argentina as it covers approximately two million Argentines and represents over 200 medical facilities. The Obras Sociales is a system operated by health insurance funds for employees.



Quality of Healthcare in Argentina

The best medical care in Argentina can be found in the capital city of Buenos Aires, with high quality medical facilities and highly qualified physicians that have been trained abroad. Medical tourists can avail the finest surgical and wellness options utilizing the latest technology at fraction of the price.

However, the quality of health care will tend to differ out of the city. A lot of facilities, especially in the more rural areas, do not have up to date equipment on site and do not offer high quality services as compared to the urbanized cities.

Healthcare in Barbados

Healthcare System in Barbados

Barbados operates a system of nationalized healthcare, similar to the other nations within the Commonwealth of Nations. This ensures that all Barbadian citizens and residents have access to some form of healthcare provided by the public sector.

Quality of Healthcare in Barbados

Barbados has been making a name for itself as a prime medical destination within the Caribbean. It currently has over 20 poly-clinics, a dialysis center, facilities that can handle major surgery and an integrative hospital owned by Queen Elizabeth.

In order to demonstrate its ability of operating on international standards of care and quality, Barbados has its first accredited facility in the region. This is a stepping stone in the right direction for the region as it demonstrates the desire of Barbados to grow as a medical tourism destination offering high quality care to foreign patients. 

Healthcare in Brazil

Healthcare system in Brazil

The availability of quality healthcare varies widely from region to region in Brazil. The ratio of doctors per 1000 is 3.28 in the urban areas but is only 0.63 in rural areas. Approximately 60% of Brazil's hospitals are privately owned, either profit or non-profit, while the remaining 40% percent are public hospitals. 

80% of urban in-patients as well as most medical tourism patients are catered for by privately-owned health facilities.

Quality of Healthcare in Brazil

The country is second only to the US in the number of hospitals which are accredited by the JCI and these health facilities are considered among the best in Latin America. With 13 JCI accredited hospitals, medical travelers can be assured of high quality when visiting the top Brazilian healthcare facilities.

Many of Brazil's cosmetic surgeons were trained in US Institutions and are either certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or are members of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons

Healthcare in Colombia

Healthcare System in Colombia

The health care system in Colombia is comprised of three distinct sectors:  The public, private and ISS (Social Security Institute). Even though over 80% of the citizens had access to some form of healthcare, it seems that the private sector was the most influential of all sectors as it delivered maximum care to the citizens of the country. Along with healthcare reform in Colombia came the added emphasis of preventing diseases. This was eminent through the health promotion institutes located around the country.

There is a growing disparity in access to healthcare for those individuals residing in rural areas as compared to the urbanized cities. The main cities of Bogota, Medellin and Cali had 95% coverage compared to marginal access in the rural areas.

Quality of Healthcare in Colombia               

Despite the disparity of healthcare in the region, the urbanized cities of Colombia offer state-of-the-art facilities for any foreign patients or for those that can afford it. Still being significantly cheaper than other developed country, Colombia provides medical tourists and citizens with some of the best healthcare seen in South America.

To further demonstrate the ability to compete with Brazil, its neighboring medical tourism destination, Colombia has attempted to begin accrediting its healthcare facility. Until now, they have two accredited hospitals in the country and have plans of further proving its commitment to quality and excellent health care services.