Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) cost in South Africa

Some of the world-class multispecialty hospitals in South Africa are:

1. Ahmed Al-Kadi Private Hospital
2. Busamed Hillcrest Private Hospital
3. Busamed Gateway Private Hospital
4. Busamed Modderfontein Private Hospital
5. Busamed Lowveld Hospital
6. Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre
7. Busamed Paardevlei Private Hospital
8. Life Bay View Private Hospital
9. Lenmed Shifa Hospital

These hospitals have taken the patient experience to the next level by ensuring the below things:

1. Providing clear information about medicines to patients
2. Effective engagement between nursing staff/doctors and patients;
3. Suitability of the hospital environment for meeting the needs of patients
4. Effectively managing pain.

Providing world-class treatment, the hospitals comply with strict healthcare laws and also adhere to medical protocols and international standards to ensure quality care. The patient-centric hospitals are equipped with superior infrastructure, high-tech medical equipment, and highly trained and qualified doctors, providing a unique patient experience.

The healthcare system in South Africa is accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI) and Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA). COHSASA is responsible for developing and evaluating standards in all sectors and departments of a healthcare facility to ensure hospitals provide integrated and coordinated care. The SafeCare program launched by COHSASA, JCI, and SafeCare Foundation ensures the implementation of internationally recognized standards to improve health care delivery. Hospitals and clinics that initially and meet standards are awarded two-year accreditations and as the journey in excellence continues, awards of longer duration are given.

A large number of medical tourists visit South Africa every year due to low-cost treatment and modern infrastructure. Medical tourists prefer South Africa for treatment due to many other reasons like world-class facilities provided by hospitals, advanced technology, global exposure of doctors, and accredited hospitals. In addition, South Africa’s liberal laws allow for the use of stem cells in medical practice, making it an invaluable destination for patients in need of advanced medical treatment. You get comprehensive treatment at world-class hospitals which assist you with all organization and administrative tasks and also provide you all-inclusive care and assistance on a 24/7 basis.

With quality at their core, the well-trained and highly qualified doctors in South Africa provide world-class treatment. Having trained in foreign countries like Australia and Cuba, doctors in South Africa use their global exposure in developing deep expertise in various procedures. The doctors deliver great results in dental procedures and fertility treatments and provide complete patient satisfaction through a holistic approach. There are several reasons why South Africa has a large pool of quality doctors, such as education at reputed colleges, compliance with global standards, using human touch in treatment, and adopting a patient-centric approach.

You can avail a medical visa to South Africa and stay in the country for 90 days to seek treatment. Further extension of the duration of the stay is decided by the High Commission of the country where the patient belongs from. People who require medical treatment for longer than three months must apply for a temporary residency permit. A visa becomes valid the day it is issued by the High Commission and not on the date of departure. Also, an application for a visa is not be accepted more than 30 days before departure. Below documents are required for applying for a medical visa:

1. Passport
2. Passport-sized photographs
3. Online Application form
4. Full return flight reservation
5. Proof of stay in South Africa
6. Signed official medical letter from medical institution
7. Signed medical letter from a recognized local practitioner

South Africa is known to offer some procedures with high success rates, such as total knee replacement, meniscus repairs, hip replacement, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Besides offering these popular procedures, South Africa also attracts many medical tourists for cosmetic surgery and infertility treatment. Egg donation program is available at the majority of fertility clinics and you can opt for a surgical or non-surgical procedure, with quite low waiting times. Low-cost treatment, fast recovery, use of advanced medical technology, and highly trained doctors are some of the reasons for the popularity of these procedures.

Some popular cities of South Africa that attract a huge number of medical tourists every year are Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban. Cape Town is the medical tourism hub visited by a large number of people from different ethnicity and cultures due to world-class doctors and state-of-the-art hospitals. The reasons for the popularity of these cities are multiple food options, connectivity through airlines, and cheap accommodation. Healthcare in Johannesburg is similar to Great Britain’s health care, and the city’s public and private healthcare sectors work hand in hand with South Africa's medical schools to create internationally recognized medical specialists.

Yes, some vaccines are highly recommended or required for South Africa. WHO and the National Travel Health Network and Centre recommend the following vaccinations: hepatitis A, yellow fever, rabies and tetanus, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera. Make sure that infants of age 6 to 11 months get measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before they travel to South Africa. Typhoid vaccine is recommended for most travellers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas. Vaccination guidelines change with time, so keep yourself updated with the travel advisory released by the government. You can also check with doctors or hospitals in South Africa for the required vaccines.