Medical tourism has been rising in importance in Colombia in recent years. It has been estimated that foreigners visiting the country for medical reasons spent a total of $216m in 2014, up 61% on $134m the year before. One of the incentives for inward health tourism is the relatively low cost of medical procedures, which are nevertheless carried out to high professional standards. For example, a heart bypass operation that would cost $80,000 in the US can cost as little as $26,000 in Colombia. Knee replacement surgery, which in the US costs $40,000, can be $15,000 in Colombia.
These prices date from early 2015, and the depreciation of the Colombian peso will have reduced the dollar cost still further.

Colombia is the new dearest destination for travelers who want to discover a vibrant country, full of attractions for every kind of visitor.

Why Colombia for Medical Tourism?

Colombia is constantly growing as a medical destination. The government is investing to expand the market taking actions to elevate the country in this tourism field. The project Transformácion Productiva from the federal government wants to rank Colombia as a world leader in this area by 2032. They are working to achieve this goal by forming alliances between the health and hospitality sectors, improving human resources, sustaining English classes, expanding infrastructure and working to get international affiliations and accreditations.

Now Colombia is reaping the benefits of its investments, as it is ranked as 22nd best healthcare system according to the World Health Organization. This is the highest position in Latin America. Colombia is also home to 40% of the top clinics and hospitals in Latin America.