Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) On Medical Tourism
The World Health Organization has classified the coronavirus (COVID -19) outbreak a pandemic. When authorities and care institutions around the world scramble to keep the crisis under hand, you might be curious what this means for the medical tourism industry.
Can you still head to Turkey for your plastic surgery or other procedure you scheduled? Is it safe for you to leave their hometown right now?
We’ll answer all of these questions and more in this detailed guide. So, grab a cup of coffee and let’s learn what there is to know about coronavirus and its effect on your next medical travel outside of the country.
Clinic Excellent efforts on the coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus situation is very fluid and Clinic Excellent is doing everything possible to provide you with the latest updates. Please be assured that there are many leading medical professionals across Turkey who are working tirelessly to ensure we have the best possible resources, protocols, and plans in place to protect patients and community.
We are continuously coordinating with our medical teams in Turkey as we take all necessary precautions to get ready for providing safe care to any individual who presents with the coronavirus.
Here are some of the steps Clinic Excellent and the medical staff in Turkey are taken to help slow COVID-19 transmission within facilities and community as a whole:
• Strict visitor restrictions have been instituted throughout the facilities in Turkey.
• Do not greet any visitor by hand or kiss.
• Drivers are instructed to sanitize vehicles with disinfectant wipes prior to transporting visitors.
• All visitors are being screened for COVID-19 symptoms, such as sore throat, cough, or fever. Any visitor with obvious symptoms is being kindly asked to leave.
• Upon arrival at the hospital in Istanbul, the medical staff will ask visitors to wash their hands and offer disinfectant wipes.
• Patients will proceed to fill out a medical questionnaire aimed at detecting potential cases of coronavirus.
• In the case that a visitor shows symptoms, hospital staff will immediately notify the embassy in Turkey or the corresponding country according to the nationality of the patient, as well as health authorities in Turkey.
• Visitors will be asked to avoid constantly leaving the hospital, and they will be asked to wash their hands upon each entry.
• Doctors and staff will wash hands before and after treating each patient.
• Remove from all common areas, magazines, brochures and all material that may have been in contact with patients who are found infected.
• Visitor(s) with any respiratory symptoms may be asked to postpone their visit until they are feeling better.
• Use alcohol between consultations to clean everything including the reception tables.
Our medical teams in Turkey have undergone thorough training for screening patients for COVID-19. We’re performing PCR test to every patient regardless of the indicating symptoms and exposure to potential coronavirus cases.
Clinic Excellent is working around the clock to keep our caregivers well educated and trained to better handle the viral outbreak. The JCI accredited hospitals that we work with have also been equipped with adequate supplies of medical-grade face masks and ventilators.
Is the border of Turkey shut down due to COVID-19?
No, there is no border shutdown as of March 21th, 2021. But we will keep updated if that changes.
Patients’ safety is our first priority
We must emphasize that the wellbeing of our patients is of the highest priority. If the scenario evolves, we will keep our clients updated.
First and foremost, the healthcare providers at Clinic Excellent have sworn to serve our patients and community. Our top priority is to always ensure we provide excellent care to our patients while also protecting the health of our caregivers.
By adhering to these principles, we have been able to stay calm and well-prepared to cope with the current health crisis.
We are closely following the travel updates issued by the Turkish Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since these are subject to change, we’ll re-evaluate our own medical travel restrictions accordingly.
Clinic Excellent has been closely monitoring the evolving coronavirus outbreak. We are always aware of the possibility of emerging infections in this incredibly interconnected world. Our medical and surgical teams are always getting prepared for these situations through regular trainings.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): An Overview
Coronavirus, scientifically known as COVID-19 or referred to as the Wuhan virus, is a respiratory disease that spreads from individual to individual. This is a conspiracy that coronavirus was first identified during a medical investigation into a viral outbreak in the Wuhan region of China.
According to the most recent information, this virus is spreading from person to person. It has also been discovered that coronavirus has a population spread function, which implies that the virus has infected a large number of people in specific locations.
Despite the fact that the coronavirus was discovered in China, it has now spread to over 100 countries worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). On January 30th, the WHO called the viral epidemic an international public health emergency.
Coronavirus Symptoms
The common symptoms of coronavirus include:
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Cough
• Patients can also suffer serious respiratory complications, which may lead to renal failure and death in exceptional circumstances.
If you are having trouble breathing or have a headache, please contact the doctor to describe your symptoms over the phone before going to the emergency center.
Remember to alert the doctor if you’ve been outside the country in the last 14 days when you call. And, notify them if you believe you might have been in near contact to someone who has already contracted the virus. Close proximity is described as being within 6 feet.
Coronavirus Safety & Prevention Tips
Health autorities around the world, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and WHO have issued the following guidelines to prevent the coronavirus from spreading:
• Wash your hands throughout the day, for at least 20 seconds.
• Use soap and water to wash your hands thoroughly, or you can also use a hand sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol.
• Disinfect and throughly clean objects and surfaces that are frequently touched by people (such as door handles, elevators)
• Don’t touch your mouth, nose, or eyes without washing your hands first. Please, avoid touching your face.
• Use a tissue to cover your sneeze or cough, then throw the used tissue in the trash.
• Stay inside your home if you are feeling unwell.
• Make sure you avoid close contact with people who are ill.
Following these tips will help you minimize your risk of contracting the COVID-19. Therefore please stick to these guidelines as strictly as possible.
Impact of coronavirus on medical tourism industry
If you have been planning to travel for a medical treatment, the present state of affairs might be a matter of concern for you. However, you should know that the CDC doesn’t classify Turkey dangerous for medical travelers right now.
The CDC has listed most of the places in Turkey as a level-2 travel advisory. Travel destinations or countries are ranked from 1 to 3, with 1 and 2 being deemed acceptable. A destination with a level-3 rating is considered a warning not to visit that region.
We recommend you to follow WHO’s guidelines daily whether to travel in a safe way or not while deciding. At Clinic Excellent, our first priority is patients’ safety and we are taking all the necessary precautions to contain the outbreak. If you have any questions or concern regarding the COVID-19, please do not hesitate to contact with our team.