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Europe’s top medical tourism destinations: a comprehensive guide.

Europe has emerged as a premier destination for medical tourism, attracting health-conscious travelers with its blend of high-quality medical care, advanced treatments, and rich cultural experiences. This comprehensive guide explores the top medical tourism destinations in Europe, highlighting their unique offerings, healthcare excellence, and the reasons they stand out in the global medical tourism landscape.

The Appeal of European Medical Tourism

• Quality and Affordability : European countries offer a balance of high-quality medical services at prices often more affordable than in the U.S. or other parts of the world.
• Advanced Medical Technology : Europe is known for its cutting-edge medical technology and innovative treatments, making it an attractive destination for specialized healthcare.
• Cultural and Historical Richness : Besides medical treatments, Europe offers a wealth of cultural and historical experiences, contributing to the holistic well-being of medical tourists.

Top Destinations for Medical Tourism in Europe

Western europe.

• Germany : Known for its precision in medical technology and surgery, Germany offers world-class healthcare in oncology, cardiology, orthopedics, and more.
• France : Renowned for its luxury wellness retreats and high standards in cosmetic surgery, France combines quality healthcare with a touch of glamour.

Southern Europe

• Spain : Boasting modern facilities and expertise in various medical fields, Spain is also favored for its sunny climate, aiding in recovery and relaxation.
• Italy : Italy excels in areas like dental care and cosmetic surgery, complemented by its rich culture and cuisine, enhancing the overall experience of medical tourists.

Central and Eastern Europe

• Czech Republic : Known for its affordability and high-quality dental and cosmetic procedures, the Czech Republic is a growing hotspot in medical tourism.
• Hungary : Hungary, especially Budapest, is famous for dental tourism, offering state-of-the-art treatments at competitive prices.

Northern Europe

• Sweden : With a focus on patient care and innovative treatments, Sweden is a top choice for those seeking advanced medical procedures in a serene environment.

Specialized Treatments and Wellness Retreats

Europe is not just about conventional medical treatments; it also offers a range of specialized procedures and wellness retreats:

• Thermal Spas and Natural Treatment Centers : Countries like Hungary and Iceland are known for their natural thermal baths and spas, offering therapeutic and wellness experiences.
• Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers : Many European countries provide excellent rehabilitation facilities in serene and supportive environments, ideal for post-operative recovery.

Navigating Medical Tourism in Europe

Language and cultural considerations.

• Most top medical tourism destinations in Europe cater to international patients with multilingual staff and services tailored to diverse cultural needs.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

• Europe maintains high standards of medical ethics and patient safety, with strict regulations governing medical practices and patient care.

Insurance and Costs

• It's important to understand the cost structure and insurance options when planning a medical trip to Europe. Many countries offer packages that include treatment, accommodation, and additional services.

Europe offers a diverse and rich landscape for medical tourism, combining high-quality healthcare, advanced treatments, and unique cultural experiences. Whether seeking specialized medical procedures, wellness retreats, or a combination of health and cultural exploration, Europe's top medical tourism destinations offer something for every health-conscious traveler.

As medical technology and global healthcare standards continue to evolve, Europe remains at the forefront of offering exceptional medical tourism experiences. With its unique blend of modern healthcare, rich history, and diverse cultures, European medical tourism is poised to grow and adapt to the changing needs of patients worldwide.

This comprehensive guide to Europe's top medical tourism destinations offers insights into the quality, affordability, and diversity of healthcare options available, catering to the needs of industry professionals and health-conscious travelers alike.

To receive a free quote for this procedure please click on the link: https://www.medicaltourism.com/get-a-quote

For those seeking medical care abroad, we highly recommend hospitals and clinics who have been accredited by Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA). With a strong emphasis on exceptional patient experience, GHA accredited facilities are attuned to your cultural, linguistic, and individual needs, ensuring you feel understood and cared for. They adhere to the highest standards, putting patient safety and satisfaction at the forefront. Explore the world's top GHA-accredited facilities here . Trust us, your health journey deserves the best.

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The Medical Tourism Magazine (MTM), known as the “voice” of the medical tourism industry, provides members and key industry experts with the opportunity to share important developments, initiatives, themes, topics and trends that make the medical tourism industry the booming market it is today.

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Medical Tourism Patient Survey

The Medical Tourism Association, in collaboration with the International Healthcare Research Center, has gathered critical insights into why patients are increasingly choosing to travel for medical care. This comprehensive 31-page report sheds light on the decision-making process, motivations, and concerns of medical tourists, focusing on aspects like the search for superior medical expertise, trust in healthcare providers, cost-effectiveness, and the appeal of innovative treatments. These findings are crucial for healthcare providers looking to tailor their services to meet the evolving needs and expectations of patients globally, ensuring not only the highest standards of care but also building the essential trust and confidence that underpins the decision to seek medical treatment abroad.

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MedicalTourism.com is a free, confidential, independent resource for patients and industry providers. Our mission is to provide a central portal where patients, medical tourism providers, hospitals, clinics, employers, and insurance companies can all find the information they need. Our site focuses on patients looking for specific knowledge in the fields of medical tourism, dental tourism, and health tourism.

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Easy Access to Options Around the World

MedicalTourism.com has a list of providers from all over the world. Click the button below to get started and browse providers.

Interested in a particular destination? Check out our destinations guides with detailed information: from tourist attractions, restaurants, and hotels to top-ranked healthcare providers and doctors.

Looking for a specific treatment? Check out our list of up to1,000 available treatments all over the world.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Your particular lifestyle, the medical tourism destination, and the type of medical tourism procedure you will be undergoing will dictate, to a large degree, how much money you will be spending. In general, the farther away your medical tourism destination the more you will pay for airfare. So, for example, expect to pay more if you are flying from Dallas to Bangkok, Thailand, than you would for a flight to Monterey, Mexico. At the same time, you also need to take into account that some medical tourism destinations are more expensive than others. So even if a particular country is cheaper to travel to, you will need to factor in the relative cost of “living,” in comparison to another medical tourism destination.

What about your lifestyle preferences? Do you plan to stay at a five-star hotel or are you comfortable “roughing” it at a local bed and breakfast? Some adventurous souls prefer to immerse themselves in the local culture and will literally live on a shoestring budget. Most everyone else though will tend to fall somewhere between the Holiday Inn and Club Med. The type of medical tourism procedure or medical tourism treatment you are undergoing will also play a large part in your decision of where to stay and what you will do. A medical tourism patient undergoing open heart surgery or a knee replacement will require extra care and very comfortable conditions after leaving the hospital. Not the case for someone coming for a dental bridge or an eyelid lift. Wherever you decide to stay, make sure it serves your needs as a medical tourism patient.

Many of the expenses of a medical tourism trip will be the same as those of a “normal” trip or vacation. At the very minimum you will need to budget for airfare, hotel accommodations, transportation requirements and meals. Sightseeing tours and souvenirs are also a real possibility, particularly if you are traveling with a companion.

Although there are many benefits associated with medical tourism, there are also certain risks that must be weighed before making a final decision to travel abroad.

Varying standards and Medical Tourism

Varying standards with regards to hospitals and physicians can be a problem if you are searching for options within multiple countries with dozens of hospitals. Each country will have its own licensing and certification protocols which may vary significantly from your own country. As you have no way of actually visiting the hospital or meeting the physician prior to your trip, you will have to do research to make sure hospitals are accredited and surgeons are licensed. MedicalTourism.com offers a wealth of information and tools that will make this job much easier.

Travel after surgery

Traveling long distances after surgery also poses certain risks such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. DVT may be defined as a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. If the blood clot breaks off and travels through the blood stream to the lungs, a pulmonary embolism may occur which is potentially fatal. Using simple preventive measures, however, medical tourism patients can reduce the chance of blood clotting and increase their likelihood of surgical success.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends:

• Getting up and walking around every 2 to 3 hours.

• Exercise your legs while you’re sitting

• Drink plenty of water, and avoid drinking anything with alcohol or caffeine in it.

Additionally, medical compression stockings and anti-clotting medications such as Warfarin and Heparin, may be prescribed by physicians for high risk medical tourism patients.

Minimal legal recourse in case something goes wrong

It is important to remember that if you do have a serious complication, other countries' malpractice and liability recourses may be different from those in your own country. Also keep in mind that some hospitals may require a medical tourism patient to sign a legal waiver stating that if they do file a lawsuit over the surgery, the lawsuit must be adjudicated in the country where the medical procedure was performed.  

Coordinating appropriate aftercare once you come home

This is one the biggest concerns for medical tourism patients considering traveling abroad for surgery. What happens if I have a complication once I return home? Who will I turn to? Will my doctor even see me? These are valid questions that must be addressed by the hospital you are seeking care at.

Make sure to inform your primary physician that you will be going overseas and try to get him or her involved in the process. You may also want to try and schedule a call between your primary physician and your international doctor to discuss your case.  This is wise not only at a medical level (you want your international physician to know as much as possible about your case history), but also has the potential to establish trust between both parties, making your physician empathetic toward your situation and wanting to be an active participant in the success of your procedure.

Presently, and in order to minimize potential complications, many international hospitals and physicians do maintain close contact with their medical tourism patients once they have returned home. Therefore, you should not feel shy about contacting them if you feel something is wrong. At the very least your overseas physician can offer recommendations about what medications to take, who to see, or possibly even explain details of your condition to another doctor.

In medical tourism, a Familiarization Tour or Fam Trip is a trip organized by a public or private entity seeking to showcase the healthcare and tourism assets in a certain region, country or city, in order to attract new business (usually in the form of patients). Fam trips are often organized by the tourism board, medical tourism cluster, or by a Destination Management Organization (DMO) representing a destination. Participants in the Fam trip are typically buyers of medical tourism services such as foreign governments, insurance companies, employers and medical tourism facilitators. They are vetted in advance and usually have all their travel, accommodation and maintenance fees covered during the trip.

Sometimes referred to as medical tourism agencies, or a medical travel facilitator, these are companies that, as their name suggests, act as facilitators or intermediaries for patients seeking treatments in other countries or regions.

Medical Tourism Facilitators have played an important role in promoting the growth of medical tourism, and for many medical tourism patients, represent their first face to face contact with the concept of medical tourism.

Over the last 10-15 years, thousands of these companies have popped up, most sporting names synonymous with health and travel. They function much like a travel agency, requesting and obtaining passports, booking flights, and arranging a medical tourism patient’s lodging, transportation and tours. The key difference, of course, is that they also serve as the liaison or mediator between you and the international hospital and doctor. In effect, it is the facilitator’s job to repackage the medical provider’s service offering, make it more appealing, and then guide you along the medical tourism process.

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UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

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UNWTO and WHO to Build Coalition of Health and Tourism Partners

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• 17 Jun 2022

UNWTO will work with the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) to strengthen ties between tourism and public health in Europe’s smallest states.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of building more sustainability and resilience into both economies and public health systems. Recognizing the need to learn from the lessons of the crisis, the two UN agencies will further develop their collaboration and strengthen cooperation. In the eighth high-level meeting of the WHO/Europe Small Countries Initiative (SCI) , held in Bečići, Montenegro, UNWTO set out the case for promoting health and sustainable tourism in small countries, including the 11 European countries with fewer than 2 million people.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili told the meeting: “COVID-19 showed that any crisis that threatens the health, safety and security of people, communities and the environment is also a risk to tourism itself. I am confident that strong cooperation at all levels will place health high on the tourism agenda. It will make for healthy tourists, healthy communities, a healthy environment, and healthy economies for current and future generations.”

Montenegro Statement on health and tourism

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of building more sustainability and resilience into both economies and public health systems

Organized around the theme “Towards better health and well-being in small countries of the WHO European Region”, the ministerial event focused on two issues currently at the top of the agenda for small countries, namely emergencies (long-term prevention, health system preparedness, response and recovery) and developing healthy and sustainable tourism. On the occasion of the meeting, the “ Roadmap towards better health in small countries in the WHO European Region 2022–2025” was presented and the “Montenegro Statement” was unanimously adopted.  

The “Montenegro Statement” recognizes that health and tourism are deeply interconnected in the globalized world, and the reopening of travel and tourism is crucial for economic recovery, jobs and livelihoods in small countries. It highlights that cooperation and collaboration are required and welcomes and supports the creation of a coalition of partners on health and tourism, jointly coordinated by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the UNWTO to elaborate the evidence for policy measures and facilitate country dialogue.

Long-standing collaboration  

UNWTO and WHO have kept regular coordination since the outbreak of the pandemic and WHO has participated in the Global Tourism Crisis Committee, created in March 2020 to guide the tourism sector and formulate a sector-wide response   to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic and restart tourism with data-driven decisions based on scientific evidence. 

Related Links:

• WHO Europe Small Countries Initiative
• Download the Press Release in PDF

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VEL HEALTH TOURISM AGENCY

Uk tourism & international health tourism consultancy services, explore the uk.

Join us to explore the beautiful cities in the UK.

We arrange tours for London, Kent, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Bath, Manchester, New Castle, Bournemouth and more!

SAME TREATMENT, LESS PAYMENT

International health tourism.

We provide British and Irisih citizens reliable and affordable treatments and surgeries in Turkey and Europe. 

Turkey has one of the highest quality standards in the world in health systems and has been preferred by so many overseas visitors who would like to benefit from various treatment and surgery options at low costs. 

We deliver high quality services with dental, plastic and hair implementation treatments in key medical needs for patients under one roof in the represented medical institutions in Turkey and other destinations in Europe such as Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and more.

DENTAL TREATMENTS

Hair implementation, plastic surgery, vel tourism.

Our vision is to offer high quality medical treatments and surgeries at a low cost by building a bridge between UK & Irish citizens and Turkish & European medical institutions. 

Our mission is to develop new models of innovative healthcare business support that provides enhanced integrated healthcare.

Vel Health Tourism Agency

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+44 (0) 7395 856197

[email protected]

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Medical tourism agency and facilitator profiles

Seeking medical treatment abroad can seem a daunting prospect.  Medical tourism agencies are companies that specialise in facilitating the process, taking care of arrangements such as access to clinics and specialists, travel, visas, accommodation and, in some cases, sight-seeing and leisure activities.

A wide range of agencies is available worldwide, including those who offer specialist expertise in a particular field, such as fertility treatment or dentistry, and those run by governments to promote medical tourism in their countries.  Services available vary from agency to agency, and prospective patients should always conduct  research to find the one that best suits their needs.

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Operarme.com

Medical travel agency

Operarme.com works with leading professionals and hospitals in Spain to provide specialised and cost-effective private medical services, focusing on complete surgical solutions with fixed prices and reduced costs. Established in 2013, Operarme.com has become a trusted name in the healthcare industry, offering immediate attention, transparency, and high-quality services across various medical specialties, including orthopaedics, general surgery, urology, gynaecology and ophthalmology.

Smiles Turkey

A pioneer in dental tourism, Smiles Turkey offers high quality dental care at affordable prices including dental implants, smile makeover, veneers, crowns and teeth whitening. With three state-of-the-art clinics in Antalya on the Mediterranean Coast, Smiles Turkey provides the perfect opportunity to combine healthy and transformative treatment with an unforgettable holiday.

Sani Medical Tourism

Conveniently located in two top Mexico destinations, Sani Medical Tourism provides everything needed for a safe and successful trip for medical and dental treatment, including access to high-quality, affordable services, accommodation and restaurants. Treatments available include dentistry, stem cell therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, cosmetic surgery, Botox and fillers, hair transplant, general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, ENT surgery, urologic surgery, eye tests, prescription lenses, sunglasses and contact lenses.

Metta Health

Metta Health provides bespoke packages for patients searching for the best treatment in the UK. Boasting links with top private hospitals and clinics with highly skilled surgeons, the medical travel agency offers premium healthcare at affordable prices.

Wellness Travel Therapy

Wellness Travel Therapy (WTT) works with highly qualified medical partners in the fields of dentistry and plastic surgery to offer personalised medical treatments and wellness experiences in Portugal. More than just organising trips, the focus is on providing unique experiences that immerse the customer in the true culture and history of the country.

Medical Travel

MEDICAL TRAVEL offers cosmetic surgery in Prague, Czech Republic. Cosmetic surgery procedures on offer include abdominoplasty, rhinoplasty and liposuction.

Professional Beauty

Professional Beauty provides high quality cosmetic surgery, dentistry and hair transplant surgery in Poland including facelifts, browlifts, rhinoplasty (nose surgery), ear and eye surgery, laser treatments, tummy-tuck, breast enlargement, breast reduction, breast uplift and liposuction. Composite and porcelain veneers, crowns, dental implants and laser tooth whitening. Professional Beauty also arrange gastric band and gastric bypass surgery in Brussels, Belgium.

PRAGA MEDICA

A leading Czech medical tourism facilitator based in Prague. Founded back in 2009, they represent time-tested and highly specialized doctors and clinics. They speak fluent English.

Right Choice Home & Away

Right Choice Home and Away is a UK-based lifestyle surgery facilitator and patient advocacy service. They started as the outbound service called EuroMedical Tours in 2006 and have since evolved to include an intrabound service offering by the name of Right Choice UK. In 2018, both services were joined under the name of Right Choice Home and Away, a one stop solution for those seeking more affordable, yet high quality options for elective procedure either at home or abroad.

Aionia Medical Travel

Aionia Medical Travel connect individuals to affordable, world-class care in cosmetic surgery, dentistry, stem cell therapy and anti-ageing therapies, offered by their carefully selected network of clinics that all meet exacting international accreditation standards

Dentaround is a full-service dental tourism facilitator, partnering with accredited clinics in Bulgaria to offer dental treatments with the highest quality at affordable prices.

MediCzech offers a full range of cosmetic and obesity surgery treatments in the Czech Republic. MediCzech provides top quality medical care to foreign clients, including local consultation, pre-operative and post-operative care in the UK for British patients.

Dentpacker works with all the top clinics in Europe`s leading dental tourism destination, Hungary, to provide easy access to high-quality, affordable dental treatment.

Rehabtürk Healthcare Providers Network

Rehabturk in Istanbul, Turkey works with a network of over 250 hospitals, medical centres and clinics throughout the country to provide high quality, affordable healthcare options to overseas patients.

Barcelona Medical Destination

Barcelona Medical Destination works with Barcelona Centre Medic and Barcelona Medical Agency to bring together the best hospitals and clinics in Barcelona, Spain.

Smart Choice Medical Travel

With Smart Choice Medical Travel you can save several thousand pounds by opting for laser vision correction at their Vision clinic in Budapest, Hungary. You are assured of a successful, safe and enjoyable stay in Hungary through a company that works with the leading eye specialists and clinics in Hungary.

Tenerife International Health Service

Having a contact office based in London`s Mayfair, Esteurope provides access to high quality, affordable dentistry and cosmetic surgery services in Izmir on Turkey`s beautiful Aegean coast. Working with leading doctors and hospitals, and with its own state-of-the-art dental centre, their experienced team take care of all aspects of a trip to Turkey for treatment. All-inclusive packages that include flights, transfers and accommodation mean that patients can enjoy a relaxing holiday at the same time as receiving specialist treatment at a price that suits.

VitAbroad is a full-service facilitator for medical tourism in Greece, offering healthcare for a wide range of treatments, travel and accommodation, as well as wellness and tourism services. Whether you are planning to travel for medical, dental, surgical or wellness treatments, VitAbroad can provide the perfect medical tourism plan for you, at affordable prices that represent outstanding value for money.

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European Medical Travel | Become a Professional Health Tourism Facilitator in Europe

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Medical travel in Europe has been a common practice for many years, with EU citizens using European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) for access to free or discounted treatment in neighboring countries. Additionally, there are Europeans choosing countries outside of Europe for healthcare, and non-EU citizens traveling to the continent for medical operations. These individuals, known as medical tourists or traveling patients, leave their home countries for different reasons, such as more affordable healthcare prices, to access the latest technology, and avoid healthcare waiting lists.

Europe has some of the most sought-after healthcare tourism destinations, making it great for patients seeking quality medical care and rich cultural experiences. As a bonus, many top medical tourism destinations also offer incredible natural beauty.

The medical tourism industry is growing by over 25% each year, which has caught the attention of many entrepreneurs and business-minded individuals looking to get in on the action. If you are planning to start a medical tourism agency in Europe , there are essential steps you must take to ensure success.

To begin, no company can reach its full potential without acquiring knowledge about medical travel, the patients who travel for healthcare, and how to attract medical tourism clients. The fastest way to learn the ins and outs of the industry is by enrolling in an online certification course .

Before starting a medical tourism agency in Europe, it’s important to know about some popular European countries (including some that are not part of the European Union but are located on the continent of Europe).

Germany | Becoming a medical tourism facilitator in Germany

Before you become a medical tourism facilitator in Germany , you should know that the country has over 250,000 foreign patients from 178 countries as annual visitors for medical care. Patients who choose Germany as a healthcare destination usually come from Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

With over 200 hospitals, Germany has adopted an international focus that caters to traveling patients from the beforementioned Gulf Cooperation Council nations. Germany is rolling out the red carpet for these patients by providing services such as language translation, separate rooms for prayer, and accommodations for their family and friends.

Related Article: 4 Steps To Starting A Successful Medical Tourism Business

Italy | becoming a medical tourism facilitator in italy.

If you are interested in becoming a medical tourism facilitator in Italy, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Italy was ranked 2 nd in the world for its healthcare system by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2000. Italy has rapidly established a strong international reputation for its high-quality medical procedures and modern treatments.

Although it is not the cheapest nation to get a medical procedure, it has a lot of other features that attract patients from around the globe. The most popular procedures in Italy for medical travelers are cosmetic and plastic surgery, hair restoration, and weight loss surgery.

According to estimates, Italy has generated over 2 billion euros because of medical travel. The traveling patients who visit the country are mainly from Arab countries, Switzerland, Russia, and the Balkans. These facts prove that becoming a medical tourism facilitator in Italy can certainly pay off.

Related Article: What’s The First Step To Start A Medical Tourism Agency? (VIDEO)

Greece |  setting up a medical tourism business in greece.

If you are setting up a medical tourism business in Greece, you should know that besides being one of the most popular destinations for holidays, Greece has also solidified itself as a go-to medical destination for procedures like cosmetic surgery, fertility treatment, dialysis, and dental procedures. The World Health Organization has ranked Greece 14th in healthcare because of its medical facilities that are supplied with top-notch equipment. Plus, they have an array of experienced and qualified doctors which continues to attract medical tourists.

The United Kingdom | Setting up a medical tourism business in the United Kingdom

If you’re planning on setting up a medical tourism business in the United Kingdom or targeting patients from the UK, it’s essential to know that the UK has both citizens leaving and coming into the country for healthcare. Although the population of those leaving is believed to be much larger. There has been an increase in the number of medical tourists coming into the UK in the last decade. 

Medical visas to the United Kingdom mostly last for 6 months. However, these visas can be extended to a period of 11 months, if the patient’s medical trip needs to be prolonged.

You must make sure your clients meet certain UK requirements such as:

• Medical tourists should have a medical visitor visa.
• They may be required to prove that they can afford their expenses during their stay.

France | Operating a medical tourism agency in France

Are you thinking about operating a medical tourism agency in France? Here is some useful information about medical tourism in France. With state-of-the-art hospitals and international clinics capable of performing all sorts of medical procedures for patients, France happens to be one of the leading countries in Europe for medical tourism. This nation offers cosmetic surgery for almost half the price when compared to countries like the United Kingdom. Places like Paris offer reasonably priced medical services that international patients can benefit from.

France is great for operating a medical tourism agency because foreign patients are given the best care at first-rate hotel-like hospitals in facilities with up-to-date and modern equipment. Apart from the unrivaled level of care that doctors and nurses offer, the French capital is well known for its amazing wealth of tourist attractions and historical landmarks which your prospective clients might look to take advantage of.

France has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, with some of the best-trained healthcare professionals anywhere. Top Paris hospitals offer a plethora of high-end procedures and with English-speaking medical staff, they attract patients from the UK and some African countries.

Switzerland | Medical travel in Switzerland

For many years, there has been a steady increase in foreign patients going to Switzerland for medical care. Medical travel in Switzerland is booming because people prefer to visit the nation for a variety of medical operations. Here are some of the reasons why Switzerland is a standout medical tourism destination:

• Well-developed tourism sector
• World-class healthcare system
• High quality of medical assistance from private medical hospitals
• Affordable medical treatments

Apart from its excellent medical services and affordable healthcare prices, Switzerland is a beautiful country and one of the best-known tourist destinations in Europe. Business-minded individuals who want to open a medical travel agency in Switzerland will benefit from the country’s spectacular charm that entices tourists worldwide.

Poland | Coordinating medical trips to Poland

Coordinating medical trips to Poland can be quite rewarding for medical tourism agencies and even more rewarding for traveling patients seeking high-quality medical care. That’s why medical tourists from Germany, the UK, and some Scandinavian countries are hopping on planes and heading to Poland for medical treatment.

This nation is widely known for offering a range of medical services from dental procedures to cosmetic surgery. Poland’s healthcare system continually encourages its professionals to get better by getting additional training. Healthcare travel agencies can also gain attention from clients by showcasing the country’s aesthetic places like the beautiful capital of Warsaw with its diverse architecture that reflects the city’s turbulent history.

The Czech Republic |   Being a medical tourism facilitator in the Czech Republic

Being a medical tourism facilitator in the Czech Republic would require knowing some key things about the nation; the capital, Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Tourists can’t get enough of their gothic architecture, delicious food, and an active nightlife.

Prague also has some amazing private clinics and hospitals employing medical specialists who have high-end equipment at their disposal. Doctors are mostly English-speaking and many hold diplomas and certificates from the UK and US-based centers of learning. Plus, your clients can get great medical care and a fun vacation at a relatively affordable rate. Total expenses covering the procedures, flights, and accommodations are around 60% cheaper than they are in the UK.

Related Article: 4 Ways Medical Tourism Certifications Make You More Successful

Spain | coordinating medical trips to spain.

There is no better time to start coordinating medical trips to Spain because Spain has become one of the most relevant and strong countries in the world in terms of tourism and healthcare services. From a tourism perspective, Spain ranks second on the World Tourism Organization’s list of most visited countries.

According to the latest statistics, the tourism industry accounts for 16% of its gross domestic product (GDP), employs 13% of its total employment, a total amount of revenue generated of almost 92.2 billion euros. Medical tourists who seek out Spain are mostly from other EU countries.

As for Spain’s medical system, healthcare spending represented 9% of the total GDP in 2016. Spain is ranked as the 7th best healthcare system in the world, thanks to more than 800 hospitals (public +private), and around 480,000 doctors and nurses. Hospitals in Spain offer a lot of high-end medical treatments at affordable prices when compared to other EU countries.

Hungary | Setting up trips for patients who want to travel to Hungary for dental treatment

If you are planning to start setting up trips for patients who want to travel to Hungary for dental treatment, ​you’ll need to take into consideration that Hungary has the most dentists per capita in the world.

Australia | Starting a patient coordination company in Australia

Are you considering starting A patient coordination company in Australia? Then you should know that due to the high cost of healthcare in Australia, outbound medical tourism is exceedingly more popular than inbound medical tourism. Citizens from Australia usually travel to countries like Thailand, Indonesia, India, and South Korea to get more affordable medical treatment. That is not to say that inbound medical tourism in Australia doesn’t have potential because while an increasing number of Australians are traveling to Asian countries in search of affordable healthcare, Australian medical professionals say a small but increasing number of affluent people are seeking Australia for treatments such as orthopedic and heart surgery, cancer services and IVF.

Start your company with a medical tourism professional certification

Are you looking to start your company with a medical tourism professional certification? You can get certified online by taking our Certified Medical Travel Agent course. At Medical Tourism Business, you will learn everything you need to know about running a successful healthcare travel company. We teach you important things like:

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In conclusion, starting a medical tourism agency in Europe can be an extremely rewarding endeavor but success is not guaranteed and there are a lot of factors that are needed to excel. This is why our platform, Medical Tourism Business, is so valuable to individuals looking to start a medical tourism venture. We will show you the best techniques to establish a thriving medical travel business in Europe.

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Medical tourism in Europe - Statistics & Facts

Medical tourism is a form of tourism that involves patients travelling to other countries seeking medical treatment or assistance. It also includes the consumption of services associated with tourism such as transport, accommodation and hospitality. In Europe, the market for medical tourism has experienced an exponential growth in recent years, which led to new forms of medical tourism such as fertility tourism, wellness tourism or dental tourism. New developments in the medical tourism industry also had a legal impact in the European Union. Until recently, the top five destinations preferred by Europeans were the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. However, a new European Directive on Cross-Border Healthcare stipulating free access to treatment in the community space for all EU citizens was implemented in 2014. Following this directive, a new public-pay medical tourism market appeared and "newly entered" countries from Central Europe, such as Hungary, Poland, Czechia, Romania and Latvia, became popular destinations for Western Europeans willing to exercise their right to be treated cross-border. Among the main reasons why these patients would choose to travel abroad are: the possibility to have access to specific treatments that are not available in their homelands, the high quality and lower cost of such treatments, and the chance to combine them with a holiday for rest and recovery in the destination country. This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text. Show more Conor Stewart Research expert covering health & pharmaceuticals in the UK & Europe Get in touch with us now Published by Conor Stewart , Mar 8, 2024

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Medical Tourism in Germany

• Written by: Premier Healthcare Germany GmbH
• Last updated: October 6, 2022

Background: the German healthcare system

Germany has an excellent international reputation for the quality of its healthcare system. The standard of care in German hospitals is extremely high. But what makes it so great? For one, highly trained doctors, nurses and other medical specialists. Medical professionals in Germany must go through extensive training before they are allowed to practice medicine, and doctors and surgeons are expected to continually educate themselves to stay abreast of the latest developments in their field.

The medical technology and treatment possibilities available in Germany are also state-of-the-art. Germany is known for its technical innovation and superior engineering. Nearly all German hospitals are equipped with high-tech imaging technology such as 3D ultrasound and MRI, and many specialized clinics have state-of-the-art equipment to provide patients with the latest treatments. Surgical robots, heart catheters and targeted radiation therapies for cancer patients are just some of the pieces of technology that can be found in German clinics.

Additionally, Germany has strict laws to protect patient safety. Strict hygienic measures in German hospitals, transparency in treatment outcomes and comprehensive follow-up care are just some of the things patients can expect when visiting hospitals in Germany. All of these factors make Germany an attractive destination for medical tourists.

Patients and treatments

While there are no exact statistics on the number of people who visit Germany for medical/surgical treatments or health and wellness reasons, estimates vary from 150,000 – 250,00 per year. Experts are certain that the number of medical tourists is on the rise.

Many other countries offer a range of treatments and surgical procedures to the medical tourist. But, in many countries the number of specialties is narrower than one could expect in Germany. For example there are countries that may specialize in cosmetic or heart surgery or joint implant surgery and dental care. Germany can offer excellent care in all those specialties, but has also developed a sterling reputation in other areas. These include (but are not limited to):

• Treatment for cancer
• Fertility treatment
• Cardiology and cardiac surgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Neurology and neurosurgery
• Obesity treatment
• Treatment of kidney ailments
• Alternative treatment for many maladies
• Ophthalmology

Germany is also a top destination for diagnostic work ups as well as comprehensive health and wellness check-ups.

Germany is home to top tier spas, health and wellness resorts and rehabilitation centers – many of which have been offering treatment and cures for hundreds of years. So, it should be no surprise that of the millions of tourists that visit Germany each year, many of them will visit the therapeutic baths, health spas and wellness resorts that offer a full range of treatments.

Appointments for many medical treatments and surgical procedures in Germany can often be made quickly and easily and do not involve long waiting periods. Additionally, many of the doctors and medical staff speak English.

Medical tourism: how does it work?

Medical tourism has gotten easier in recent years. Today, many major insurance companies provide full or partial coverage for medical services outside of the patient’s home country, and some patients choose to purchase travel insurance specifically for the medical trip. Patients may choose to organize the journey themselves, or with the help of a third-party organization that specializes in the specific needs of medical tourists.

Planning and organizing medical travel can be stressful and confusing. Your familiarity with German language and culture, the hospital’s level of experience working with international patients, and the severity or complexity of the medical diagnosis are all factors that will affect how difficult it is to get an appointment with the right German medical specialist. The need for a visa may create additional challenges for some nationalities when trying to travel to Germany. Working with a  patient management company  may save you time and headaches before your medical journey.

Article contributed by  Premier Healthcare Germany . Premier Healthcare Germany GmbH is a patient management company that was founded in 2010. Its headquarters are in Hamburg, Germany. As an independent company, Premier Healthcare Germany specializes in organizing medical treatment and diagnostics in Germany and neighboring countries.

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Covid-19 and the future of medical tourism across europe.

At the start of 2020, Medical Data Forecast released a report that predicted that the medical tourism market in Europe - estimated at USD 6.11 billion at the start of the year - will grow at a CAGR of 8% to reach USD 14.52 billion by 2025. The report cited the region’s enormous medical advances, high-quality and affordable healthcare, and strong medical tourism marketing strategies as the propelling forces behind Europe’s robust medical tourism market. Although the report factored in early coronavirus impact analysis, the outbreak took an unexpected turn that has upended this trajectory. 

In the last decade, Europe has built a robust medical tourism industry, with countries in Central and Western Europe leading the pack in international patient travel. Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Spain, the major players in the region’s medical travel market, have boosted their healthcare systems to global standards to attract more medical tourist from around the world. 

Spain, ranked at the seventh position by the World Health Organization for best healthcare in Europe and recently at the fourth position by the global Medical Tourism Index , carved a niche for itself in orthopedic surgery, eye surgery, and post-operative care, with various industry strategies that pulled hundreds of thousands of international patients across its borders every year. The country welcomes over 600,000 international patints every year, growing its market size to €500 million. 

France, which ranks at number one position in the WHO’s ranking for shortest hospital waiting times, also attracts thousands of medical tourists from around the world. Medical tourists who mostly visit the country to access its affordable and high-quality cosmetic surgeries, dental care, and bariatric surgery. The country, which was once closed to medical tourism, rejuvenated the sector in 2015, remodeling up to 40 hospitals including cancer center Gustave Roussy and the American Hospital of Paris to be centers of excellence for international patients. The country aimed to generate more than €2 billion from medical travel by this year. 

Bolstered by the European Directive on Cross-Border healthcare in 2014, Europe experienced further growth in medical travel, with countries repositioning their healthcare systems to better serve not only EU patients but other medical tourists from outside the region.  This spurred countries like Belgium to become a choice medical destination for patients from neighboring countries the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and even the United States and the Middle East.

The last decade has been a rather successful one for the European region as medical tourism stakeholders leveraged key tourism players including the airline industry and service industry to develop the region into a medical travel hub. 

However, the coronavirus pandemic might have brought the gains of the previous years to a screeching halt.  ‍

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With more than 4.1 million confirmed cases in Europe and a death toll of 214,272 as of the time of writing in September 2020, Europe has been one of the worst-hit regions by the pandemic. The region was declared the epicenter of the pandemic in March as the outbreak soared across it, infecting thousands and killing hundreds of people daily. 

In response, Europe closed its borders to the rest of the world, and suspended cross-border traffic to rein the outbreak in. 

This caused devastating effects on the tourism and health travel industry. With the prolonged, tight travel restrictions in the region, the tourism industry took the hardest blow, with a projected drop of up to 78% in international tourist arrivals this year. This plunged EU countries heavily dependent on tourism into an economic crisis that would lead the way to what is termed the “new normal” for the medical travel industry.

Despite temporary economic palliatives by EU governments to keep tourism businesses afloat, many have been unable to overcome the pitfalls of the health crisis. A case in point is the airline industry: during the region’s COVID-19 peak period, all its airline fleets were grounded, with many airlines downscaling operations, closing up, or cutting jobs to free up limited resources. 

In June, the region’s largest airline Air France-KLM cut 6,500 job positions at Air France and at least 1,020 jobs at Hop!, its sister airline, after reporting a revenue drop of almost 95% and a daily loss of €15m at the height of the pandemic. The group stated that it did not expect normal travel activity to return until 2024, by which time it would have cut at least 6,000 more jobs. Similar cuts were announced by British Airways and Scandinavian airlines, casting more uncertainties on the future of the region’s airline industry, an integral component of medical travel. 

Furthermore, in an attempt to optimize limited healthcare workforce and resources, and also increase surge capacity in EU hospitals, many elective procedures were also cancelled - and remain so in many ountries. Elective surgical rocedures, which are the big money makers for medical tourism destinations, have remained largely halted, and many private healthcare systems who are key players of the market have had to lay off workers. 

Reports showed that more than 28 million elective surgeries were cancelled during the peak months of the pandemic, and about 2.4 million more cancelled for every week of disruptions. 

With many flights grounded, travel agencies shuttered, hotels closed or running far below capacity, and health institutions stretched beyond capacity, Europe’s medical tourism has continued to struggle since the pandemic began. 

While the tough restrictions led to a slow recovery and reduced spread of the virus in many parts of Europe, things are still far way from what they used to be. 

Spain still has the worst coronavirus infection rates in Western Europe and has been red-listed by many countries including the UK. Daily case counts have risen from about 150 in June to over 1,500 in recent weeks. Tourists from other countries are hesitant to visit the country despite relaxing its quarantine rule to revive the medical tourism sector.  Many travel agencies including Jet2 have also cancelled flights to Spain since the UK updated its travel advisory on Spain. 

France, also, which is the second most popular tourism destination for Britons welcoming more than 17 million Brits yearly, have been seeing a surge in cases since August, prompting the UK government to change its travel advice, requiring visitors from France to self-isolate. In a similar vein, the EU has placed tight restrictions on visitors coming from the United States, citing the rising cases of the infection in the country. 

These restrictions and inactivity of tourism key players will continue to slacken medical tourism in Europe. As it stands, the future remains uncertain for Europe’s medical tourism.  

However, Europe is taking small steps at rebooting tourism and medical travel. The EU Commission recently laucnhed the Tourism and Transport Package that allow people take holidays in member states and help tourism businesses to reopen. The Commission also launched Re-open EU, a platform that provides tourists with real-time information on borders and travel restrictions. It has also designed a framework of health protocols for medical tourism affiliated companies including hotels and transportation services.

Europe has also invested heavily in procuring a coronavirus vaccine that could ebb away the virus spread in a short time and slowly get economic activity back on track. On August 24, the Commission struck a deal with Moderna to secure 80 million doses of the company’s vaccine for member states. 

But experts still express doubts at the pandemic slowing down any time soon. While consolidated efforts in the region may revive the medical tourism business in the coming years, it may take much longer for the major players to recover from the devastating effects of the crisis and for travel to return to pre-coronavirus levels. For now, the gains of the medical tourism market in the region in the last decade may have been significantly erode and the future remains uncertain

Korea: Turning the Focus to an Emerging Global Leader in Medical Tourism

Exploring the surge of cosmetic tourism: trends and considerations in aesthetic procedures abroad, holistic healing: exploring integrative medicine and wellness retreats, meeting the surge: the growing demand for knee replacement surgeries and advances in the field, innovations in medical technology: how cutting-edge technology drives medical tourism, developing a competitive model for medical tourism, detecting and preventing measles, wellness tourism the past the present and the future, destination guides- opportunity for creating a brand, destination branding in medical tourism, continue reading, transforming healthcare through innovation: ceo spotlight interview with matthew a. love, new shift for thailand’s medical travel landscape as mta launches new moves, dominican republic’s giant strides to becoming a global leader in medical tourism, featured reading, medical tourism magazine.

The Medical Tourism Magazine (MTM), known as the “voice” of the medical tourism industry, provides members and key industry experts with the opportunity to share important developments, initiatives, themes, topics and trends that make the medical tourism industry the booming market it is today.

News | Environment

Warning ‘high probability’ new strain of bluetongue will spread from Europe

Farmers have been warned of a “very high” probability of a new strain of bluetongue being brought in through midges blown over from Europe.

Bluetongue is an animal disease that affects livestock such as cattle and sheep, with symptoms including a blue and swollen tongue, fever, reduced milk yield and in the most severe cases, death.

It does not affect humans or food safety.

It is spread through biting midges, and while there is no evidence bluetongue is currently circulating in midges in Britain , the Government warns the insects can be blown long distances on the wind and bring the virus over from mainland Europe.

A new strain of bluetongue known as BTV-3, which emerged in the Netherlands in September 2023, was first identified in November in England.

Since then there have been 126 cases in the outbreak, seven sheep and 119 cattle, across four counties, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk and Surrey.

A risk assessment published by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) following the outbreak last year, warns there is a very high probability of a new introduction of bluetongue virus of the new BTV-3 strain into Britain during 2024 through infected biting midges being blown over from northern Europe.

There is also a medium risk of another strain, BTV-8, being carried in by midges blown from northern France.

Biting midges are most active between April and November, and the timing of any potential incursion of the disease will depend on temperatures and wind patterns, officials said.

Farmers are being urged to remain vigilant and monitor their animals frequently, while making sure their livestock and land and up-to-date contact details are registered with the APHA in case of an outbreak.

There is currently no vaccine in the UK for the BTV-3 strain of the virus, although a new vaccine has been approved for emergency use from the start of May in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Farmer confidence at all-time low as 82% hit by wet weather, unions warn

Ed Davey calls for billion-pound budget boost for farming

Greenpeace calls on Government to spearhead sea sanctuary campaign

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EPA bans consumer use of a toxic chemical widely used as a paint stripper but known to cause cancer

FILE - Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan speaks during an event at Howard University on April 25, 2024, in Washington. The EPA has finalized a ban on consumer uses of methylene chloride, a chemical that is widely used as a paint stripper and is known to cause liver cancer and other health problems. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it has finalized a ban on consumer uses of  methylene chloride , a chemical that is widely used as a paint stripper but is known to cause liver cancer and other health problems.

The EPA said its action will protect Americans from health risks while allowing certain commercial uses to continue with robust worker protections.

The rule banning methylene chloride is the second risk management rule to be finalized by President Joe Biden’s administration under landmark 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act . The first was an action last month to ban asbestos , a carcinogen that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year but is still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products.

“Exposure to methylene chloride has devastated families across this country for too long, including some who saw loved ones go to work and never come home,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. The new rule , he said, “brings an end to unsafe methylene chloride practices and implements the strongest worker protections possible for the few remaining industrial uses, ensuring no one in this country is put in harm’s way by this dangerous chemical.”

Methylene chloride, also called dichloromethane, is a colorless liquid that emits a toxic vapor that has killed at least 88 workers since 1980, the EPA said. Long-term health effects include a variety of cancers, including liver cancer and lung cancer, and damage to the nervous, immune and reproductive systems.

The EPA rule would ban all consumer uses but allow certain “critical” uses in the military and industrial processing, with worker protections in place, said Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

Methylene chloride will continue to be allowed to make refrigerants as an alternative to other chemicals that produce greenhouse gases and contribute to climate change, Freedhoff said. It also will be allowed for use in electric vehicle batteries and for critical military functions.

“The uses we think can safely continue (all) happen in sophisticated industrial settings, and in some cases there are no real substitutes available,’' Freedhoff said.

The chemical industry has argued that the EPA is overstating the risks of methylene chloride and that adequate protections have mitigated health risks.

The American Chemistry Council, the industry’s top lobbying group, called methylene chloride “an essential compound” used to make many products and goods Americans rely on every day, including paint stripping, pharmaceutical manufacturing and metal cleaning and degreasing.

An EPA proposal last year could introduce “regulatory uncertainty and confusion” with existing exposure limits set by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the group said.

The chemical council also said it was concerned that the EPA had not fully evaluated the rule’s impacts on the domestic supply chain and could end up prohibiting up to half of all end uses subject to regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

While the EPA banned one consumer use of methylene chloride in 2019, use of the chemical has remained widespread and continues to pose significant and sometimes fatal danger to workers, the agency said. The EPA’s final risk management rule requires companies to rapidly phase down manufacturing, processing and distribution of methylene chloride for all consumer uses and most industrial and commercial uses, including in home renovations.

Consumer use will be phased out within a year, and most industrial and commercial uses will be prohibited within two years.

Liz Hitchcock, director of a safer chemicals program for the advocacy group Toxic-Free Future, praised the new rule but added: “As glad as we are to see today’s rule banning all consumer and most commercial uses, we are concerned that limits to its scope will allow continued exposure for too many workers to methylene chloride’s dangerous and deadly effects.”

Consumers should look for labels indicating that a product is free from methylene chloride, said the toxic-free group, which has published a list of paint and varnish strippers and removers sold by major U.S. retailers that do not contain it.

Wendy Hartley, whose son Kevin died from methylene chloride poisoning after refinishing a bathtub at work, called the new rule “a huge step that will protect vulnerable workers.”

Kevin Hartley, 21, of Tennessee, died in 2017. He was an organ donor, Wendy Hartley said, adding that because of the EPA’s actions, “Kevin’s death will continue to save lives.”

Follow the AP’s coverage of the EPA at https://apnews.com/hub/us-environmental-protection-agency .

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Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Ban on Most Uses of Methylene Chloride, Protecting Workers and Communities from Fatal Exposure

Rule requires stronger worker safety requirements for remaining industrial uses

April 30, 2024

WASHINGTON – Today, April 30, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a ban on most uses of  methylene chloride , a dangerous chemical known to cause liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, cancer of the blood, and cancer of the central nervous system, as well as neurotoxicity, liver harm and even death. Ending most uses of methylene chloride will save lives and complements  President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot , a whole-of-government initiative to end cancer as we know it.

EPA’s final action, also known as a risk management rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), will protect people from health risks while allowing key uses to continue safely with a robust new worker protection program. This is the second risk management rule to be finalized using the process created by the 2016 TSCA amendments .

“Exposure to methylene chloride has devastated families across this country for too long, including some who saw loved ones go to work and never come home,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan . “EPA’s final action brings an end to unsafe methylene chloride practices and implements the strongest worker protections possible for the few remaining industrial uses, ensuring no one in this country is put in harm’s way by this dangerous chemical.”

“The USW applauds EPA’s final rule banning certain uses of methylene chloride and lowering allowable workplace exposure levels. More than 100,000 workers die from occupational disease each year, including those sickened by harmful chemical exposures. Our union fought for the updated Toxic Substances Control Act so that we could ensure that worker exposures to harmful substances like methylene chloride are appropriately assessed and regulated at harmful levels. Now, thanks to the current administration, workers are safer and better protected,” said David McCall, International President, United Steelworkers.

“Today’s announcement to ban most commercial uses of the toxic chemical methylene chloride in paint strippers is a significant step to protect more workers from this deadly chemical,” said Sarah Vogel, Senior Vice President for Healthy Communities at Environmental Defense Fund. “We are honored to stand beside the Hartley family, who has bravely shared their story to encourage this long overdue action that will save lives.”

Methylene chloride is used by consumers for aerosol degreasing and paint and coating brush cleaners, in commercial applications such as adhesives and sealants, and in industrial settings for making other chemicals. For example, methylene chloride is used in the production of more climate-friendly refrigerant chemicals.

“My son, Kevin, died in 2017 from methylene chloride exposure from refinishing a bathtub at work. I am pleased that the EPA is finally taking action and banning methylene chloride as a commercial bathtub stripper. This is a huge step that will protect vulnerable workers,” said Wendy Hartley, mother of Kevin Hartley, who died from methylene chloride poisoning.

Since 1980, at least 88 people have died from acute exposure to methylene chloride, largely workers engaged in bathtub refinishing or other paint stripping, even, in some cases, while fully trained and equipped with personal protective equipment. While EPA banned one consumer use of methylene chloride in 2019, use of the chemical has remained widespread and continues to pose significant and sometimes fatal danger to workers. EPA’s final risk management rule requires companies to rapidly phase down manufacturing, processing and distribution of methylene chloride for all consumer uses and most industrial and commercial uses, including its use in home renovations. Consumer use will be phased out within a year, and most industrial and commercial uses will be prohibited within two years.

EPA’s methylene chloride rulemaking also establishes landmark worker protections under the nation’s premier chemical safety law. For a handful of highly industrialized uses, EPA has created a Workplace Chemical Protection Program. This workplace chemical protection program has strict exposure limits, monitoring requirements, and worker training and notification requirements that will protect workers from cancer and other adverse health effects caused by methylene chloride exposure.

Uses that will continue under the Workplace Chemical Protection Program are highly industrialized and important to national security and the economy. These are uses for which EPA received data and other information that shows workplace safety measures to fully address the unreasonable risk could be achieved. These uses include:

• Use in the production of other chemicals, including refrigerant chemicals that are important in efforts to phase down climate-damaging hydrofluorocarbons under the bipartisan  American Innovation and Manufacturing Act .
• Production of battery separators for electric vehicles.
• Use as a processing aid in a closed system.
• Use as a laboratory chemical.
• Use in plastic and rubber manufacturing, including polycarbonate production.
• Use in solvent welding.

Additionally, specific uses of methylene chloride required by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Aviation Administration will also continue with strict workplace controls because sufficient reductions in exposure are possible in these highly sophisticated environments, minimizing risks to workers. 

For uses of methylene chloride continuing under the Workplace Chemical Protection Program, most workplaces will have 18 months after the finalization of the risk management rule to comply with the program and would be required to periodically monitor their workplace to ensure that workers are not being exposed to levels of methylene chloride that would lead to an unreasonable risk. In consideration of public comments on the proposal, EPA extended the compliance timeframe to give workplaces ample time to put worker protections in place. EPA also revised several other aspects from the proposal including ensuring the Workplace Chemical Protection Program applies to the same uses whether they are federal or commercial uses, establishing a de minimis concentration, and provisions to strengthen and clarify aspects of the Workplace Chemical Protection Program such as monitoring requirements.

EPA will also host a public webinar to explain what is in the final rule and how it will be implemented. The agency will announce the date and time in the coming weeks.

For more information, please read the Risk Management for Methylene Chloride page .

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