Safety guide · Treatment abroad
Is medical tourism safe? What the NHS, the Foreign Office, the CDC and Canada advise
Is medical tourism safe? Governments do not rate countries or clinics, but six official sources in the UK, US and Canada name the same risks and the same checks. We quote them in their own words, with the date each page was last updated.
- British deaths in Turkey
- 7in 2025, after medical procedures (FCDO)
- Official sources quoted
- 6UK, US and Canada
- EHIC or GHIC
- Does not coverplanned treatment abroad
- Foreign Office help
- Usually nonewith the care or the costs
Short answer
Medical tourism can be safe when you choose the clinic carefully, but it carries risks that official advice in the UK, US and Canada spells out: standards vary between countries, complications and deaths have happened, your usual insurance and the Foreign Office will often not help, and follow-up care falls to your doctor at home.
Key findings
- Standards vary. The UK Foreign Office says medical standards abroad “can vary widely and may differ from UK standards”, and that there have been complications and deaths.
- 7 British nationals died in Turkey in 2025 following medical procedures, according to the FCDO's Turkey advice. Cosmetic surgery, dental work and cardiac surgery are the most common treatments for medical tourists there.
- You are mostly on your own if it goes wrong. Planned treatment is a “commercial arrangement”, says the FCDO, and EHIC or GHIC cards do not cover it.
- Infections are a named risk. Canada mentions bacteria resistant to antibiotics; TravelHealthPro mentions blood-borne viruses.
- Everyone says the same first step: talk to your own doctor or a travel health clinic before you book.
What official sources say about medical tourism
Each quote below is copied from the government or health-service page linked under it, read on 26 October 2026.
“The standard of medical facilities, qualifications and treatments abroad can vary widely and may differ from UK standards. There have been complications and deaths abroad from medical procedures.”
“The FCDO cannot usually help if you have travelled abroad for medical treatment, for example if you have issues with the care received or costs involved. Planned medical treatment is considered a commercial arrangement.”
“We are aware of 7 British nationals having died in Turkey in 2025 following medical procedures. Some British nationals have also experienced complications and needed further treatment or surgery following their procedure.”
“Do your own research - private companies have a financial interest in booking your treatment and their literature should not be your only source of information.”
“You should discuss your plans with a GP before making any final decisions about travel or medical arrangements.”
“Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) does not cover going abroad for planned medical treatments.”
“United Kingdom (UK) residents travelling abroad for medical treatment, elective (planned) surgery and dental procedures may be at increased risk of complications, including exposure to blood-borne viruses.”
“Follow-up care for medical complications can be expensive and might not be covered by your health insurance.”
“All surgeries carry the risk of complications and accreditation does not guarantee a positive outcome.”
“While most procedures go as planned, there can be serious complications. If you choose medical tourism, discuss your plans with a travel health clinic or your health care provider in Canada first.”
“There have been reports of serious illness or complications from medical care received in health care facilities outside of Canada. These can include bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics.”
Ireland. The HSE's Treatment Abroad Scheme pays only for planned treatment in the EU, the EEA, the UK or Switzerland, on referral by a public hospital consultant and with approval before you travel (HSE). See will the HSE pay for treatment abroad?
The risks official advice names
| Risk | Who names it | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Different standards | FCDO, NHS | Check the clinician's registration and the hospital yourself; a seller's brochure is not enough. |
| Complications and deaths | FCDO, Canada, CDC | Read the country's travel advice and plan for a longer stay or a second operation. |
| Infection, including resistant bacteria and blood-borne viruses | Canada, TravelHealthPro | Ask how the clinic prevents infection, and know the warning signs after you fly home. |
| No cover for complications | CDC, NHS, FCDO | Buy insurance that covers planned treatment and medical evacuation; see insurance for treatment abroad. |
| Weak follow-up | NHS | Agree before you go who looks after you at home and what records you bring back. |
| Sales pressure | FCDO | Companies that book treatment earn from it; compare prices clinics publish themselves. |
Six questions to ask a clinic before you pay
- Who will treat me? The name of the surgeon or dentist, their registration with the country’s medical or dental council, and who does each step (some clinics use technicians).
- Where exactly? The name and address of the hospital or clinic. Some sellers, especially medical-travel agencies, do not name it on the price page.
- What is the full price? A written, itemised quote: implants or lens type, nights in hospital, medicines, tests and what happens if you need more.
- What if something goes wrong? Who you call after you fly home, whether the clinic pays for corrections, and whether you would have to travel back.
- When can I fly? The clinic’s own rule, in writing. Book flexible flights; surgery and sedation can delay a flight home.
- What will I bring home? Reports, images and implant details in English, so your doctor at home can take over.
The NHS has a longer treatment abroad checklist. Each treatment page on this site lists when not to travel for it, for example dental implants, hair transplants, hip replacement and laser eye surgery.
Plan the follow-up at home
Whatever the treatment, the weeks after it happen at home. Tell your doctor before you go, bring the operation note, images and implant details in English, and know where to go if you get worse after the flight. Our guide on bringing your results home lists what to ask for, treatment by treatment.
Medical tourism safety: questions
Is medical tourism safe?
Most procedures go as planned, the Government of Canada says, but there can be serious complications. UK, US, Canadian and Irish official advice all say to talk to your own doctor first, check the clinic and the clinician yourself, and plan for complications and follow-up at home, which your usual insurance may not cover.
How many British people have died after medical treatment in Turkey?
The UK Foreign Office’s Turkey travel advice says it is aware of 7 British nationals who died in Turkey in 2025 following medical procedures, and that others had complications and needed more treatment. It does not break the figure down by procedure.
Is it safe to get dental implants in Mexico?
No government publishes a safety rating for a country or a clinic. The CDC warns US residents that follow-up care for complications can be expensive and might not be covered by their insurance, so check the dentist’s registration, get a written plan, and know who will look after you at home. See our dental implant prices in Mexico for what clinics publish.
Is a hair transplant in Turkey safe?
The Foreign Office says cosmetic surgery and dental procedures are among the most common treatments for medical tourists in Turkey, and that private companies have a financial interest in booking you. Ask who does each step, which hospital it is, and what happens if you need a correction. The NHS warns that clinics abroad may not provide follow-up to UK standards.
Will the Foreign Office help if treatment abroad goes wrong?
Usually not with the care or the costs. The FCDO says planned medical treatment is a commercial arrangement, so a dispute is between you and the clinic.
Does accreditation make a clinic safe?
It helps you check a clinic, but the CDC says accreditation does not guarantee a positive outcome. Treat it as one check among several, alongside the clinician’s registration and a written plan.
Sources
- Medical emergencies, treatment and hospitalisation abroad. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK), 7 June 2024. Read 26 October 2026.
- Turkey travel advice: health. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK), 19 October 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
- Going abroad for medical treatment. NHS (nhs.uk), 13 October 2023. Read 26 October 2026.
- Treatment abroad checklist. NHS (nhs.uk), 19 November 2023. Read 26 October 2026.
- Cosmetic surgery abroad. NHS (nhs.uk), 14 December 2022. Read 26 October 2026.
- Travelling for treatment: medical tourism. TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), 17 June 2024. Read 26 October 2026.
- Medical tourism: travel to another country for medical care. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 June 2023. Read 26 October 2026.
- Travelling outside Canada to receive medical care. Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca), 2 September 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
- Treatment Abroad Scheme. Health Service Executive (HSE). Read 26 October 2026.