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Francine Hardaway: Health Tourism

 
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About a month ago, I got a Pap smear from my family physician. Although I have already received the bill from the lab, I still haven’t gotten the results from my doctor’s office. Last week, I had a mammogram. Mayo Clinic said they will send me a letter with the results. This kind of waiting and relying on the overburdened staff at the doctors’ offices is annoying, So guess what I’m going to do?

Next week I leave for Penang, Phuket, and Bangkok on a yoga retreat. One of the teachers is Malaysian, and he is going “home.” He told me he’s going to spend a day at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Penang, where American-trained doctors will give him a full day executive physical for the American equivalent of $350.00. This would be $6000 in the United States. You can then write your trip off, too, because it is travel for medical care.

I know it’s extreme to have a physical in Malaysia, but I’m going to do it. I bet I will get the results in a more timely fashion, too.